Identification of right sided structures by contrast transesophageal echocardiography

The concept of contrast echocardiography, wherein any biologically compatible solution containing micro bubbles of air, when injected into the circulation makes the blood “echogenic” is not a new one. This has been used extensively with both M-mode echocardiography and 2D echocardiography since the early 1970s [1–6]. The applications of contrast echocardiography included the following: (1) Structure identification. (2) Diagnosis or exclusion of intracardiac shunts. (3) Diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease. (4) Quantitation of valvular regurgitation. (5) Myocardial perfusion. (6) Improved quantitation of the left ventricle including delineation of the walls.