实时心肌超声造影与磁共振心肌灌注延迟增强检测存活心肌的比较

目的评价实时心肌超声造影(RT-MCE)与磁共振心肌灌注延迟增强(DE-MRI)检测存活心肌的临床价值。方法入选2012年7月至2013年12月徐州矿务集团总医院(徐州医学院第二附属医院)心内科收治入院的冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(冠心病)患者27例,男性16例,女性11例,平均年龄62.5岁。所有患者行RT-MCE、DE-MRI、冠状动脉造影(CAG)及冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)。对患者的RT-MCE图像分析采用目测半定量法,判定存活心肌;对心肌灌注延迟增强情况进行分级,根据分级结果对心肌存活情况进行判定。术后1、3、6月时复查心脏超声,以冠状动脉血运重建后室壁节段收缩功能改善为判断存活心肌的金标准。结果 RT-MCE目测半定量法检测存活心肌的灵敏性、特异性及准确度分别是70.9%、85.7%、76.3%;DE-MRI法检测存活心肌的灵敏性、特异性及准确度分别是72.7%、76.2%、74.0%,RT-MCE目测半定量法检测存活心肌较DE-MRI法具有较高的特异度(76.2%vs.85.7%,P0.05)。两种检测方法的相关性良好。结论 RT-MCE目测半定量法与DE-MRI法检测存活心肌具有较高的临床价值,RT-MCE目测半定量法具有更高的特异性。     

Technical Issues Related to Digital Stress Echocardiography Analysis and Acquisition Stations

Digital acquisition and display of echocardiographic images has facilitated the development of stress echocardiography. This review will outline technical issues involved with digital capture and manipulation of echocardiographic data, referring to currently available commercial equipment. Among the acquisition items to be discussed are the source of the digitized data (direct digital transfer from the echo machine vs video capture); image resolution (spatial and temporal spacing of the digitized data); and EKG triggering options (direct triggering of the QRS complex vs detecting the QRS on the video transfer). During playback, rest and stress images may be displayed at different frame rates, so that systole will occupy approximately the same time interval. Currently available commercial systems are compared with regard to these features, as well as hardware architecture and operating system.     

Digital analysis of myocardial contrast echocardiography: a clinical study using an air-filled agent in normal subjects

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether direct digital image analysis would allow improved detection of myocardial contrast. Eighteen normal subjects were recruited and separated into two groups. In group 1, the time-brightness curves of the left ventricular cavity and three myocardial perfusion beds were formed from digitized video tape, with output power and imaging time as secondary variables. In group 2, curves constructed from direct polar digital data were compared, with fundamental and second harmonic image formation as variables. In group 1 subjects, using fundamental imaging, the area under the curve in the left ventricular cavity increased slightly with intermittent imaging. No consistent myocardial opacification was identified. In group 2 subjects, using intermittent imaging, the area under the myocardial curve and peak intensity increased with high output, second harmonic imaging in the left anterior descending and right coronary artery regions. Intermittent, second harmonic imaging and digital processing can demonstrate myocardial contrast even with an air-filled agent.     

中青年卵圆孔未闭持续性右向左分流与隐源性脑卒中的相关性分析

目的:采用经胸超声心动图声学造影(cTTE)联合经食道超声心动图(TEE)方法探讨中青年卵圆孔未闭右向左分流的类型与隐源性脑卒中的相关性。方法:收集我院门诊及住院的隐源性脑卒中患者118例(脑卒中组)及同期来我院健康体检的志愿者112例(对照组),两组均进行cTTE及TEE检查,观察卵圆孔未闭发生情况,同时根据cTTE检查左心腔内出现的微泡数半定量的将右向左分流划分3个等级:1~10个微泡/帧为少量分流;11~30个微泡/帧为中量分流;>30个微泡/帧为大量分流。比较两组中卵圆孔未闭患者持续性右向左分流(在静息状态下即出现的右向左分流)与一过性右向左分流(静息状态下无右向左分流,仅在Valsalva动作后出现右向左分流)发生情况及两组右向左分流量情况。结果:脑卒中组患者中合并卵圆孔未闭的比例(41.53%vs 26.78%,P<0.05)、卵圆孔未闭患者中持续性右向左分流的比例(20.34%vs 8.03%,P<0.01)均明显高于对照组。静息状态下持续性少量和中量右向左分流:在脑卒中组中分别是13例(11.02%)、5例(4.24%),对照组中分别是8例(7.14%)、1例(0.89%),两者比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);静息状态下持续性大量右向左分流:脑卒中组6例(5.08%),对照组0例(0%),两者比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组在一过性右向左分流的不同程度分流量方面差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。结论:隐源性脑卒中与卵圆孔未闭持续性右向左分流密切相关。静息状态下存在持续性大量右向左分流可能是隐源性脑卒中的重要原因。     

Myocardial contrast echocardiography: influence of ischaemia and hyperaemia in an animal model.

