FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

ASE Publishes Two Guidelines Recognizing Advances in Pediatric and Neonatal Echocardiography

(DURHAM, NC, February 5, 2024)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) recently published two new guidelines offering updated recommendations on pediatric and neonatal echocardiography, replacing earlier guidelines published by the Society.

Guidelines for Performing a Comprehensive Pediatric Transthoracic Echocardiogram: Recommendations From the American Society of Echocardiography provides a comprehensive set of pediatric transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guidelines to replace documents originally published by ASE in 2006 and 2010. The updated guideline establishes an organizational structure and a common language that can be utilized by any practice or institution providing echocardiographic services to children with suspected, congenital, or acquired heart disease.

“In the past decade, the care of children with heart disease has evolved due to improvements in scientific knowledge and technology. Echocardiography has played a major role in this evolution, due to its increasing ability to provide more accurate information related to cardiac anatomy, hemodynamics, and function,” says Leo Lopez, MD, FASE, chair of the guideline writing group. “The guideline helps organize the capabilities of echocardiography so that it can be used in a rational and logical way when caring for pediatric patients.”

One of the guideline’s writing group Co-Chairs, Carolyn Altman, MD, FASE, adds, “The document is designed to be an easy and convenient reference tool for busy clinicians and sonographers, and includes tables that succinctly summarize standard protocols and methods of quality improvement.”

The second guideline, titled Guidelines and Recommendations for Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography and Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Update from the American Society of Echocardiography, provides clarification on the scope of targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE) versus cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (cPOCUS) to ensure that practitioners use these skills in accordance with approved indications. The guideline replaces the document originally published by ASE in 2011 and has been expanded to provide recommendations for cPOCUS, including:

1. Guidance on the purpose and rationale for TNE and cPOCUS.
2. Disease and/or clinical scenario-based indications for TNE.
3. Training and competency-based evaluative requirements for TNE and cPOCUS.
4. Components of quality assurance.

Chair of the guideline writing group Patrick McNamara, MD, FASE, says that he anticipates the updated guideline will enable more institutions to establish TNE or cPOCUS programs, generate new research, and continue to encourage collaborations between neonatologists and pediatric cardiologists.

“Close collaboration with pediatric echocardiography laboratories and the support of thought leaders in the field have resulted in the success of TNE and the establishment of neonatal hemodynamics programs. We must also acknowledge the pivotal role of Luc Mertens, MD, PhD, FASE, who chaired the original guideline writing group on this topic 13 years ago, for prompting the growth and evolution of the field of neonatal hemodynamics,” he adds.

Both guideline documents are published in the February 2024 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. All guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. Both the pediatric and neonatal echocardiography specialized areas are represented in ASE’s Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council and the Neonatal Hemodynamics TnECHO Specialty Interest Group. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

ASE Publishes Updated Guideline for Evaluating Prosthetic Heart Valves

The guideline focuses on the use of echocardiography and multimodality imaging in evaluating patients with significant cardiac valvular disease

(DURHAM, NC, January 8, 2024)—A new guideline from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) aims to provide clinicians with a comprehensive resource for evaluating prosthetic heart valves (PHVs). Guidelines for the Evaluation of Prosthetic Valve Function with Cardiovascular Imaging: A Report from the American Society of Echocardiography Developed in Collaboration with the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography replaces the Society’s original guideline published in 2009.

While many principles and recommendations detailed in ASE’s original guideline on PHVs are still current and valid, the document was published prior to several important developments, including the function of percutaneous valves, the use of three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, and the role of computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the evaluation of PHVs.

“This new guideline on prosthetic valves was very much needed, as the field has changed so much since 2009, with the introduction of percutaneous valves and improvements in 3D echocardiography and multimodality imaging,” says Chair of the Guideline Writing Group Dr. William A. Zoghbi, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. “It provides clinicians with a roadmap for evaluating PHVs, while aiming to improve patient care and outcomes in the field.”

Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, Co-Chair of the Guideline Writing Group and Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory at the Heart Center, as well as an Attending Physician in Cardiology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, adds, “The new guideline provides the clinician with much-needed information on how to evaluate PHVs with cardiac ultrasound, particularly with the added value of 3D echocardiography, and when to use further imaging with cardiac CT or CMR.”

Echocardiography is the first-line modality used to assess prosthetic valve function in patients with significant cardiac valvular disease. However, recent advances in CT and CMR have enhanced their roles in evaluating valvular heart disease. This new guideline offers guidance on which imaging modality can be most helpful for each respective valve and includes the newest valves available.

Additionally, the guideline consolidates critical information gleaned from imaging into tables and key points, while also offering a review of the echocardiographic techniques used and providing recommendations and general guidelines for evaluating prosthetic valve structure, function and regurgitation.

The new guideline is published in the January 2024 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. All guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

New Guideline Aims to Optimize Care for Pediatric Oncology Patients

The guideline focuses on the use of echocardiography and multimodality imaging in monitoring cardiac function in children with cancer

(DURHAM, NC, December 4, 2023)—A new guideline from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) offers recommendations to pediatric cardiologists and oncologists on the application of multimodality imaging in children undergoing cancer treatment.

Cardiovascular ultrasound has long been recognized as a valuable tool in assessing cardiac function and is the first-line imaging technique used to monitor cardiac function during and after cancer treatment in both adult and pediatric patients. However, as the field of pediatric cardio-oncology continues to evolve, children with cancer may also benefit from the addition of other noninvasive imaging techniques.

The newly released guideline, titled “Multimodality Imaging for Cardiac Surveillance of Cancer Treatment in Children: Recommendations From the American Society of Echocardiography,” provides detailed guidance on how to perform echocardiographic exams, which parameters to use in clinical decision making, and the circumstances under which additional imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), should be considered.

“Cardiovascular complications developing during and after cancer treatment remain a significant challenge and continue to compromise the long-term health of this growing patient cohort,” says Luc Mertens, MD, PhD, FASE, chair of the guideline writing group. “The primary goal of cardiac monitoring is to identify early signs of potentially reversible heart disease and to minimize the risk of progression from asymptomatic to clinically overt heart disease.”

The document also stresses that therapeutic decisions should be based on multidisciplinary discussions among cardiologists, oncology teams, and the patient and their family.

“This guideline highlights the knowledge gaps in the current practice of cardiac monitoring and cautions making therapeutic decisions on cancer treatment for pediatric patients solely on cardiac imaging data,” says Gautam Singh, MD, FASE, co-chair of the writing group. “By standardizing the use of echocardiography and providing evidence-based recommendations, this guideline can help improve long-term cardiac outcomes of pediatric cancer patients.”

This document is published in the December 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. All guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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The ASE Foundation is Accepting
GivingTuesday Donations November 26-December 2

Fundraising Goal: $35,000

The ASE Foundation is proud to participate in the global generosity movement known as GivingTuesday. Your donation ensures that we continue to foster the next generation of cardiovascular ultrasound professionals, award research grants to investigators, bring cardiac care to areas in need, among other charitable projects in 2024.

Now is your chance to become a leader in ASE and the ASE Foundation! If you are an active member and meet the criteria outlined for the position, ask a friend or colleague who is also an ASE member to submit a nomination on your behalf. All available positions are open to any ASE member, regardless of their specialty, and we are looking for a diverse pool of nominees.

November 30, 2023, is the deadline for candidates to submit all materials required for available positions on the ASE Foundation Board of Directors and Council Steering Committees.

December 7, 2023, is the deadline for candidates to submit all materials required for available positions on the ASE Board of Directors and ASE Executive Committee. Changes were recently made to the criteria for Treasurer, Secretary, and Council Representative. See if you qualify.

Learn More & Apply!