[The digital image archive--its clinical applications and importance in cardiology consulting by telemedicine].

The revolution in digital technology is rapidly changing the world of telecommunications. Its applications to Medicine, and in particular to Cardiology, offer enormous benefits since communication is an essential part of medical practice. The need to improve the management of medical information is critical because of the explosion of medical knowledge, and the need to provide comprehensive documentation on patient care. The availability of a network offers many possibilities for clinical, research and teaching activities. Relevant, up-to-date scientific information is instantly available for analysis and interaction. The authors review the issue of digital communications as well as its potential application to Telemedicine, and present their preliminary experience with digital analysis and storage of echocardiographic images.