The latest issue of CASE is now available with intriguing reports, including “Exaggerated Pressure Recovery during Pregnancy: A Multimodal Approach to Assessment of Prosthetic Aortic Stenosis Severity.” CASE Editor-in-Chief Vincent Sorrell, MD, FASE, remarked, “Connor et al. reported serial Doppler echocardiography on a complex young, pregnant woman with Turner syndrome, prior aortic valve and ascending aortic surgery. They compare findings to both baseline and an earlier uncomplicated pregnancy, including mean and peak CWD gradients, indexed effective orifice areas (note: indexing is important, given the history of Turner and suspected short stature), invasive hemodynamics, and a dynamic cardiac CT of the prosthetic AVR for correlation. The major discrepancies between echo and cath stimulated the authors to write this report which provides readers with a fabulous discussion regarding the many factors that contributed. These differences were the results of her progressing pregnancy, previous valve and aortic surgery, and important impact of pressure recovery phenomenon. If you enjoy cardiovascular physiology and the many factors that alter echo hemodynamics, be sure to read all about it.”

Panidapu et. al add to this Hemodynamic Corner category with their report on how coexistent severe tricuspid regurgitation can lead to underestimating the severity of mitral stenosis. Two reports in the Cardiac Tumors and Pseudotumors category uphold the importance of echo through the discovery of a large right atrial thrombus and pulmonary embolism in a 22-month-old girl, and a case of synchronous cardiac diffuse B-cell lymphoma, treated successfully by chemotherapy after early rapid diagnosis with echocardiography. Coronary Artery Disease rounds out this issue, reporting on the methods of echocardiographic detection of a partially obscured ventricular septal defect in a patient with a post-infarction ventricular septal rupture.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, be sure to read Dr. Sorrell’s editorial as he expresses gratitude for all that the field of echocardiography bestows upon its patients and practitioners.

SUBMIT your case report to us! Whether it will be your first time submitting a case or your 50^th, we are here to make it a great experience. Email us with questions or submit your report today!

The November issue of JASE includes a state-of-the-art review titled, “Advances in the Assessment of Patients With Tricuspid Regurgitation: A State-of-the-Art Review on the Echocardiographic Evaluation Before and After Tricuspid Valve Interventions.” Lead author Luigi Badano, MD, PhD, FASE, remarks, “The tricuspid valve (TV) is not merely the right counterpart of the mitral valve. It has a distinct anatomy, featuring three leaflets as opposed to two, and a more pliable annulus. Additionally, it functions in a unique hemodynamic environment, working in a volume pump rather than a pressure pump. Therefore, it requires a specialized approach and different threshold values for evaluating its severity before and after valve repair interventions. Conventional parameters used to evaluate right ventricular geometry and function may be misleading in patients with moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation. Three-dimensional echocardiography has significantly enhanced our understanding of tricuspid valve anatomy, the pathophysiology of tricuspid regurgitation, and the assessment of right ventricular geometry and function.”

This issue’s original investigations incorporate many topics including stress echocardiography in low gradient aortic stenosis, diastolic function and prognosis in heart failure, myocardial shear wave analysis in children, and perinatal cardiac function in congenital heart disease. Additionally, there are five brief research communications and three editorial comments. These reports cover diagnosing severe mitral stenosis, applying appropriate use criteria for echo in an underserved population, effectiveness of negative pressure booths in mitigating airborne infection risk during TEE, prognostic value of echo parameters of the subpulmonary LV in adults with a systemic RV, and shear wave elastography in children with a Fontan circulation. Rounding out this issue are two letters to the editor—one addresses how guidelines reinforce treatment disparities for patients with aortic stenosis and the other describes the importance of a complete hemodynamic assessment of the aortic valve.

This month’s President’s Message highlights the important work of ASE’s advocacy team as they navigate challenges and opportunities within the fluctuating economic realm of cardiovascular ultrasound.

Tune into our Author Spotlight page for interviews between JASE Editor-in-Chief Patricia Pellikka, MD, FASE, and authors of recently published papers. November’s interview features Nils Sofus Borg Mogensen, MD, discussing his paper, “Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography in Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis.”

