The international journal of cardiovascular imaging
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · May 2021
Review Multicenter StudyContemporary use of cardiac imaging for COVID-19 patients: a three center experience defining a potential role for cardiac MRI.
The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) secondary to the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has bestowed an unprecedented challenge upon us, resulting in an international public health emergency. COVID-19 has already resulted in > 1,600,000 deaths worldwide and the fear of a global economic collapse. SARS-CoV-2 is notorious for causing acute respiratory distress syndrome, however emerging literature suggests various dreaded cardiac manifestations associated with high mortality. ⋯ Cardiac manifestations from COVID-19 include but are not limited to, acute myocardial injury, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure and acute coronary syndrome. Cardiac imaging is paramount to appropriately diagnose and manage the cardiac manifestations of COVID-19. Herein, we present cardiac imaging findings of COVID-19 patients with biomarker and imaging confirmed myocarditis to provide insight regarding the variable manifestations of COVID-19 myocarditis via Cardiac MRI (CMR) coupled with CMR-edema education along with recommendations on how to incorporate advanced CMR into the clinicians' COVID-19 armamentarium.
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Mar 2021
Multicenter StudyClinical implication of QFR in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after drug-eluting stent implantation.
The feasibility and prognostic value of quantitative flow ratio (QFR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients have not been assessed. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic utility of post-PCI QFR to predict outcomes in STEMI and determine the influence of functional results, in both culprit and nonculprit lesions, after PCI. Patients undergoing PCI of culprit lesions and receiving staged procedures of nonculprit lesions after 7 days were enrolled from 2 centers and underwent post-PCI QFR. ⋯ In conclusion, culprit lesions suffered from suboptimal functional results more frequently compared to nonculprit lesions after PCI in STEMI patients. Low post-PCI QFR was associated with subsequent adverse clinical outcomes. After stenting, culprit lesions may feasibly be assessed through QFR without significant microvascular dysfunction.
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Mar 2021
Echocardiographic features of patients with COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional study.
COVID-19 patients with cardiac involvement have a high mortality rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the echocardiographic features in COVID-19 patients between severe and non-severe groups. For this single-center study, data from patients who were treated for COVID-19 between March 25, 2020 and April 15, 2020 were collected. ⋯ In the severe group, RV and LV diameters were larger (RV, 36.6 ± 5.9 mm vs. 33.1 ± 4.8 mm, p = 0.003; LV 47.3 ± 5.8 mm vs. 44.9 ± 3.8 mm, p = 0.023), the LE ejection fraction (LVEF) and the RV fractional area change (RV-FAC) were lower (LVEF, 54.0 ± 9.8% vs. 61.9 ± 4.8%, p < 0.001; RV-FAC, 41.4 ± 4.1% vs. 45.5 ± 4.5%, p < 0.001), and pericardial effusions were more frequent (23% vs. 0%) compared to patients in the non-severe group. A multiple linear regression analysis determined that LVEF, right atrial diameter, high-sensitivity troponin I, d-dimer, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure, were independent predictors of RV dilatation. The results demonstrate that both right and left ventricular functions decreased due to COVID-19 infection in the severe group. 2DE is a valuable bedside tool and may yield valuable information about the clinical status of patients and their prognoses.
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Feb 2021
Relationship between right and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction assessed by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.
Several studies have reported a correlation between right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). However, data are lacking regarding the relationship between RV and LV diastolic dysfunction assessed by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. We studied 69 adults with repaired TOF (mean age 34 years, 61% male) who had been regularly followed up and had routinely undergone echocardiography. ⋯ A correlation between RV and LV SRe was found in TOF patients (r = 0.43, p < 0.001) as well as between RV and LV GLS (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography reveals subclinical RV and LV diastolic dysfunction in adults with repaired TOF. A correlation is observed between RV and LV diastolic dysfunction as well as between RV and LV systolic dysfunction.
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Feb 2021
Comparative StudyQuantification of aortic valve area: comparison of different methods of echocardiography with 3-D scan of the excised valve.
Accurate determination of severity of aortic valve stenosis (AS) by aortic valve area (AVA) is essential for choosing the best treatment strategy. We compared AVA quantified by 4 different in vivo echocardiographic methods with AVA measured by 3D ex vivo scanning of the excised AV. The data on 38 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement were assessed. ⋯ However, with a nonsignificant effect, CE (2D-TTE) and planimetry (2D-TEE) had the least mean difference with 3D ex vivo scanning possibly due to less frequent bicuspid AV in females. CE (2D-TTE) was more accurate than other methods of AVA calculation. Moreover, CE (3D-TEE) and MPR (3D-TEE) methods had acceptable accuracy in comparison with planimetry (2D-TEE) for definition of AS severity.