Ballon atrial septostomy under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance

Summary Balloon atrial septostomy is an established method of palliation for several forms of congenital heart disease. Previously performed under fluoroscopic x-ray control, recent reports have demonstrated the utility of transthoracic echocardiographic monitoring. We report the first application of uniplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) (6.7-mm probe) as an alternative imaging modality for control of ballon atrial septostomy on neonates in the intensive care unit.     

超声定量检查技术新进展

近年来，超声定量检查技术在临床的应用为心血管疾病患者的心功能评估提供了量化的依据，本文介绍了超声诊断仪的使用部分最新定量检查技术。     

运用多普勒超声心动图技术对染色体三体异常小鼠胚胎心脏发育的研究

对２０个１６三体染色体异常小鼠胚胎进行了多普勒超声心动图研究。胎龄从１０天至１５天。９例发现流入道返流波型，６例发现流出道返流波型。１２０例染色体正常胚胎无一例发现返流波型。１６三体小鼠模型作为先天性心脏病研究的理想模型，本文首次提供了对此类模型胚胎血液动力学研究的非创伤性监测方法。     

彩色多普勒超声图指导风湿性心脏病二尖瓣狭窄球囊扩张术91例

目的：应用彩色多普勒超声心动图指导经皮二尖瓣球囊成形术(PBMV)治疗风湿性二尖瓣狭窄的价值、方法：运用彩超对行PBMV的患进行术前术后检查，观察二尖瓣钙化程度及部位、开口形状、瓣口面积、二尖瓣返流(MR)程度、瓣下病变、左房左室大小、左房有无血栓．结果：91例PBMV术后患中，术后MR72例，其中MR新出现19例，MR加重8例、与术前对比，术后二尖瓣开放幅度、二尖瓣口面积、二尖瓣跨瓣压、二尖瓣压差半降时间较术前有明显改善趋势，左房内径、肺动脉内径较术前有缩小趋势．同时，术后左房压、右室压及肺动脉压也有下降趋势。结论：彩超能明确PBMV治疗二尖瓣狭窄的效果。影响：PBMV效果的因素较多，但二尖瓣钙化的程度、部位和瓣膜形态较为重要。     

A rare case of left ventricular outflow obstruction.

We report a patient with a mass originating from the anterior mitral valve leaflet causing severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Noninvasive imaging provided the best diagnostic tools for diagnosis. Histological findings showed a very rare giant blood cyst of the mitral valve.     

Age-Dependent Prevalence of Cardioembolic Sources Detected by TEE: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications

To define the prevalence of cardioembolic sources found by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in different age groups of patients with and without cryptogenic systemic embolism, TEE risk factors for cardiogenic embolism were identified from 341 consecutive patients referred for TEE. One hundred and thirty-five had cryptogenic cerebral or systemic peripheral embolic events (CEE) and 206 other indications for TEE (CTR). Cardioembolic sources were found in 40% of CEE and in 29% of CTR (P < 0.02). Specifically, left atrial (LA) thrombi (P < 0.0001), atrial septal aneurysm with right-to-left shunt (P < 0.002), and atherosclerotic aortic plaques (P < 0.02) were more frequent. The prevalence of potential cardioembolic sources was significantly higher in patients ≥ 70-years old than in younger patients (P < 0.03), specifically LA thrombi (P < 0.004) and atherosclerotic aortic plaques (P < 0.0001). In patients ≥ 70-years old, potential cardioembolic sources were found in 63% and in 40% in CEE and CTR (P = 0.073), respectively. However, LA thrombi were more frequent in CEE (P < 0.003). Thus, potential cardioembolic sources observed by TEE are found more frequently in patients ≥ 70-years old than in younger patients. LA thrombi were more frequent in CEE than in CTR patients ≥ 70-years old. In patients ≥ 70-years old with CEE who are eligible for an anticoagulant regimen, a search for potential cardioembolic sources by TEE should be considered.     

