Chong Adrian, Haluska Brian, Wahi Sudhir
Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, 199 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane 4102, Australia.
Indian Heart J. 2013 May-Jun;65(3):337-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ihj.2013.04.002. Epub 2013 Apr 6.
Technically difficult echocardiographic studies with suboptimal images remain a significant challenge in clinical practice despite advances in imaging technologies over the past decades. Use of microbubble ultrasound contrast for left ventricular opacification and enhancement of endocardial border detection during rest or stress echocardiography has become an essential component of the operation of the modern echocardiography laboratory. Contrast echocardiography has been demonstrated to improve diagnostic accuracy and confidence across a range of indications including quantitative assessment of left ventricular systolic function, wall motion analysis, and left ventricular structural abnormalities. Enhancement of Doppler signals and myocardial contrast echocardiography for perfusion remain off-label uses. Implementation of a contrast protocol is feasible for most laboratories and both physicians and sonographers will require training in contrast specific imaging techniques for optimal use. Previous concerns regarding the safety of contrast agents have since been addressed by more recent data supporting its excellent safety profile and overall cost-effectiveness.
尽管在过去几十年中成像技术取得了进步，但技术上具有挑战性且图像欠佳的超声心动图检查在临床实践中仍然是一项重大挑战。在静息或负荷超声心动图检查期间，使用微泡超声造影剂使左心室显影并增强心内膜边界检测，已成为现代超声心动图实验室操作的重要组成部分。超声造影已被证明可提高一系列适应症的诊断准确性和可信度，包括左心室收缩功能的定量评估、壁运动分析和左心室结构异常。增强多普勒信号和心肌灌注超声造影仍属于未获批准的用途。对大多数实验室来说，实施造影方案是可行的，医生和超声检查人员都需要接受造影特定成像技术的培训，以实现最佳使用。此前对造影剂安全性的担忧已被更多支持其良好安全性和总体成本效益的数据所解决。
