Rules for diagnosis of arterioventricular discordances and spatial identification of ventricles. Crossed great arteries and transposition of the great arteries.

Rules are presented for the diagnosis of arterioventricular discordances and the spatial position of the ventricles in these cardiopathies by means of angiocardiography and the position of cardiac catheters. Because these rules are based on previous anatomo-embryological findings, the normal development of the conus and the truncus is briefly analysed. The probable morphogenesis of this group of truncoconal cardiopathies is discussed. The fundamental process required to establish the diagnosis of these cardiopathies is as follows: 1) The truncoconal morphology is identified in the lateral projection. a) The anterior position of the pulmonary artery and its infundibulum with respect to the aorta and its infundibulum is characteristic of crossed great arteries with arterioventricular concordance or discordance. b) The anterior position of the aorta and its infundibulum with respect to the pulmonary artery and its infundibulum is characteristic of transposition of the great arteries with arterioventricular concordance or discordance. 2) Once the truncoconal morphology is identified, the use of the anteroposterior projection allows the establishment of the differential diagnosis between arterioventricular concordances and discordances, and of the spatial location of the ventricles in these entities. a) An anterior pulmonary artery directed from right to left, emerging from an infundibulum placed on the left side (anatomically right ventricle on the left) or an anterior pulmonary artery directed from left to right, arising from an infundibulum located to the right (anatomically right ventricular placed on the right), is the specific image of discordant crossed great arteries. b) An anterior pulmonary artery directed from right to left emerging from an infundibulum placed on the right side (anatomically right ventricle on the right side) or the anterior pulmonary artery directed from left to right arising from a left-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left side) is characteristic of concordant crossed great arteries. c) An anterior aorta placed to the right of the pulmonary artery and emerging from a left-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left side) or an anterior aorta placed to the left of the pulmonary artery and arising from an infundibulum placed on the right side (anatomically right ventricle placed on the right) is characteristic of discordant transposition of the great arteries. d) An anterior aorta placed to the right of the pulmonary artery emerging from a right-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the right) or an anterior aorta placed to the left of the pulmonary artery arising from an infundibulum placed on the left (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left) is the specific picture of concordant transposition of the great arteries...     

Rules for diagnosis of arterioventricular discordances and spatial identification of ventricles. Crossed great arteries and transposition of the great arteries.

Rules are presented for the diagnosis of arterioventricular discordances and the spatial position of the ventricles in these cardiopathies by means of angiocardiography and the position of cardiac catheters. Because these rules are based on previous anatomo-embryological findings, the normal development of the conus and the truncus is briefly analysed. The probable morphogenesis of this group of truncoconal cardiopathies is discussed. The fundamental process required to establish the diagnosis of these cardiopathies is as follows: 1) The truncoconal morphology is identified in the lateral projection. a) The anterior position of the pulmonary artery and its infundibulum with respect to the aorta and its infundibulum is characteristic of crossed great arteries with arterioventricular concordance or discordance. b) The anterior position of the aorta and its infundibulum with respect to the pulmonary artery and its infundibulum is characteristic of transposition of the great arteries with arterioventricular concordance or discordance. 2) Once the truncoconal morphology is identified, the use of the anteroposterior projection allows the establishment of the differential diagnosis between arterioventricular concordances and discordances, and of the spatial location of the ventricles in these entities. a) An anterior pulmonary artery directed from right to left, emerging from an infundibulum placed on the left side (anatomically right ventricle on the left) or an anterior pulmonary artery directed from left to right, arising from an infundibulum located to the right (anatomically right ventricular placed on the right), is the specific image of discordant crossed great arteries. b) An anterior pulmonary artery directed from right to left emerging from an infundibulum placed on the right side (anatomically right ventricle on the right side) or the anterior pulmonary artery directed from left to right arising from a left-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left side) is characteristic of concordant crossed great arteries. c) An anterior aorta placed to the right of the pulmonary artery and emerging from a left-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left side) or an anterior aorta placed to the left of the pulmonary artery and arising from an infundibulum placed on the right side (anatomically right ventricle placed on the right) is characteristic of discordant transposition of the great arteries. d) An anterior aorta placed to the right of the pulmonary artery emerging from a right-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the right) or an anterior aorta placed to the left of the pulmonary artery arising from an infundibulum placed on the left (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left) is the specific picture of concordant transposition of the great arteries...     

