Abstract
Echocardiographic imaging and Doppler systems generate ultrasound signals that follow the laws of physics. Appropriate utilization of these instruments and interpretation of the data generated require an understanding of the fundamental principles of ultrasound physics and how they relate to the images produced and the spectral and color Doppler information. This understanding is considered an important requirement for clinical competence in all modalities of echocardiography.An essential component of the diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography is the skill and experience of the individual responsible for image and data acquisition.Technical skills includes appropriate knowledge of ultrasound instrument settings such as transducer frequency, use of depth, gain, time-gain-compensation, dynamic range, filtering, velocity scale manipulations, and display of received signals.Echocardiography is a powerful diagnostic tool that provides immediate access for the evaluation of cardiac and vascular structures and assessment of heart function. Intrinsic to a competent echocardiographic examination is a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and great vessels. Two-dimensional imaging can accurately quantify cardiac chamber sizes, wall thickness, ventricular function, valvular anatomy, and great vessel size. Pulsed, continuous-wave, and color-flow Doppler echocardiography, especially when combined with two-dimensional imaging, can be used to quantify blood flow velocities and calculate blood flow; assess intracardiac pressures and hemodynamics; and detect and quantify stenosis, regurgitation, and other abnormal flow states.A segmental approach is the important and useful way to diagnose congenital heart disease.I will describe the fundamental knowledge of ultrasound, basic views, and segmental approach for congenital heart disease in this paper.
