Quantitative myocardial contrast supine bicycle stress echocardiography for detection of coronary artery disease.

Background: If compared with two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), quantitative myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) improves detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) during pharmacological stress, but there is paucity of data regarding quantitative MCE performed during supine bicycle stress.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility and accuracy of quantitative MCE and assess its incremental benefit over 2DE for detection of CAD during supine bicycle stress.

Methods: Sixty-one consecutive patients (47 males, 14 females, mean age 57 ± 12 years) with suspected CAD, who were scheduled for coronary angiography, underwent 2DE and MCE supine bicycle stress.

Myocardial contrast echocardiography enhances long-term prognostic value of supine bicycle stress two-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the incremental prognostic value of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) over two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) in patients undergoing supine bicycle stress.

Methods: Eighty-four patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease who underwent supine bicycle stress with 2DE and MCE (mean age, 58.5 +/- 9.

Percutaneous treatment of idiopathic chylopericardium.

Chylopericardium is a rare disease that may result from a variety of causes, such as cardiac surgery, trauma, obstruction of the thoracic duct near its drainage into the subclavian vein, or have no identifiable underlying cause. The present report describes a case of idiopathic chylopericardium in which percutaneous transabdominal occlusion of the thoracic duct was performed as an alternative to surgical duct ligation. The procedure was successful, resulting in a decrease in pericardial fluid accumulation.

Impact of previous myocardial infarction on the incremental value of myocardial contrast to two-dimensional supine bicycle stress echocardiography in evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Background: If compared to two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) improves detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) during pharmacological stress, but data on MCE vs. 2DE during supine bicycle stress is limited. Although previous myocardial infarction (MI) influences sensitivity of 2DE, its effect on MCE has not been evaluated.

Real time myocardial contrast echocardiography during supine bicycle stress and continuous infusion of contrast agent. Cutoff values for myocardial contrast replenishment discriminating abnormal myocardial perfusion.

Background: Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is a new imaging modality for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate feasibility of qualitative myocardial contrast replenishment (RP) assessment during supine bicycle stress MCE and find out cutoff values for such analysis, which could allow accurate detection of CAD.

Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients, scheduled for coronary angiography (CA) underwent supine bicycle stress two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE).

Diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease by myocardial contrast echocardiography during supine bicycle stress.

Introduction: Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is a new imaging modality for diagnosing ischaemic heart disease (IHD).

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess 1) the feasibility of MCE during supine bicycle stress and 2) the value of this method in the diagnosis of IHD.

Methods: Supine bicycle stress was performed in 44 consecutive patients (pts) referred for coronary angiography with an intermediate pre-test probability of IHD.

Analysis of regional left ventricular function by cineventriculography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography: a multicenter comparison of methods.

Objectives: To define the use of cineventriculography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography for detection of left ventricular (LV) regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA).

Background: Detection of RWMA is integral to the evaluation of LV function.

Methods: In 100 patients, cineventriculography and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography were performed.

Assessment of systolic left ventricular function: a multi-centre comparison of cineventriculography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography.

Aims: To assess the agreement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determinations from unenhanced echocardiography, contrast-enhanced echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cineventriculography as well as the inter-observer agreement for each method.

Methods And Results: In 120 patients, with evenly distributed EF-groups (> 55, 35-55, < 35%), cineventriculography, unenhanced echocardiography with second harmonic imaging, and contrast echocardiography at low mechanical index with iv administration of SonoVue were performed. In addition, cardiac MRI at 1.

Echoscintigraphy: a new imaging modality for the reduction of color blooming and acoustic shadowing in contrast sonography.

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a new imaging modality (echoscintigraphy) to reduce color blooming and acoustic shadowing in contrast sonography. After injection of various amounts (700 to 40,000 bubbles/mL) of the echo contrast agent SH-U 563A into a flow phantom, artificial vessels were insonated in the intermittent harmonic-power Doppler imaging (H-PDI) mode. The receive gain was varied from 50% to 75%.