Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) is frequently measured noninvasively using transthoracic echocardiography. Normal values of PASP are based on studies performed in heterogeneous populations. The normal values of PASP in young healthy subjects are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution and clinical and morphologic correlates of PASP values in young healthy subjects. ⋯ PASP in young, physically fit subjects may be higher than previously reported in the general population and is poorly explained by age, blood pressure, and other echocardiographic parameters.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Mar 2012
Validation study on the accuracy of echocardiographic measurements of right ventricular systolic function in pulmonary hypertension.
The accuracy of echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular (RV) function has not been sufficiently validated in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether echocardiographic measurements reliably reflect RV systolic function in PH using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI)-derived RV ejection fraction (RVEF) as a gold standard. ⋯ Echocardiographic measurements are promising noninvasive indices of RV systolic function in patients with PH. In particular, TAPSE is superior to other indices in accuracy.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Feb 2012
The role of echocardiography in the management of patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Extracorporeal life support can be viewed as a spectrum of modalities based on modifications of a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit to provide cardiac and respiratory support, which can be used for extended periods, from hours to several weeks. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is among the most frequently used forms of extracorporeal life support. It can be configured for venovenous blood flow, to provide adequate oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal in isolated refractory respiratory failure, or in a venoarterial configuration, when support is required for cardiac and/or respiratory failure. ⋯ Although there are extensive published data regarding ECMO, particularly in the pediatric population, there is a paucity of data outlining the role of echocardiography in guiding the management of adult patients supported by ECMO. ECMO is likely to become an increasingly used form of cardiorespiratory support within the critical care setting. Hence, clinicians and sonographers who work within echocardiography departments at institutions with ECMO programs require specific skills to image these patients.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyAutomated quantification of mitral inflow and aortic outflow stroke volumes by three-dimensional real-time volume color-flow Doppler transthoracic echocardiography: comparison with pulsed-wave Doppler and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility, accuracy, and reproducibility of automated quantification of mitral inflow and aortic stroke volumes (SVs) using real-time three-dimensional volume color-flow Doppler transthoracic echocardiography (RT-VCFD), with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging as the reference method. ⋯ RT-VCFD imaging with an automated quantification algorithm is feasible, accurate, and reproducible for the measurement of mitral inflow and aortic SVs and is superior to manual 2D TTE-based measurements. The rapid and automated measurements make this technique practical in the clinical setting to measure and report SVs routinely where the acoustic window will allow it, which was 86% in our study.