Ultracardiography

BACKGROUND: The study was performed to assess the diagnostic capability of ECG on the cardiogenic shock (CS) in acute myocarditis. A new score was derived from the combination of the ECG parameters and the diagnostic value was also evaluated. METHODS: Total 103 consecutive patients with acute myocarditis admitted in Nanjing Drum Hospital were enrolled in the current study. The cohort was divided into fulminant myocarditis group (FM, n = 20) and non fulminant myocarditis group (NFM, n = 83)...

OBJECTIVE: To observe serum troponin I (TNI) level in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHOD: Six hundreds and twelve HCM patients were analyzed prospectively from January 1990 to November 2007.Ultracardiography were detected for all the patients. The diagnostic criteria of HCM is ventricular wall thickness more than 15 mm. Serum TNI level was measured in 116 patients with HCM. Clinical data including age, gender, history, main symptoms, NYHA grade, coronary angiograph, electrocardiogram and echocardiography were compared between patients with normal and increased TNI levels...

BACKGROUND: Aortic root replacement with pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure) has the advantages of good haemodynamics and growth potential without the need for anticoagulation. In this study, we reviewed our experience of the Ross procedure for patients with aortic valve disease. METHODS: From October 1994 to January 2005, 42 Ross procedures were performed in our centre. There were 30 males and 12 females. The mean age was 28 +/- 15 years (range, 5-56 years). Congenital heart disease (CHD) with aortic valve stenosis (AS) and/or aortic valve insufficiency (AI) in 40 cases including one associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD), degenerated aortic valve disease with AS in 1 and subacutive bacterial endocarditis (SBE) with AI in 1 were studied...

OBJECTIVE: To establish a stable chronic ischemic heart failure (CIHF) model of minipig caused by gradual myocardial ischemia and necrosis that was achieved with repetitive microspheres perfusion in left anterior descending artery (LAD). METHODS: A total of fifteen Wuzhishan minipigs original in Hainan China (8 to 11 months old with body weight of 20 to 30 kg) were used. The 4F angiographic catheter was superselectively engaged in LAD, and 1 ml of suspending plastic microspheres fluid were given repeatedly at ten-minute intervals, which include microspheres 1...

A 50-year-old man was urgently transferred to another hospital due to unconsciousness diagnosed as due to primary pulmonary hypertension following cardiac catheter test and pulmonary blood flow scintigraphy. He was referred to our hospital for treatment of hypoxemia. Thereafter, he was treated by home oxygen therapy and home epoprostenol therapy, although he required frequent admissions. During treatment, problems consisting of self-evulsion and infection of the insertion site occurred. Changes in symptoms, arterial blood gas analysis, serum BNP and ultracardiography were useful for managing home epoprostenol therapy...

Several side effects of interferon-alpha-2b (IFN-alpha) therapy have been described. Pulmonary side effects have seldom been reported. The four patients we describe all developed respiratory disorders while being treated with IFN-alpha for hematological malignancies. We point out the similarities and differences noticed concerning the clinical course, pathological findings, and prognosis in the four different cases. Also, in addition to our review of the literature, we discuss the possible mechanisms involved in development of lung symptoms...

A 39-year-old man has complained of palpitation and dyspnea since 8 months ago. With aortic regurgitation pointed out in another hospital, he was referred to our hospital for examination. Preoperative ultracardiography (UCG) showed a dilated noncoronary sinus of Valsalva and aortic regurgitation. A daughter aneurysm was found by aortography. There were 2 perforations and 1 pouch at the noncoronary sinus cusp (NCC). The noncoronary sinus of Valsalva was dilated and the orifice to the daughter aneurysm was noticed...

A 15-year-old woman with a history of transient dysarthria two years before, suddenly developed weakness of right upper extremity, right facial palsy, and dysarthria. She was admitted to our hospital on the third day. She had no hypertension, heart murmur and oedema. On neurological examination, she had mild right hemiparesis including face muscles and mild dysarthria. The right knee jerk was brisk with no Babinski's sign. Ataxia and sensory disturbance were not present. T2-weighted MRI showed a hyperintensity at the posterior limb of the left internal capsule...

To assess the interplay between haemodynamic sequelae and lung function after atrial redirection for transposition of the great arteries, we investigated 15 Mustard (age 12.0-22.0 years), and 15 Senning patients (age 7.2-12.1 years). As diagnosed at cardiac catheterization and ultracardiography, 16 (11 Mustard) had major haemodynamic sequelae, including systemic ventricle dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary venous obstruction, systemic venous obstruction and atrial septal defects. Static and dynamic lung volumes, ventilation distribution and diffusion capacity were assessed by body plethysmography, spirometry, the single-breath nitrogen test (N2slope) and the single-breath method for diffusion capacity (DLCO) respectively...

The outcome was analysed in 122 of 124 patients with mitral stenosis subjected to closed commissurotomy 1967-1977. The follow-up time was 1-11 years. Postoperative improvement was seen in 79% of the patients, but after about 5 years, 15% of them had started to decline. A mitral prosthesis has been inserted in 13 patients reoperated so far.