A tremendously successful ASE Scientific Sessions in Portland, Oregon, just wrapped. Chair Federico Asch, MD, FASE, and co-chair Eric Kruse, BS, ACS, RDCS, RVT, FASE, welcomed nearly 2,000 attendees from 32 countries for two-and-a half days of learning and exciting networking events. Nearly 500 people also attended virtually last weekend.

• 2024 Arthur E. Weyman Young Investigator’s Award Competition Winner, Robert McRae, MD, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington.
• 2024 Brian Haluska Sonographer Research Award Competition Winner, Babitha Thampinathan, CRCS, RDCS, FASE, Mohawk-McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Arthur (Ned) E. Weyman, MD, FASE, passed away on June 17, 2024. Dr. Weyman was ASE’s first secretary of the Board of Directors and subsequently served as the 8^th President of ASE serving from January 1991 through June 1993. As one of the founding leaders in echocardiography, he advocated tirelessly for international recognition of the pivotal role the noninvasive assessment tool plays in saving lives by quickly detecting cardiac issues in patients from infants to adults. His presence at the helm of ASE and NBE changed the field forever. He will be missed, and we are forever grateful for his service. Read more about his service and legacy.

The latest issue of CASE is now available with intriguing reports, including “The Complex Hemodynamic Interplay between Mitral Arcade, Midventricular Obstruction, and Prosthetic Aortic Valve” by Taverna et al. CASE Editor-in-Chief Vincent Sorrell, MD, FASE, remarked, “One of the great values of CASE is the ability to use high-quality echo images matched to tomographic cardiovascular imaging to educate readers about rare diseases they are unlikely to see in their individual clinical practice. This month’s issue fulfills that goal with the report from Taverna that showcases mitral arcade; there are not very many published reports in adults owing to both its rarity and possible under-diagnosis. During the editorial review process, these authors worked closely with section editors who are experts in congenital heart disease to provide readers with very precise descriptions, concluding that this patient likely met criteria for a partial Shone’s complex. They also use very detailed volume-rendered 3D-CT images to demonstrate how the pathoanatomy of this particular mitral arcade is atypical and consists of a double-bridge connecting the anterior and posterior leaflets to the papillary muscles. In summary, the authors rightly conclude that a comprehensive multimodal cardiac imaging approach (CT for anatomy; echo Doppler for physiology) is essential!”

Following that Multimodality Imaging report, authors in Infections in the Heart present a report titled, “Vegetations Lurking in the Dark and the Role of Neoendothelialization,” reviewing the published literature on this potential complication and discussing the possible risk-assessment role of cardiac CT by monitoring neoendothelization in these devices. Over in the Hemodynamic Corner of CASE, there are two reports: one on the importance of spectral Doppler in detecting mitral regurgitation in patients with acoustic shadowing from prosthetic valves, and one that describes the unique mitral and tricuspid spectral Doppler inflow patterns in a patient with non-sinus rhythm. With high-quality 2D and 3D echo images, a case in Rare But Deadly Findings offers a learning lesson to readers about a left atrial dissection after complications of mitral valve surgery. To round out this issue, there is a letter to the editor discussing a previous CASE on a novel transcatheter approach to treat primum atrial septal defects with a response from that article’s authors.

As with all CASE issues, these reports demonstrate the value of quality imaging over quantity. Be sure to read Dr. Sorrell’s editorial as he explores how to maintain this principle in a healthcare environment that increasingly rewards growth and productivity.

Looking for a journal to submit your case report to? We want to hear from you! Email us with questions or submit your report today.

The June issue of JASE includes, “Obstruction in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Many Faces.” Author Jeffrey B. Geske, MD, FASE, remarks, “Echocardiographic assessment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be challenging due to vast phenotypic heterogeneity, complex hemodynamics, and variable findings dependent on loading conditions. However, accurate diagnostic assessment is needed for guidance of medical management, determination of septal reduction therapy candidacy, and intraprocedural assessment. In this JASE article, we present a visual Doppler atlas with many high-quality examples to guide interpretation and understanding of the many ways that obstruction can present in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.”

In addition to the HCM report, readers can look forward to two other state-of-the-art reviews. Both center on the role of 3D echocardiography—in the perioperative assessment of the hemodynamic ventriculoarterial junction of the aortic root and in RV volume analysis in pediatric heart disease. This issue also hosts a variety of clinical investigations on topics ranging from left ventricular trabeculations in athletes to 3D echocardiography’s role in mitral regurgitation to congenital heart disease. Two editorial comments, five brief research communications, and two letters to the editor round out this issue.

In his final President’s Message, Dr. Eidem reflects on this past year as ASE President and the progress of his three key initiatives: ASE Matters, ASE Mentors, and ASE Educates. Be sure to check out June’s Author Spotlight to learn more from author Giuseppe Di Gioia, MD, on his recent paper, Left Ventricular Trabeculation: Arrhythmogenic and Clinical Significance in Elite Athletes.

Please see the June ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.

As a benefit of ASE membership, you have access to over 25 free CME/MOC activities in the ASE Learning Hub (ALH)! The latest JASE CME article available in the ALH is titled, Pulmonary Vein Flow Morphology After Transcatheter Mitral Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair as Predictor of Survival. Members can access this article for free in the ALH and earn up to 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

The ASE 2024 Schedule Details is now available! Already registered? Use the Whova app to begin planning your schedule. Not yet registered? View the Schedule Details to see the many education and networking opportunities offered at ASE 2024, and register today (on site prices rise by $125)!

• Joint sessions with 17 partnering multimodality organizations.
• Four featured special lectures.
• Sonographer Career Day on Saturday where sonographer students are encouraged to attend and learn for the day.
• Six Science & Technology Theater presentations by industry in the Echo Expo.
• Eleven Poster Sessions and three Rapid Fire Abstract Presentations.
• Exhibit Floor with over 50 booths, Bark Park sponsored by Siemens Healthineers, Coffee Carts, Charging Lounges, and Research Posters.
• And more!

ASE is committed to providing our members with the tools and resources they need to ensure coding accuracy and compliancy, and to maximize appropriate revenue. Log in to the ASE Member Portal and access the 2024 Coding Connection document under the “Advocacy” tab.

This free resource provides answers to echocardiography specific billing and assists you in coding accurately for the services you provide, especially in today’s environment of declining reimbursement and increased scrutiny. This newsletter includes information on recent coding updates for echocardiography services, evaluation and management services, Medicare split/shared visit changes, and ASE’s top 10 coding questions and answers.

ASE provides member-only access to coding information and a coding expert who is available to answer individual coding questions free of charge.