广东省韶关市社区居民冠心病危险因素认知状况调查及健康教育效果研究

目的：调查广东省韶关市社区居民冠心病危险因素认知状况,观察健康教育效果。方法2012—2013年,选取广东省韶关市某3个社区240例居民为调查对象。采用自制调查问卷调查所有社区居民对冠心病危险因素的认知情况并进行健康教育,观察健康教育前后所有社区居民冠心病危险因素认知水平。结果本组240例社区居民对冠心病家族史认知正确者152例（63.3％）、对高脂饮食认知正确者208例（86.7％）、对缺乏运动认知正确者160例（66.6％）、对过量饮酒认知正确者190例（79.2％）、对血脂异常认知正确者208例（86.7％）、对高血压认知正确者180例（75.0％）、对缺乏蔬菜水果认知正确者143例（59.6％）、对糖尿病认知正确者118例（49.2％）、对肥胖认知正确者208例（86.7％）、对压力紧张认知正确者181例（75.4％）、对吸烟认知正确者164例（68.3％）。本组240例社区居民中合并糖尿病者38例,其中对糖尿病认知正确者30例（78.9％）;97例居民有冠心病家族史,其中对冠心病家族史认知正确者82例（84.5％）;86例居民有压力紧张,其中对压力紧张认知正确者62例（72.1％）。本组240例社区居民健康教育前对冠心病危险因素全面认知60例（25.0％）,部分认知124例（51.7％）,认知较差56例（23.3％）;健康教育后对冠心病危险因素因素全面认知156例（65.0％）,部分认知64例（26.7％）,认知较差20例（8.3％）,健康教育后冠心病危险因素认知水平高于健康教育前（P＜0.05）。结论广东省韶关市社区居民对冠心病危险因素的认知存在一定的不足,针对冠心病危险因素进行健康教育有利于提高其对冠心病危险因素的认知水平。     

Single stage removal of right pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts.

A case of hydatid disease of lung and liver is described. The patient was investigated because of a circumscribed shadow in the right lung on chest skiagram. Another cystic shadow was picked up in the right lobe of liver on ultrasound examination. Both the cysts in right lung and liver were removed simultaneously through a right thoracophrenotomy. Emphasis is being laid on the utilization of single stage thoracotomy as an operative procedure of choice for hydatid cysts of right lung and liver.     

Demonstration of re-entry within the canine specialized conduction system.

There is suggestive evidence that bundle branch re-entry occurs in man in response to premature right ventricular stimulation. Demonstration of the activation sequence during re-entrant excitation in the in vivo dog was accomplished by placing recording electrodes on the major portions of the specialized conduction system. A temporary right heart bypass was utilized to place two or more electrodes on both right and left bundle branches and place electrodes on the His bundle and on the left and right ventricular endocardium. Premature excitation of the right ventricle was found not to retrogradely activate the right bundle but was able to cause slow right to left myocardial activation that resulted in retrograde activation within the left bundle branch. Retrograde conduction in the left bundle caused activation of the His bundle and the proximal right bundle. Activation of the right bundle resulted in antegrade conduction of the impulse across the site of previous conduction block and re-excitation of the right ventricle, to complete the re-entrant circuit. This type of re-entry, utilizing the bundle branches, was demonstrated in 19 dogs. This re-entry circuit was found to be facilitated by shortening of the right ventricular refractory period by local epicardial warming and was abolished by interruption of conduction in the right bundle by anodal blocking current applied to the right bundle. The sites of slow conduction, site of unidirectional block, and pathways of conduction were demonstrated. The validity of the concept of re-entry occurring within the specialized conduction system is substantiated.     

Cardiac auscultation: a re-emphasis. Clues from physical maneuvers and pharmacologic agents.

Seven patients with corrected transposition were studied by qualitative radionuclide angiocardiography. In four patients with situs solitus with apex on the left, the pulmonary artery was in a medial and posterior position, to the right of the aorta, with its root attached to the morphological left ventricle positioned on the right. The aorta arose from the ventricle placed on the left and had an anterior position. The ventricle located on the right has a triangular shape. In the case of situs solitus with dextroversion, the pulmonary artery was to the right of the aorta and had a right-to-left direction. The ventricle placed on the right was ovoid. In one single case of situs inversus with levoversion, the pulmonary artery was on the left, emerging from the morphological left ventricle placed on the left, and was ovoid in shape, while the aorta was on the right arising from the morphological right ventricle. In one case of situs inversus with dextrocardia, atrioventricular relationships were the same as in levoversion but the apex was on the right and the morphological left ventricle was triangular. Qualitative radionuclide angiocardiography is a simple and non-invasive method for obtaining morphological data for the precise diagnosis of corrected transposition.     

