Contrast Echocardiography: Experience in a Clinical Echocardiography Laboratory

Although 2-dimensional echocardiography with adjunct intravenous contrast media improves endocardial visualization and enhances quality of spectral Doppler signals, widespread use of contrast agents has not occurred for various reasons. Results from this study indicate that discretionary use of contrast media will enhance endocardial and Doppler signal visualization scores without an impact on total procedure duration, lending credence to an argument for a lower threshold for discretionary use of contrast media.