Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Sep 1996
Comparative StudyAortic flow velocity patterns in chronic aortic regurgitation: implications for Doppler echocardiography.
Aortic regurgitation is associated with retrograde diastolic flow in the aorta. Echocardiographic quantitative analysis of the magnitude of the flow reversal is believed to provide an estimate of severity of regurgitant disease despite variations in flow profiles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the uniformity of flow patterns in the aorta of patients with aortic regurgitation and to investigate the relationship between these profiles and the echocardiographic estimates of flow reversal. ⋯ The best descending aortic Doppler echocardiographic parameter for predicting ascending aortic regurgitant fraction was the end-diastolic velocity (end-diastolic velocity = 32.2 cm/sec. ascending aortic regurgitant fraction + 1.4 cm/sec; r = 0.94; p < 0.001). Pulsedwave Doppler sampling of descending aortic flow reflects severity of aortic regurgitant disease, in part the result of more uniform blood-velocity profiles in the descending aorta compared with the ascending aorta. The Doppler end-diastolic velocity in the descending aorta is a useful parameter of severity of aortic regurgitation.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Sep 1996
Case ReportsMycotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta: the role of transesophageal echocardiography.
Mycotic aneurysms of the aorta are prone to rupture. Thus rapid and accurate diagnosis is essential so that surgical repair can be undertaken. ⋯ Computed tomography and aortography were complementary to transesophageal echocardiography in establishing the diagnosis. The patient underwent successful repair and acute inflammation of the aneurysm was present at histologic examination.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Sep 1996
Bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis: clinical profile, transesophageal echocardiographic features, and follow-up after anticoagulant therapy.
Cardiac bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is frequently found on pathologic examination, but preoperative diagnosis is rarely performed. Four hundred six patients with mitral porcine xenograft bioprostheses were examined by transthoracic echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in 161 of the patients, with clinical or echocardiographic criteria of prosthetic malfunction. ⋯ Mitral valve prosthetic mean gradient decreased from 11.8 +/- 4.5 to 7.6 +/- 3.7 mm Hg (p < 0.001), and mitral valve area increased from 1.13 +/- 0.3 to 1.72 +/- 0.6 cm2 (p < 0.001). Long-term symptomatic improvement after anticoagulation was obtained in seven patients. Thus this study shows that mitral bioprosthetic thrombosis is a relatively frequent cause of valve dysfunction, TEE is useful for detecting thrombus in relation to mitral bioprosthetic valves, and oral anticoagulation is effective in resolving thrombosis on bioprostheses.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Sep 1996
Spectrum of acute dissection of the ascending aorta: a transesophageal echocardiographic study.
Transesophageal echocardiography is an accurate tool for the immediate diagnosis of acute aortic dissection. In addition to establishing the diagnosis of dissection, transesophageal echocardiography provides determination of its extent and detection of complications. The purpose of this study was to delineate the full spectrum of abnormalities present in acute dissection of the ascending aorta as assessed by transesophageal echocardiography. ⋯ We conclude that acute dissection of the ascending aorta results in a complex or convoluted flap rather than a simple linear tear in many patients. The complication of clinically significant pericardial effusion was rare. Aortic insufficiency is common and can be attributed to multiple mechanisms.