To evaluate changes in myocardial contrast echocardiography during ischaemia and hyperaemia, contrast studies were performed in 16 open chest dogs. Time-intensity curves were generated using videodensitometry after contrast injections to demonstrate ischaemic and non-ischaemic areas of interest during a wide range of coronary blood flow levels. For each time-intensity curve, the peak contrast intensity (PCI), washout halftime (T1/2) and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. PCI and AUC decreased significantly only with severe ischaemia (90% or more reduction in flow), and increased significantly with hyperaemia of more than 2.5 times baseline flow. Both ischaemia and hyperaemia were found to prolong the T1/2. There was only a moderate linear correlation between the magnitude of hyperaemia and myocardial contrast echocardiographic parameters. There was significantly less increase in myocardial contrast echocardiographic parameters during hyperaemia in segments supplied by a stenosed coronary artery.     

Diagnosis and surgical correction of cor triatriatum in an adult: combined use of transesophageal and contrast echocardiography, and a review of literature

BACKGROUND: Cor triatriatum is rarely found in adults and its diagnosis is mostly dependent on transesophageal echocardiogram. We present a case of an adult male with cor triatriatum and discuss our approach to diagnosis with a review of literature. CASE: A 49-year-old male presented with progressive exertional dyspnea for the past two-and-half years. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a thin linear echo-dense structure traversing the left atrium (LA). A transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated a thin immobile membrane in the LA attached medially to the interatrial septum. No fenestration of the membrane was seen. A swirling spontaneous contrast was noted in the posterior chamber. Color Doppler did not reveal any flow across the membrane. A CT scan of the chest was unhelpful to differentiate extracardiac versus intracardiac origin. Contrast echocardiogram with Optison was performed, which showed a differential opacification of the two atrial chambers and delayed emptying of contrast into true LA establishing communication between the chambers. Left and right heart catheterization were performed with simultaneous pulmonary capillary wedge and left ventricular end diastolic pressure measurement, revealing a mean gradient of 17 mmHg. Surgical correction of the membrane was recommended. Intraoperatively, an orifice of 0.7 cm was identified in an eccentric position with mosaic pattern of continuous turbulent flow across the membrane by color Doppler. DISCUSSION: Our case demonstrates the impact of contrast echocardiography in a situation where the transesophageal approaches were limited even with the aid of color Doppler.     

Usefulness of quantitative intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography to analyze microvasculature perfusion in patients with a recent myocardial infarction and an open infarct-related artery: comparison with intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography.

AIMS: We analyzed the usefulness of quantitative intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography to study microvasculature perfusion after infarction in comparison with intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with a first ST elevation myocardial infarction, single-vessel disease and an open artery (TIMI 3) were studied before discharge. Myocardial perfusion in the risk area was quantified with intracoronary and intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography. Perfusion was normal (intracoronary contrast echocardiography normalized videointensity >0.75) in 78 out of 97 dysfunctional segments (80%). Sensitivity and specificity of intravenous contrast echocardiography to predict normal perfusion were 87% and 63% for 'first-pass myocardial blood flow' (upslope of contrast arrival x peak intensity after intravenous bolus injection of contrast) and 91% and 89% for end-systolic single-triggered images captured every 6 cycles, respectively. In an analysis per patients, normal perfusion (0 or 1 hypoperfused segments with intracoronary contrast echocardiography) was observed in 22 cases (69%). End-systolic single-triggered images showed a strong correlation with intracoronary contrast echocardiography (R2 = 0.82, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous contrast echocardiography is a useful technique to analyze microvasculature perfusion soon after infarction. A quantitative analysis of single-triggered images is an easy-to-obtain and reliable method to define perfusion when compared with intracoronary contrast echocardiography.     

Fast Data Acquisition and Analysis with Real Time Triplane Echocardiography for the Assessment of Left Ventricular Size and Function: A Validation Study

Aims: To assess accuracy and reproducibility of real time simultaneous triplane echocardiography (RT3PE) for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as a reference method. Methods and Results: A total of 24 patients with various degrees of LV dysfunction (EF from 36 to 57%) in sinus rhythm with good image quality were enrolled in the study. Digital loops of apical views were recorded with standard two-dimensional imaging and with RT3PE. Echocardiography and CMR were performed within 1 hour. RT3PE measurements of LV end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and EF resulted closely correlated to CMR (r = 0.95, 0.97, and 0.95, respectively) with small biases (−4 ml, −6 ml, and 1%, respectively) and narrow limits of agreement (SD = 15 ml, 12 ml, and 6%, respectively). Two-dimensional echocardiography ( 2DE) showed a weaker correlation with CMR (r = 0.85, 0.91, and 0.83, respectively; P < 0.06) with similar biases (−4 ml, −10 ml, 5%, respectively), but wider limits of agreement (SD = 28 ml, 21 ml, 10%, respectively, P < 0.007). RT3PE showed lower interobserver variability for the assessment of EF (SD = 2% vs. 5%, P = 0.03) and lower measurement time of LV EF (175 ± 54 sec vs. 241 ± 49 sec, respectively; P < 0.0001), as compared to 2DE. Conclusion: RT3PE allows simple and fast image acquisition and volume calculation. In addition, it allows more accurate and reproducible EF measurements than conventional 2DE.     

Assessment of Myocardial Perfusion during Adenosine Stress Using Real Time Three‐Dimensional and Two‐Dimensional Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography: Comparison with Single‐Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Objectives: To evaluate diagnostic accuracy of adenosine two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional myocardial contrast echocardiography (2D‐ and 3D‐MCE) compared with single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for assessing myocardial perfusion. Methods: From January through August 2007, patients with known or suspected CAD who were referred for SPECT underwent simultaneous adenosine 2D‐MCE and 3D‐MCE (live and full volume [FV]). Perfusion and wall motion in 17 segments in the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery territories were analyzed. Results: We studied 30 patients: mean (SD) age, 72.6 (8.2) years; 19 (63%) men. Perfusion by SPECT was abnormal in 13 patients (43%). When comparing MCE with SPECT, sensitivity was comparable for 2D‐MCE, 92%; live 3D‐MCE, 91%; and FV 3D‐MCE, 90%. Specificity was comparable for 2D‐MCE, 75%; live 3D‐MCE, 69%; and FV 3D‐MCE, 79%. Agreement between live 3D‐MCE and 2D‐MCE was 92% (κ[SE], 0.83 [0.17]) and between FV 3D‐MCE and 2D‐MCE, 88% (κ[SE], 0.76 [0.13]). For eight patients in whom SPECT showed reversible defects, live 3D‐MCE correctly identified defects in seven (88%), whereas FV 3D‐MCE correctly identified them in five (63%) (P = 0.57). Conclusion: Myocardial perfusion assessment is feasible by 3D‐MCE with the advantage of rapid, facile acquisition and offline image manipulation. (Echocardiography 2010;27:421‐429)     

Analysis of Left Ventricular Regional Dyssynchrony: Comparison between Real Time 3D Echocardiography and Tissue Doppler Imaging

Background: There is a paucity of information concerning left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony assessment by real time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (RT3DE) versus tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Aims: To compare RT3DE and TDI LV dyssynchrony assessment. Methods: A prospective study of 92 individuals (56 men, age 47 ± 10 years), 32 with dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP), and 60 healthy individuals. By RT3DE, we measured the LV% dyssynchrony index (DI) of 6, 12, and 16 segments (SDI). By pulsed-wave TDI, we measured the QS electromechanical interval in the basal segments of the mitral valve annulus of the septum, the lateral, anterior and inferior walls, and the TDI% DI. Results: In the normal group, the 3D DI was 1.1 ± 0.8%, 1.4 ± 1.3%, 1.8 ± 1.7%, for 6 segments, 12 segments, and SDI, respectively. The correlation coefficient (Pearson's r) for the TDI DI and SDI was r = 0.2381 (P = 0.0470). In CMP group, the 3D DI was 4.6 ± 5.4%, 7.9 ± 7.1%, 11.1 ± 7.1%, for 6 segments, 12 segments, and SDI, respectively. The correlation coefficient for TDI DI and SDI was r = 0.7838 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: We observed a good correlation between RT3DE and tissue Doppler LV dyssynchrony assessment in patients with advanced heart failure.     

