Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 1995
Dynamic cardiomyoplasty: effect of discontinuing latissimus dorsi muscle stimulation on left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance and exercise capacity.
This study sought to assess the short-term effect of discontinuing latissimus dorsi muscle stimulation on left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance and exercise tolerance in patients with improved functional status by cardiomyoplasty, in whom latissimus dorsi muscle was fully conditioned. ⋯ Alterations in left ventricular diastolic rather than systolic function may be responsible for the long-term clinical benefits of cardiomyoplasty.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 1995
Comparative StudyLong-term outcome of patients with biopsy-proved myocarditis: comparison with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
The study objectives were 1) to assess the long-term outcome of patients with biopsy-proved lymphocytic myocarditis (Dallas criteria), and 2) to compare the outcome of these patients with that of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. ⋯ This study demonstrates that the long-term outcome of patients with biopsy-proved myocarditis seen in a referral setting is poor, although no different from that of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. With the current lack of proved effective treatment for lymphocytic myocarditis and no demonstration of survival benefit for patients with myocarditis, these data suggest that endomyocardial biopsy performed to exclude myocarditis is of limited prognostic value in the routine evaluation of dilated cardiomyopathy.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 1995
Comparative StudyTransesophageal echocardiography predicts mortality in critically ill patients with unexplained hypotension.
This study sought to determine the prognostic yield and utility of transesophageal echocardiography in critically ill patients with unexplained hypotension. ⋯ Transesophageal echocardiography makes a clinically important contribution to the diagnosis and management of unexplained hypotension and predicts prognosis in the critical care setting.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 1995
Comparative StudySimultaneous measurement of pulmonary venous flow by intravascular catheter Doppler velocimetry and transesophageal Doppler echocardiography: relation to left atrial pressure and left atrial and left ventricular function.
The aim of our study was to compare measurements of pulmonary venous flow velocity obtained either by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography or by intravascular catheter Doppler velocimetry. Furthermore, the relation among pulmonary venous flow velocity, left atrial compliance and left atrial pressure was evaluated. ⋯ Flow velocity in the left upper pulmonary vein can be reliably recorded by transesophageal pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography. Our data reveal further evidence that mean left atrial pressure can be estimated by the pattern of pulmonary venous flow velocity.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 1995
Chiari's network: normal anatomic variant or risk factor for arterial embolic events?
This study was performed to assess the prevalence of Chiari's network in patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography and to determine whether this anomaly is associated with other cardiac lesions or is characterized by typical clinical findings. ⋯ In patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography, the prevalence of Chiari's network was 2%, which is consistent with autopsy studies. By maintaining an embryonic right atrial flow pattern into adult life and directing the blood from the inferior vena cava preferentially toward the interatrial septum, Chiari's network may favor persistence of a patent foramen ovale and formation of an atrial septal aneurysm and facilitate paradoxic embolism.