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.

a 3D intracardiac echo (ICE) view of a surgical mitral valve using the GE NuVision ICE system.

Can intracardiac echo replace TEE during structural heart procedures?

TEE has been used to guide most transcatheter structural heart cases over the past decade, but 3D ICE is changing how some centers image those patients. 

DiA Imaging Analysis, an Israel-based healthcare technology company, has gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for LVivo IQS, a new software solution designed to help users acquire high-quality echocardiography images.

FDA clears new AI-powered cardiac imaging solution

The newly approved software uses artificial intelligence to provide users with real-time feedback related to image quality.

6 pointers on POCUS leadership in the ED (and potentially beyond)

Has point-of-care ultrasound outpaced hospitals’ capacity to incorporate the technology without anointing any particular specialty its proper guardian? The case could be made.

New wearable device, no bigger than a stamp, uses AI to deliver on-the-go cardiac imaging

New stamp-sized wearable device uses AI to deliver on-the-go cardiac imaging

The device, designed to be worn for up to 24 hours at a time, uses ultrasound technology and artificial intelligence to track how much blood the user's heart is pumping.

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Cardiologists use video-based AI model to ID coronary artery disease

A team of specialists out of Cedars-Sinai developed the deep learning model using TTEs from nearly 3,000 patients.

transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

Simulations help 'accelerate the TEE learning curve' for cardiology trainees

Simulation-based training can help cardiology fellows improve their TTE abilities, even when instructors or equipment are in short supply. 

A 3D echo of a rheumatic mitral valve and a 2D image of the same valve showing the irregularly shaped valve opening. Images are part of the figures in the new ASE guidelines.

ASE releases updated rheumatic heart disease guideline

The American Society of Echocardiography released a new guideline document on the comprehensive use of echocardiography in the diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of rheumatic heart disease.

Takeshi Tsuda, MD, pediatric cardiologist, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware, discusses evaluation of cardio-toxicity in pediatric cancer patients. He presented a study at American Heart Association (AHA) 2022 meeting that hoped to show the use of cardiac stress testing on children would indicate which patients would see more toxicity from chemotherapy agents. #AHA #AHA22

VIDEO: Identifying cardiotoxicity in young cancer patients

Pediatric cardiologist Takeshi Tsuda, MD, discussed the evaluation of cardiotoxicity in young cancer patients at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2022 meeting.