[Perioperative echocardiography: basic principles]. / Perioperative Echokardiographie: Technische Grundlagen für den Kliniker.

Over the past decades, echocardiography has undergone a continuous evolution in technology that has promoted its clinical application and acceptance throughout perioperative medicine. These technological advances include improvements in transducer development that permit superior imaging quality and a wider selection of probes for epicardial, epiaortic, and surface echocardiography which can also be used in conjunction with multiplane transesophageal echocardiography. Moreover, the addition of Doppler technology and digital acquisition has secured the role of echocardiography as a valuable and relatively noninvasive diagnostic tool for the assessment of cardiovascular disease and hemodynamic monitoring throughout the perioperative period. Therefore, it has become increasingly important for perioperative physicians to understand the basic principles and underlying fundamental concepts pertaining to the technology and physics of echocardiography, as well as its inherent limitations. The current review outlines the modes and applications of different echocardiographic techniques used in perioperative echocardiography including M-mode, two-dimensional echocardiography, and Doppler assessment of blood flow. In addition, the limitations of these techniques and typical artifacts associated with the perioperative use of echocardiography are described.

[The value of imaging procedures in myology]. / Wertigkeit bildgebender Verfahren in der Myologie.

Muscular imaging (sonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) has proved to be worthwhile for myologic diagnostic purposes during the past few years. In 319 patients suffering from generalized neuromuscular diseases, muscle atrophies or hypertrophies and the degree and distribution of mesenchymal alterations in skeletal muscles were documented. The various imaging techniques were of assistance defining the optimal biopsy site, and the preparation of electro-myographic examinations. Real time sonography proved to be the method of choice for screening purposes and for documentation of fasciculations. Because of higher sensitivity and superior depiction of soft tissue pathology, magnetic resonance imaging supported the further diagnostic work-up in certain cases. Because of irradiating side effects, computed tomography was applied just for evaluation of muscle involvement in advanced stages of neuromuscular diseases in adults.