Congestive heart failure echocardiography

Overview
Echocardiography is commonly used to diagnose and monitor the progress of heart failure. This modality uses ultrasound to determine the stroke volume (SV, the amount of blood in the heart that exits the ventricles with each beat), the end-diastolic volume (EDV, the total amount of blood at the end of diastole), and the SV divided by the EDV, a value known as the ejection fraction (EF). In pediatrics, the shortening fraction is the preferred measure of systolic function.

Abnormalities Detected / Evaluated on Echocardiography in Congestive Heart Failure
Echocardiography can be used in the following ways:
 * To evaluate left ventricular function and ejection fraction to distinguish systolic dysfunction with a low ejection fraction (<40%) from diastolic dysfunction with a preserved ejection fraction.
 * To assess for the presence of regional wall motion abnormalities that would suggest an ischemic basis for the heart failure
 * Detection and quantification of mitral regurgitation
 * Detection and quantification oof aortic stenosis
 * Measurement of pulmonary artery pressure
 * Pericardial diseases such as cardiac tamponade can be rapidly diagnosed by echocardiography.
 * Echocardiography may also aid in deciding what treatments will help the patient, such as medication, insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy.

==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Initial Clinical Assessment Recommendation == {{cquote|

Class I
1. Two-dimensional echocardiography with Doppler should be performed during initial evaluation of patients presenting with heart failure to assess left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular size, wall thickness, and valve function. Radionuclide ventriculography can be performed to assess left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes. (Level of Evidence: C)}}

==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Serial Clinical Assessment Recommendation == {{cquote|

Class IIa
1. Repeat measurement of ejection fraction and the severity of structural remodeling can provide useful information in patients with heart failure who have had a change in clinical status or who have experienced or recovered from a clinical event or received treatment that might have had a significant effect on cardiac function. (Level of Evidence: C)}}

Vote on and Suggest Revisions to the Current Guidelines

 * The CHF Living Guidelines: Vote on current recommendations and suggest revisions to the guidelines

Guidelines Resources

 * The ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult


 * 2009 focused update: ACCF/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation