Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2010
Review Comparative StudySafety of transesophageal echocardiography.
Since its introduction into the operating room in the early 1980s, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has gained widespread use during cardiac, major vascular, and transplantation surgery, as well as in emergency and intensive care medicine. Moreover, TEE has become an invaluable diagnostic tool for the management of patients with cardiovascular disease in a nonoperative setting. ⋯ Here, the authors review the safety profile of TEE by identifying complications and propose a set of relative and absolute contraindications to probe placement. In addition, alternative echocardiographic modalities (e.g., epicardial echocardiography) that may be considered when TEE probe placement is contraindicated or not feasible are discussed.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2010
Comparative StudyAdvantage of right ventricular outflow tract pacing on cardiac function and coronary circulation in comparison with right ventricular apex pacing.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) pacing and right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing on synchronous ventricular activation and coronary flow dynamics. ⋯ RVOT pacing might provide favorable effects on the left ventricular function and coronary flow dynamics over RVA pacing.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2010
Case ReportsTorn atrial septum during transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect visualized by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.
Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs) has become an accepted and reliable procedure. Although various complications have been recognized, tear of the atrial septal rim is a rare complication. ⋯ RT3D TEE is more useful for displaying the entire shape of the defect and its spatial relationship (RT3D) with its neighboring structures compared with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography. By using both two-dimensional and RT3D TEE images, especially in cases with complicated ASD morphology, both the echocardiologist and interventionalist gain valuable information on the morphology of the ASD before and during the procedure.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2010
Comparative StudyDifferences of myocardial systolic deformation and correlates of diastolic function in competitive rowers and young hypertensives: a speckle-tracking echocardiography study.
The aim of this study was to compare speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived left ventricular (LV) systolic mechanics and their relationships with LV diastolic properties in young patients with hypertension and in young competitive athletes in relation to their respective alterations of LV structure. ⋯ The hearts of young patients with hypertension are characterized by reduced GLS, whereas global circumferential strain, global radial strain, and torsion are similar to those of athletes' hearts. The extent of GLS is strongly associated with LV diastolic function, independently of afterload changes and the degree of LV hypertrophy.