Spontaneous Echo Contrast in a Polycythemic Patient with a Ventricular Septal Defect

We describe the unusual case of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and thrombus occurring in a 23-year-old male with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), Eisenmenger's complex, and severe polycythemia. The contrast effect was faintly seen by transthoracic echocardiography, and was seen clearly by transesophageal echocardiography. The SEC was present in all four cardiac chambers and was particularly obvious in the left ventricle (LV). In addition, there was a large thrombus in the LV. The velocity across the VSD was 1 ml sec. The patient's hematocrit was 74%. The platelet count was normal and total proteins were 8.9 gm%. The widespread SEC may be related to rheologic abnormalities related to the secondary polycythemia and, perhaps, became more obvious due to the moderate LV dysfunction.     

Relationship Between Echocardiographic Determinants of Left Atrial Spontaneous Echo Contrast and Thrombus Formation in Patients with Rheumatic Mitral Valve Disease

Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) may be detected by ultrasonography in environments favoring blood stasis. It is most commonly seen through the use of transesophageal echocardiography in the left atrium of patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease especially in the presence of atrial fibrillation. We studied the predictors of SEC, such as cardiac rhythm, left atrium and left atrial appendage functions, and mitral and pulmonary vein flow parameters, in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. The relationship between these parameters and the severity of SEC and appearance of thrombus was evaluated.     

Transesophageal Three-Dimensional Echo Assessment of Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect

The incremental value of three-dimensional echocardiography over transesophageal multiplane two-dimensional imaging in the assessment of sinus venosus atrial septal defect is demonstrated in the present study.     

Spontaneous Echo Contrast in Purulent Pericardial Effusion due to Non-Gas-Forming Organisms

We present the case of a 55-year-old man who developed massive pericardial effusion with tamponade within a 5-day period. During transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiographic examination, spontaneous echo contrast was visualized in pericardial effusion. A diagnosis of polymicrobial pyopericarditis was made when urgent pericardiocentesis revealed a significantly foul odor and purulent fluid that grew a culture of aerobes. After surgical drainage and appropriate antimicrobial therapy, this patient's pyopericarditis resolved. It was suggested that spontaneous echo contrast in pericardial effusion could be induced by non-gas-forming pyogenic cells.     

风湿性二尖瓣狭窄患者左心房内血液流变学变化及自回声现象

目的 :探讨风湿性二尖瓣狭窄患者左心房血液流变学特点及与左心房自回声现象 (SEC)的关系。　　方法 :10 2例风湿性二尖瓣狭窄患者 (二尖瓣狭窄组 )于经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术 (PBMV)中自左心房取血液标本进行血液流变学检查。其中 38例患者有左心房 SEC,6 4例患者无左心房 SEC。对照组为 30例同期冠状动脉造影病例。　　结果 :1二尖瓣狭窄组各项血液流变学指标均高于对照组 ,有左心房 SEC患者各项血液流变学指标均高于无左心房 SEC患者。2 L ogistic多因素回归分析发现 :二尖瓣狭窄程度、心房颤动、左心房直径、左心房压力均为左心房 SEC的独立预测因子。　　结论 :二尖瓣狭窄患者左心房 SEC的形成与血液流变学异常存在密切关系。     

Right Atrial Appendage Thrombus Found in a Patient in Normal Sinus Rhythm with Normal Right Ventricular Systolic Function

A 79‐year‐old woman underwent transesophageal echocardiography to evaluate the severity of her mitral regurgitation prior to urgent bypass. Evaluation of the right‐sided chambers was notable for a mass in the right atrial appendage (RAA). Surgical excision and pathologic examination proved this to be a thrombus. This is the first reported case of a RAA thrombus in a patient with normal sinus rhythm and normal right ventricular (RV) function. It illustrates that complete transesophageal studies may sometimes demonstrate incidental findings, and that right atrial thrombus can (rarely) be found in patients in sinus rhythm with normal RV function.     