Right ventricular thrombus detection and multimodality imaging using contrast echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

We present the case of right ventricular thrombus formation associated with a right ventricular infarct secondary to a proximal right coronary artery thrombus, which was not evident on transthoracic echocardiography but detected on both delayed gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and microsphere contrast echocardiography. The diagnosis of right ventricular thrombosis altered the decision to place an implantable cardiac defibrillator in this patient. Anticoagulation with warfarin resulted in resolution of the thrombus. This case highlights the utility of multimodality imaging in the detection and follow-up of right ventricular thrombus in the setting of right ventricular myocardial infarction, and the effectiveness of anticoagulation therapy.     

269例中国老年人利手与语言优势半球关系的研究

目的　研究中国老年人利手与语言优势半球的关系。方法　用 ABC法对 2 69例经 CT证实为单侧脑病灶且波及语言相关区的老年患者进行汉语失语症检查。结果　左脑病变 1 62例中 ,有 1 32例失语 ;右脑病变 1 0 7例中 ,仅 1 4例失语。同时发现 ,右利手中 ,1 50例左脑病变者有 1 2 4例失语 ,99例右脑病变仅 1 2例失语 ;非右利手中 ,1 2例左脑病变者 8例出现了失语 ,而 8例右脑病变者仅 2例失语。无失语 1 2 3例中 2 9例再发对侧脑病变均出现失语。结论　中国老年人左、右脑均可能控制语言 ,语言优势侧多在左侧。右利手语言优势侧多为左半球 ,仅少数为右半球 ;非右利手者语言的控制仍以左半球为优势侧可能性大。目前尚无双侧支配的依据     

Diagnosis and prognosis of right ventricular infarction.

The values of several non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of right ventricular necrosis in inferior myocardial infarction were compared in 51 consecutive patients who underwent serial radionuclide ventriculography, pyrophosphate scintigraphy, and cross sectional echocardiography. In addition a unipolar electrocardiographic lead V4R was recorded on admission, daily, and during episodes of further pain. Profound right ventricular dysfunction was evident in 50% of patients studied by radionuclide methods after inferior myocardial infarction but recognition on clinical groups alone was poor. Functionally important right ventricular infarction was best detected and followed serially by radionuclide ventriculography. Echocardiographic methods for evaluating right ventricular ejection fraction correlated poorly with radionuclide methods. Increased uptake of radioactivity by the right ventricle on pyrophosphate scintigraphy usually indicated poor right ventricular function, but a scan that was negative in the right ventricular territory did not exclude dysfunction. ST segment elevation in V4R was not specific for right ventricular infarction and its routine use may lead to overdiagnosis of this condition. Serial measurements suggest that profound right ventricular dysfunction persists after acute inferior infarction and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Of 25 patients with severe right ventricular dysfunction, six died in the late hospital period. In the remaining 19 patients mean right ventricular ejection fraction over a two month period did not improve; six patients had persistent right ventricular dyskinesia and features of chronic right ventricular failure developed in three survivors.     

Diagnosis and prognosis of right ventricular infarction

The values of several non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of right ventricular necrosis in inferior myocardial infarction were compared in 51 consecutive patients who underwent serial radionuclide ventriculography, pyrophosphate scintigraphy, and cross sectional echocardiography. In addition a unipolar electrocardiographic lead V4R was recorded on admission, daily, and during episodes of further pain. Profound right ventricular dysfunction was evident in 50% of patients studied by radionuclide methods after inferior myocardial infarction but recognition on clinical groups alone was poor. Functionally important right ventricular infarction was best detected and followed serially by radionuclide ventriculography. Echocardiographic methods for evaluating right ventricular ejection fraction correlated poorly with radionuclide methods. Increased uptake of radioactivity by the right ventricle on pyrophosphate scintigraphy usually indicated poor right ventricular function, but a scan that was negative in the right ventricular territory did not exclude dysfunction. ST segment elevation in V4R was not specific for right ventricular infarction and its routine use may lead to overdiagnosis of this condition. Serial measurements suggest that profound right ventricular dysfunction persists after acute inferior infarction and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Of 25 patients with severe right ventricular dysfunction, six died in the late hospital period. In the remaining 19 patients mean right ventricular ejection fraction over a two month period did not improve; six patients had persistent right ventricular dyskinesia and features of chronic right ventricular failure developed in three survivors.     

