Basics of Echocardiography and Cardiac Doppler

Echocardiography is one of the -most frequently used imaging modalities for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. It i's versatile and is applicable in the entire spectrum of cardiovascular disease, so much so that now it is considered an extension of the physical examination. It is non-invasive, portable and can be utilized in sick patients, in emergency room or in the walk in symptomatic patients with mitral stenosis or in a young asymptomatic individual with a murmur on routine physical examination. If performed adequately by a skilled operator it can be used as a definitive rather than a screening diagnostic tool. So knowledge about Echocardiography is essential for every physician dealing with cardiovascular diseases.