[Relation between cavo-tricuspid isthmus anatomy studied by transesophageal echocardiography and the immediate outcome of radiofrequency ablation of common atrial flutter].

Radiofrequency ablation is the only curative treatment of common atrial flutter. The aim of the treatment is to create a line of bidirectional block at the level of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus. This objective can be achieved in the vast majority of the patients.

Diagnosis of aortic valvular stenosis by multislice cardiac computed tomography.

Aims: Current improvements in spatial, temporal, and contrast resolution of multislice computed tomography (CT) could be useful in the assessment of valvular diseases. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of multislice CT for the identification and quantification of aortic valvular stenosis (AS), compared with echography.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients, referred for coronary CT, were evaluated for AS, by the use of standard electrocardiography-gated 16-slice CT protocol.

[Left ventricular opacification: improved detection of global and regional wall motion at rest].

Contrast echocardiography is officially validated for improvement of endocardial visualization in patients with poor acoustic window. In fact, and due to its cost, contrast injection is nowadays limited to few cases in standard echocardiography: LV volume measurement, LV thrombi, wall motion analysis.

[Recommendations of the French Society of Cardiology for the training of echocardiographers and performing echocardiograms].

The considerable advances achieved in the field of echocardiography have made this investigation an essential diagnostic tool. Under the auspices of the French Society of Cardiology, the Working group on Echocardiography publishes its practical recommendations for optimising the training of echocardiographers (theoretical instruction and practical courses) and for performing echocardiography (understanding the clinical problem, referral to previous examinations, necessary recordings and measurements, and appropriate equipment). In the future, these recommendations should be updated to take into account continuing technical improvements and changes in methods of studying cardiac disease by echocardiography.

[Guidelines of the French Society of Cardiology on the training of echocardiographers and the performing of echocardiography].

The considerable advances achieved in the field of echocardiography have made this investigation an essential diagnostic tool. Under the auspices of the French Society of Cardiology, the Working group on Echocardiography publishes its practical recommendations for optimising the training of echocardiographers (theoretical instruction and practical courses) and for performing echocardiography (understanding the clinical problem, referral to previous examinations, necessary recordings and measurements, and appropriate equipment). In the future, these recommendations should be updated to take into account continuing technical improvements and changes in methods of studying cardiac disease by echocardiography.