[Stress echocardiography and its central role in cardiac diagnostics]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Cardiovascular Ultrasound

Background:

• Stress echocardiography (SE) is a cornerstone in diagnosing and prognosing coronary artery disease (CAD).
• Emerging applications extend SE's utility beyond CAD to comprehensive cardiac function assessment.
• Technological advancements in ultrasound have broadened SE's diagnostic scope.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the evolving role and diverse applications of stress echocardiography in modern cardiology.
• To emphasize the impact of technological innovations on SE capabilities.
• To underscore the benefits of SE as a diagnostic modality.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes advanced ultrasound technologies including Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging, strain imaging, 3D-echo, and contrast agents.
• Incorporates pharmacological stress for patients unable to undergo physical exertion.
• Evaluates myocardial function, valvular heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, and ventricular/atrial mechanics under stress.

Main Results:

• SE effectively identifies coronary stenosis and assesses microvascular function.
• It evaluates heart valve function, detects pulmonary hypertension, and analyzes left/right ventricular and left atrial mechanics.
• Enhanced temporal resolution and mechanics analysis improve diagnostic precision.

Conclusions:

• Stress echocardiography is a highly adaptable and increasingly valuable diagnostic tool in cardiology.
• Technological progress has significantly expanded its applications for comprehensive cardiac assessment.
• SE offers an environmentally friendly, cost-efficient, and radiation-free examination with significant patient benefits, requiring specialized training.