Cardiac arrhythmias are a major cause of death (7 million cases annually worldwide; 400,000 in the U.S. alone) and disability. Yet, a noninvasive imaging modality to identify patients at risk, provide accurate diagnosis and guide therapy is not yet available in clinical practice. Nevertheless, there are various applications of electrophysiologic imaging in humans from ECG/CT reconstructions, MRI to tissue Doppler investigations that provide supplimentary diagnostic data to the cardiologist. EP laboratories are experiencing an increase in volume, for both diagnostic and interventional electrophysiology studies, including mapping, ablation, and pacemaker implants. The equipment requirements for these procedures are stringent, include positioning capabilities, and dose management. This book is designed to review all of the current imaging methodologies that assist in diagnosis within the electrophysiology department.

Electrical activity in the myocardium coordinates the contraction of the heart, and its knowledge could lead to a better understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiac diseases. This electrical activity generates an electromagnetic field that propagates outside the heart and reaches the human torso surface, where it can be easily measured. Classical electrocardiography aims to interpret the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine cardiac activity and support the diagnosis of cardiac pathologies such as arrhythmias, altered activations, and ischemia. More recently, a higher number of leads is used to reconstruct a more detailed quantitative description of the electrical activity in the heart by solving the so-called inverse problem of electrocardiography. This technique is known as ECG imaging. Today, clinical applications of ECG imaging are showing promising results in guiding a variety of electrophysiological interventions such as catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. However, in order to promote the adoption of ECG imaging in the routine clinical practice, further research is required regarding more accurate mathematical methods, further scientific validation under different preclinical scenarios and a more extensive clinical validation

The world of echocardiography continues to be full of exciting new technological developments with an ultimate goal of better patient care. In this book, titled "Echocardiography in Heart Failure and Cardiac Electrophysiology", authors from various parts of the world contributed to the advancement of the field. We have included various chapters about the use of echocardiography and modalities of imaging in various common clinical scenarios - ranging from evaluation of commonly ignored right ventricle, imaging in congestive heart failure, to echocardiographic evaluation of critically ill patients. We have also included topics describing the use of echocardiography in cardiac electrophysiology with special interest to cardiac resynchronization therapy and atrial fibrillation ablation. These topics would be of great interest to the clinicians whether they are trainees, physicians, advanced care providers, or anyone involved in the patient care.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Functional Imaging and Modeling of the Heart, FIMH 2009, held in Nice, France in June 2009. The 54 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The contributions cover topics such as cardiac imaging and electrophysiology, cardiac architecture imaging and analysis, cardiac imaging, cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac motion estimation, cardiac mechanics, cardiac image analysis, cardiac biophysical simulation, cardiac research platforms, and cardiac anatomical and functional imaging.

A definitive resource, The ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Imaging, second edition provides extensive coverage of all cardiovascular imaging modalities. Produced in collaboration with the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging with contributions from specialists across the globe and edited by a distinguished team of experts, it is a 'state of the art' clinically-orientated imaging reference. Now fully revised and updated with the latest imaging techniques and technology and covering even more conditions than before, it not only discusses the principles of individual modalities but also clearly demonstrates the added value each technique can bring to the treatment of all cardiac diseases. Richly illustrated with colour figures, images, and tables and using a wealth of newly available evidence to link theory to practice, it demonstrates how these techniques can be used in the diagnosis of a range of cardiovascular diseases. Learning how to apply them in practice is made easy with free access to videos and imaging loops online along with the full text so that it is always available, even when on the move. Impressive in scope, The ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Imaging contains information on cutting-edge technical developments in echocardiography, CT, CMR and hybrid imaging and well imaging's current role in cardiac interventions, such as identifying cardiac structures, helping to guide procedures and exclude possible complications. The application of imaging modalities in conditions such as valvular and coronary heart disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathies, peri-myocardioal disease, adult congenital heart disease and aortic disease, is also extensively considered. From discussion on improved imaging techniques and advances in technology, to guidance and explanation of key practices and theories, this new edition of The ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Imaging is the ideal reference guide for cardiologists and radiologists alike. This print edition of The ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Imaging comes with access to the online version on Oxford Medicine Online, for as long as the edition is published by Oxford University Press. By activating your unique access code, you can read and annotate the full text online, follow links from the references to primary research materials, and view, enlarge and download all the figures and tables.