Persistence of the right venous sinus valve simulating a right atrial myxoma in a case of total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Echocardiographic, anatomo-clinical and surgical aspects

A case of persistence of the right venous sinus valve that on echocardiographic examination simulated right atrial myxoma is reported in a patient with total abnormal pulmonary venous return in the coronary sinus. Echocardiography showed a mobile, pedunculated mass present in systole in the right atrium that shifted to diastole in the right ventricle, highly suggestive of right atrial myxoma. The right ventricle also showed a volume overload and a space without echoes behind the left atrium. A membrane was encountered in the right atrium at surgery. This was removed and the venous return corrected.     

Collateral vessel development after right ventricular infarction in the pig

Although the right coronary artery supplies both ventricles in the pig, a gradual proximal right coronary occlusion produces infarction in the left ventricle, whereas the right ventricle is usually spared. This study evaluates the influence of right ventricular hypertension and hypertrophy (RVHH) on the occurrence of right ventricular infarction and the difference in the rate and extent of collateral vessel development after gradual right coronary occlusion in pigs with (RVHH group) and without (control group) increased right ventricular pressure and mass. Right ventricular hypertension and hypertrophy were induced by pulmonary arterial banding which raised right ventricular systolic pressure from 24 to 74 mm Hg and doubled right ventricular mass in 4 weeks. Right coronary occlusion was produced with an ameroid constrictor in 24 control group pigs and 15 RVHH pigs. Serial selective coronary cineangiograms on days 4, 8, 14, 21 and 28 after ameroid constrictor placement showed no difference in first appearance of collateralization to the occluded right coronary artery. Total collateralization, which was present in all pigs studied in the control group by days 21 and 28, was present in only 57 percent of the RVHH group at the same time. Although left ventricular infarction occurred in all animals in both groups, right ventricular infarction was not found in the control group but was seen in 80 percent of the RVHH group. There was no correlation between the degree of collateralization seen and the size of the right ventricular infarction found. Experimentally induced right ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension make the right ventricle susceptible to infarction and impeded total collateral filling of the occluded right coronary artery in some of the animals studied.     

Effects of projection and background correction method upon calculation of right ventricular ejection fraction using first-pass radionuclide angiography

Summary There is no consensus as to the best projection or correction method for first-pass radionuclide studies of the right ventricle. We assessed the effects of two commonly used projections, 30° right anterior oblique and anterior-posterior, on the calculation of right ventricular ejection fraction. In addition two background correction methods, planar background correction to account for scatter, and right atrial correction to account for right atrio-ventricular overlap were assessed. Two first-pass radionuclide angiograms were performed in 19 subjects, one in each projection, using gold-195m (half-life 30.5 seconds), and each study was analysed using the two methods of correction. Right ventricular ejection fraction was highest using the right anterior oblique projection with right atrial correction 35.6 ± 12.5% (mean ± SD), and lowest when using the anterior posterior projection with planar background correction 26.2 ± 11% (p<0.001). The study design allowed assessment of the effects of correction method and projection independently. Correction method appeared to have relatively little effect on right ventricular ejection fraction. Using right atrial correction correlation coefficient (r) between projections was 0.92, and for planar background correction r = 0.76, both p<0.001. However, right ventricular ejection fraction was far more dependent upon projection. When the anterior-posterior projection was used calculated right ventricular ejection fraction was much more dependent on correction method (r = 0.65, p = not significant), than using the right anterior oblique projection (r = 0.85, p<0.001). Comparison of the two methods currently used in clinical studies, showed no significant differences between the means, and r = 0.83 with a standard error of the estimate (SEE) = 7.4%. These data show that the calculation of right ventricular ejection fraction from right anterior oblique studies is less dependent on correction method, and suggest that its use as a standard method which will allow comparisons of results between centres.     

Effect of opening the pericardium on right ventricular hemodynamics during cardiac surgery

The impact of the pericardium on right ventricular performance in the presence of normal filling pressures was evaluated using a rapid response RVEF thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter and TEE. In eight patients with normal right coronary arteries undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, hemodynamic measurements revealed increased right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes with diminished RVEF after opening the pericardium. In eight additional patients with right coronary artery disease, directionally similar changes in right ventricular volume were seen. Ejection fraction, however, was unchanged possibly due to altered right ventricular compliance. Echocardiogram evaluation of right ventricular area changes in patients with compromised right coronary systems corresponded to ejection fraction determinations obtained with thermodilution technique.     

