Echocardiographic assessment of myocardial ischemia

Abstract

Over the last 60 years, echocardiography has emerged as a dominant and indispensable technique for the detection and assessment of coronary heart disease (CHD). In this review, we will describe and discuss this powerful tool of cardiology, especially in the hands of an experienced user, with a focus on myocardial ischemia.Technical development is still on-going, and various new ultrasound techniques have been established in the field of echocardiography in the last several years, including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), contrast echocardiography, three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE), and speckle tracking echocardiography (i.e., strain/strain rateechocardiography). High-end equipment with harmonic imaging, high frame rates and the opportunity to adjust mechanical indices has improved imaging quality. Like all new techniques, these techniques must first be subjected to comprehensive scientific assessment, and appropriate training that accounts for physical and physiological limits should be provided. These limits will constantly be redefined as echocardiographic techniques continue to change, which will present new challenges for the further development of ultrasound technology.

Associations between ECG changes and echocardiographic findings in patients with acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

“…Echocardiography has a central role in the diagnosis and risk stratification of acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients [5]. Newer techniques, such as tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography, have emerged as valuable diagnostic and prognostic tools in patients with acute coronary syndrome [6].…”

Protective effects of Xinji′erkang on myocardial infarction induced cardiac injury in mice

“…Thus, condition of LV remodeling could be used as a predictive factor for mortality and morbidity in patients with MI [ 7 ]. Electrocardiography (ECG) has become the most commonly used technique for the assessment of heart disease [ 8 ]. Wang et al reported that the use of the ECG score system was the best diagnositic tool in the estimation of ischemia conditions with quantitative analysis of change in the ST-segments for either anterior or inferior LV [ 9 ].…”

Perioperative echocardiography-guided hemodynamic therapy in high-risk patients: a practical expert approach of hemodynamically focused echocardiography

“…If conservative therapy does not improve DO 2 , mechanical support and/or implantation of a left ventricular microaxial pump may be discussed. Lastly, if (new) regional wall motion abnormalities are detected, specifically LV wall hypokinesia, akinesia or dyskinesia [ 82 ], this may hint at specific cause such as myocardial infarction or Takotsubo syndrome, which require specific diagnostic testing (e.g. electrocardiogram, cardiac enzymes, coronary angiography) and treatment.…”