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Is there a role for intravenous transpulmonary contrast imaging in pediatric stress echocardiography?

Mark V Zilberman1, Sandra A Witt, Thomas R Kimball

  • 1Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging and Hemodynamic Research Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : Official Publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
|January 7, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Intravenous contrast echocardiography is safe and feasible in pediatric patients. This technique significantly improves endocardial visualization during stress echocardiography, enhancing diagnostic accuracy in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Intravenous transpulmonary contrast enhances endocardial borders in adult stress echocardiography.
  • Its feasibility and efficacy in pediatric populations require evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Assess the feasibility of intravenous transpulmonary contrast in pediatric stress echocardiography.
  • Compare endocardial visualization quality between harmonic 2D imaging alone and with contrast.

Main Methods:

  • 22 children (9.3 +/- 3.9 years) underwent stress echocardiography with dobutamine or exercise.
  • Harmonic 2D imaging was performed with and without contrast at peak stress.
  • Endocardial delineation was qualitatively graded across 22 left ventricular segments.

Main Results:

  • Contrast administration showed no adverse effects on saturation, heart rate, or blood pressure.
  • Endocardial visualization significantly improved in 11 of 22 segments (P <.05) with contrast.
  • Improvements were noted particularly in lateral, apical, and anterior left ventricular walls.

Conclusions:

  • Intravenous contrast echocardiography is feasible and safe in pediatric patients.
  • Contrast significantly improves endocardial border delineation in pediatric stress echocardiography.
  • This enhances diagnostic capabilities for pediatric cardiac assessments.
Abstract

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