Spontaneous echo contrast mimicking aortic root thrombus in a patient supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Aortic root spontaneous echo contrast is a rare but significant finding. We report a 31‐year‐old female who was placed on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation emergently for acute mitral regurgitation secondary to papillary muscle rupture. Following stabilization, subsequent transesophageal echocardiography suggested aortic root thrombus and prompted emergent surgery. However, further inspection with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed a spontaneous echo contrast which aided us in the intraoperative decision making.     

Incremental Value of Contrast Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Atrial Myxoma

Intracardiac myxomas have traditionally been divided into solid ovoid and soft papillary types based on a morphological appearance. Papillary myxomas given their friable nature are far more likely to cause embolic phenomenon and present with neurological symptoms, making it necessary to discriminate between these tumor subtypes. Papillary myxomas have also been demonstrated to be significantly less vascular than their ovoid counterparts in previous angiographic studies. We describe here for the first time, the application of transesophageal real time myocardial contrast echocardiography in a case of atrial papillary myxoma to assess tumor vascularity. (Echocardiography 2010;27:E46‐E49)     

Left atrial spontaneous contrast echoes -- markers of thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation

A consecutive series of 80 patients with atrial fibrillationwere studied with both precordial and transoesophageal echocardiography.Left a trial spontaneous contrast echoes were observed in onepatient with precordial echocardiography and in 26 patients(33%) with transoesophageal echocardiography. They were foundmost commonly in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease(67%) but were observed in 28% of patients with lone atrialfibrillation. Their presence was unrelated to the age, genderand therapy of the patient. Although they were more common inpatients with a large left atrium, they were sometimes observedin a normal sized atrial chamber. They were more common in chronic(40%) than in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (5.6%). No patienthad severe mitral regurgitation, but contrast echoes were observedin some patients with mild or moderate mitral regurgitation.Of the 26 patients with spontaneous contrast echoes, six (23%)had echoes consistent with left atrial thrombus compared toone of the 54 patients without these echoes (1.9%) (P = 0.006),17 (65%) had suffered a previous thromboembolic event comparedto 17 of the 54 without these echoes (32%) (P = 0.009). Thesedata support the concept that spontaneous contrast echoes inthe left atrium are associated with sluggish blood flow anda thrombogenic environment. Transoesophageal echocardiographymay thus be useful in assessing which patients with atrial fibrillationmight most benefit from anticoagulation. This hypothesis needsto be evaluated further in a prospective study.     

Left Atrial Deformation Parameters Predict Left Atrial Appendage Function and Thrombus in Patients in Sinus Rhythm with Suspected Cardioembolic Stroke: A Speckle Tracking and Transesophageal Echocardiography Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate left atrial deformations using speckle tracking echocardiography for predicting left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in patients with suspected cardioembolic stroke who were in normal sinus rhythm. A total of 153 ischemic stroke patients (89 males, 64 females) in sinus rhythm who were suspected of having cardioembolism were included in the study. The patients underwent conventional two‐dimensional (2D) echocardiogram and 2D speckle tracking echocardiogram of the left atrium. Left atrial peak strain (LA‐4C‐RES) and left atrial precontraction strain (LA‐4C‐PUMP) were measured. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of thrombus in the LAA in transesophageal echocardiography. Both LA‐4C‐RES and LA‐4C‐PUMP values were found to be significantly lower in patients with LAA thrombus (11.8 ± 1.4% vs. 33 ± 12%, P < 0.001 and 5.8 ± 1.3% vs. 14.2 ± 5.3%, P < 0.001, respectively). A good inverse correlation was present between LA‐4C‐RES values and LAA morphologic parameters (with LAA area: r = ?0.70, P < 0.001, with LAA length: r = ?0.60, P < 0.001), and a good positive correlation was present with LAA emptying velocity with pulse Doppler (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve of the LA‐4C‐RES was 0.94 (0.90–0.98, P < 0.001), for the LA‐4C‐PUMP, the area was 0.92 (0.87–0.96, P < 0.001) to predict LAA thrombus. Left atrial deformation parameters measured by 2D speckle tracking method was found to predict impaired LAA functions and the presence of LAA thrombus in ischemic stroke patients with suspected cardioembolism, but who are in sinus rhythm.     

