Echocardiography: Navigating Complexities to Provide Many Useful Applications in Contemporary Clinical Cardiology

Abstract

Echocardiography has been around for more than half a century [1]. Recent decades have seen significant technological advances, with increasing clinical applications of this non-invasive imaging tool, beyond the basic assessment of left ventricular function, with further evolution evident on the horizon. There has also been a burgeoning increase in use: According to the 2017 Australian Medicare Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Taskforce, about 900,000 echocardiographic procedures (excluding stress echo) are reimbursed annually, at a cost of over $180 million each year [2]. In addition, the use of echo is growing at a rate of about 8.8% each year [3]. Stress echocardiography accounts for over $56 million in billing annually in Australia and has grown each year at a rate of 12% for the past 5 years [4]. In recognition of this expanding use, this fully commissioned Special Issue of Heart, Lung and Circulation presents an overview of contemporary practice in echocardiography.

A new perspective: Fat tissue and adipokines in rheumatic heart valves

“…8 Through three-dimensional volume measurement, the heart shape and structure can be truly stereoscopic, with good repeatability and high accuracy. 9 The Echocardiography of the present study revealed a fatty mass structure on the valves in the rheumatic mitral valve. In addition, we found that the damaged valve turned into fatty yellow adipose tissue under the naked eye, which also suggested that the damaged valve lesions were associated with adipose tissue changes, which suggested that adipokines were involved.…”

“…Echocardiography is recommended by the World Heart Federation for the screening and diagnosis of RHD 8 . Through three‐dimensional volume measurement, the heart shape and structure can be truly stereoscopic, with good repeatability and high accuracy 9 . The Echocardiography of the present study revealed a fatty mass structure on the valves in the rheumatic mitral valve.…”

Clinical Impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Internal Medicine Inpatients: A Systematic Review

“…The addition of POCUS to the standard clinical assessment has the potential to influence all facets of health care, from the immediate medical decisionmaking process to the health care system more broadly. This effect is probably greater in resource-limited locations where access to comprehensive studies can be restricted (Gregory et al 2019).…”