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Echocardiographic hemodynamic parameter determination is a crucial step in valvular disease diagnosis and severity determination. Echocardiography can further be utilized to determine the various hemodynamic principles and their link to basic fluid mechanics principles. This activity reviews the basic hemodynamics of echocardiography and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in evaluating and treating patients with various cardiac pathologies, most notably valvular defects. Objectives: Identify the basic hemodynamic parameters used in echocardiography. Describe the appropriate echocardiographic methods for the assessment of hemodynamics. Understand basic concepts of cardiac valvular function and flow dynamics. Discuss the interprofessional team strategies used to improve patient care with the use of echocardiographic hemodynamic assessment. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Echocardiography utilizes ultrasound to image the cardiovascular system from both an anatomical and a physiologic standpoint. The advances in echocardiography initially began with Inge Edler, often considered the father of echocardiography, who utilized an early motion-based technique called M-mode.[1] In the 1970s, S.L. Johnson, Holen, and Hatle developed technological capabilities allowing the measurement of blood flow as well as the detection of pressure gradients between cardiovascular structures. Using concepts formulated by D. Bernoulli in 1738 and L. Euler in 1752, they developed one of the most utilized techniques used in modern-day echocardiography, the Bernoulli equation (see Image. Bernoulli Equation).[1] With its ability to assess real-time hemodynamics, echocardiography has played an important role in the modern-day management of patients.[2][3] It involves several basic physical and mathematical principles (i.e., volume, velocity, area,  pressure, etc.). In this article, we will discuss the basics of echocardiography hemodynamics, specifically four major principles: the conservation of energy (Bernoulli’s principle), the hydraulic formula of flow, conservation of mass (the continuity equation), and proximal iso velocity surface area (PISA).[4]

Echocardiographic techniques are vital in evaluating hemodynamics, and the incorporation of invasive techniques can further our capacity to manage patients, especially in the critical care setting.[11][17] The utility of echocardiographic techniques with hemodynamic parameters can direct initial interventions and provide accurate assessments of patients and the potential solutions to issues involving patients’ hemodynamics and correlation with structural anatomy factors.[18]