Emergency Echocardiography : Principles and Practice

A unique feature of current echocardiography machines is their mobility, which allows examinations to be carried out wherever necessary -- from echocardiographic laboratories to emergency departments, wards, catheterization labs, electrophysiology labs and operating theatres.

Information about the structure and function of the heart and its hemodynamics can be obtained relatively rapidly and such information is of incomparable value for decision making in cardiovascular emergencies and the critically ill.Emergency Echocardiography outlines specific echocardiographic features and procedures pertinent to emergency situations, in particular cardiologic severe acute illnesses.

Thus, it is not an introduction into echocardiography in general, and assumes a basic knowledge of the technique.

It should serve as a guide to rapid, up-to-date echocardiographic evaluation of life-threatening clinical situations.Emergency Echocardiography consists of state-of-the-art reviews on the role of cardiac ultrasound in emergency clinical settings.

International experts discuss the use of echocardiography in acute coronary syndromes, acute native and prosthetic valve disease, cardiac tamponade, acute diseases of the great vessels, cardiac-related embolism, cardiac arrest, chest trauma and cardiogenic shock.

Specific problems related to intraoperative echocardiography, echocardiography in the emergency room and the use of portable echo machines in the emergency setting were also addressed.

Since echocardiography is already incorporated into patient management algorithms for the majority of cardiac emergencies, special efforts were made by the contributors to underline its diagnostic power.

Importantly, the limitations of echocardiography in specific clinical situations are also discussed.

Additionally, the role and potential advantages of special echocardiographic techniques, such as transesophageal echocardiography, are discussed whenever appropriate.