Visualization and analysis software firm Epsilon Imaging is highlighting a study of its EchoInsight software that was presented at the recent American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) meeting in Minneapolis.
Researchers from the University of Chicago used EchoInsight for assessing changes in left ventricular (LV) function during serial echo studies. EchoInsight analyzes images acquired during serial exams and provides a visual display of changes in LV ejection fraction, peak systolic global longitudinal strain, or both.
The researchers tested EchoInsight on 30 subjects who each had two echo studies performed at four-week intervals. As the reference standard, ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain were analyzed separately with a commercial software package, and an expert reader classified any changes. Finally, an inexperienced reader then performed the same analysis.
They then tested the accuracy of EchoInsight, which was used to analyze the same set of images. The researchers found that readers using the software were faster than with the commercial application, with an average analysis and interpretation time of 15 ± 5 minutes for EchoInsight versus 27 ± 5 minutes for the commercial application.
The researchers concluded that the use of EchoInsight provided quick, easy, and accurate interpretation of changes in left ventricular function, and could improve the follow-up of patients undergoing treatments that are potentially damaging to the heart, such as chemotherapy.
