Abstract: AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of clinical application of left heart contrast echocardiography with perfluoropropane-albuminmicrosphere.METHODS: The left heart contrast echocardiography , using intravenous bolus injection of perfluoropropane-albumin microsphere contrast agent , was performed in the 30 patients.Left heart opacification grades , numbers of border delineation segment and myocardial contrast agent perfusions were observed.Observer A and observers B evaluated the contrast effect respectively by self-comparison between pre-injection and post-injection.RESULTS: Left heart opacification grades of 1 patient is 2 grade by observers B , the others is 3 grade.The numbers of border delineation augment segment increased from 3.60 ±0.81 to 5.93 ±0.25 and from 3.50 ±0.73 to 5.87 ±0.35 by observer A and observers B.Both observers considered the number of clearly recognized endocardial border segments increased significantly.The interobserver difference is not of significance(P>0.05).The average enhancement rate of LV endocardial border was 96.6%.The myocardial contrast agent perfusions of left ventricular walls were clearly visualized in 30 patients.CONCLUSION: Clinical application of intravenous left heart contrast echocardiography with perfluoropropane-albumin microsphere is feasibility and effective.

Key words: perfluoropropane-albumin microsphere, contrast echocardiography, left heart, clinical application