[The diagnosis of coronary disease and of myocardial ischemia by means of echocardiography].

An attempt is made to define the respective roles of one- and two-dimensional echocardiography in the evaluation of coronary heart disease and myocardial ischemia. The two methods have their advantages and drawbacks and are complementary. Echocardiography provides information on the motion of the various ventricular segments; when the technical quality of the recording is good, it shows excellent correlation with left ventriculography. Echocardiographic diagnosis of myocardial ischemia usually implies provocative manoeuvres which are difficult to perform. Finally, echocardiography is an excellent method for the evaluation and follow-up of patients with acute myocardial infarction.