What is the role of subcostal views in adult echocardiography?

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What is the role of subcostal views in adult echocardiography?

Subcostal views provide a different acoustic window that complements the standard parasternal and apical views. This approach is especially valuable when the usual windows are limited by body habitus, lung disease, or postsurgical changes, because it often yields clearer visualization of the right heart and interatrial septum from below the sternum. From the subcostal position, the interatrial septum is seen well, making it a reliable window for evaluating atrial septal defects or other septal abnormalities in adults. It also supports assessment of congenitally related or diaphragmatic conditions and can be modified into a transhepatic view to visualize right heart structures and the IVC when chest windows are poor or when diaphragmatic motion or abdominal anatomy provides a better acoustic path. For these reasons, subcostal views serve as alternative windows, are particularly useful when parasternal windows are poor, and aid in evaluating the atrial septum and certain congenital or diaphragmatic conditions. All of these roles are encompassed by using the subcostal approach.

Subcostal views provide a different acoustic window that complements the standard parasternal and apical views. This approach is especially valuable when the usual windows are limited by body habitus, lung disease, or postsurgical changes, because it often yields clearer visualization of the right heart and interatrial septum from below the sternum.

From the subcostal position, the interatrial septum is seen well, making it a reliable window for evaluating atrial septal defects or other septal abnormalities in adults. It also supports assessment of congenitally related or diaphragmatic conditions and can be modified into a transhepatic view to visualize right heart structures and the IVC when chest windows are poor or when diaphragmatic motion or abdominal anatomy provides a better acoustic path.

For these reasons, subcostal views serve as alternative windows, are particularly useful when parasternal windows are poor, and aid in evaluating the atrial septum and certain congenital or diaphragmatic conditions. All of these roles are encompassed by using the subcostal approach.

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