Cardiac Ultrasound and Stress Testing
Cardiac Ultrasound and Stress Testing
The Heart Center at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is a pioneer in the field of cardiac ultrasound. It was one of the first in the country to utilize 2-D echo for clinical diagnosis, and later led the way in incorporating transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) into routine clinical practice. The Heart Center performed some of the first studies using TEE and 3-D Echo to improve outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Dalane W. Kitzman, MD, led the clinical development of the only currently available contrast agent for echocardiography, designing the first 6 trials, and leading 2 of them. These were pivotal in the eventual approval of these agents by the FDA for clinical use.
In addition to clinical care, the lab is actively involved in teaching fellows, community college students, preceptorships, and teaching in coordination with the Program for Medical Ultrasound through Wake Forest University. We provide 2 advanced off-site echocardiography courses in coordination with the Mayo Clinic and 3 basic on-site echocardiography courses throughout the year.
WFUBMC provides state-of-the-art diagnostic services in transthoracic, transesophageal, and stress testing. We are fully accredited through the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) in adult and pediatric echocardiography. We perform approximately 30,000 studies per year.