Intracardiac Echocardiography to Guide Structural Heart Disease Interventions-Intracardiac Echocardiography to Guide Structural Heart Disease Interventions

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This webinar, sponsored by Sky and featuring experts including Omar Khaliq, Andrew Goldswig, Gilbert Tang, and Didi Wang, focused on the clinical applications and implementation of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in guiding structural heart disease interventions. ICE, distinct from traditional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), offers better proximity resolution by imaging from within the heart, facilitating higher frequency and clearer views of structures critical for procedures such as transeptal puncture, left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO), and tricuspid and mitral interventions. ICE has expanded from limited electrophysiology use to a broad, sometimes standalone, modality.<br /><br />Dr. Khaliq emphasized standardized imaging protocols with specific ICE views tailored for interventions. Dr. Goldswig focused on ICE-guided LAAO, stressing the importance of standardized views and the use of pre-procedural CT for accurate sizing and safe device deployment. Real-world tips and case demonstrations illustrated ICE's value in real-time guidance with less patient discomfort than TEE. Gilbert Tang presented a 3D ICE case guiding tricuspid valve replacement in a complex patient, showing ICE's critical role where conventional imaging is limited.<br /><br />Didi Wang highlighted challenges integrating ICE into clinical practice, including poor reimbursement and undervaluation of imaging technology, which hampers widespread adoption despite clear procedural and safety benefits. Implementation necessitates dedicated teams, compatible equipment, standardized protocols, and industry partnerships. The panel underscored ICE’s potential to improve procedural efficiency and patient outcomes, especially amid increasing intervention volumes and limited availability of skilled imaging physicians. Overall, the discussion advocated for rebranding ICE as a crucial interventional tool, better resource allocation, and collaborative clinical integration to meet growing structural heart disease treatment demands.

Keywords

intracardiac echocardiography

ICE

structural heart disease

left atrial appendage occlusion

LAAO

transeptal puncture

tricuspid valve replacement

imaging protocols

clinical implementation

patient outcomes