One of the latest products from ASE, Self Study: Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease DVD, provides a comprehensive review of the use of echocardiography in the diagnosis and follow-up of a variety of congenital heart diseases. Imaging from basic to comprehensive echocardiographic assessment is discussed. The DVD provides a review of anatomy and physiology including identifying and optimizing echocardiographic views for assessing and characterizing variations of congenital heart disease. It also includes a review of the different surgical approaches used to repair and palliate lesions.

Self Study: Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease DVD is suitable for sonographers, fellows, cardiologists, and physicians with limited background in congenital heart disease as well as those with significant congenital cardiac expertise. This DVD is designated by ASE for 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Purchase your copy today at ASEMarketPlace.com.

The 4th issue of CASE is now online along with a new “What is This Image?” The ten case reports’ topics include ablation complications, coronary sinus fistula, CRT and Fabry, COR triatriatum, coronary perforation, ECMO, endocarditis by 3D, intramyocardial dissecting hematoma, and ePLAR for pulmonary embolism. The lead author on the ePLAR article, “Dramatic Normalization of the Echocardiographic Pulmonary-to-Left Atrial Ratio with Thrombolysis in a Case of Life-Threatening Submassive Pulmonary Emboli,” is Isabel G. Scalia, BSc, from Heart Care Partners in Brisbane, Australia. “This was a great opportunity to be able to highlight the power of ePLAR,  a new echocardiographic surrogate for transpulmonary gradient, in a case of massive life threatening pulmonary embolus,” said Scalia. “In particular, in both diagnosis and management follow up, ePLAR was able to demonstrate the physiology of acute subtotal occlusion of transpulmonary flow. As a young clinician, CASE journal has offered me an excellent platform to showcase the potential impact of this new, clinically useful echo tool. I very much hope that this case will encourage other clinicians to consider measuring ePLAR in patients with these conditions as a non-invasive aid to diagnosis and treatment.”

Dear ASE Members,

By now, we are all familiar with the reports of flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and the devastating impact on Houston and other parts of Texas and Louisiana. At times like these, we draw from our compassion to support others through difficult times.  We are specifically thinking of our colleagues in the affected areas.  For our members in that vicinity we wish you well and thank those of you who have stayed at the hospitals and other care centers to help and treat patients during this time.

Many ASE members have contacted us to express their interest in assisting with relief efforts. Because ASE does not have the infrastructure to organize disaster recovery efforts, we encourage our members to volunteer with reputable, established relief teams that are already in place and/or give to other charitable organizations offering services in that area. If you would like to support their efforts, the American Red Cross, United Way Relief, and the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund (established by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and managed by Greater Houston Community Foundation) are just a few of the organizations that are providing relief specifically for Hurricane Harvey.

Again, we hope all ASE members affected by the storm are safe, secure, and will soon be on the path to recovery. Our thoughts are with you.

Sincerely,

Vera Rigolin, MD, FASE
ASE President

Read release here.

The ASE Foundation’s annual research grant program funds dedicated time for investigators working to demonstrate cardiovascular ultrasound’s premier relevance in the changing healthcare environment, and to promote new and innovative applications of the technology. In 2014, Victor Mor-Avi, PhD, FASE, received a $200,000 multi-year grant; the largest in the Foundation’s history.  At this year’s Scientific Sessions, he presented the results of his fusion of CTCA and 3D echocardiography research. The full presentation is available on the Foundation’s website.

Do you have a research idea but need funding to get it started?  The Foundation is now accepting proposals for its annual research grant program. The organization has placed an emphasis on the Structural Heart Disease area for this year’s grant cycle. We invite research proposals relevant to the value of echo-guided procedures in the cath lab and its impact on patient outcomes. Please visit ASEFoundation.org/2017-research-grant for details. Applications are due by October 31, 2017.

In this era of dwindling government research funding and support for research fellowships, the ASE Foundation plays a crucial role in supporting the progress and future of cardiovascular ultrasound. Support this initiative today with a donation to the ASE Foundation.

The new Aortic Regurgitation, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Mitral Regurgitation, and Tricuspid and Pulmonic Regurgitation Posters can all be yours for the low price of $60 for all four posters. Based on the latest guidelines, Recommendations for Noninvasive Evaluation of Native Valvular Regurgitation: A Report from the American Society of Echocardiography Developed in Collaboration with the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and the Recommendations on the Echocardiographic Assessment of Aortic Valve Stenosis: A Focused Update from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and the American Society of Echocardiography, you can purchase the posters today at ASEMarketPlace.com.

There is still time to upload your images for the 2018 Image Calendar Contest. The image competition winners will be featured in a colorful, 12-month calendar that will be given to all members who renew by December 31, 2017. The deadline for image submission is Monday, August 14 to allow voting to begin on August 16. Voting closes Friday, September 15.

To upload your images, head to the ASE 2018 Calendar Contest Library on Connect@ASE:

1. Login to Connect@ASE using your username (email address) and password.
2. Using the top navigation, scroll to Libraries.
3. Click on Image Library.
4. Click on the folder called ASE 2018 Calendar Contest.
5. Click “New” under Folder Contents on the right hand side of the menu and upload your image. Image files need to be no larger than 30 MB.
6. You are able to upload as many images as you would like.

Please note this is a membership competition and is open to members only. If you have any questions, please contact Arissa Cooper at acooper@asecho.org.