Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2014
ReviewInternational evidence-based recommendations for focused cardiac ultrasound.
Focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) is a simplified, clinician-performed application of echocardiography that is rapidly expanding in use, especially in emergency and critical care medicine. Performed by appropriately trained clinicians, typically not cardiologists, FoCUS ascertains the essential information needed in critical scenarios for time-sensitive clinical decision making. A need exists for quality evidence-based review and clinical recommendations on its use. ⋯ This document presents the results of the first International Conference on FoCUS. For the first time, evidence-based clinical recommendations comprehensively address this branch of point-of-care ultrasound, providing a framework for FoCUS to standardize its application in different clinical settings around the world.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2014
Prognostic value of echocardiographic changes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension receiving parenteral prostacyclin therapy.
It is unknown whether the echocardiographic changes observed after treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension have prognostic value. ⋯ Echocardiographic parameters that estimate RV systolic pressure and assess RV morphology and function improve after 1 year of prostacyclin analogue treatment, and the degree of change has prognostic implications.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2014
Right ventricular global longitudinal strain provides prognostic value incremental to left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with heart failure.
Right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal strain (RV strain) is a sensitive measure of RV mechanics. Its relationship with standard clinical markers and long-term events in chronic systolic heart failure is not well established. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of RV strain to provide incremental prognostic value to left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with chronic systolic heart failure. ⋯ In patients with chronic systolic heart failure, worse RV strain provides prognostic value incremental to LV function.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2014
Semiautomated detection and quantification of aortic plaques from three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.
Aortic atherosclerosis is a risk factor for cerebrovascular events. Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic quantification of descending aortic plaques is time-consuming and underestimates plaque burden. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of a novel semiautomated program that uses three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography to identify and quantify aortic plaque severity as determined by plaque thickness, volume, and number. The relationship between maximum plaque thickness and volume was also examined. ⋯ The results of this study demonstrate that semiautomated plaque analysis of 3D transesophageal echocardiographic descending aortic data sets is feasible and accurate in determining plaque severity as measured by plaque thickness, volume, and number. This methodology allows the standardization of plaque quantification, which will improve its utility in clinical trials. A greater understanding of the importance of plaque thickness versus volume is needed.