Clinical and echocardiographic correlations in right heart endocarditis

The echocardiographic findings were correlated with the clinical findings and outcome in 23 patients with tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve endocarditis. There were 15 males and 8 females with a mean age of 33.1 ± 8.4 years. Eighteen patients had tricuspid valve endocarditis, 1 patient had pulmonary valve endocarditis, 3 patients had concomitant mitral valve and tricuspid valve endocarditis, and 1 patient had tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve endocarditis. Twenty of the 23 (87%) patients had a history of intravenous drug abuse. The most common organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (10 of 23 patients or 43%), Streptococcus viridans (5 patients) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4 patients). Pulmonary manifestations with septic pulmonary emboli were present in $\text{18}\text{23}$ (80%) patients, and a regurgitant murmur in $\text{16}\text{23}$ (73%) patients. Vegetations on the tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve were detected in all patients who had 2D echo, but they were missed by M-mode echo in 2 patients. Nine of the 23 patients (40%) improved on medical therapy, 5 (21%) expired, and 7 (30%) required surgery (tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve replacement in 3, and tricuspid valve excision without replacement in 4). Conclusions: (1) 11 of 13 patients with persistent infection, multivalvular involvement, fungal or Pseudomonas infection and increasing size of vegetations by echo died or underwent surgery compared to only 1 of 8 patients without these features (P < 0.01). (2) Staphylococcus aureus infection (10 patients) and flail tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve by echo (6 patients) were not predictive of outcome.     

Echocardiographic and anatomical correlations in fetal congenital heart disease

In a series of 1600 pregnancies 34 cases of congenital heart disease were correctly identified by fetal echocardiography. In each case echocardiographic diagnosis was confirmed by anatomical study. Termination of pregnancy was done electively in 14 cases: in six because of the identification of a cardiac anomaly and in the remaining eight because of multiple congenital anomalies. The remaining 20 fetuses died subsequently owing either to the complexity of congenital heart disease or to associated extracardiac abnormalities, which were present in more than half the fetuses with congenital heart disease. There were eight errors in interpretation of the fetal echocardiogram. The outcome of the pregnancy was not influenced by the error in any case. Fetal echocardiography can predict correctly structural malformations of the heart. The technique is sufficiently reliable to give an accurate prognosis in early pregnancy and provide the basis for alterations in obstetric management.     

Echocardiographic and anatomical correlations in fetal congenital heart disease.

In a series of 1600 pregnancies 34 cases of congenital heart disease were correctly identified by fetal echocardiography. In each case echocardiographic diagnosis was confirmed by anatomical study. Termination of pregnancy was done electively in 14 cases: in six because of the identification of a cardiac anomaly and in the remaining eight because of multiple congenital anomalies. The remaining 20 fetuses died subsequently owing either to the complexity of congenital heart disease or to associated extracardiac abnormalities, which were present in more than half the fetuses with congenital heart disease. There were eight errors in interpretation of the fetal echocardiogram. The outcome of the pregnancy was not influenced by the error in any case. Fetal echocardiography can predict correctly structural malformations of the heart. The technique is sufficiently reliable to give an accurate prognosis in early pregnancy and provide the basis for alterations in obstetric management.     

Echocardiographic study of patients with congenital heart disease and infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) occurs with significant frequency in patients with congenital heart disease. The complications leading to increased morbidity and mortality may be detected by echocardiographic examination. This study was undertaken in order to identify echocardiographic findings that influence the outcome of patients with congenital heart disease and IE. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with an average age of 28 years were selected and divided into two groups according to evolution. Group I included patients who survived the infectious process, while Group II included patients who died during hospitalization or after release. RESULTS: Aortic valve disease was the most frequent anomaly. The clinical finding of most relevance for evolution during hospitalization was heart failure. Acute kidney failure and multiple organ failure from sepsis were the most common complications in patients who died. Echocardiograms established the diagnosis in all cases. Transesophageal studies revealed all periaortic abscesses. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography makes it possible to identify and evaluate complications associated with elevated morbidity and mortality in patients with congenital heart disease and IE.     

Obstructive left triatrial heart in the adult. Echocardiographic appearances

The authors report the case of a 23-year old man who presented with signs of pulmonary hypertension due to an obstructive left triatrial heart in adulthood. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography showed a partially calcified intra-left atrial membrane perforated in its centre. Doppler analysis of flow through the membrane showed continuous systolo-diastolic flow at high velocity indicating haemodynamic obstruction. The systolic pulmonary artery pressure was estimated at 80 mmHg. The patient was treated by surgical excision of the intra-left atrial membrane.     

