Eur J Echocardiogr
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Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a new technology that treats severe aortic stenosis. The technology has specific and mandatory technical requirements that must be met to allow safe and successful procedures. The echocardiographic method for diagnosis of aortic stenosis, anatomical case selection, procedural guidance and management of complications is discussed in this context. The role of the imaging specialist is defined within the TAVI team aiming to provide good outcomes for this high risk cohort of patients.
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Review Practice Guideline
Echocardiographic assessment of valve stenosis: EAE/ASE recommendations for clinical practice.
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Comparative Study
Quantitative assessment of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.
Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) allows measurements of left ventricular (LV) volumes and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) without manual tracings. Our goal was to determine the accuracy of 2DSTE against real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE) and against cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. ⋯ Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography measurements resulted in a small but significant underestimation of LVEDV and EF compared with RT3DE. However, the accuracy, low intra- and inter-observer variabilities and speed of analysis make 2DSTE a potentially useful modality for LV functional assessment in the routine clinical setting.
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Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a relatively common congenital condition which has been implicated in cryptogenic stroke as a result of paradoxical thromboembolism by right-to-left shunting. Many studies have demonstrated that transcatheter PFO closure significantly reduced the incidence of recurrent strokes in a small group of high-risk patients with PFO and atrial septal aneurysm compared with antithrombotic drugs. Two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE) has become the election technique for guiding patent foramen ovale closure. Real-time Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) may be potentially superior to 2D TEE in the accurate assessment of the morphology and efficacy of transcatheter closure devices because of a better spacial orientation.
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Case Reports
Inter-valvular fibrosa pseudo-aneurysm as a late complication after aortic valve surgery.
We describe the incidental finding of an inter-valvular fibrosa pseudo-aneurysm in the absence of infective endocarditis 12 years after a re-do operation for aortic valve replacement in a patient whose initial pathology was bicuspid aortic valve stenosis.