ABSTRACT
I. GENERAL TEST PROTOCOL The patient lies in lateral decubitus, the position required to achieve an optimal echocardiographic view. Electrocardiographic leads are placed at standard limb and precordial sites, slightly displacing (upward and downward) any leads that may interfere with the chosen acoustic windows. A 12-lead echocardiography is recorded in resting condition and each minute throughout the examination. An echocardiography lead is also continuously displayed on the echo monitor to provide the operator with a reference for ST-segment changes and arrhythmias. Cuff blood pressure is measured in resting condition and each stage thereafter. Echocardiographic imaging is typically performed from the parasternal longand short-axis, apical long-axis, and apical four-and two-chamber views. In some cases the subxyphoidal and apical long-axis views are used. Images are recorded in resting condition from all views and captured digitally. A quadscreen format is used for comparative analysis. Recording on videotape alone is not sufficient and may be used as a backup medium only in cases of technical failure (1).
