Utility contrast echocardiography in the emergency department

The diagnosis and risk stratification of patients presenting with suspected cardiac chest pain to the emergency department (ED) is difficult, inefficient, and costly. Echocardiography can be used to directly detect myocardial ischemia through the identification of a new wall thickening (WT) abnormality. Contrast echocardiography provides further incremental benefit both for assessment of WT, as well as from the evaluation of myocardial perfusion. This review will discuss how echocardiography can be used to diagnose, risk stratify, and potentially reduce costs in patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes in the ED.