Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Mar 2014
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyAnalysis of left ventricular volumes and function: a multicenter comparison of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cine ventriculography, and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography.
Contrast echocardiography improves accuracy and reduces interreader variability on left ventricular (LV) functional analyses in the setting of two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. The need for contrast imaging using three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is less defined. The aim of this multicenter study was to define the accuracy and interreader agreement of unenhanced and contrast-enhanced 2D and 3D echocardiography for the assessment of LV volumes and ejection fraction (EF). ⋯ Contrast administration on 3D echocardiography results in improved determination of LV volumes and reduced interreader variability. The use of 3D echocardiography requires contrast application as much as 2D echocardiography to reduce interreader variability for volumes and EF.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Mar 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyMyocardial deformation imaging by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for prediction of global and segmental functional changes after acute myocardial infarction: a comparison with late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance.
Myocardial deformation analysis by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has been shown to accurately predict viability in patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate two-dimensional STE for the prediction of global and segmental LV functional changes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in comparison with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). ⋯ Two-dimensional STE allows the prediction of global functional recovery as well as LV remodeling after AMI with accuracy comparable with that of LGE CMR. Accuracy to predict segmental functional recovery using transmural deformation analysis by two-dimensional STE is inferior compared with LGE CMR but can be improved by a layer-specific analysis of endocardial deformation.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyUse of three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for quantitative assessment of global left ventricular function: a comparative study to three-dimensional echocardiography.
The aim of this study was to determine whether global strains derived from three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) are as accurate as left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) obtained by two-dimensional (2D) and 3D echocardiography in the quantification of LV function. ⋯ Global strain by 3D STE is a promising novel alternative to quantitatively assess LV function. Three-dimensional STE is reproducible, feasible, and time efficient.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Mar 2014
Development and evaluation of methodologies for teaching focused cardiac ultrasound skills to medical students.
Handheld ultrasound is emerging as an important tool for point-of-care cardiac assessment. Although cardiac ultrasound skills are traditionally introduced during postgraduate training, the optimal time and methodology to initiate training in focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) are unknown. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel curriculum for training medical students in the use of FCU. ⋯ Third-year medical students were able to acquire FCU image acquisition and interpretation skills after a novel training program. Self-directed electronic modules are effective for teaching introductory FCU interpretation skills, while expert-guided training is important for developing scanning technique.