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Analysis of the Systolic Pattern of the Anterior Mitral Leaflet in Patients with Flat Chest

Transesophageal echocardiography was conducted to determine the systolic pattern of the anterior mitral leaflet in patients with flat chest, and to differentiate it from that associated with mitral valve prolapse. The fronto-sagittal index (an index of chest flattening) was determined in 50 subjects using chest radiographs, and was used to classify them into a flat chest group (index < 0.38, n = 28) and a normal chest group (index ≥ 0.38, n = 22). We then used transesophageal echocardiography to examine the anterior leaflet in these subjects. A significant positive correlation was observed between the fronto-sagittal index and the short-to long-axis diameter ratio of the left ventricle in all patients. These parameters, and the left atrial dimension were lower in the flat than the normal chest group. The clear zone area of the anterior leaflet during mid-to late-systole was significantly larger in the flat chest group. However, no intergroup differences existed in the rough zone area of the anterior leaflet or in the middle scallop area of the posterior leaflet. Mitral regurgitation was observed in 20 and 12 subjects in the flat and normal chest groups, respectively. The maximum mitral regurgitant area did not differ between the two groups. The clear zone area of the anterior leaflet increased significantly following inhalation of amyl nitrite in 22 subjects of both groups, but the other areas did not increase. The mitral regurgitant area decreased or disappeared after amyl nitrite at a similar rate in each group. Thus, the decrease in the antero-posterior dimension of the thorax in subjects with flat chest affects the systolic pattern of the clear zone of the anterior leaflet more than that of the rough zone of the anterior leaflet or the posterior leaflet. This systolic pattern in such patients differs from that associated with mitral valve prolapse.     

地尔硫静脉滴注治疗冠心病心绞痛

目的：观察地尔硫Ｚｈｕｏ注射液静脉滴注治疗冠心病心绞痛的疗效。方法：８６例心绞痛患者分为两组，其中治疗组４６例，用地尔硫Ｚｈｕｏ５０ｍｇ加入５％葡萄糖液２５０ｍｌ中静滴，１次／ｄ，连续１０ｄ；对照组４０例用丹参液１６ｍｌ加入５％葡萄糖液２５０ｍｌ中静滴，１次／ｄ，连续１０ｄ。结果：治疗组症状控制总有效率９８％，患者心电图改善率６１％，明显高于对照组的３７％和２８％，地尔硫Ｚｈｕｏ改善心功能效果明显     

Upper Gastrointestinal Irritation and Arrhythmia

Abstract: The influence of endoscopic examination on the occurrence of arrhythmia was investigated electrocardiographically in 30 patients with cardiovascular disease who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) (group A) and 38 patients with digestive tract disease who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) (group B). The mode and frequency of arrhythmia during the examination were compared between the two groups. (1) Arrhythmia was more frequently observed in group A (22 of 30, 73.3%) than in group B (9 of 38, 23.7%) patients (p<0.001). The common arrhythmias in both groups were supraventricular premature beat and ventricular premature beat. Serious arrhythmias, such as 2nd degree atrioventricular block and ventricular fibrillation were detected only in group A patients. (2) The region of the esophagus where the tip of the probe or scope was located was classified into three segments: upper (0–15 cm), middle (15–35 cm) and lower (35 cm<). Arrhythmias tended to be frequent when the tip of the probe or scope was located in the middle segment of the esophagus. These data indicate that arrhythmias observed during TEE or UGIE are related to the underlying heart disease. Furthermore, the middle segment of the esophagus appears to be particularly susceptible to the provocation of arrhythmia.     

多平面经食道超声心动图对心血管疾病的诊断价值

为了评价多平面经食道超声心动图（ＴＥＥ）的临床应用价值，对３６例临床经胸超声心动图（ＴＴＥ）检查尚未完全明确诊断的心血管疾病患者进行了ＴＥＥ检查。结果显示：①２６例（７２％）患者ＴＥＥ补充或纠正了ＴＴＥ诊断；②９例手术患者ＴＥＥ诊断符合率１００％；③对感染性心内膜炎小赘生物的检出、间隔缺损部位、数目、合并畸型、心腔内血栓、大动脉瘤等ＴＥＥ的诊断价值明显高于ＴＴＥ。