Echocardiography

Faculty

James G. Jollis, MD Director

Robert A. Waugh, MD Medical Director

John H.P. Alexander, MD

Christopher H. Cabell, MD

Anna Lisa C. Crowley, MD

Pamela S. Douglas, MD

Gregg E. Trahey, MD

Eric J. Velazquez, MD

The Duke Echocardiography Lab is actively involved in clinical trials and research projects to improve diagnostic and prognostic methodology, focusing on:

Myocardial perfusion imaging
3D imaging
Tissue Doppler
Speckle tracking for strain and strain rate imaging

Outcomes research performed in conjunction with Duke Clinical Research Institute has become an important focus of the laboratory. The lab is also integrally involved in providing services as a Core Lab in conjunction with COResearch (a business unit of Duke Medical Strategies, Inc. and the Duke Clinical Research Institute). Working collaboratively, many of the lab's cardiology faculty and sonographers process and analyze echocardiogram studies from clinical trial sites that are sent to the lab from throughout the country and international community.

The lab has also worked with a number of different industry sponsors, including Acusphere, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pointe Biomedical, Philips, and GE.

The training program in echocardiography provides basic and advanced training in the performance and interpretation of echocardiograms, including two-dimensional, Doppler, transesophageal, stress and contrast applications. Cardiology fellows play an active role in the daily functioning of the Duke Echocardiography Laboratory, which performs some 30,000 procedures per year. All fellows achieve Level II training at the completion of their fellowship program.

In most cases, cardiology fellows have a two-month rotation through the lab during both their first and second years. Third and fourth year fellows who participate in the activities of the laboratory for extended periods are primarily involved in research and advanced training.

For more information on this lab, please visit our clinical services Web page.

Selected Publications

Jollis JG, Landolfo CL, Kisslo J, Constantine GD, Davis KD, Ryan T. Fenfluramine and Phentermine and cardiovascular findings: The effect of treatment duration on prevalence of valve abnormalities. Circulation 101:2071, 2000.
Kisslo J, Firek B, Ota T, Kang DH, Fleishman CE, Stetten G, Li J, Ohazama CJ, Adams D, Landolfo C, Ryan T, von Ramm O. Real-time volumetric echocardiography: the technology and possibilities. Echocardiography 17:773, 2000.
Mast ST, Gersing KR, Anstrom KJ, Krishnan KR, Califf RM, Jollis JG. Association between selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor therapy and heart valve regurgitation. Am J Cardiol 87:989, 2001.
Cabell CH, Abrutyn E. Progress toward a global understanding of infective endocarditis: Early lessons from the ICE investigation. Infect Dis Clin North Am 16(2):255-72, 2002.
Cabell CH, Heidenreich PA, Chu V, Moore C, Stryjewski M, Corey GR, Fowler VG. Increasing Rates of Cardiac Device Infections Among Medicare Beneficiaries: 1990-1999. Am Heart J 147:582-6, 2004.