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Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jul 10;18(1):26. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao St, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning Province, China.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of inherited muscle disease in children. The incidence of cardiomyopathy induced by DMD increases with age. Left ventricular ejection fraction usually fails to reflect the subclinical left ventricular dysfunction. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jul 6;18(1):25. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening disease difficult to diagnose and manage in severe hemodynamic unstable patients. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is considered useful to improve diagnosis, but such approach has physical limitations for the interposition of the airways preventing the clear assessment of the left pulmonary artery. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), a recently developed technique carried out using a modified bronchoscope having a small ultrasound convex probe at the tip allowing to perform ultrasonography examination of the mediastinum, can extensively visualize the pulmonary arteries on both sides. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jul 1;18(1):24. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Division of Cardiology, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.

Background: Accurate measurement of the maximum aortic diameter (Dmax) is crucial for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Aortic computed tomography (CT) provides accurate Dmax values by three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction but may cause nephrotoxicity because of contrast use and radiation hazard. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a novel semi-automated 3-D ultrasonography (3-D US) system compared with that of CT as a reference. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jun 26;18(1):23. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, School of Medicine, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Three-dimensional (3D) left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain measurements using transthoracic 3D echocardiography speckle tracking analysis have several advantages over two-dimensional (2D) LV strain measurements, because 3D strain values are derived from the entire LV myocardium, yielding more accurate estimates of global and regional LV function. In this review article, we summarize the current status of 3D LV myocardial strain. Specifically, we describe how 3D LV strain analysis is performed. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jun 22;18(1):22. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Cardiology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-8686, Japan.

Background: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) has been reported to be useful for detecting paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, its usefulness remains unknown when analyzed along with patients seemingly at high-risk for AF as controls. From this standpoint, we investigated whether AEMD would be of use for identifying patients with PAF. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jun 17;18(1):21. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Pediatric Cardiology, Heart Center, Cheng-Hsin General Hospital, No 45, Cheng Hsin St., Beitou, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC).

Aim: Continuous real-time echocardiographic monitoring is essential for guidance during ASD closure. However, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can only be implemented intermittently during fluoroscopy. We evaluate a novel approach to provide real-time imaging during the entire procedure. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jun 12;18(1):20. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Critical Care Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 1# Shuai Fu Yuan, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.

Background: To explore the association between the ratio of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), and long- and short-term outcomes in mechanically ventilated septic shock patients.

Methods: Septic shock patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were screened for enrollment. Echocardiographic parameters including TAPSE and tricuspid regurgitation velocity, haemodynamic and respiratory parameters, and prognostic data were obtained. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jun 12;18(1):19. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserów Street 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland.

Background: Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is an objective, well-validated and reproducible technique of assessing left ventricular longitudinal deformation; it also offers a more sensitive assessment of myocardial contractility than widely used visual estimation. Evaluating global longitudinal strain may help identify patients with subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 28-year-old man with myocarditis, which successfully diagnosed and followed-up with the novel echocardiography method using speckle tracking imaging. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 May 29;18(1):18. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Groene Loper, Building 15, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Background: Exercise stress echocardiography is clinically used to assess cardiovascular diseases. For accurate cardiac evaluation, a stable field-of-view is required. However, transducer orientation and position are difficult to preserve. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 May 28;18(1):17. Epub 2020 May 28.

Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Echocardiography Core Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Gonda 6 South, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, USA.

Aims: We sought to determine which echocardiographic markers of left ventricular (LV) remodeling and diastolic dysfunction can contribute as incremental and independent prognostic information in addition to current clinical risk markers of ischemic LV systolic dysfunction in the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial.

Methods And Results: The cohort consisted of 1511 of 2136 patients in STICH for whom baseline transmitral Doppler (E/A ratio) could be measured by an echocardiographic core laboratory blinded to treatment and outcomes, and prognostic value of echocardiographic variables was determined by a Cox regression model. E/A ratio was the most significant predictor of mortality amongst diastolic variables with lowest mortality for E/A closest 0. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 May 26;18(1):16. Epub 2020 May 26.

