[Improved identification of suitable patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy by transthoracic echocardiography].

Transthoracic echocardiography provides numerous options for the evaluation and quantification of contractile cardiac asynchrony in patients with advanced heart failure. Important information on the presence of asynchrony can be obtained already during a standard routine examination with conventional techniques (2D, M-mode and Doppler). Newer techniques such as tissue Doppler imaging and real-time 3D-echocardiography enable us to better quantify the degree of asynchrony. The following article describes the echocardiographic features of asynchrony and algorithms for the improved identification of suitable patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy.