Contrast Echocardiography

Contrast Echocardiography is a highly diagnostic, specialized cardiological exam that is used to improve the imaging of the heart in examinees with poor image quality.
The test is based on the intravenous administration of contrast or saline and lasts a few minutes. It is considered a safe and routine exam.

• Improving imaging in subjects with poor image quality (eg patients with chronic lung disease-COPD, obesity, structural variants of the chest, etc.), with the aim of detailed assessment of anatomy and heart function, especially when accurate measurements are required. It is estimated that up to 20% of the examinees have poor image quality. The use of contrast media effectively improves imaging and drastically reduces the need for additional and expensive examinations (eg MRI of the heart).
• Detection of heart thrombi in patients with underlying heart disease.
• Diagnosis of specific heart diseases, such as complications after acute myocardial infarction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, non-compaction myocardium.
• Detection of communication between cardiac chambers (eg patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defect, etc.) in selected examinees.
• Evaluation of cardiac perfusion during Stress Echo.

The use of saline is safe with an extremely low chance of side effects.
   The contrast agents used are not related to those of other imaging teqniques (eg CT or MRI scans), have no adverse, toxic effects on renal function, and the possibility of an allergic reaction is extremely rare (<1 / 10,000).

Initially a small cannula is inserted into a peripheral vein in the arm. Then, a small amount of contrast or saline is injected. The doctor performs a simple but at the same time specialized heart ultrasound. After a few minutes the examinee can follow his/her daily schedule without restrictions.

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Contrast Echocardiography is a safe, routine examination performed on a daily basis in hospitals and diagnostic centers in the United Kingdom.

The diagnostic reliability and safety of the test requires the following:

 • To be performed by a certified, experienced and specialized cardiologist.
 • Presence of experienced nursing staff.
 • Use of modern technological equipment.