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Contrast Echocardiography in the ICU and OR

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Echocardiography for Intensivists

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Abstract

Ultrasound contrast agents can be divided into first-generation and second-generation agents. First generation hand-agitated saline solutions contain large and unstable air microbubbles which cannot pass through the pulmonary microcirculation and are used only for the opacification of the right side of the heart. These agents have been used for about 40 years to rule out a shunt at the level of the fossa ovalis. Second-generation agents are made of smaller, more standardized and stable microbubbles containing a low-diffusable gas. They can easily cross the pulmonary circulation and provide left ventricular cavity and left ventricular myocardial opacification. These agents are used for better delineation of the endocardial contour and for myocardial perfusion studies.

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Further Reading

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy

    Paolo Voci

  2. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Cardiac Surgery ICU, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Luigi Tritapepe

  3. Department of Cardiology I, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Demetrio Tallarico

  4. Department of Cardiology II, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Luciano Agati

Authors
  1. Paolo Voci
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  2. Luigi Tritapepe
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  3. Demetrio Tallarico
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  4. Luciano Agati
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luigi Tritapepe .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ospedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reparto di Terapia Intensiva, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Piazza S.Maria Nuova 1, Firenze, 50123, Italy

    Armando Sarti

  2. , Dipartimento di Anestesia e Rianimazione, Az. Osp. Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Via Delle Cave 31/c, Bergamo, 24127, Italy

    F. Luca Lorini

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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Italia

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Voci, P., Tritapepe, L., Tallarico, D., Agati, L. (2013). Contrast Echocardiography in the ICU and OR. In: Sarti, A., Lorini, F. (eds) Echocardiography for Intensivists. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2583-7_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2583-7_26

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2582-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2583-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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