Stress echocardiography  with semi-supine bicycle.
BACKGROUND
Stress-related symptoms are often the reason that patients with cardiac disease are referred for echocardiographic assessment. We present a method for echocardiographic assessment with concurrent physiological stress where the patient is tested on a semi-supine bicycle, in a half-sitting, tilted position.


METHODS
The paper is based on a literature search of PubMed and own experience of the method.


RESULTS
Ergometric stress echocardiography can be used for a number of cardiac conditions where an assessment of cardiac and haemodynamic response to physiological stress is wanted. Evaluation and follow-up of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, coarctation/recoarctation, mitral and aortic valve disorders have hitherto been the most important groups. The method can also provide important information about pulmonary hypertension and congenital heart defects.


CONCLUSIONS
Ergometric stress echocardiography is a non-invasive method with little risk. It is a test that is relatively simple to conduct, and an important supplement to invasive methods.
Seksjon for hjerteultralyd, Kardiologisk avdeling, Oslo universitetssykehus, Rikshospitalet, Norway. helsku@ous-hf.no
Helge
H
Skulstad
Svend
S
Aakhus
D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D016683:Supine Position