Spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC)

Spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC): is a phenomenon of discrete reflections appearing in the blood inside the cardiac chambers, cavities or vessels without previous injection of echocontrast media or fluids containing microbubbles.
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It is most commonly observed in patients with dilated left atrium, mitral stenosis, left ventricular dysfunction and aortic aneurysm or dissection.
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Smoke-like SEC has been associated with stroke and thromboembolic events.
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Spontaneous echo contrast is caused by an increased ultrasonic back-scatter from aggregation of the cellular components of blood in the conditions of blood stasis or low-velocity blood flow.

The echo lady; Lorena De Vanna, is a cardiac and respiratory physiologist graduated from the Central University of Venezuela.