Echocardiography

Cardiac ultrasound uses reflected sound waves (echos) to create images of anatomy inside the body. Echocardiograms are the primary cardiac imaging modality used to assess the heart and diagnose or track cardiac issues. Echo is the gold standard imaging modality to assess the heart, particularly with calculating left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is a measure of cardiac output. In addition to noninvasive standard transthoracic echo (TTE), invasive transesophgeal echo (TEE) is also used when clearer, more detailed imaging of the heart is needed. Both 3D and 4D echo echo systems are rapidly gaining wider adoption and enable new types of assessments, especially in the structural heart space and in transcatheter procedural guidance. Find news on general ultrasound imaging.

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Tele-echocardiography program proven effective, may bring vital imaging to more heart failure patients

“The most important finding of this study is that by using expert support by telemedicine, more patients with heart failure can gain the benefit of diagnostic ultrasound,” doctors wrote in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.

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New AI-based ultrasound echo imaging software authorized by FDA

Caption Guidance works with ultrasound software previously cleared by the FDA to help inexperienced clinicians acquire transthoracic echocardiography images.

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Group publishes new stress echo guidelines for ischemic heart disease

The American Society of Echocardiography released the new recommendations to replace its 2007 edition.

Medical societies release AUC ratings for imaging congenital heart disease patients

The 47-page document, published Jan. 6 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, touches on multiple cardiac imaging modalities, rating them based on their appropriateness for examining adults and children with previously diagnosed heart defects.

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What’s to Gain from Strain? Experts Say Strain Echocardiography Is on the Path to Acceptance

Despite its diagnostic and prognostic value, speckle-tracking strain echocardiography is underused, some cardiac imagers say. What will it take for adoption to pick up?

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Echocardiography most utilized modality for heart failure patients in Canada

Resting echocardiography stands head above shoulders as the most used imaging modality for patients with heart failure in Canada, according to a 14-year analysis published in JAMA Network Open.

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Philips updates, expands cardiac ultrasound platform

Royal Philips has rolled out the latest update for its EPIQ CVx and EPIQ CVxi cardiac ultrasound systems, expanding to include automated applications for 2D assessment of the heart and robust 3D measurements of right ventricular volume and ejection fraction.

High echo usage comes with increased costs, no difference in outcomes

“Although echocardiography plays an important role in the treatment of many patients with AMI, these findings suggest that a more selective approach may be safe and may reduce costs, particularly at high-use hospitals,” wrote authors of a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Around the web

The new technology shows early potential to make a significant impact on imaging workflows and patient care. 

Richard Heller III, MD, RSNA board member and senior VP of policy at Radiology Partners, offers an overview of policies in Congress that are directly impacting imaging.
 

The two companies aim to improve patient access to high-quality MRI scans by combining their artificial intelligence capabilities.