Abstract

Exercise echocardiography has been widely used in adult cardiology, and is mainly used for assessing regional myocardial function in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. In addition, it is also useful in the evaluation of the haemodynamic significance of valve disease, such as aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. In children, exercise echocardiography has found its place in the detection of ischaemia in patients with coronary artery abnormalities such as Kawasaki disease, and abnormal origin of coronary arteries. Other indications include assessment of haemodynamic and myocardial response in patients with different types of congenital heart disease, the early detection of myocardial dysfunction in specific populations such as patients after chemotherapy exposure. The incorporation of tissue Doppler and strain imaging with exercise echocardiography has allowed a more quantitative analysis of regional and global systolic and diastolic function.

Keywords: Exercise echocardiography; Children; Paediatric cardiology; Stenosis; Mitral regurgitation

Abbreviations: AS: Aortic Stenosis; TDI: Tissue Doppler Imaging; STE: Speckle Tracking Echocardiography; IVA: Isovolumic Acceleration; FFR: Force- Frequency Relationship; KD: Kawasaki Disease; ASO: Arterial Switch Operation; AS: Aortic Stenosis