Role of echocardiography in the treatment of cardiac tamponade.

Accumulation of fluid within the pericardial sac results in elevation of intrapericardial pressure with consequent cardiac compression or tamponade. Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition which requires urgent evacuation of pericardial effusion (PE). Current pericardial evacuation techniques and approaches are varied.

Evaluation of non-ST segment elevation acute chest pain syndromes with a novel low-profile continuous imaging ultrasound transducer.

Background: This investigation was designed to test the hypothesis that continuous cardiac imaging using an ultrasound transducer developed in our laboratory (ContiScan) is superior to electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with acute non-ST segment elevation chest pain syndromes.

Methods: Seventy patients with intermediate to high probability of CAD who presented with typical anginal chest pain and no evidence of ST segment elevation on the ECG were studied. The 2.

Implications of acute left ventricular remodeling during squatting stress echocardiography.

Background: We previously demonstrated that squatting induces left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities (WMA) in areas subtended by stenotic coronary arteries. In addition, it was observed that some subjects developed acute changes in LV shape (acute left ventricular remodeling [ALVRM]) during squatting.

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that patients with ALVRM during squatting echocardiography have higher incidences of severe coronary artery disease (CAD).

Comparison of squatting stress echocardiography and dobutamine stress echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Background: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is commonly used for the diagnosis for coronary artery disease (CAD). We previously demonstrated that squatting induces wall motion abnormalities (WMA) in areas subtended by stenotic coronary arteries.

Objective: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that dobutamine and squatting stress echocardiography are equally useful for the diagnosis of CAD.

Detection of wall motion abnormalities during ambulatory echocardiography using a novel ultrasound transducer.

Background: This investigation was designed to determine whether transient wall motion abnormalities due to myocardial ischemia induced by walking could be detected by ambulatory echocardiography.

Methods: Two groups were studied. Group 1 consisted of 10 males (mean age 34 years) who had no symptoms of angina.