diastolic dysfunction assessment by TEE

BACKGROUND: The extent of mitral annular (MA) remodeling and dysfunction is correlated with the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) as well as left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) dilation. MA dysfunction may be a useful prognostic factor for operative timing and MR recurrence after successful mitral valve (MV) repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate additive prognostic factors of MA non-planarity using real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (RT3D-TEE) analysis in patients with chronic severe MR and preserved LV systolic function...

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic heart disease is a common reason for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are known to rise in patients with MS, but the role of this compound as a non-invasive marker of left atrial (LA) dysfunction is yet to be established. The study aim was to correlate levels of NT-proBNP in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), with echocardiographic parameters of LA function including tissue Doppler-derived strain/strain rate (S/Sr) indices, hemodynamic parameters of LA function, before and after percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV) for a follow up of one year...

OBJECTIVES: The early diagnosis and treatment of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are of critical importance in cardiac surgery patients and impact clinical outcome. Two-dimensional (2D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can be used to evaluate RV function using surrogate parameters due to complex RV geometry. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the commonly used visual evaluation of RV function and size using 2D TEE correlated with the calculated three-dimensional (3D) volumetric models of RV function...

BACKGROUND: A comprehensive transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) examination is essential for the evaluation of a mitral valve (MV) repair. The edge-to-edge MV repair (i.e., Alfieri stitch) can pose a unique challenge in assessing iatrogenic mitral stenosis, especially when an asymmetric double-orifice is created. The reliability of the simplified Bernoulli equation for evaluating transvalvular pressure gradients across an asymmetric Alfieri MV repair remains controversial. We sought to evaluate the reliability of this principle further by comparing TEE-acquired pressure gradients across each orifice in patients undergoing asymmetric, double-orifice repair...

BACKGROUND: Sympathetic hyperactivity may be related to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and baro- and chemoreflex impairment in hypertension. However, cardiac function, regarding the association of hypertension and baroreflex dysfunction, has not been previously evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) using intracardiac echocardiographic catheter. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated exercise tests, baroreflex sensitivity and cardiovascular autonomic control, cardiac function, and biventricular invasive pressures in rats 10 weeks after sinoaortic denervation (SAD)...

BACKGROUND: Patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) are at increased risk of postoperative adverse events. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of using echocardiography-guided hemodynamic management (EGHEM) during surgery in subjects with LVDD compared to conventional management. The feasibility of using echocardiography to direct a treatment algorithm and clinical outcomes were compared for safety between groups. METHODS: Subjects were screened for LVDD by preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and randomized to the conventional or EGHEM group...

INTRODUCTION: The perioperative management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery usually requires the accurate assessment of left ventricular filling pressures (LVFP). The gold standard for determining LVFP involves the use of pulmonary artery catheters (PAC). Using tissue Doppler indices (TDI) obtained by transthoracic echocardiography, the ratio of early transmitral filling velocity to the corresponding early mitral annular velocity (E/E') has a strong correlation with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP)...

OBJECTIVE: Studies investigating the comparison and interchangeability of transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) regarding left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function are limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate agreement between TTE and TEE in the assessment of LV systolic functions by longitudinal myocardial deformation imaging (strain-S and strain rate-Sr) and LV diastolic functions by conventional Doppler parameters. METHODS: Thirty-five patients underwent a clinically indicated cross-sectional study on agreement between two methods...

BACKGROUND: Doppler-derived renal blood flow indices have been used to assess renal pathologies. However, transesophageal ultrasonography (TEE) has not been previously used to assess these renal variables in pediatric patients. In this study, we (a) assessed whether TEE allows adequate visualization of the renal parenchyma and renal artery, and (b) evaluated the concordance of TEE Doppler-derived renal blood flow measurements/indices compared with a standard transabdominal renal ultrasound (TAU) in children...

PURPOSE: In patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) little information is available about left atrial (LA)function, and there is less information about LA appendage (LAA) function, and about their relations. METHODS AND RESULTS: 46 patients were selected for catheter ablation (CA) because of nonvalvular PAF.Transthoracic, tissue Doppler and transoesophageal echocardiography was performed before CA. LA volumes and volume index (LAVI) were calculated. LA function was assessed by LA filling fraction (LAFF), LA emptying fraction (LAEF), systolic fraction of pulmonary venous flow (PVSF) and late diastolic velocities of mitral annulus(Aa,, A5at) LAA function was assessed by peak LAA emptying flow velocity (PLAAEFV)...

