Technical Aspects of Contrast-enhanced Echocardiography: Machine, Software Implementation, and Contrast Administration Techniques – SDMS

Echocardiography is an important imaging modality for quantitative and qualitative evaluation of cardiac anatomy, physiology, and function. It has the proven advantages of providing dynamic, real-time imaging without exposing patients to ionizing radiation. The use of contrast during echocardiography, otherwise referred to as CE echocardiography, provides increased visualization of cardiac structures and blood flow. For the full potential of CE echocardiography to be realized in clinical practice, sonographers need to become well versed in contrast-specific machine settings, software utilization, and contrast administration techniques. In addition, sonographers need to be able to troubleshoot why certain images may be suboptimal and how to adjust machine, software, and/or contrast settings to improve their performance in practice and thus the diagnostic quality of the examinations they perform.