This book aims to provide a practical and clinically useful introduction to echo for those who will be using, requesting and possibly interpreting it in the future. It is aimed particularly at doctors in training and medical students, but will also be of interest to a number of other groups, including established physicians and general practitioners, cardiac technicians, nurses and paramedics.

It aims to explain the echo techniques available, what an echo can and cannot give, and - importantly - put echo into a clinical perspective. It is by no means intended as a complete textbook of echo and some aspects are far beyond its scope (eg, complex congenital heart disease and paediatric echo).

The sections are ordered with the techniques most often used to diagnose a particular clinical problem explained first. For that reason, cardiac masses, prosthetic valves and infection are at the end of the book, after the section on transoesophageal echo (TOE). Doppler is dealt with at an early stage. The final chapter deals with special clinical situations.

1. What is Echo?
Basic notions, Viewing the heart, Echo techniques, Normal echo, Who should have an echo? Murmurs

2. Valves
Mitral valve, Aortic valve, Tricuspid valve, Pulmonary valve

3. Doppler - Velocities and Pressures
Special uses of Doppler

4. Heart failure, Myocardium and Pericardium
Heart failure, Systolic function, Coronary arteries, Cardiomyopathies and myocarditis, Diastolic function, Right heart and lungs, Long axis function,
Pericardial disease

5. Newer Techniques - Transoesophageal and Stress Echo, Transoesophageal echo (TOE), Stress echo, Other echo techniques

6. Cardiac Masses, Infection and Congenital Abnormalities
Cardiac masses, Infection, Artificial valves, Congenital abnormalities

7. Special Situations and Conditions
Pregnancy, Rhythm disturbances, Hypertension and hypertrophy, Stroke and TIA
Breathlessness and oedema, Screening and follow-up, Echo abnormalities in systemic disease

By S. Kaddoura, Consultant Cardiologist, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital; Honorary Senior Lecturer, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK