Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Dec 2013
Comparative StudySystolic and diastolic function assessment in fabry disease patients using speckle-tracking imaging and comparison with conventional echocardiographic measurements.
Fabry cardiomyopathy is characterized by progressive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) associated with diastolic dysfunction and is the most common cause of death in Fabry disease (FD). However, LVH is not present in all subjects, particularly early in disease progression and in female patients. Direct assessment of myocardial deformation by strain and strain rate (SR) analysis may be sensitive to detect subclinical Fabry cardiomyopathy independent of the presence of LVH. ⋯ Strain and SR analysis is useful in identifying patients with FD with reduced myocardial function, with longitudinal systolic strain and diastolic isovolumic SR being superior to the other echocardiographic measurements of myocardial contraction and relaxation and independent of LVH.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Dec 2013
Effects of transesophageal echocardiography simulator training on learning and performance in cardiovascular medicine fellows.
The role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) simulation in cardiology fellows' learning is unknown. Standard TEE training at the authors' institution occurs during the second of 3 clinical years. Fellows spend 2 months in the TEE laboratory learning through hands-on experience. The addition of TEE simulation to this experience may improve proficiency, speed learning, and increase fellows' comfort with TEE. This study was designed to compare methods of TEE simulator training with standard training. ⋯ These data suggest that TEE simulator training improves proficiency and helps speed learning and comfort with TEE.