The first part of the book covers the basic principles of ultrasound, two-dimensional imaging acquisition, Doppler sampling and quantitative assessment of global and regional cardiac function. The authors describe the clinical relevance as well as the echocardiographic estimation of major determinants of the heart function - preload, afterload, contractility and diastolic function - and principles in Doppler determination of intracardiac pressures. A seperate extended chapter describes the use of echocardiography for detection of myocardial ischaemia. The second part of the book deals with the clinical applications of imaging and Doppler echocardiography in valvular heart diseases, congenital heart disease, diseases of the aorta, endocardium, pericardium, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, cardiac sources of emboli and TEE during catheter interventions.