Intracardiac echocardiography: Current uses and future directions

Advances in transducer technology have enabled development of catheter-base d ultrasound imaging devices that produce very high resolution images of ve ssels and cardiac structures. Although the majority of clinical use has bee n in, the evaluation of the coronary and peripheral vasculature, a broad sp ectrum of cardiac applications continue to develop, including evaluations o f the ventricles, valves, and great vessels, as well as the guidance of ele ctrophysiological procedures. Specifically, introduction of the ultrasound catheter into the heart results in dynamic, real-time images for assessment and quantitation of ventricular systolic function, severity of valve steno sis, and extent of regurgitant orifices. The intracardiac applications have the potential to become the gold standard for quantitation of valve dynami cs and a critical tool in the ICU for prolonged monitoring of cardiac physi ology.