Gated Transmit and Fresnel-Based Receive Beamforming With a Phased Array for Low-Cost Ultrasound Imaging.

Low-cost ultrasound imaging systems are desired for many applications outside of radiology and cardiology departments. By making ultrasound systems smaller and lower cost, the use of ultrasound has spread from these mainstays to other areas of the hospital such as emergency departments and critical care. To further miniaturize and reduce the cost of ultrasound systems, we have investigated novel Fresnel-based beamforming methods to reduce front-end hardware requirements.

MR findings of collateral circulation are more accurate measures of hemodynamic significance than arm-leg blood pressure gradient after repair of coarctation of the aorta.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between percent stenosis and three indicators of hemodynamic significance-arm-leg blood pressure gradient, direct visualization of collaterals, and percent increase flow from proximal to distal descending thoracic aorta-in patients with prior repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoA).

Materials And Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of 19 patients with prior repair of CoA were retrospectively reviewed. Percent stenosis was compared to the arm-leg blood pressure gradient as obtained from chart review, the depiction of collaterals by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and the percent increased flow in the distal thoracic aorta as measured by velocity-encoded cine MRI.

Cardiovascular-radical outcome method is effective in complex congenital cardiac lesions.

Background: The cardiovascular-radical outcome method is a proactive process of patient care that uses standard critical pathway methodology to reduce negative variation while encouraging positive variation to accelerate recovery. Its effectiveness in patients with complex congenital heart disease is explored.

Methods: Two hundred fourteen consecutive patients with congenital heart disease were cared for using the cardiovascular radical outcome method.

Fetal echocardiography: retrospective review of clinical experience and an evaluation of indications.

Objective: To assess the indications, use, and yield of fetal echocardiography.

Methods: We reviewed our 8-year experience with fetal echocardiography at a large health maintenance organization in northern California to assess the yield of abnormal findings for each indication and the accuracy of prenatal cardiac diagnosis. The study included 915 fetuses undergoing fetal echocardiography between 18-38 weeks' gestation because of accepted indications.