Three‐Dimensional Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Global and Regional Function in Patients with Recent Myocardial Infarction: A Comparison with Magnetic Resonance Imaging

We aimed to compare three‐dimensional (3D) and two‐dimensional (2D) echocardiography in the evaluation of patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI), using late‐enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LE‐MRI) as a reference method. Echocardiography and LE‐MRI were performed approximately 1 month after first‐time MI in 58 patients. Echocardiography was also performed on 35 healthy controls. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction by 3D echocardiography (3D‐LVEF), 3D wall‐motion score (WMS), 2D‐WMS, 3D speckle tracking–based longitudinal, circumferential, transmural and area strain, and 2D speckle tracking–based longitudinal strain (LS) were measured. The global correlations to infarct size by LE‐MRI were significantly higher (P < 0.03) for 3D‐WMS and 2D‐WMS compared with 3D‐LVEF and the 4 different measurements of 3D strain, and 2D global longitudinal strain (GLS) was more closely correlated to LE‐MRI than 3D GLS (P < 0.03). The segmental correlations to infarct size by LE‐MRI were also significantly higher (P < 0.04) for 3D‐WMS, 2D‐WMS, and 2D LS compared with the other indices. Three‐dimensional WMS showed a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 72% for identification of LV infarct size >12%, and a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 95% for identification of segments with transmural infarct extension. Three‐dimensional WMS and 2D gray‐scale echocardiography showed the strongest correlations to LE‐MRI. The tested 3D strain method suffers from low temporal and spatial resolution in 3D acquisitions and added diagnostic value could not be proven.     

Bad Company: Supracristal VSD Presenting with Ruptured Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm. A Case Presentation with Echocardiographic Depiction and an Analysis of Contemporary Literature

Supracristal ventricular septal defect (SCVSD), a defect of the infundibular portion of the interventricular septum just below the right aortic cusp, occurs more frequently in Eastern Asian populations. SCVSD may be complicated by right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SoVA). We present the case of a 26‐year‐old male of Korean descent with a history of a childhood murmur who was referred to our institution for progressive heart failure symptoms. He was diagnosed with SCVSD and ruptured right SoVA based on history, physical exam, and echocardiography including three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography with reconstructed surgical views. The patient underwent SCVSD closure, SoVA excision, and valve‐sparing aortic root replacement. We reviewed the echocardiography literature regarding SCVSD and SoVA, and analyzed contemporary literature of SoVA and its relationship with SCVSD. We conclude that a higher prevalence of ruptured SoVA in Eastern Asians is likely related to a higher prevalence of underlying SCVSD in this population.     

Diagnosing Renal Artery Stenosis: A Comparison Between Conventional Renography, Captopril Renography and Ultrasound Doppler in a Large Consecutive Series of Patients with Arterial Hypertension

The purpose of the study was to compare the positive and negative predictive values of conventional renography (Reno-A), captopril renography (Reno-B) and ultrasound Doppler (UD) with regard to the diagnosis renal artery stenosis. These three tests, and in addition a renal angiography, were performed in consecutively admitted patients with arterial hypertension, owing to either suspicion of renovascular hypertension or refractoriness to treatment. Patients with occlusion of a renal artery or a serum creatinine level higher than 300 μmol/1, or a previous investigation for renovascular hypertension at another hospital, were excluded from the analysis. The European Multicenter Study (EMS) criteria and local criteria for abnormal renography were compared. Of 131 patients, 28 had a renal artery stenosis (RAS) exceeding 50% reduction in diameter of the artery and 19 exceeding 70%. Using the EMS criteria for renography the predictive values of a negative test for a RAS more than 50% were 0.88 for Reno-A, 0.90 for Reno-B, 0.86 for changes from Reno-A to Reno-B, 0.92 for abnormalities either in Reno-A, Reno-B or changes from Reno-A to Reno-B, and 0.91 for UD. The corresponding values for a RAS more than 70% were 0.94, 0.97, 0.93, 0.98 and 0.96, respectively. The predictive values of a positive test were clearly lower, ranging from 0.20 to 0.75, but best when changes from Reno-A to Reno-B were used, 0.69-0.75. Using local criteria for renography the predictive values of a negative test were almost equal to those obtained by using the EMS criteria, but the predictive values of a positive test were slightly lower. It is concluded that conventional renography, captopril renography and ultrasound Doppler all are very good screening tests for renal artery stenosis, but the positive predictive values are clearly highest when using changes from conventional renography to captopril renogrdphy. It is suggested that captopril renography always should be performed when conventional renography is abnormal and vice versa to obtain the highest positive predictive value, on the assumption that total renal function is normal or almost normal, and that renal function is not absent in the affected kidney.