Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Mar 2005
Left atrial appendage assessment by second harmonic transthoracic echocardiography after an acute ischemic neurologic event.
Although second harmonic (sh) imaging is widely available in most contemporary ultrasound systems, its accuracy to evaluate left atrial appendage (LAA) morphology and function remains poorly characterized. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients with acute ischemic neurologic conditions (n = 51) who underwent both transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to explore the performance of sh in LAA assessment. Doppler and LAA area evaluation by sh TTE were feasible in most patients (98%). ⋯ In addition, all patients (n = 7) with LAA thrombus or spontaneous contrast had peak emptying velocities less than 50 cm/s on sh TTE (negative predictive value of 100%). In multivariate analysis, LAA peak emptying velocity remained independently associated with LAA thrombus or contrast. In conclusion, sh TTE can provide valuable and clinically relevant information of LAA morphology and dynamics.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Mar 2005
Case ReportsCalcified right ventricular mass and pulmonary embolism in a previously healthy young woman.
A 20-year-old woman with a recent episode of pulmonary embolism was found by echocardiographic examination to have a calcified apical right ventricular intracavitary mass. She had a history of cigarette smoking and had been taking oral contraceptive pills. At age 17 years, she had sustained substantial blunt chest injury during a motor vehicle accident. ⋯ It is postulated that its development was related to cardiac trauma. These intracavitary masses have been referred to as cardiac calcified amorphous tumors and generally represent old organized and focally calcified mural thrombus. They should be distinguished from calcified benign or malignant neoplasms of the heart.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Feb 2005
Comparative StudyClinical, laboratory, and transesophageal echocardiographic correlates of interatrial septal thickness: a population-based transesophageal echocardiographic study.
The determinants of interatrial septal (IAS) thickening ("lipomatous hypertrophy"), a common echocardiographic finding in the elderly, are poorly defined. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical, laboratory, and transesophageal echocardiographic correlates of IAS thickening in the general population. ⋯ IAS thickening is an age-associated process. Atherosclerosis risk factors are weakly associated with IAS thickening, whereas atherosclerotic vascular disease is not.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jan 2005
Case ReportsA novel regional right ventricular wall-motion abnormality observed in a case of acute pulmonary embolism (reverse McConnell sign).
Among various echocardiographic parameters for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, an abnormal regional contraction pattern of the right ventricular free wall consisting of normokinesia of the apical segment and akinesia of the midfree wall with persistence of abnormal wall motion at the base has proved to be fairly specific for pulmonary embolism. This echocardiographic abnormality has been termed "McConnell sign." We describe the case of a patient with acute pulmonary embolism who developed reversible akinesia of the apex and right ventricular midfree wall, a finding we would like to term "reverse McConnell sign."