Contrast Echocardiography: An Update on Clinical Applications

Abstract

Contrast echocardiography is considered by many as the Holy Grail for the assessment of heart disease, including coronary artery disease, structural abnormalities and cardiomyopathies. Although contrast agents have been severely criticized at times, they are now officially implemented into an extended variety of clinical applications, as illustrated by the American and European echocardiographic societies published consensus statements. The current review highlights contrast major clinical applications under the light of current literature data.

The management of patent foramen ovale in divers: where do we stand?

“…For the detection of PFO, contrast agent should be administered or bubble test should be performed. 34 Although numerous studies support that contrast-enhanced TTE is equally accurate to TOE for PFO diagnosis, TOE is considered as the gold standard in both guidelines and clinical practice. Nevertheless, TTE is more useful than TOE in the detection and quantification of the bubbles occurring after dive.…”