<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Transthoracic echocardiography is the primary non-invasive modality for anatomical and functional cardiac assessment. All one-, two-dimensional and Doppler modes use the same phenomenon, i.e. the piezoelectric effect, to visualize mobile cardiac structures and blood flow in cardiac cavities. Novel techniques for myocardial imaging, such as tissue Doppler and acoustic marker tracing, allow for the assessment of regional myocardial contractility of the left and the right ventricle. Cardiac assessment is performed in standard views characterized by an optimal acoustic window. The goal of each cardiac echo is to assess cardiac function and morphology using all available imaging modes. The evaluation of acquired valvular heart diseases should include morphological and functional changes indicative of the type (stenosis, regurgitation, complex defect) and the mechanism (Carpentier’s classification of mitral regurgitation) of the defect, as well as its stage (mild, moderate, severe). The assessment of left and right ventricular function should involve the measurement of global and regional parameters. An echocardiographic report should also include information on septal continuity and the presence of additional structures or intracardiac masses.</p>
</abstract>

Transthoracic echocardiography is the primary non-invasive modality for anatomical and functional cardiac assessment. All one-, two-dimensional and Doppler modes use the same phenomenon, i.e. the piezoelectric effect, to visualize mobile cardiac structures and blood flow in cardiac cavities. Novel techniques for myocardial imaging, such as tissue Doppler and acoustic marker tracing, allow for the assessment of regional myocardial contractility of the left and the right ventricle. Cardiac assessment is performed in standard views characterized by an optimal acoustic window. The goal of each cardiac echo is to assess cardiac function and morphology using all available imaging modes. The evaluation of acquired valvular heart diseases should include morphological and functional changes indicative of the type (stenosis, regurgitation, complex defect) and the mechanism (Carpentier’s classification of mitral regurgitation) of the defect, as well as its stage (mild, moderate, severe). The assessment of left and right ventricular function should involve the measurement of global and regional parameters. An echocardiographic report should also include information on septal continuity and the presence of additional structures or intracardiac masses.

Echocardiography in adults

Journal of Ultrasonography

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Echocardiography in adults"}

Transthoracic echocardiography is the primary non-invasive modality for anatomical and functional cardiac assessment. All one-, two-dimensional and Doppler...

Echocardiography in adults

Article Category: review

Published Online: Apr 30, 2019

Page range: 54 - 61

Received: Aug 15, 2018

Accepted: Feb 19, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2019.0008

Keywords
transthoracic echocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, heart valve morphology, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function

© 2019 Edyta Płońska-Gościniak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Echocardiography in adults

Article Category: review

Published Online: Apr 30, 2019

Page range: 54 - 61

Received: Aug 15, 2018

Accepted: Feb 19, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2019.0008

Keywordstransthoracic echocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, heart valve morphology, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function

© 2019 Edyta Płońska-Gościniak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
transthoracic echocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, heart valve morphology, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function