[Intracardiac echography in interventional cardiology]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Interventional Cardiology
• Medical Ultrasonography

Context:

• Percutaneous treatments in interventional cardiology traditionally rely on radiological imaging.
• Limitations in radiological resolution hinder guidance for interventions targeting soft cardiac tissues, particularly in transcatheter structural heart disease.
• Transesophageal echocardiography has become crucial but requires specialized expertise and increases procedural complexity.

Purpose:

• To review the potentials, advantages, limitations, and current applications of intracardiac echography (ICE).
• To highlight ICE as an advancement over traditional imaging modalities for structural heart interventions.
• To discuss the technological implementations and future directions of ICE.

Summary:

• Intracardiac echography (ICE) utilizes ultrasonic transducers placed on catheters inserted directly into cardiac chambers.
• Two main technological implementations exist: electronic and mechanical transducers.
• ICE is typically accessed via femoral venous vascular access, offering direct visualization within the heart.

Impact:

• ICE enhances the precision and safety of percutaneous structural heart disease interventions.
• It potentially reduces the logistical burden associated with transesophageal echocardiography.
• This technology represents a significant advancement in catheter-based cardiac procedures, improving visualization and guidance.