The use of transpulmonary contrast echo-first experience in Serbia

Aim. Contrast echocardiography (CE) is an echocardiographic modality wher ultrasound contrast echocardiographic agent (CEA) is introduced peripherally for the image enhancement. The purpose of this study was to present the initial clinical experience of the use of CEA in Institute for CVD of Vojvodina, Serbia and prospectively determine the safety of Optison (GE Healthcare, Princeton, NJ). Methods. A total of 357 patients (PTS) were referred for resting or stress echocardiographic examinations, with an approved indication for CEA administration. The median age was 63,3years (range, 21-92 years), 62% were men. Most of the PTS (77,31%) had some form of ischemic heart diseases. Hypertension has been the most frequent risk factor (77.03%), but 57 PTS had diabetes mellitus and 33 PTS chronic kidney disease as comorbidity. Most PTS (90,5%) were on beta blocker therapy, 83,5% of them on ACEi/angiotensin blockers. Majority of the PTS received single (80.3%) or dual (49.5%) antiaggregation therapy, 74 (26.3%), of them were on AKTH, 55,1% of the PTS were taking diuretics. The global EF was preserved in 39,85% of them, the majority had LV impairment, 136 PTS of them, with an EF less than 50%. PTS were followed up for 30 minutes for side effects (SE). In 118 PTS, vital signs (heart rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were measured before and 30 minutes later after CEA administration. Results. The administration of CEA-Optison was not associated with SE. Diastolic blod pressure dropp was statistically significant (p=0.027) and the heart rate increased for 4.7 beat /min, which was statistically significant, too (p=0.028). Conclusion. Vital signs changes were clinically non relevant. CE is a safe noninvasive diagnostic modality for PTS undergoing rest and stress echocardiography.