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.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2013
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in the assessment of right ventricular function in children and adolescents after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.
Assessing right ventricular (RV) performance is essential for patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) against cardiac magnetic resonance imaging measures and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. ⋯ TAPSE is reproducibly measured by echocardiography in patients with TOF. It is not associated with RV ejection fraction or exercise performance, and its association with RV stroke volume may be confounded by body size. On the basis of these results, TAPSE is not representative of global RV performance in patients with TOF.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2013
Importance of adequately performed Valsalva maneuver to detect patent foramen ovale during transesophageal echocardiography.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) plays an important role in evaluating cardioembolic sources of emboli. The identification of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is reportedly improved with TEE compared with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), but the Valsalva maneuver during TEE may be difficult or suboptimal. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the Valsalva maneuver for PFO diagnosis using TEE compared with TTE by evaluating patients with ischemic stroke referred for echocardiography. ⋯ An adequate Valsalva maneuver is crucial for diagnosis of PFO; most patients with stroke may be screened using TTE with contrast and the Valsalva maneuver, with TEE indicated in case of suboptimal transthoracic images.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 2013
Effects of therapeutic hypothermia on left ventricular function assessed by ultrasound imaging.
Therapeutic hypothermia is used after cardiac arrest. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on left ventricular (LV) function assessed by ultrasonic imaging. ⋯ Hypothermia induced systolic and diastolic dysfunction, with reduced tolerance to increased heart rate. These findings may have implications for patient management during hypothermia.