Echocardiographic diagnosis of a left atrial myxoma found attached to the free left atrial wall

The echocardiographic diagnosis of a left atrial myxoma is described. This was later confirmed by cardiac catheterization and the tumor removed at operation. The myxoma was found to arise from the free left atrial wall and no such case diagnosed by echocardiography has previously been reported. The possibility of false negative and false positive echocardiographic findings is discussed. Echocardiography is an accurate, atraumatic, and rapid diagnostic technique which can be used as a simple screening procedure in cardiac evaluations.     

Parachute mitral valve: Echocardiographic findings resembling idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

The echocardiographic features recorded in a patient with a congenital anomaly, single papillary muscle (parachute mitral valve), were identical with those seen in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS). Asymmetric septal hypertrophy, mitrai valve systolic anterior movement, aortic valve vibration, and midsystolic reclosure were all demonstrated. This congenital anomaly should, therefore, be considered in any young paitent before making the diagnosis of IHSS from the echocardiogram.     

Echocardiographic observation of ventricular volume changes and swinging septal position in massive pericardial effusion

Swinging interventricular septal position and ventricular volume changes associated with respiration were studied in a patient with massive uremic pericardial effusion and pulsus paradoxus. Inspiration was regularly associated with a posterior swinging septal position which dramatically increased right ventricular (RV) volume with a lesser change in left ventricular (LV) volume. Expiration was consistently accompanied by an anterior swing of septal position which nearly obliterated the RV with slight enlargement of the LV. The above changes produced a pendulum-like motion of the septal position as the patient breathed. This may reflect the ventricular volume changes that accompany respiration in severe pericardial effusion associated with pulsus paradoxus.     

应用实时三维斑点追踪技术评价肥厚型心肌病左室整体和局部的收缩功能

目的 应用实时三维斑点追踪技术测量肥厚型心肌病左室整体和局部心肌应变特征,以评价其收缩功能.方法 应用实时三维斑点追踪技术测量20例肥厚型心肌病患者和22例正常对照组的左室心肌整体及各节段纵向、圆周向、径向及面积峰值应变值,并进行比较.结果 与正常组比较,病例组左室心肌整体及各节段应变值均小于正常对照组,其中病例组整体长轴应变(P＜0.01)、径向应变(P＜0.05)、面积应变(P＜0.01)差异有统计学意义;病例组心肌室间隔、前壁及下壁中间段及心尖段各应变值降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01或P＜0.05).结论 实时三维斑点追踪应变为定量评价整体和局部心肌收缩功能提供了新的方法.     

超声心动图评价肺动脉高压大鼠右心结构和功能的动态变化

目的 通过超声心动图无创性定量评价肺动脉高压大鼠右心结构和功能的变化,探讨早期评价右心功能的指标。方法 选取SD大鼠40只,随机分为5组,每组8只,分别标记为对照组和实验组(3周、4周、5周、6周亚组),对实验组大鼠腹部皮下注射野百合碱,分别于给药后3周、4周、5周、6周进行超声心动图检查,再进行右心导管测压。采用ECHOPAC工作站脱机分析,测量超声心动图数据,比较各组数据的差异。结果 实验组较对照组肺动脉压力升高,差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。4周亚组右心室中间段内径、右心室面积变化率、右心室侧壁厚度、偏心指数、肺动脉瓣加速时间与射血时间比值以及5周亚组三尖瓣瓣环位移、右心房横径、右心房长径、右心房面积与对照组相比,差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。结论 右心室中间段内径、右心室面积变化率、右心室侧壁厚度,偏心指数、肺动脉瓣加速时间与射血时间比值能较早反映大鼠肺动脉压力升高时右心室结构及功能的改变。     

Bi-Atrial Function before and after Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septum in Patients with and without Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A 2-D and 3-D Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Study

Our aim was to analyze atrial function with 2-D (2-D-STE) and 3-D (3-D-STE) speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with atrial septal devices and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). One hundred sixteen patients and a subgroup of 22 patients who developed PAF after device insertion were studied. Left atrial and right atrial peak longitudinal strain and standard deviations of time to peak strain (TPS) were calculated using 2-D-STE. The left atrial/right atrial emptying fraction and expansion index were determined using 3-D-STE. By multivariate analysis, pre-closure 3-D right atrial expansion index, left atrial time to peak strain, and 3-D left atrial expansion index were independently associated with PAF. Compared with the other indices, receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed better diagnostic accuracy for the combination of pre-closure time to peak strain and 3-D expansion index in detecting PAF. Patients with atrial septal devices have pre-existing left and right atrial dilation and dysfunction as assessed by 2-D-STE and 3-D-STE that appear sensitive for the stratification of PAF risk in this population.     

Integrating lung ultrasound in the hemodynamic evaluation of acute circulatory failure (the fluid administration limited by lung sonography protocol)

In circulatory failure, fluid administration limited by lung sonography protocol uses lung ultrasound artifacts and makes sequential diagnosis of obstructive, cardiogenic, hypovolemic, and septic shock. Lung ultrasound is used along with simple cardiac and vena cava analysis. Whenever echocardiography cannot be performed, fluid administration limited by lung sonography protocol is favored because of its simplicity and could prove contributive. It is based on the presence (B profile) or the absence (A profile) of interstitial pulmonary edema. However, the latter does not represent actual alveolar edema, and transthoracic echocardiography is still used by intensivists as a pivotal hemodynamic measure. Tissue Doppler imaging facilitates the estimation of left ventricular filling pressures, whereas assessing right ventricular function is of prognostic value in states of shock due to massive pulmonary embolism and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In mechanically ventilated patients, poor acoustic windows are evident and performing transesophageal echocardiography may be necessary. Whenever noninvasive hemodynamic measures are inconclusive, in a deteriorating patient, a pulmonary artery catheter may be placed. Ultrasound is not a therapy but a guide for treatment, and physicians should aim to treat underlying pathologies. Despite its limitations, general chest ultrasound (lung and cardiac ultrasound) is a powerful diagnostic and monitoring tool reflecting an era of genuine “visual” medicine.     

Functional Regurgitation of Atrioventricular Valves and Atrial Fibrillation: An Elusive Pathophysiological Link Deserving Further Attention

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Association of Pericardial Fat with Cardiac Structure,Function, and Mechanics: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

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