A case of catamenial pneumothorax due to diaphragmatic endometriosis confirmed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery]

We describe a case of catamenial pneumothorax caused by diaphragmatic endometriosis and histologically confirmed thoracoscopically. The patient was a 33-year-old woman who had had recurrent right chest pain starting on the day preceding each menstruation since she was 26 years of age. In June 2001, at the age of 33, she felt right chest pain and developed dyspnea, and so came to our hospital. Chest radiography showed bilateral pneumothorax. Timely thoracoscopy revealed the characteristic appearances of catamenial pneumothorax such as a blueberry spot on the central tendon of the right diaphragm and a purplish-red locus in the right apex. Histopathological examination further confirmed the presence of endometrial tissue on the diaphragm as well as in the lesion of the right lung. Despite resection of the endometrial tissues from the right hemidiaphragm and the lung under thoracoscopy, right pneumothorax recurred after one month. Since then, the patient's condition has been well controlled by therapy with gonadotropin releasing hormone, with no recurrence of catamenial pneumothorax.     

Prolapsing right atrial myxoma: clinical and heamodynamic considerations.

A 22-year-old woman with a right atrial myxoma prolapsing to the right ventricle is described. The haemodynamic findings were similar to those of cases of prolapsing myxoma of the left atrium; a notching on the ascending limb of the right ventricular pressure curve, and an initial negative, irregular deflection on the pulmonary artery pressure curve with a pronounced rise in the mean right atrial pressure (18 mmHg) were found. On deep inspiration there was a significant deepening of the y descent from 12 mmHg to 2 mmHg, indicating a changing, dynamic obstruction of the right ventricle inflow tract. These haemodynamic features can be helpful in the diagnosis of prolapsing right atrial myxoma.     

Effect of amrinone on right ventricular function: predominance of afterload reduction

Although the bipyridine agent amrinone is reported to have a positive inotropic effect on the left ventricle, the effect of this drug on right ventricular contractility in the clinical setting is unknown. We studied the effect of short-term intravenous administration of amrinone on right ventricular systolic function in nine patients with severe congestive heart failure and, using radionuclide ventriculography, examined the right ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship to determine whether reduced right ventricular afterload or increased contractility predominantly accounted for the observed improvement in right ventricular systolic function. In each patient the right ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship was derived with use of varying doses of nitroprusside. After nitroprusside was stopped, intravenous amrinone (3 mg/kg) caused decreases from baseline in pulmonary arterial end-systolic pressure in eight of nine patients (23 +/- 11% [overall mean +/- SE], p less than .05), and in pulmonary vascular resistance in all patients (38 +/- 6%, p less than .001). Right ventricular end-systolic volume decreased (23 +/- 8%, p less than .01) and right ventricular ejection fraction increased (31 +/- 10%, p = .01). The amrinone-induced decrease in right ventricular end-systolic volume was compared with that predicted for right ventricular afterload reduction alone based on the effect of amrinone on pulmonary arterial end-systolic pressure and the pressure-volume relationship observed during infusion of nitroprusside.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy with pulmonary embolism: a case report

A 50-year-old man complained of dyspnea on exertion. Electrocardiography showed frequent premature ventricular contraction and inverted T wave in leads V1-V6. Echocardiography and right ventriculography showed dilation and systolic dysfunction of the right ventricle. The diagnosis was arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In addition, thrombus was also observed in the pulmonary artery on chest computed tomography and pulmonary artery angiography. The final diagnosis was arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy complicated by pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism should be considered in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy with dyspnea.     

Catastrophic global heart failure in a patient with non-arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia

Summary A young patient with congestive heart failure had pathological findings of myocarditis super-imposed on the substrate of a non-arrhythmogenic form of right ventricular dysplasia. The only clinical findings suggestive of right ventricular dysplasia were T-wave inversions on the right precordial leads.     

Radioisotope and ultrasonic diagnosis of a localized form of infarction of the right ventricle

We are reporting the case of a localized form of right ventricle infarction. The right catheterization, on which the diagnosis usually rests, is completely normal. Cardiac gamma-angiography and bi-dimensional sonography demonstrate, on the contrary, a localized dyskinesis of the inferior wall of the right ventricle which is not dilated and retains its ejection fraction. The failure of right catheterization in the diagnosis of infarction of the right ventricle is usually attributed to hypovolemia or a delay in the performance of the catheterization, which is not the case here. Therefore, this case demonstrates the existence of infarction of the right ventricle without total diastolic or systolic dysfunction, the diagnosis of which may be made with isotopic and sonographic methods.