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Background Right ventricular ( RV) function has great impact on the survival of heart transplantation recipients; therefore, careful evaluation is of high clinical importance. However, there is no standard conventional echocardiographic parameter to assess RV systolic function. Herein, we evaluated the correlation between echocardiographic parameters of RV systolic function and ejection fraction assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI RVEF) in heart transplantation recipients. Method and Results Forty-three patients with at least 6-month heart transplantation history were included in this study. Each patient had conventional echocardiography and cardiac MRI evaluation, followed by endomyocardial biopsy and right heart catheterization, which were performed in six hours. Echocardiographic parameters of RV systolic function, RV fractional area change ( RV FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion ( TAPSE), RV myocardial performance index, and RV global longitudinal strain, were compared with MRI RVEF ( P values were <0.001, <0.3, <0.9, and <0.4, respectively). RV FAC was the only parameter to strongly correlate with MRI RVEF ( r=0.747, P<0.001); and RV FAC 48.5% value had 90.5% sensitivity and 90.5% specificity to predict the pathologic reference value of MRI RVEF ≤50% ( AUC:0.96; 95% CI, 0.908-1.013). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study to evaluate the correlation between the echocardiographic parameters for RV systolic function and MRI RVEF in heart transplantation recipients. RV FAC is the only parameter to correlate well with MRI RVEF, and its routine use in the follow-up of heart transplantation recipients should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents case study of a 61-year-old patient hospitalized with the diagnosis of decompensated heart failure and given diuretic treatment. It mentions the hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiography (hTEE) technology used in the follow-up of postoperative patients in the cardiovascular surgery intensive care units. It adds the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the analysis of right ventricular (RV) free wall strain via 2D speckle tracking echocardiography with conventional echocardiography and clinical parameters in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD) receiving specific treatment. This study also aims to describe the differences between patients with repaired and unrepaired defects. Methods: This prospective study included 44 adult patients with PAH-CHD who were receiving PAH-specific treatment in a single center. This study excluded patients with complex congenital heart disease. The authors studied the conventional echocardiographic parameters, such as RV fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right atrial (RA) area, Tricuspid S', and hemodynamic parameters, such as functional class, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels. Results: The mean age of participants was 33.8±11.6 years, and 65.9% of participants were female. The mean RV free wall strain was -14.8±4.7%. Majority of the patients belonged to WHO functional class 2 (61.4%) with a mean NT-proBNP level of 619.2±778.4 and mean 6MWD of 400.2±86.9 meters. During the follow-up of 30.8±9.0 months, 6 patients (13.6%) developed clinical right heart failure, whereas 9 (20.5%) of them died. There was a positive and significant correlation between RV free wall strain and WHO functional class (r=0.320, p=0.03), whereas there was a negative correlation between RV free wall strain and FAC (r=-0.392, p=0.01), TAPSE (r=-0.577, p=0.0001), and Tricuspid S' (r=-0.489, p=0.001). There was no significant correlation of RV free wall strain with either RA area or 6MWD. Patients with repaired congenital heart defects had worse RV functional parameters and RV free wall strain than patients with unrepaired defects. Conclusion: The assessment of RV free wall strain via 2D speckle tracking echocardiography is a feasible method and correlates well with conventional echocardiography and clinical parameters in patients with PAH-CHD receiving specific treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus aortitis following cardiac surgery has an important role among the cardiac infections as almost all affected cases result in death. Survival of the patient with Aspergillus aortitis is dependent on early initiation of aggressive medical and surgical treatment. Transesophageal echocardiography proved very useful in the diagnosis of this uncommon case of aortitis. In this paper, we present a patient with aortitis caused by Aspergillus niger that hasn't been reported previously diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography following cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is any association between mitral leaflet motion (LMI) and leaflet thickness index (LTI) scores and the rate of restenosis 3 months after successful mitral balloon valvuloplasty. The study population consisted of 46 patients with symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis who underwent balloon valvuloplasty (37 women, 9 men;mean age, 36 ± 9 years). Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were performed in all patients on the day before, immediately after, and 3 months after valvuloplasty. The severity of restriction of leaflet motion and the severity of leaflet thickening were classified into grades of mild (a score of 0), moderate (a score of 1), and severe (a score of 2). Subvalvular disease and commissural involvement were homogeneous in all patients. Before and immediately after mitral balloon valvuloplasty, there were no significant differences in mitral valve area among the groups with different LMI and LTI scores. However, at 3 months after valvuloplasty, reduction in mitral valve area was more significant in patients who had higher pre-procedural LMI and LTI scores (P < 0.05). The rates of early restenosis were 0 with a total score of 0, 14.2% with a total score of 1--2, and 32% with a total score of 3. In conclusion, quantitative assessment of LMI and LTI scores by 2-dimensional echocardiography may be helpful in predicting early restenosis after mitral balloon valvuloplasty. Early reduction in mitral valve area is significant in patients who have higher total LMI and LTI scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Right ventricular ( RV) dysfunction is a major determinant of outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension ( PAH), although the optimal measure of RV function is poorly defined. We evaluated the utility of RV free-wall speckle tracking strain as an assessment tool for RV function in patients with PAH who are already under specific treatment compared with conventional echocardiographic parameters and investigated the relationship of RV free-wall strain with clinical hemodynamic parameters of RV performance. Methods Right ventricular free-wall strain was evaluated in 92 patients (Group-1 and Group-4 pulmonary hypertension) who were on PAH-specific treatment for at least 3 months. Right atrial ( RA) area, RV FAC, TAPSE, tricuspid S, functional class, 6-minute walking distance, and NT-pro BNP were studied. The mean duration of follow-up was 222±133 days. Results All patients were under PAH-specific treatment, and mean RV free-wall strain was −13.16±6.3%. RV free-wall strain correlated well with functional class ( r=.312, P=.01), NT-pro BNP ( r=.423, P=.0001), RA area ( r=.427, P=.0001), FAC ( r=−.637, P=.0001), TAPSE ( r=−.524, P=.0001), tricuspid S ( r=−.450, P=.0001), 6-minute walking distance ( r=−.333, P=.002). RV free-wall strain significantly correlated with all follow-up adverse events, death, and clinical right heart failure ( RHF) ( P=.04, P=.03, P=.02, respectively). According to the receiver operator characteristic analysis, the cutoff value for RV free-wall strain for the development of clinical RHF was −12.5% (sensitivity: 71%, specificity: 67%) and for all cardiovascular adverse events (death included) was −12.5% (sensitivity: 54%, specificity: 64%). Conclusion Assessment of RV free-wall strain is a feasible, easy-to-perform method and may be used as a predictor of RHF, clinical deterioration, and mortality in patients already under PAH-specific treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to evaluate left atrium (LA) phasic functions and relation with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and symptomatic states of the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods: Left atrial volume was calculated at end-systole (Vmax), end-diastole and pre-atrial contraction by echocardiography in 75 patients with HCM and 75 control subjects. Left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF), expansion index (LAEI), active emptying volume index (LAAEVI) and fraction (LAAEFr), passive emptying volume index (LAPEVI) and fraction (LAPEFr) were calculated. NT-proBNP levels were measured. Results: Left atrial active emptying volume (LAAEV) positively correlated with Vmax (r=0.343, p=0.003) up to a point, but then reached a plateau with larger LA volumes in HCM group. The LAAEFr was the only variable which was similiar between asymptomatic patients and controls, but was significantly decreased in symptomatic patients (p<0.05). NT-proBNP was correlated with LAEF (r=-0.32, p=0.005), LAEI (r=-0387, p=0.001), and LAAEFr (r=-0.25, p=0.035) but not related with LAPEFr (p=0.4). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis an NT-proBNP cut-off value of 1415 pg/mL identified reduced LAEF with 87% specificity and 59% sensitivity [AUC=0.77 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89), p=0.004], a cut-off value of 820 pg/mL predicted impaired LAEI with 81% specificity ve 67% sensitivity [AUC=0.78 (95% CI: 0.66-0.9), p<0.001]; while a cut-off value of 1320 pg/mL predicted impaired LAAEFr with 76% specificity and 67% sensitivity [AUC=0.79 (95% CI: 0.68-0.91), p=0.02]. Conclusion: In HCM, LA phasic functions alter according to the Frank-Starling mechanism indicating occurrence of a secondary atrial myopathy. Impairment of LA booster pump function seems to be associated with appearance of symptoms and NT-proBNP levels predict the deterioration of LA reservoir and pump functions in HCM population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An isolated congenital left ventricular diverticulum, which is characterized by the local failure of the ventricular muscle during embryologic development, is a rare cardiac abnormality that may be found in isolated form or in the accompaniment of other cardiac abnormalities. Clinically, it has been reported to follow an asymptomatic course in the majority of cases; however, it may cause heart failure, arrhythmia, or chest pain in some patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac involvement of hydatid cysts is rare. Hydatidosis of the valvular apparatus can be treated successfully by the careful application of valvular surgical procedures. To the best of our knowledge, cardiac hydatidosis confined to the anterolateral papillary muscle has not been reported. Herein, we present a case involving a hydatid cyst that was located in a cardiac papillary muscle and that caused mitral regurgitation in a 37-year-old woman. The cyst was removed by papillary muscle incision, and the mitral valve was repaired. The patient experienced an uneventful recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]