Archief Roodbont

Transthoracic Echocardiography and Radionuclide Ventriculography. Transthoracic (standard surface) echocardiography is noninvasive and provides diagnostic information readily and safely. It gives information about ventricular function, chamber size and shape, wall thickness and valvular function. All such information is helpful in the management of patients with heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography is inexpensive, reliable and widely available. Radionuclide ventriculography also may be used to assess left ventricular and right ventricular ejection fractions. Although this modality provides reproducible quantification of the ejection fraction, it does not yield information about valvular function or wall thickness. Echocardiography should be performed to guide management in patients with a presumed diagnosis of heart failure. The results can help to differentiate systolic from diastolic dysfunction and clarify relevant valvular dysfunction, as these disorders may be managed quite differently from systolic dysfunction.