CONTRAST ECHOCARDIOGRAPH
Contrast echocardiography is a technique for improving echocardiographic resolution and providing real time assessment of intracardiac blood flow. Agitated saline contrast provides contrast in the right heart and enables detection of right to left shunts. Opacification of the left ventricular (LV) cavity by contrast agents developed to traverse the pulmonary vasculature permits improved endocardial border detection. Contrast echocardiography can also enhance delineation of Doppler signal. Additional uses of contrast echocardiography are to assess myocardial perfusion and viability.
