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.

Roberto Lang, MD, explains how AI can help novice users get diagnostic quality cardiac echo exams at ASE 2023.#ASE #AI #ASE2023

AI can help novice sonographers deliver optimal echocardiograms

Roberto Lang, MD, has been closely involved with the development of AI technology that helps inexperienced ultrasound users perform high-quality echo exams. "It is an unbelievable thing when you see it working," he said. 

Balloon expansion deployment of an Edwards Lifesciences Sapien 3 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device.

TAVR vs. surgery: Exploring 5-year outcomes among intermediate-risk patients

A group of renowned TAVR specialists examined data from 783 pairs of intermediate-risk patients, sharing their findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Ted Abraham, MD, explains ASE efforts to increase HCM education and standardization of care. #HCM #ASE #ASE23 #ASE2023

All eyes are on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy now that a drug treatment is in place

Ted Abraham, MD, explained why HCM has entered the limelight at recent cardiology conferences, including ASE 2023.

Roberto Lang, MD, explained the AI advances in echocardiography that will make it a requirement to have in the coming years at ASE 2023. #ASE #AIhealthcare #ASE2023

Echo labs not using AI will be left behind

Echocardiography expert Roberto Lang, MD, says artificial intelligence will be so important to cardiac ultrasound in the near future that echo labs not using it will be inefficient and less accurate than labs that do use it.

James Kirkpatrick, MD, explains the key trends at ASE 2023. #ASE23 #ASE2023

Key takeaways in cardiac ultrasound from ASE 2023

James Kirkpatrick, MD, discussed some of the biggest trends and themes he saw at the American Society of Echocardiography's 2023 annual meeting.

Imaging companies join forces to deliver AI-guided echocardiography exams

The collaboration, announced at ASE 2023, was launched in the name of patient access. 

Artificial intelligence automated measurements on an echocardiogram on the Siemens SyngoDynamics cardiovascular imaging and information solution. AI is helping speed workflows and complete tedious tasks faster and more accurately that humans, allowing sonographers and cardiologists to be more efficient. Photo by Dave Fornell

AI technologies to be featured heavily at ASE 2023

Artificial intelligence will be one of the hottest topics at the upcoming American Society of Echocardiography meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. 

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

Heart damage after TAVR: Follow-up imaging helps cardiologists anticipate problems

While cardiac damage reverses in many patients following treatment, it can actually continue to get worse in others. 

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.