Please see the November ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.

The October issue of JASE includes, “Sonothrombolysis Before and After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Provides the Largest Myocardial Salvage in ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.” Lead author Prajith Jeyaprakash, MD, remarks, “We are excited to share the results of our REDUCE pilot trial, which found that sonothrombolysis delivered pre- and post-pPCI may salvage up to 30% more myocardium than pPCI in STEMI. This data helps to provide a mechanistic understanding of the specific benefits of pre-pPCI sonothrombolysis delivery. It has also provided valuable insights for our multicenter RCT which will be powered for infarct size as its primary endpoint.”

This issue’s clinical investigations incorporate many topics including echocardiographic predictors of outcome in heart failure, ventricular strain in cardiomyopathy, postprandial and exercise echo in HCM, and sonothrombolysis in myocardial infarction. Two editorial comments accompany these clinical investigations as well as four brief research communications with reports on right atrial and ventricular strain in patients with carcinoid heart disease, perivascular amyloid deposition, indexing of aortic dimensions in overweight and obese patients, and the learning curve for left atrial strain analysis. An In Memoriam for Arthur E. Weyman, MD, FASE, shares the story of his life and many contributions to the field as one of echocardiography’s greats. Also included in this issue is a letter to the editor on considerations while screening for polyethylene glycol hypersensitivity in patients receiving ultrasound enhancing agents. To conclude, there is the annual photo spread from this year’s Scientific Sessions in Portland.

This month’s President’s Message details the goals of current ASE President Theordore Abraham, MD, FASE, for his 2025 term. As ASE celebrates its 50^th anniversary next year, there are many plans in motion to propel the Society into another 50 years of exemplary contributions to the field of cardiovascular ultrasound.

Stay tuned for our October Author Spotlight for an interview between JASE Editor-in-Chief Patricia Pellikka, MD, FASE, and Mark Sherrid, MD, FASE.

Please see the October ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.

Get ready for Coffee Day 2024! Mark your calendars from September 29 – October 5 to help the ASE Foundation raise $5,000 to support our newest initiative: Cardiovascular Sonographer Leadership Development. Funding toward this initiative aims to provide support for sonographer members volunteering in leadership positions within ASE and ASEF.

Alan D. Waggoner Student Scholarship Winner Alexandre Campos Dias, RDCS, has already pledged his support. Thank you, Alex! If you’re planning to contribute, join Alex by making your pledge known. Contact the ASE Foundation at Foundation@ASEcho.org.

In 2025, ASE is offering a variety of new membership promotions to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary and reach our goal of 20,000 members! One of these new promotions, ASE Soulmates, is replacing the current ASE Ambassador program in 2025. To become an ASE Soulmate, refer two new members to join ASE by August 31, 2025, and save 25% on your 2026 membership. Refer three or more new members and save 50% on your 2026 membership! Some exclusions apply, so be sure to visit the ASE Soulmates page for details.

YOU make ASE the largest voice in cardiovascular imaging in the world and help create a stronger community of collaboration that advances the field and improves patient lives! We thank you for your membership and want to recognize the 137 ASE Ambassadors who participated in 2024 resulting in 353 new members!

The September issue of JASE includes, “Recommendations for Multimodality Imaging of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Temporary Mechanical Support: Updated Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography.” Lead author Jerry Estep, MD, FASE, remarks, “Our guideline document serves as an update to the 2015 comprehensive ASE LVAD guideline. We provide detailed information and recommendations on temporary mechanical circulatory support devices, and we define the contemporary role of echocardiography and multimodality imaging in patient selection, pre-intra-and post-procedural surveillance, and troubleshooting with focus on the HM3 LVAD. We hope the framework we provide will improve patient outcomes by providing the best imaging strategies before and after durable and temporary device implantation.”

