The role of two-dimensional echocardiography in coronary artery disease: a critical appraisal.
Coronary artery disease and its sequelae are the most common problems in the current practice of cardiology and internal medicine. Two-dimensional echocardiography, a relatively new technique, has already demonstrated its usefulness in the diagnosis of congenital and valvular heart disease, sometimes replacing catheterization as the diagnostic method of choice. This report critically reviews the usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiography in evaluating the patient with coronary artery disease and its complications. Four general areas are considered: myocardial infarction, complications of myocardial infarction, visualization of coronary arteries, and assessment of left ventricular function.