Manual on indications and performance of echocardiography-Update 2020 of the German Cardiac Society

The new manual on indications for and performance of echocardiography focuses primarily on the transthoracic echocardiographic approach. The performance of a standardized documentation in transthoracic echocardiography includes the acquisition of several cineloops and Doppler spectra with consecutive measurements illustrated by figures and a scheme of an echocardiographic report. The extended documentation in transthoracic echocardiography is presented with respect to specific pathological alterations of the heart. This includes alterations of the left ventricular wall thickness, the global and regional reduction of left ventricular function, diastolic dysfunction with normal left ventricular systolic function, pressure and volume overload of the right ventricle and the reduction of right ventricular function and pathological alterations of the heart valves. Echocardiography performed in the presence of aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation, mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation, tricuspid valve regurgitation as well as less common heart valve diseases and endocarditis is presented in special sections. The manual ends with sections describing additional echocardiographic modalities, the reporting and the use of emergency echocardiography.