Echocardiographic assessment of patients with infectious endocarditis: prediction of risk for complications

To enhance the echocardiographic identification of high risk lesions in patients with infectious endocarditis, the medical records and two-dimensional echocardiograms of 204 patients with this condition were analyzed. The occurrence of specific clinical complications was recorded and vegetations were assessed with respect to predetermined morphologic characteristics. The overall complication rates were roughly equivalent for patients with mitral (53%), aortic (62%), tricuspid (77%) and prosthetic valve (61%) vegetations, as well as for those with nonspecific valvular changes but no discrete vegetations (57%), although the distribution of specific complications varied considerably among these groups. There were significantly fewer complications in patients without discernible valvular abnormalities (27%). In native left-sided valve endocarditis, vegetation size, extent, mobility and consistency were all found to be significant univariate predictors of complications. In multivariate analysis, vegetation size, extent and mobility emerged as optimal predictors and an echocardiographic score based on these factors predicted the occurrence of complications with 70% sensitivity and 92% specificity in mitral valve endocarditis and with 76% sensitivity and 62% specificity in aortic valve endocarditis.     

老年舒张性心力衰竭与收缩性心力衰竭患者左心形态及功能的超声评价

目的　探讨老年舒张性心力衰竭与收缩性心力衰竭患者超声左心形态、功能的特点。方法　对临床确诊的 30例老年左心室舒张性心力衰竭 (L VDHF)病例及 36例老年左心室收缩性心力衰竭 (L VSHF)病例进行超声检测 ,以2 0例正常人为对照组。结果　 1与 L VSHF组比较 ,L VDHF组左心房内径 (L AD)、左心室内径 (L VD)扩大程度小 ,但室间隔厚度 (IVST)、左心室后壁厚度 (PWT)增加。 2与对照组比较 ,L VDHF组 L AD、IVST、PWT增加 ,但L VD无显著性差异 ,L VSHF组 L VD显著性扩大。 3L VDHF组左心室射血分数 (L VEF)、心脏指数 (CI)与对照组比较无显著差异 ,而 L VSHF组 L VEF、CI减低。4与对照组比较 ,L VDHF组二尖瓣舒张早期流速峰值 (EPFV)、二尖瓣舒张早、晚期流速峰值比 (E/ A )、舒张早期减速度 (DC)减低 ,二尖瓣舒张晚期流速峰值 ((APFV )、等容舒张时间 (IRT)增高。L VDHF组上述指标与 L VSHF组无显著差异。结论　难以单纯从超声左心室舒张功能指标判断有无 L VDHF的存在 ,应综合分析判断。     

左、右心感染性心内膜炎的临床及超声特征

目的探讨左、右心感染性心内膜炎的临床和超声特征。方法采用回顾性方法分析了7例右心感染性心内膜炎和11例左心感染性心内膜炎。结果与左心感染性心内膜炎相比，右心感染性心内膜炎多见于基础心脏病者（86％）、静脉吸毒者（100％）、多为金葡菌感染（80％）、多累及三尖瓣（57％）、临床表现为肺部炎症（100％）、预后良好。结论左、右心感染性心内膜炎在基础心脏病、血培养结果、临床特点以及超声心动图等方面均明显不同。彩色多普勒二维超声心动图对左、右心感染性心内膜炎的诊断具有重要价值。     

Echocardiography and trivalvular infectious endocarditis in a heart without apparent previous cardiopathy

The echocardiographic findings in a patient with infective endocarditis are reported. There was involvement the aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves. The heart had no previous valvular disease. The M-Mode and two dimensional studies, showed presence of vegetations in the aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves. We consider that the echocardiogram allows the detection of endocarditis in its early stage.     

Hypoplastic syndrome of the left heart. Anatomo-echocardiographic correlations]

The findings on echocardiography and their anatomical correlations are reported in a group of 15 neonates with the syndrome of hypoplasia of the left side of the heart. The lesions which make up this syndrome could be defined precisely using echocardiography. In the major forms of this syndrome (10 cases), the correlation between the clinical and the echocardiographical findings was sufficient to establish the diagnosis, and to avoid the necessity for cardiac catheterisation without prejudice to the treatment plan. Characteristic findings in the major types were: --an aortic diameter less than or equal to 5 mm; --a left ventricle which was absent or had a diameter of less than 11 mm with an LV/RV ratio of less than 0.6; --a mitral valve which was absent or had a very abnormal form with multiple echoes. The differential diagnosis on echocardiography and the limitations of the method are discussed.     

