[The non-invasive catheterization laboratory].
The objective of this review was to explore the clinical relevance of Doppler echocardiographic techniques in the evaluation of right and left ventricular function. It is well known that echocardiographic and Doppler analysis are able to provide information about several hemodynamic parameters, such as cardiac output, diastolic filling pressure, vascular resistances and pulmonary arterial pressures. This integrated approach, completely reliable and non-invasive, could allow to obtain useful information not only from a diagnostic and prognostic point of view but also for a potential therapeutic management, either pharmacological or surgical. This review summarizes the current knowledge and the emerging applications of echocardiographic and Doppler techniques focusing on the close correlation between Doppler-derived data and those coming from invasive techniques. On the basis of these evidences, the importance, even in daily clinical practice, of a non-invasive catheterization laboratory is clear and able to supply key information about ventricular function and, at the same time, to avoid expensive and unpleasant invasive procedures for patients.
Sciomer
Susanna
S
Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiovascolari, Respiratorie e Morfologiche, I Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi "La Sapienza", Policlinico Umberto I, Viale del Policlinico, 155 00161 Roma. susanna.sciomer@uniroma1.it
Galderisi
Maurizio
M
Magrí
Damiano
D
Goffredo
Costanza
C
Ansalone
Gerardo
G
Dini
Frank Lloyd
FL
Di Salvo
Giovanni
G
Gallina
Sabina
S
Mele
Donato
D
Montisci
Roberta
R
Nistri
Stefano
S
Mondillo
Sergio
S
Di Bello
Vitantonio
V
Marino
Paolo Nicola
PN
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans