ASE’s Echovation Challenge Promotes Advancements in Echocardiography

 

Echovation Challenge
Image: asecho.org

Dr. Rajan Bhatt, a cardiologist at Spectrum Dermatology & Vein Center, has published numerous articles over his more than 10-year career. His work has been recognized through nearly a dozen honors and awards, and he has given several presentations around the country. Also active in the professional community, Dr. Rajan Bhatt belongs to the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).

As part of its efforts to promote excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound, ASE maintains the Echovation Challenge. This challenge was first created in 2015 during one of the ASE’s Strategic Planning Retreats. During the retreat, the board of directors realized that the organization must foster more collaboration and innovation in the field and decided that an innovation competition would be the most compelling way to encourage this.

Their ideas culminated in the creation of the Echovation Challenge, which launched in fall 2015. During the organization’s 2016 Scientific Sessions in Seattle, the challenge held a live finals event to showcase innovations that were either in development or already adopted in echocardiography labs around the world.

The Echovation Challenge was held again in 2017 with a theme of “Streamlining Diagnostics for Augmented Medical Decision Making.” Nearly two dozen projects were recognized during the Echovation Challenge 2017, and five teams were selected to present their projects at ASE 2017.

A Brief Overview of Echocardiography

As a member of the American Society of Echocardiography since 2007, Dr. Rajan Bhatt possesses a deep understanding of the techniques used in echocardiography. In 2010, Dr. Bhatt and three co-writers published an article titled “Are All Ventricular Septal Defects Created Equal?” in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. The article examined the case of a man who developed endocarditis. An echocardiogram revealed a ventricular defect, which led Dr. Bhatt and his co-authors to suggest that certain defects created a greater risk for endocarditis. Echocardiography, which is also known as a cardiac ultrasound, is a sonogram of the heart that is used to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. It is one of the most common diagnostic methods used today.

An echocardiogram, showing a ventricular septal defect. The colors indicate direction and speed of blood flow.

Echocardiography utilizes ultrasound technology to develop a two- or three-dimensional image of a patient’s heart. In some cases, doctors use the Doppler ultrasound to increase the effectiveness of flow-related measurements in the heart. A sonogram of the heart reveals a picture of the velocity of blood flow and state of cardiac tissue. When a doctor obtains an accurate echocardiogram, he or she can assess the patient’s heart health and observe any defects in the heart. The most common form of echocardiography is known as a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). In a TTE, a probe is placed on the chest of the patient and a non-invasive sonogram is taken through the chest wall. Alternative echocardiography options include transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE), in which a probe is inserted into a person’s esophagus.