Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2014
Left ventricular myocardial strain by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in healthy subjects: reference values and analysis of their physiologic and technical determinants.
Despite growing interest in applying three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) to measure left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation in various diseases, normative values for 3D speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters and the effects of demographic, hemodynamic, and technical factors on these values are unknown. ⋯ In healthy subjects, reference values of LV 3D strain parameters were significantly influenced by demographic, cardiac, and technical factors. Limits of normality of LV strain by Vsp 3D STE should not be used interchangeably with Vsp 2D STE or with Vin 3D STE software.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2014
Quantitative analysis of mitral annular geometry and function in healthy volunteers using transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography.
Quantitative assessment of the mitral annulus provides information regarding the pathophysiology of mitral regurgitation and aids in the planning of reparative surgery. Three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiographic data sets acquired with current scanners have enough spatial and temporal resolution to allow the quantitative analysis of the mitral annulus. Accordingly, the authors performed (1) a validation study to assess the agreement of quantitative analysis of the mitral annulus performed on 3D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and (2) a normative study to obtain the reference values of 3D transthoracic echocardiographic parameters for mitral annular (MA) geometry and dynamics. ⋯ MA quantitative analysis by 3D TTE was accurate compared with 3D TEE in unselected patients with mitral valve disease. In healthy subjects, it was highly feasible and reproducible. The availability of reference values for MA geometry and dynamics may foster the implementation of MA quantitative analysis by 3D TTE in clinical settings.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2014
Proximal flow convergence method by three-dimensional color Doppler echocardiography for mitral valve area assessment in rheumatic mitral stenosis.
The two-dimensional (2D) proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method has important technical limitations for mitral valve orifice area (MVA) assessment in mitral stenosis (MS), mainly the geometric assumptions of PISA shape and the requirement of an angle correction factor. Single-beat real-time three-dimensional (3D) color Doppler imaging allows the direct measurement of PISA without geometric assumptions or the requirement of an angle correction factor. The aim of this study was to validate this method in patients with rheumatic MS. ⋯ MVA assessment using PISA by single-beat real-time 3D color Doppler echocardiography is feasible in the clinical setting and more accurate than the conventional 2D PISA method.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2014
Left ventricular functional recovery and remodeling in low-flow low-gradient severe aortic stenosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
Speckle-tracking-derived global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a more sensitive method of detecting left ventricular (LV) functional recovery after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, it remains unknown whether LV function improves in patients with low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis (LFLGSAS) after TAVI. The aim of the present was to evaluate LV functional recovery and remodeling after TAVI in patients with LFLGSAS. ⋯ Patients with LFLGSAS with low and preserved LVEF had a significant improvement in LV function after TAVI, as assessed by GLS. Absolute and relative LV wall thickness decreased in both groups of patients, but only those with low LVEF had reductions in LV volumes.
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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.