Echocardiography in pulmonary vascular disease.
The assessment of pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular function, right ventricular filling pressure, and tricuspid regurgitation provides invaluable information in the care of patients with pulmonary vascular disease. Echocardiography provides a rapid, noninvasive, portable, and accurate method to evaluate these parameters and also provides information on left ventricular and valvular function. Echocardiography has therefore become one of the most commonly performed diagnostic studies in patients with pulmonary vascular disease, and the technique's applications in this area are likely to grow. This article presents an overview of the current uses of echocardiography in pulmonary vascular disease and pulmonary hypertension.
Daniels
Lori B
LB
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.
Krummen
David E
DE
Blanchard
Daniel G
DG
D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging