European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging
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Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging · Nov 2015
Cardiac CT angiography for device surveillance after endovascular left atrial appendage closure.
Left atrial appendage (LAA) device imaging after endovascular closure is important to assess for device thrombus, residual leak, positioning, surrounding structures, and pericardial effusion. Cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) is well suited to assess these non-invasively. ⋯ CCTA appears to be a feasible alternative to transoesophageal echocardiography for post-LAA device surveillance to evaluate for device thrombus, residual leak, embolization, position, and pericardial effusion.
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Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging · Sep 2015
ReviewEuropean Association of Cardiovascular Imaging/Cardiovascular Imaging Department of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology recommendations for the use of cardiac imaging to assess and follow patients after heart transplantation.
The cohort of long-term survivors of heart transplant is expanding, and the assessment of these patients requires specific knowledge of the surgical techniques employed to implant the donor heart, the physiology of the transplanted heart, complications of invasive tests routinely performed to detect graft rejection (GR), and the specific pathologies that may affect the transplanted heart. A joint EACVI/Brazilian cardiovascular imaging writing group committee has prepared these recommendations to provide a practical guide to echocardiographers involved in the follow-up of heart transplant patients and a framework for standardized and efficient use of cardiovascular imaging after heart transplant. Since the transplanted heart is smaller than the recipient's dilated heart, the former is usually located more medially in the mediastinum and tends to be rotated clockwise. ⋯ In experienced centres, computerized tomography coronary angiography is a good alternative to coronary angiography to detect CAV. In patients with a persistently high heart rate, scanners that provide high temporal resolution, such as dual-source systems, provide better image quality. Finally, in patients with insufficient acoustic window, cardiac magnetic resonance is an alternative to echocardiography to assess cardiac chamber volumes and function and to exclude acute GR and CAV in a surveillance protocol.
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Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging · Sep 2015
Comparative StudyLeft atrial strain is a powerful predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation: study of a heterogeneous population with sinus rhythm or atrial fibrillation.
Accumulating data show the efficacy of catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, postoperative recurrence is not uncommon. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of AF recurrence in patients undergoing CA. ⋯ LA myocardial function assessed by basal LA-LS could predict AF recurrence after CA. Notably, such an assessment could be applicable even during AF rhythm, suggesting its convenience in the clinical setting without defibrillation before analysis.
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Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging · Sep 2015
Echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular size and function as predictors of symptomatic heart failure in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50-59% treated with anthracyclines.
The aim of this study was to assess whether baseline echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) size and function predict the development of symptomatic heart failure or cardiac death (major adverse cardiac events, MACE) in patients treated with anthracyclines who have a pre-chemotherapy left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between 50 and 59%. ⋯ In patients treated with anthracyclines with an LVEF of 50-59%, both baseline EDV and GLS predict the occurrence of MACE. These parameters may help target patients who could benefit from closer cardiac surveillance and earlier initiation of cardioprotective medical therapy.