先天性心脏病感染性心内膜炎超声心动图与手术结果对照研究

目的　分析 2 1例先天性心脏病感染心内膜炎 ( IE)的临床资料、超声心动图术前诊断和手术后结果 ,为其诊断及治疗提供参考。方法　对比研究本组各类先天性心脏病 IE的并发率、临床特点、血培养、心电图、术前超声心动图诊断结果及术后心内膜受损的情况。结果　本组先天性心脏病 IE患者室间隔缺损及主动脉瓣病变的发病率最高。手术证实心内膜受损部位以主动脉瓣受累最多 ,也可有多个瓣膜及多种病变的损坏。结论　先天性心脏病的早期诊断治疗是减少 IE发生的重要预防措施 ,赘生物侵犯主动脉瓣的机率高于二尖瓣。超声心动图诊断结合临床 ,反复多次检查是早期诊断的关键。     

Viridans streptococcal endocarditis: clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic correlations

Infections caused by species within the viridans streptococci have been associated with different clinical characteristics. We studied 36 patients with viridans streptococcal endocarditis. Complications were seen in 10 (32%) of 31 patients with native valve endocarditis and four (80%) of five with prosthetic valve endocarditis and included death in two, valve replacement in six, persistent infection in three, emboli in two, and congestive heart failure in nine. Two-dimensional echocardiograms demonstrated vegetations in 26 (72%) of 36, flail mitral valves in seven, disruption of aortic valve prosthesis in one, and perivalvular abscesses in three (two Streptococcus sanguis I and one Streptococcus intermedius I). All twelve patients with native valve endocarditis who suffered complications had vegetations detected by two-dimensional echocardiography, whereas seven patients with native valve endocarditis without vegetations, as detected by two-dimensional echocardiography, had no complications (P = .03). We found no significant correlation between streptococcal species and clinical outcome. To confirm our identifications, we sent 16 identical viridans streptococcal endocarditis isolates to five institutions; only three of 16 were identified as the same species by all five institutions. We conclude that viridans streptococcal endocarditis can be associated with a virulent clinical course and that there is marked variability in species designations of individual strains by different laboratories.     

老年左室舒张性心力衰竭超声心动图观察

目的评价老年左室舒张性心力衰竭超声左心形态、功能的特点。方法对核素心室造影证实的４０例左室舒张性心力衰竭（ＬＶＤＨＦ）及３０例左室收缩性心力衰竭（ＬＶＳＨＦ）进行超声心动图检查，并以２０例正常人为对照组（ＣＧ）。结果ＬＶＤＨＦ组左房内径、室间壁及左室后壁厚度增加，左室内径不大，左室舒张功能参数减低，而左室收缩功能参数正常。ＬＶＳＨＦ组左室内径明显增加，左室收缩、舒张功能参数均异常。结论老年ＬＶＤＨＦ超声心动图特点为左房内径扩大、室壁增厚、左室内径不大，左室收缩功能正常，而左室舒张功能异常。     

Splenic involvement in infectious endocarditis. 5 clinical cases and 78 necropsies

Splenic involvement is a classical complication of infective endocarditis (IE). Clinical manifestations are rare, 5 out of 100 IE: unexpected rupture (1 case), abscess causing reinfection (2 cases), pseudo-tumour (1 case) and terminal infarction (1 case). In addition to a review of the literature, a post mortem histological study of the spleen of 78 cases of IE was undertaken. Splenic involvement did not seem to be the direct cause of death. Three types of lesions which may or may not be associated were observed: congestive inflammatory lesions, infarction (48 p. 100), abscess (6 p. 100). Splenic infarction usually results in scarring but may progress to abscess formation. Rupture was not observed in this autopsy series. Although splenic involvement is common at post mortem it gives rise to few symptoms. Persistant pyrexia and the appearance of local signs should lead to investigation of splenic complications and eventually, to surgical ablation.     

Echocardiographic features of impaired left ventricular diastolic function in Chagas's heart disease

To study left ventricular diastolic function in Chagas's disease, simultaneous echocardiograms, phonocardiograms, and apexcardiograms were recorded in 20 asymptomatic patients with positive Chagas's serology and no signs of heart disease (group 1), 12 with Chagas's heart disease and symptoms of ventricular arrhythmia but no heart failure (group 2), 20 normal subjects (group 3), and 12 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (group 4). The recordings were digitised to determine left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time and the rate and duration of left ventricular cavity dimension increase and wall thinning. In groups 1 and 2 (a) aortic valve closure (A2) and mitral valve opening were significantly delayed relative to minimum dimension and were associated with prolonged isovolumic relaxation, (b) left ventricular cavity size was abnormally increased during isovolumic relaxation and abnormally reduced during isovolumic contraction, and (c) peak rate of posterior wall thinning and dimension increase were significantly reduced and duration of posterior wall thinning was significantly prolonged; both of these abnormalities occurred at the onset of diastolic filling. These abnormalities were more pronounced in group 2 and were accompanied by an increase in the height of the apexcardiogram "a" wave, an indication of pronounced atrial systole secondary to end diastolic filling impairment due to reduced left ventricular distensibility. Group 4, which had an established pattern of diastolic abnormalities, showed changes similar to those in group 2; however, the delay in aortic valve closure (A2) and in mitral valve opening and the degree of dimension change were greater in the latter group. Thus early isovolumic relaxation and left ventricular abnormalities were pronounced in the patients with Chagas's heart disease and may precede systolic compromise, which may become apparent in later stages of the disease. The digitised method is valuable in the early detection of myocardial damage.