In addition to this guideline, readers can look forward to a second ASE guideline, “Recommendations for Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound Nomenclature.” There are three clinical investigations in this issue including two on left atrial function in hypertension and one on the detection of myocardial ischemia by myocardial contrast echocardiography and LV strain in women with nonobstructive coronary artery disease. An editorial comment accompanies this last clinical investigation followed by an invited commentary on the noninvasive assessment of myocardial work in children. Three brief research communications round out this issue with reports on automated echocardiographic detection of heart failure, building an AI-driven echocardiographic data pipeline, and smaller LV in extreme of prematurity and postnatal growth.

Guest written by a few dedicated ASE members, this month’s President’s Message highlights the 50^th anniversary of ASE in 2025 and how the Society will be celebrating its membership base during this milestone year. Be sure to read along to find out about exciting membership discounts and incentives!

Tune into our Author Spotlight page for interviews between JASE Editor-in-Chief Patricia Pellikka, MD, FASE, and authors of recently published papers. September’s interview features James Kirkpatrick, MD, FASE, discussing the new ASE guideline, “Recommendations for Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound Nomenclature.”

Please see the September ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.

Register for the 34th Annual Echo Hawaii early to save up to $225! ASE’s 2025 Echo Hawaii is a live, in-person course taking place January 20-23, 2025, at the Fairmont Orchid resort on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island. This year’s program features in-depth, case-based learning on established and emerging cardiovascular ultrasound technologies in a beautiful and relaxed setting. Register early to secure the best rate!

Register now for the 3^rd Annual Echo in Pediatric & Congenital Heart Disease Echo Access Virtual Experience, which will take place October 26-27, 2024. This two-day virtual course will present the latest information on established and emerging cardiovascular ultrasound technologies, clinical care, and practical considerations in children and adults with congenital heart disease.

Expert physician and sonographer faculty, led by Course Co-Chairs Melissa Wasserman, RDCS, RCCS, FASE, and Shiraz Maskatia, MD, FASE, will discuss current technologies with a particular focus on how they can be effectively applied in the clinical setting. Faculty will join live to answer participant questions during dedicated Question and Answer time for each session. Participants can earn up to 13 CME/MOC credits. Remember to log in to your ASE Member Portal before accessing the Learning Hub to receive your member discount on registration.

The latest issue of CASE is now available with intriguing reports, including “To Drain or Not to Drain? Pericardial Decompression Syndrome.” CASE Editor-in-Chief Vincent Sorrell, MD, FASE, remarked, “Mathias et al. help educate readers on the lesser known post-pericardiocentesis complication of pericardial decompression syndrome. They reported their findings on a complex 59-year-old patient with multiple comorbidities including acute chronic kidney disease, acidosis, hyperkalemia, atrial fibrillation treated with warfarin, pulmonary hypertension, dilated cardiomyopathy with remote ventricular tachycardia, and a large pericardial effusion with worsening hypotension. The patient had a markedly elevated international normalized ratio (INR 11) and TTE findings of tamponade. Despite urgent pericardial drainage of 600cc bloody fluid, their hemodynamic status continued to deteriorate, and the patient did not survive. The authors do an excellent job describing their thorough evaluation, approach to management, and potential underlying mechanisms, including acute pericardial decompression syndrome. Additionally, the authors provide readers with steps for when to consider this rare syndrome and how to manage this with the goal toward a different clinical outcome.”

This Pericardial Pathologies report follows two cases in the Congenital Heart Disease category, including findings from a high-risk, anomalous left main coronary in a young patient with a complicated post-operative course. The other details the clinical and hemodynamic improvements of an ASD closure in an elderly patient with complex cardiovascular disease. Allow Echo Innovation to expand your sonic insights with Basit et al.’s collection of multimodality imaging findings in a case of RCA to SVC fistula. 3D TEE transillumination is used to identify a papillary fibroelastoma on the aortic valve in a highly detailed report from Gentile et al.

Contrary to the rare findings CASE often publishes, Dr. Sorrell’s editorial hones in on what it really means to mark a study as “normal.” Included is a table of 24 common cardiovascular findings that should be routinely reported in a normal study depending on the imaging modality.

Looking for a journal to submit your case report to? We want to hear from you! Email us with questions or submit your report today.