Left ventricular and atrial strain imaging with cardiac computed tomography: Validation against echocardiography

BackgroundData on left ventricular (LV) deformation imaging using CT angiography (CTA) are scarce and the feasibility of atrial deformation analysis by CT has not been addressed. We aimed to compare 2D echocardiographic and CT derived LV and left atrial (LA) global longitudinal strain (GLS) obtained by using a novel feature tracking algorithm in patients following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.MethodsTwenty-eight patients were included who underwent retrospectively-gated 256-slice CTA and speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) on the same day. CT datasets in 10% increments were reconstructed throughout the cardiac cycle. LV GLS and LA global peak reservoir strain (LA GS) was measured.ResultsMedian absolute values for LV GLS were 19.9 [14.8–22.4] vs. 19.9 [16.8–24.7], as measured by CT vs STE, respectively (p = 0.017). We found good inter-modality correlation for LV GLS (ρ = 0.78, p < 0.05) with a mean bias of −1.6. Regarding atrial measurements, the median LA GS was 19.0 [13.5–27.3] for CT vs. 28.0 [17.5–32.6] for STE (p < 0.001) with a mean bias of −5.6 between CT and STE and a correlation coefficient of ρ = 0.87, p < 0.001. CT measurements were highly reproducible: intra-observer intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.96 for LV GLS and 0.95 for LA GS.ConclusionWe detected good correlation between CTA and echocardiography-based LV and LA longitudinal strain parameters. CTA provides accurate strain measurements with high reproducibility. Feature tracking-based deformation analysis could provide a clinically important addition to CT examinations by complementing anatomical information with functional data.     

Diagnostic d’un souffle systolique cardiaque chez un jeune patient asymptomatique : une évaluation des pratiques professionnelles en médecine militaire d’expertise

The finding of a systolic heart murmur is common in medical military practice. Albeit often benign among young healthy adults, it can reveal a valvular or a cardiac disease, which could worsen during workout or expose to risk of a sudden death. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the military general practitioner when discovering a systolic murmur among young asymptomatic patients.Materials and methodsDuring one year, this study involved all the general practitioners of the medical military centres of Brittany and the cardiologists of the military hospital in Brest. It prospectively enrolled a cohort of all military asymptomatic patients under 40, without any underlying known heart condition. Military general practitioners listed, thanks to an anonymous form, the main features of the systolic murmur and of the ECG and proposed an auscultatory diagnosis: innocent or organic murmur. Then cardiologists did the same and finally performed a transthoracic echocardiography giving the diagnosis.ResultsFifty-eight patients were referred, 5 not meeting the inclusion criteria. Of the 53 patients included, military general practitioners found 46 innocent murmurs and 7 organic ones. Cardiologists found 51 innocent murmurs and 2 organic. Transthoracic echocardiography just took on one organic murmur (linked with a bicuspid aortic valve), spotted by the specialist, though judged innocent by the general practitioner.DiscussionMost of innocent murmurs diagnosed by general practitioners (45/46) were confirmed. Regarding the seven organic murmurs, the main selected criteria (intensity over 3, orthostatic persistence, diffuse irradiation) are mostly in accordance with the literature, proving right medical instincts. Authors propose a practical management of systolic murmurs among asymptomatic young patients.ConclusionMilitary general practitioners seem to master symptoms of organic murmur. This assessment argues for a promotion of a holistic clinical examination, which will help not only to rationalize the use of transthoracic echocardiography in economic terms but also to value the medical expertise.     

Retour veineux pulmonaire anormal partiel chez une patiente de 64 ans

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) represents 3 % of the congenital cardiopathies. Diagnosis in adults is challenging as clinical symptomatology is non-specific and echocardiographic signs are discrete and misleading potentially confusing with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. We report the case of a 64-year-old woman in whom we diagnosed PAPVR associated with sinus venosus atrial septal defect. We describe medical history, clinical signs, investigations and postoperative evolution.     

基层医院开展胎儿超声心动图筛查的作用分析

目的:探讨基层医院开展胎儿超声心动图筛查的作用。方法:选取2017年1月—2019年6月在北京市昌平区妇幼保健院建档并进行胎儿超声心动图筛查的孕妇10763例,其中10117例产后行新生儿超声心动图筛查,对产前检查出心脏异常病例转诊,与产前诊断机构诊断结果、生后新生儿超声心动图筛查结果、尸检及手术结果进行对比,并对常规扫查切面进行回顾性分析、讨论。结果:经产前超声心动图5切面法筛查出胎儿心脏异常共136例,确诊134例,诊断准确率98.5%(134/136),检出率1.2%(134/10763),漏诊1例,为完全型肺静脉异位引流。误诊2例,1例主动脉弓曲折误诊为主动脉弓离断;1例正常心脏误诊为主动脉缩窄。结论:基层医院常规开展规范化胎儿超声心动图筛查,对及早发现并诊断先天性心脏病具有重要的临床价值。