News | Congenital Heart | June 29, 2021

Ultrasound Contrast Agents Greatly Aids in Complex Congenital Heart Imaging

Images from the ASE presentation. Left, UEA echo showing focal narrowing of the SCPC anastomosis and the same view on invasive angiography. Right, UAE echo showing complete occlusion of pulmonary artery and angiography showing the same view.

Images from the ASE presentation. Left, UEA echo showing focal narrowing of the SCPC anastomosis and the same view on invasive angiography. Right, UAE echo showing complete occlusion of pulmonary artery and angiography showing the same view.


June 29, 2021 – Echocardiography with ultrasound enhancing agents (UEAs) has proven to be a valuable imaging procedure after surgery for children born with single ventricle congenital heart disease (CHD). This heart defect occurs when one of the two ventricles is not large enough or strong enough to work correctly. Research presented at the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 2021 virtual meeting, June 18-21, highlights how echocardiography with UEAs in CHD patients post-operatively can improve diagnostic capabilities and decrease the need for additional testing.

Children with single ventricle CHD require multiple surgeries. The second surgery is typically a superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC). This surgery increases blood flow to the lungs and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood. If clinical concerns arise after surgery, echocardiography alone can be insufficient for diagnosis and patients often undergo additional testing with exposure to radiation and anesthesia. The Novel Utilization of Ultrasound Enhancing Agents Following Superior Cavopulmonary Connection research study presented at ASE examined the use of UEAs in this pediatric CHD population for the first time.  

"Echocardiography with ultrasound enhancing agents can be a valuable tool in the assessment of patients with complex congenital heart disease," Explained lead author Kasey Chaszczewski, M.D., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "In a population of patients with single ventricle heart disease, the use of ultrasound enhancing agents produced an ultrasound image comparable to what an X-ray with contrast would typically provide and improved our assessment for post-operative obstruction. As experience with ultrasound enhancing agents grows in the congenital heart disease population, there may be opportunities to decrease invasive and costly procedures, while expediting the care of patients in need of intervention." 

For more information: ASEcho.org

Find more news from ASE


Related Content

News | ASE
May 5, 2022 – The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), the largest global organization for cardiovascular ...
Home May 05, 2022
Home
News | ASE
April 21, 2022 – The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is pleased to announce that its membership has elected ...
Home April 21, 2022
Home
News | ASE

June 29, 2021 – The virtual exhibit hall at American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 2021 Scientific Sessions Virtual ...

Home June 29, 2021
Home
News | ASE

August 20, 2020 – More than 350 posters featuring cutting edge research on the advances in cardiovascular ultrasound ...

Home August 20, 2020
Home
Feature | ASE

August 19, 2020 — From point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) that has been a key technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ...

Home August 19, 2020
Home
Feature | ASE

More than 60 companies and organizations are displaying their latest products and services at the 2018 American Society ...

Home June 22, 2018
Home
Feature | ASE

June 26, 2017 — Here is a list of some key clinical presentations and video interviews with cardiac ultrasound thought ...

Home June 26, 2017
Home
Feature | ASE

ASE Announces Meeting Highlights for 28th Annual Scientific Sessions — The program includes learning opportunities from ...

Home June 01, 2017
Home
Videos | ASE

DAIC/ITN editor Dave Fornell shares some of the innovative new technologies on the show floor of the American Society of ...

Home June 30, 2016
Home
Subscribe Now