Doppler echocardiography: a contemporary review.

The 2D echocardiographic examination of the heart provides insight into structure and function, providing a precise anatomical display of the cardiovascular anatomy with high temporal resolution. Prior to advances in 2D imaging, Doppler echocardiography had been the mainstay of cardiovascular noninvasive assessment. Doppler echocardiography, remains an integral part of the cardiovascular echocardiographic examination, providing a precise hemodyanamic evaluation of the heart. Both systolic and diastolic function can be quantitated by blood pool and tissue Doppler. Pressure gradients, intracardiac pressures, valve areas, regurgitant volume, and shunt volume can be noninvasively determined reliably. Based on Doppler hemodynamics as well as on 2D echocardiography, most of hemodynamic conditions can be managed surgically as well as medically without invasive hemodynamic measurements. We present a review of these current applications of Doppler echocardiography.