[Applications of contrast media in echocardiography]

The development of contrast media in ultrasound has been slow and sporadic, and there are no fully satisfactory agents for clinical imaging to date. Most contrast agents consist of air filled microbubbles which generate scattered echoes and enhance the ultrasound information. In this article we review the different phases of contrast echocardiography their potentials and clinical applications. First, right-sided echocontrast which is mainly used for the assessment of intracardiac shunts. Second, left-sided contrast agents with smaller and more stable microbubbles, that allow the visualization of the left ventricle after intravenous injection. With these agents, one it is now possible to study myocardial perfusion which is one of the most attractive potentials of these types of agents.