Arterial stiffening may contribute to secondary myocardial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to assess the stiffness of the thoracic descending aorta (TDA) by performing strain-rate measurements with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and to examine the relation of the findings to left ventricular (LV) function. Eight patients (group I) without risk factors for arteriosclerosis and 52 patients (group II) with a high risk of arteriosclerosis underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE simultaneously...

AIM: We assessed left atrial appendage (LAA) function using transthoracic tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE), and examined the influence of aging on LAA contraction and relaxation. METHODS: The subjects were 45 consecutive patients with heart disease and 110 healthy individuals. LAA wall motion velocity (LAAWV) at the tip of the LAA was measured using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and/or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). RESULTS: We successfully recorded and measured LAAWV using TTE in 105 (95%) of the 110 healthy subjects...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of perioperative cardiac dysfunction during elective vascular surgery with postoperative outcome. BACKGROUND: Patients with normal systolic function can have isolated diastolic dysfunction. Routine preoperative evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function does not include an assessment of diastolic function for risk stratification. We hypothesized that perioperative assessment of both diastolic and systolic function with transesophageal echo (TEE) may improve our ability to predict postoperative outcome...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of anesthetic induction on bi-ventricular function in patients with known preoperative left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). METHODS: Fifty patients with diastolic dysfunction undergoing CABG were studied. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) examination was performed on the day before surgery and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) assessment was undertaken after induction of anesthesia with sufentanil, midazolam, isoflurane, and pancuronium...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between baseline cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO(2)) and cardiac function as assessed by pulmonary artery catheterization and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: A tertiary care university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Cardiac surgery patients. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with bilateral recording of their baseline ScO(2) using the INVOS 4100 (Somanetics, Troy, MI) were selected...

OBJECTIVE: Functional improvement after acute myocardial ischaemia (MI) has been achieved by transplantation of different adult stem and progenitor cell types. It is controversial whether these cell types are able to form novel functional myocardium. Alternatively, graft-related or immune-related paracrine mechanisms may preserve existing myocardium, improve neovascularisation, affect tissue remodelling or induce endogenous de novo formation of functional myocardium. We have applied an alternative somatic cell type, human cord-blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) in a porcine model of acute MI...

UNLABELLED: Atrial septal defect (ASD) closure reduces symptoms and prevents ongoing congestive heart failure. However, little is known about device closure in the elderly (age > 60 years) and whether it is a safe and effective treatment. In this study, we report our results with ASD transcatheter closure in the elderly patient > 60 years of age using the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO) device. METHODS: Between September 1999 and March 2007, a total of 41 patients (24 females and 17 males) who were > 60 years of age (range 62-87...

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of transesophageal tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) in evaluation of the left ventricular functions. To this end, the data obtained by transoesophageal tissue Doppler echocardiography and by transthoracic tissue Doppler echocardiography were compared simultaneously. METHODS: Nineteen consecutive patients (7 female and 12 male) underwent a clinically indicated study. In transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal (TEE) echocardiographic study, a Vingmed System Five Doppler echocardiographic unit (GE Vingmed) was used...

BACKGROUND: The incidence of thromboembolism remains high in patients with mitral stenosis (MS). The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a potential site for development of thrombus and LAA dysfunction is an independent predictor of thromboembolism. The LAA dysfunction is represented by reduced LAA late emptying velocity. But the magnitude of LAA flow velocities is dependent on acute changes in loading conditions. AIM: To investigate the value of the LAA tissue velocities obtained by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in assessment of LAA function in MS patients with and without thromboembolic events...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the early results of a new method to repair malfunctioning bicuspid aortic valves by creating a tricuspid valve with a crown-like (i.e. anatomic) annulus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve patients (ages from 10 to 27 years) with chronic regurgitation (and flow-dependent stenosis) of a bicuspid aortic valve underwent repair with the principle of creating a tricuspid valve and a crown-like annulus. The fused leaflets were trimmed and reinserted underneath the existing aortic annulus to create one new native cusp...