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Review
. 2013 Jul-Sep;11(3):392-7.
doi: 10.1590/s1679-45082013000300023.

Contrast echocardiography in myocardial infarction

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Maria Luciana Zacarias Hannouche da Trindade, Marcelo Luiz Campos Vieira, Ana Clara Tude Rodrigues, Miguel José Francisco Neto, Claudio Henrique Fischer, Samira Saady Morhy
Review

Contrast echocardiography in myocardial infarction

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Maria Luciana Zacarias Hannouche da Trindade et al. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2013 Jul-Sep.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

The contrast agents used in ultrasound are approved for several clinical situations. New echocardiographic techniques, such as harmonic imaging and power pulse inversion imaging, can improve the visualization of microbubbles. In this article we discuss the early development of contrast echocardiography, new technologies that help improve image acquisition and its practical role in the assessment of myocardial infarction.

Os contrastes ecocardiográficos à base de microbolhas estão aprovados para várias situações da prática clínica. Novos softwares, como a imagem em segunda harmônica e o power pulse inversion, podem melhorar a visualização do contraste no exame ecocardiográfico. Neste artigo, discutem-se o início da prática da ecocardiografia com contraste, as novas tecnologias que ajudam na aquisição e melhora da imagem, e seu uso no infarto do miocárdio.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Diagram representing the intermittent ultrasound pulse emission technique. The first high-energy ultrasound pulse reaches the microbubbles in the microcirculation and destroys them. In this process, the microbubbles emit harmonics, which permit the generation of the echocardiographic image. After five heart beats, the microcirculation is already refilled, thus being able to receive a new ultrasound pulse for the image to be formed again
Figure 2
Figure 2. The alternating-amplitude pulse technique with the microbubbles
Figure 3
Figure 3. Echocardiographic images of real-time myocardial perfusion. (A) High ultrasound energy pulse (mechanical index - MI of 1.0). (B) Microbubble destruction in the myocardium. (C) Myocardial refilling by microbubbles
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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