Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2014
Impact of implantable transvenous device lead location on severity of tricuspid regurgitation.
Implantable device leads can cause tricuspid regurgitation (TR) when they interfere with leaflet motion. The aim of this study was to determine whether lead-leaflet interference is associated with TR severity, independent of other causative factors of functional TR. ⋯ Lead-leaflet interference as seen on 3D echocardiography is associated with TR after device lead placement, suggesting that 3D echocardiography should be used to assess for lead interference in patients with significant TR.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2014
Controlled Clinical TrialFrequency and significance of right atrial appendage thrombi in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are strong atrial thrombosis (THR) risk factors. In recent-onset tachyarrhythmias, the incidence of left atrial appendage (LAA) THR, detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), has been widely studied, ranging from 6% to 18% (AF) and 4% to 11% (AFL). On the contrary, few studies have assessed right atrial appendage (RAA) THR, and there is no information on the relation between the RAA flow characteristics and the presence of RAA THR. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of RAA THR in a population of patients undergoing TEE-guided cardioversion for recent-onset atrial tachyarrhythmias and to analyze RAA Doppler flow and its relation to thrombus formation. ⋯ RAA thrombi are significantly less frequent than LAA thrombi but may reach large dimensions. Multiplane TEE allows RAA morphologic and functional assessment. Before TEE-guided cardioversion, both the LAA and the RAA must be routinely studied.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2014
Recovery of left ventricular mechanics after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: effects of baseline ventricular function and postprocedural aortic regurgitation.
Impaired left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation is associated with adverse outcome in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on the recovery of myocardial mechanics and the influence of postprocedural aortic regurgitation (AR). ⋯ TAVI restores LV function toward more physiologic myocardial mechanics in both normal- and depressed-LVEF groups. Patients with lower systolic function derive the most benefit in terms of longitudinal reverse remodeling. Postprocedural AR adversely affects LV structural and functional remodeling.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2014
Three-dimensional color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography for mitral paravalvular leak quantification and evaluation of percutaneous closure success.
Three-dimensional (3D) color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) enables accurate planimetry of the effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) of a mitral paravalvular leak (PVL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of this method to quantify paravalvular regurgitation and to assess percutaneous PVL closure success, compared with 3D planimetry of PVLs without using color-flow images (3D anatomic regurgitant orifice [ARO]). ⋯ Three-dimensional ERO was superior to 3D ARO at identifying the presence of degree III and IV paravalvular regurgitation. The undersizing of closure devices according to 3D color ERO length was associated with failed closure procedures. Confirmatory prospective studies are encouraged.