This book offers both experienced cardiologists and trainees alike the opportunity to identify and address the most common pitfalls encountered with echocardiology in routine clinical practice. The book covers a series of challenges ranging from technical difficulties to problems with echocardiographic interpretation with each section presenting a series of simulations to test the reader's understanding of the problem. The text is written in a highly practical and didactic style which will help the busy physician by presenting the information in a succinct, 'essentials only' manner. The heavy use of high-quality illustrations serves to ensure that the concepts explained are supported by real-life examples and thus readily applicable to the clinical setting.

This book offers both experienced cardiologists and trainees alike with an opportunity to identify and address the most common pitfalls encountered with echocardiology in routine clinical practice. The book covers a series of challenges ranging from technical difficulties to problems with echocardiographic interpretation while each section presenting a series of simulations, which test the reader's understanding of the problem. The text is written in a highly practical and didactic manner which will help the busy physician by presenting the information in a succinct, 'essentials only' manner. The heavy use of high quality illustrations serves to ensure that the concepts explained are supported by real-life examples and thus readily applicable to the clinical setting.

• SECTION 1 Technical Pitfalls The physical limitations of echocardiography Ultrasound artefacts Patient hypoechogenicity Problems due to adjustments of the machine settings Other technical pitfalls SECTION 2 Diagnostic Pitfalls Cardiac valves Cardiac walls Cardiac chambers Systolic and diastolic function of the ventricles Pulmonary arterial pressures Thoracic aorta