Main description:

Echocardiography is a powerful diagnostic tool that allows assessment of cardiac function, detection of cardiovascular abnormalities, and measurement of physiological parameters such as valvular function and left ventricular ejection fraction. Taking a step-by-step approach to transthoracic echocardiography, Making Sense of Echocardiography is the ideal handbook for anyone preparing for the Transthoracic Echocardiography accreditation examination of the British Society of Echocardiography. The handbook's 'how to' approach makes it the ideal reference text for the practicing sonographer.

Making Sense of Echocardiography provides a clinical context for each echo study and includes the latest published guidelines on what to do with the results.  Transthoracic echocardiography is covered throughout with clear step-by-step guidance on how to perform each study, evaluate your findings and write your report. Separate chapters describe the use of transoesophageal and stress echocardiography. Newer modalities such as 3D and tissue Doppler imaging are covered alongside traditional ultrasound methods, providing a complete snapshot of echocardiography and its applications in cardiac medicine today.

As an up-to-date, accessible, and clearly-written overview of echocardiography, this book is unrivalled.  It is an essential guide for Cardiologists, Cardiac Technicians, Primary Care Physicians, specialist nurses, and anyone with an interest in cardiac imaging.

Contents:

ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES
History of echocardiography
Cardiac anatomy and physiology
Physics and instrumentation
Doppler physics
Service provision

CARDIAC IMAGING TECHNIQUES
The transthoracic echo study
The transoesophageal echo study
The stress echo study
Advanced echo techniques
Alternative cardiac imaging techniques

CLINICAL CASES
The left heart and its function
Coronary artery disease and regional left ventricular function
The aortic valve
The mitral valve
The right heart
Heart valve repair and replacement
Endocarditis
The cardiomyopathies
The pericardium
The aorta
Cardiac masses
Congenital heart disease
Common echo requests

Echo resources
Help with the next edition
Index