Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Sep 2009
Controlled Clinical TrialNon-invasive coronary flow reserve after successful primary angioplasty for acute anterior myocardial infarction is an independent predictor of left ventricular recovery and in-hospital cardiac events.
The prediction of left ventricular (LV) recovery and adverse cardiac events after reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of noninvasive coronary flow reserve (CFR) to predict LV recovery and in-hospital adverse cardiac events after AMI by comparison with other available tools. ⋯ Noninvasive CFR determined < 24 hours after AMI was an independent predictor of LV recovery at 3-month follow-up and of in-hospital adverse cardiac events.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Sep 2009
Recommendations for evaluation of prosthetic valves with echocardiography and doppler ultrasound: a report From the American Society of Echocardiography's Guidelines and Standards Committee and the Task Force on Prosthetic Valves, developed in conjunction with the American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Imaging Committee, Cardiac Imaging Committee of the American Heart Association, the European Association of Echocardiography, a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology, the Japanese Society of Echocardiography and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography, endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation, American Heart Association, European Association of Echocardiography, a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology, the Japanese Society of Echocardiography, and Canadian Society of Echocardiography.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2009
Use of real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in intracardiac catheter based interventions.
Real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) echocardiography is a recently developed technique that is being increasingly used in echocardiography laboratories. Over the past several years, improvements in transducer technologies have allowed development of a full matrix-array transducer that allows acquisition of pyramidal-shaped data sets. These data sets can be processed online and offline to allow accurate evaluation of cardiac structures, volumes, and mass. More recently, a transesophageal transducer with RT3D capabilities has been developed. This allows acquisition of high-quality RT3D images on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Percutaneous catheter-based procedures have gained growing acceptance in the cardiac procedural armamentarium. Advances in technology and technical skills allow increasingly complex procedures to be performed using a catheter-based approach, thus obviating the need for open-heart surgery. ⋯ RT3D TEE is a powerful new imaging tool that may become the technique of choice and the standard of care for guidance of selected percutaneous catheter-based procedures.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2009
Chronic mitral regurgitation: a pilot study to assess preoperative left ventricular contractile function using speckle-tracking echocardiography.
The development of postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is a frequent complication in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and implies a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative regional LV contractile function assessment using two-dimensional echocardiography-based speckle-tracking analysis in patients with chronic severe MR. ⋯ IVS longitudinal speckle tracking-derived strain rate allows the accurate detection of early abnormalities in LV contractile function. It is a powerful predictor of early postoperative LVEF decreases in patients with chronic severe MR. Furthermore, speckle-tracking technology is more accurate than other methods. This new tool might assist clinicians in the optimal timing of surgery in patients with chronic severe MR.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jul 2009
Correlation between left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and peak left atrial wall strain during left ventricular systole.
Left atrial (LA) reservoir function is determined by integration of LA relaxation and left ventricular (LV) systolic function, and LV diastolic dysfunction increases LA volume at end systole. This study investigates the effect of LV end-diastolic pressure on LA wall tension during LV systole. ⋯ Elevated LV end-diastolic pressure is associated with a decrease of peak LA wall strain in the longitudinal direction during LV systole. In patients with peak LA wall strain during LV systole of less than 30%, the majority had elevated LV end-diastolic pressure, while most patients with peak LA wall strain during LV systole 45% or higher had normal LV end-diastolic pressures. In patients whose LV ejection fraction is 50% or more, when peak LA wall strain during LV systole is between 30% and 44%, it is not possible to predict LV end-diastolic pressure from peak LA wall strain measures.