经胸超声心动图声学造影与经颅多普勒超声声学造影同步试验对卵圆孔未闭的诊断价值

目的:探讨经胸超声心动图声学造影(cTTE)与经颅多普勒超声声学造影(cTCD)同步试验对卵圆孔未闭(PFO)的诊断价值。方法:选取我院疑似PFO患者769例,其中在静息和Valsalva动作下行cTTE 298例、cTTE与cTCD同步试验471例。以经食道超声心动图(TEE)为PFO的诊断标准,分析cTTE与cTCD同步试验对PFO的诊断价值。结果:共纳入769例患者,其中Valsalva动作下PFO阳性263例(34.2%)。298例患者行cTTE检查,静息时PFO阳性30例(10.1%),Valsalva动作下PFO阳性104例(34.9%),Valsalva动作下PFO阳性率较静息时显著提高(P<0.05)。471例患者行cTTE与cTCD同步试验,静息时PFO阳性50例(10.6%),Valsalva动作下PFO阳性159例(33.7%),Valsalva动作下PFO阳性率较静息时显著提高(P<0.05)。以TEE为PFO确诊标准,Valsalva动作下cTTE诊断PFO的准确性为87.5%(40/44),cTTE与cTCD同步实验诊断PFO的准确性为95.2%(40/42)。结论:cTTE与cTCD同步试验能提高PFO的诊断价值,尤其是Valsalva动作下PFO阳性率明显提高;cTTE与cTCD同步试验较cTTE诊断准确性提高。     

Expecting the unexpected: Echo laboratory preparedness in the time of COVID-19

COVID-19 poses a unique set of challenges to the healthcare system due to its rapid spread, intensive resource utilization, and relatively high morbidity and mortality. Healthcare workers are at especially high risk of exposure given the viruses spread through close contact. Reported cardiac complications of COVID-19 include myocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion, arrhythmia, and shock. Thus, echocardiography is integral in the timely diagnosis and clinical management of COVID-19 patients. Rush University Medical Center has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 response in Illinois with high numbers of cases reported in Chicago and surrounding areas. The echocardiography laboratory at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) proactively took numerous steps to balance the imaging needs of a busy, nearly 700-bed academic medical center while maintaining safety.     

Prevalence and clinical significance of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast detected by transesophageal echocardiography

The prevalence and clinical significance of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) were studied in patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The study group included 290 consecutive patients (186 male and 104 female, aged 17-86 years, mean age 56.1 +/- 12.8 years). Left atrial SEC was found in 50 (17.2%) patients, and was significantly associated with atrial fibrillation, mitral stenosis, absence of mitral regurgitation, and left atrial dimension. Atrial fibrillation was recorded in 44 (88%) patients, mitral stenosis or mitral valve replacement in 21 (42%) patients, and left atrial thrombus or previous embolism in 23 (46%) patients with SEC. Univariate analysis showed a significant association between the presence of SEC and atrial fibrillation, mitral stenosis or mitral valve replacement, and left atrial size. Multivariate analysis showed the presence of left atrial SEC and atrial fibrillation to be independent factors for thrombus formation and/or thromboembolism. Since left atrial SEC associated with atrial fibrillation, left atrial enlargement, mitral stenosis, or mitral valve prosthesis was found in 17.2% of patients undergoing TEE, it might be considered a marker of left atrial thrombus or previous thromboembolism.     

Multiplane Transesophageal Echocardiographic Detection of Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect

We present two case reports of diagnosis and evaluation of sinus venosus atrial septal defects by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography.     

Contrast transesophageal echocardiographic detection of a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation draining into left lower pulmonary vein

We report the identification of a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation draining into the left lower pulmonary vein by contrast two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in an adult with no evidence of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. To our knowledge, this has not been reported previously. This study also emphasizes the importance of transesophageal echocardiographic examination of the left lower pulmonary vein in the detection of a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.