The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has released a paper to help clinicians learn more about the use of ultrasound contrast media in medical imaging.
The paper, titled "Guidelines for the Cardiac Sonographer in the Performance of Contrast Echocardiography: A Focused Update from the American Society of Echocardiography," is designed to expand the use of ultrasound enhancing agents in patient testing, particularly in new and growing areas of cardiovascular care.
The writing group for this updated guideline was chaired by Dr. Thomas R. Porter, chair of cardiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
There is a significant need for sonographers and physicians to be updated on software and techniques to enhance technically difficult echoes, which are most common in overweight patients or those in critical care units who cannot be easily positioned for optimal imaging, Porter said.
This enhancement, he added, allows sonographers to better detect myocardial ischemia at rest and during stress echocardiography and enhance Doppler signals and assessing intracardiac masses.
