What is the role of cardiac ultrasound?

The heart is the "engine" of the human body, which can provide power for blood flow and ensure the normal functioning of human organs. Routine physical examinations usually include color Doppler ultrasound of the breast, thyroid, liver and gallbladder. Today we will talk about cardiac ultrasound.

Cardiac ultrasound can not only check whether the heart functions normally, but also has extremely high safety and universality, and is an important means of diagnosing and treating heart disease. Through cardiac ultrasound examination, doctors can provide accurate diagnosis and develop personalized treatment plans to provide strong protection for the patient's physical health.

Cardiac ultrasound content:

Cardiac color Doppler ultrasound;

Left ventricular function test;

Tissue Doppler (TDI);

Wall motion analysis.

What is a cardiac ultrasound used for?

1. Assessment of cardiac structure

Cardiac ultrasound can provide clear images of various heart structures, including heart chambers, ventricles, atria, valves, and the outer wall of the heart. Doctors can evaluate whether the heart structure is normal or abnormal by observing the size, shape, and wall motion of the heart structure.

2. Evaluate cardiac function

Cardiac ultrasound can evaluate heart function by measuring blood flow, blood flow velocity, cardiac contraction and relaxation, etc. For example, it can evaluate the strength of cardiac contraction, ventricular ejection fraction, and ventricular filling to determine whether the heart can effectively pump blood to meet the body's needs.

3. Detection of heart disease

Cardiac ultrasound is an important tool for diagnosing heart diseases. It can detect abnormalities of heart valves (such as valvular stenosis, valvular regurgitation, etc.), myocardial lesions (such as myocardial thickening, myocardial infarction, etc.), endocarditis, and cardiac tumors, helping doctors determine the nature and severity of the lesions.

4. Guided cardiac surgery and interventional treatment

Cardiac ultrasound can help doctors plan cardiac surgery and interventional treatments. Through detailed images and dynamic observations, doctors can determine the surgical approach, implant instruments, and repair valves, etc., to ensure the accuracy and safety of the surgical process.

5. Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiac ultrasound can also evaluate the blood vessels around the heart, such as the coronary arteries and carotid arteries. Through the positioning of the ultrasound probe and Doppler technology, doctors can observe the patency of the blood vessels, blood flow velocity, and blood supply. This is very helpful for detecting cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.

6. Track treatment effects and disease progression

Cardiac ultrasound can be used to track treatment effects and monitor disease progression. Doctors can observe changes in the patient's heart structure and function and evaluate treatment effects through regular cardiac ultrasound examinations, such as treatment of myocardial hypertrophy, follow-up after heart valve surgery, and evaluation of the effectiveness of heart failure treatment.

Limitations of cardiac ultrasound:

1. Probe detection range: The probe used in cardiac ultrasound is limited by the distance and angle between the heart and the chest wall, and some parts may not be observed. For example, when evaluating the posterior wall of the heart, the imaging may be unclear.

2. Probe resolution: Limited by the probe resolution, the image cannot be over-magnified to obtain clearer image details.

3. Patient's body shape: The imaging quality of cardiac color Doppler ultrasound is also affected by the patient's body shape. For example, conditions such as patient obesity, chest deformity, and emphysema may affect the imaging effect of color Doppler ultrasound.

4. Unable to provide comprehensive cardiac hemodynamic assessment: Cardiac color ultrasound can provide assessment of some hemodynamic parameters, such as the degree of stenosis of heart valves, ventricular flow, etc. However, for more complex blood flow changes and cardiac load status, cardiac color ultrasound has great limitations and may need to be combined with other examination methods such as cardiac catheterization for comprehensive hemodynamic assessment.

5. Unable to evaluate cardiac tissue pathology: Cardiac ultrasound can see the structure and function of the heart, but cannot directly evaluate the pathological changes of cardiac tissue. For pathological changes such as myocardial fibrosis and scar formation, it is usually necessary to combine other examinations such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cardiac tissue biopsy for evaluation.

With the development of science and technology, cardiac color Doppler ultrasound technology is also constantly improving. The application of new technologies such as high-frequency and high-resolution probes, three-dimensional image reconstruction technology, and cardiac hemodynamic analysis has made cardiac color Doppler ultrasound more accurate and reliable in diagnosis and treatment. In addition, with the development of the Internet and communication technology, telemedicine applications have become more and more popular. Cardiac color Doppler ultrasound can transmit images and data remotely, allowing experts to diagnose and guide remotely. Especially in remote areas and places with a shortage of medical resources, remote cardiac color Doppler ultrasound can fill the gap in diagnosis and treatment.

After reading this article, I believe that readers will have a deeper understanding of cardiac ultrasound. Therefore, in routine physical examinations, cardiac ultrasound can be added to the examination items to prevent heart disease. The above is only a personal opinion. If you have any related questions, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor. (Gao Yanmin, Lingshou County People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province)