[Significance of echocardiographic examination in controlling the function of the transplanted heart].

Echocardiographic examination helps to assess the structure and functioning of transplanted heart. In early post-transplantation period, the right cardiac ventricle is usually enlarged in ECHO records, and pulmonary pressure is elevated. Both size and functioning of the left ventricle are usually normal in both early and late periods following transplantation. Endomyocardial biopsy remains a basic diagnostic technique in transplant rejection. Echocardiography is a valuable non-invasive technique enabling to diagnose moderate to severe transplant rejection. The most valuable for the diagnosis of transplanted heart rejection are changes in the left ventricle diastolic indices (prolongation of relaxation time and half-life of pressures gradient across mitral valve). Remote prognosis in heart recipients depends on the progressing left ventricle dysfunction, mainly diastolic, and vasculopathy developing in the late postoperative period.