Cardiac MRI in Diagnosis, Clinical Management and Prognosis of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy / Dysplasia provides up-to-date information regarding the most effective diagnostic protocols and CMR sequences for the evaluation of patients with suspected or known ARVC/D. It includes CMR protocol summaries and clinical algorithms presented as flow diagrams, many of which have never been previously published. The book contains case reports from the practice and database of Dr. Frank I. Marcus, world renowned ARVC/D expert; as well as input from imaging experts from a large academic center with unique RV pathology imaging experience. This title is the perfect pocket companion for cardiologists, pediatric cardiologists, cardiac imaging and electrophysiology specialists as well as cardiology researchers. - The only comprehensive MRI reference focused and dedicated on the utilization of MRI in screening, diagnosis, therapeutic guidance and prognostic assessment of ARVC/D. - Provides evidence based diagnostic and prognostic algorithms for management of patients with known and suspected ARVC/D. - Contains concise clinical CMR acquisition protocol and evidence-based summaries of recommendations and multiple practical tips and tricks shared by experts in the field. - Includes practical guidelines helping to determine pre-test and post-test likelihood of ARVC/D; as well as CMR evidence of the disease progression. - Accompanying website provides complementary videos important for the understanding of ARVC diagnosis.

This issue of Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics, Guest Edited by Drs. Fermin C. Garcia, Luis C. Saenz, and Pasquale Santangeli, is dedicated to Intracardiac Echo Imaging in Atrial and Ventricular Arrhythmia Ablation. This is one of four issues selected each year by the series Consulting Editors, Ranjan K. Thakur and Andrea Natale. Topics include, but are not limited to: How to use intracardiac echography to recognize normal cardiac anatomy, Intracardiac echography to guide catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias in ischemic cardiomyopathy, Intracardiac echography to guide ablation of parahisian arrhythmias, Utility of ICE to guide transseptal catheterization for different EP procedures, Intracardiac echography to guide catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, Role of intracardiac echography for transcatheter occlusion of left atrial appendage, Intracardiac echography to guide catheter ablation of idiopathic ventricular arrythmias, Intracardiac echography to guide catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, Intracardiac echography to guide mapping and ablation of arrhythmias in congenital heart disease patients, Prevention and early recognition of complications during catheter ablation by Intracardiac echography, Intracardiac echography to evaluate radiofrequency lesion creation and Image integration using intracardiac echography and 3-D reconstruction for mapping and ablation of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.

Tremendous advances in intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) have coincided with the evolution of interventional electrophysiology. This book is designed to provide both the electrophysiologist and echocardiographer with an in-depth view of the role and value of ICE during electrophysiologic procedures. A guide to techniques used for optimal ICE imaging in cardiac electrophysiology is provided. In addition, new and less-recognized uses of ICE in electrophysiological procedures are described and their clinical applications are presented. Illustrated with over 500 images, many of which are in color, the book can also be used as a practical atlas. Readers need not be experts in the field of echocardiography to benefit from this practical approach to intracardiac imaging in electrophysiology.

This highly visual handbook integrates cardiac anatomy and the state-of-the-art imaging techniques used in today's catheter or electrophysiology laboratory, guiding readers to a comprehensive understanding of both normal cardiac anatomy and the structures associated with complex heart disease. Well organized, easily navigable, and superbly illustrated in a landscape format, this unique text invites the reader on a visual intracardiac journey via stunning images and schematic illustrations, including such imaging modalities as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, radiogra.

This issue of Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics examines Frontiers in Non-invasive Cardiac Mapping. Topics include imaging of heart rhythm disorders, experimental validation and modeling of validation, challenges and future directions of inverse problems, phase mapping of cardiac fibrillation, frequency domain analysis, analysis of diagnostic 12-lead electrocardiography and 3D non-invasive mapping, and many more.