Practical Neonatal Echocardiography

Book excerpt: A concise introduction to the principles and practice of point-of-care echocardiography for neonatologistsPractical Neonatal Echocardiography is written to help clinicians develop the skills necessary to perform a high quality neonatal echocardiographic examination, evaluate cardiac function, and recognize abnormalities and defects. This unique text is based on an acclaimed course the authors have taught for the past fifteen years where they train neonatologists in the use of cardiac ultrasound for on-the-spot examination and diagnosis of neonatal patients.Features:•Provides an introduction to the basic principles of echocardiography and the ultrasound scanners commonly used at pediatric cardiac centers•Neonatal cardiac anatomy is clearly described through use of 2-dimensional images and video clips•Chapters teach assessment of cardiac function, blood flow, shunts, physical defects, and abnormalities that may exist in the absence of a defect•Myocardial dysfunction, heart failure, shock, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, cyanosis, and more are discussed in detail with multiple illustrative cases•Describes common features of ultrasound scanners and how to use them•Helps clinicians make informed choices about transducer selection, detailing particular advantages and disadvantages•Includes detailed descriptions of detecting abnormalities of cardiovascular function with and without congenital defects •Bolstered by more than 100 video clips (available at www.NeonatalEcho.com) that display real-life examples of normal vs. abnormal cardiac function in neonates