Cardiovascular Research Center Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Po.Box: 1998734383, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Advanced chronic kidney disease often results in adverse cardiovascular outcomes and is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end stage renal diseases (ESRD). There is much information about the effect of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) on the left ventricle (LV) chamber, but the right ventricle (RV) as a neglected chamber had not been evaluated precisely, in spite of its importance.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of successful kidney transplants on the RV systolic and diastolic function using the advanced method of 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and comparison with the conventional methods. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 May 21;18(1):15. Epub 2020 May 21.

Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Strain and synchrony can be calculated from a variety of software packages, but there is a paucity of data with inter-vendor comparisons in children. To test the hypothesis that different packages may affect results, independent of acquisition, we compared values obtained using two commercially available analysis tool (QLAB and TomTec), with several different settings.

Methods: The study population included 108 children; patients were divided into three groups: (1) normal cardiac structure and conduction; (2) ventricular paced rhythm; and (3) flattened ventricular septum (reflecting right ventricular pressure or volume load lesions). Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 May 15;18(1):14. Epub 2020 May 15.

Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Objectives: Very few reports have described the Doppler-derived echocardiographic parameters for mechanical pulmonary valve prosthesis (MPVP). This study aims to describe the normal Doppler hemodynamic profile of MPVP using Doppler echocardiography.

Methods: The current prospective, single center observational study enrolled 108 patients who underwent pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) surgery for the first time and had a normally functioning prosthesis post-operation. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 May 14;18(1):13. Epub 2020 May 14.

Medizinische Klinik m.S. Kardiologie und Angiologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.

Background: We aimed to evaluate associations of right atrial (RA) and right ventricular (RV) strain parameters assessed by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) with invasively measured hemodynamic parameters in patients with and without pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods: In this study, we analyzed 78 all-comer patients undergoing invasive hemodynamic assessment by left and right heart catheterization. Standard transthoracic echocardiographic assessment was performed under the same hemodynamic conditions. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 May 4;18(1):12. Epub 2020 May 4.

Department of Natural Science and Biomedicine, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Gjuterigatan 5, SE-553 18, Jönköping, Sweden.

Background: Vascular thrombosis can be treated pharmacologically, however, serious shortcomings such as bleeding may occur. Several studies suggest that sonothrombolysis can induce lysis of the clots using ultrasound. Moreover, intravenously injected thin-shelled microbubbles (MBs) combined with ultrasound can further improve clot lysis. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Apr 25;18(1):11. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Department of Echocardiography, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, XiCheng District, Beijing, 100037, People's Republic of China.

Background: The 2016 guidelines for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction diagnosis has been simplified from previous versions; however, multiparametric diagnosis approach still exists indeterminate left ventricular diastolic dysfunction category. Left atrial (LA) strain was recently found useful to predict elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressures noninvasively. This study aimed to (1) analyze the diagnostic value of LA strain for noninvasive assessment of LV filling pressures in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF), using invasive hemodynamic assessment as the gold standard, and (2) explore whether LA strain combined with conventional diastolic parameters could detect elevated LV filling pressures alone. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Apr 13;18(1):10. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.

Background: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) offers an alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement in elderly and frail patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) for whom there are no other effective options. We aimed to investigate the mid-term effect of BAV on mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with severe AS.

Methods: Our analysis was based on the data from 83 patients with severe AS (mean age, 86 ± 5 years; female, 68) treated using BAV. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Mar 12;18(1). Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Background: Traditional preclinical echocardiography (ECHO) modalities, including 1-dimensional motion-mode (M-Mode) and 2-dimensional long axis (2D-US), rely on geometric and temporal assumptions about the heart for volumetric measurements. Surgical animal models, such as the mouse coronary artery ligation (CAL) model of myocardial infarction, result in morphologic changes that do not fit these geometric assumptions. New ECHO technology, including 4-dimensional ultrasound (4D-US), improves on these traditional models. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Feb 19;18(1). Epub 2020 Feb 19.

Research Center of the Hospital of the University of Montreal (Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal), Montreal, Canada.

Background: Left ventricular untwisting generates an early diastolic intraventricular pressure gradient (DIVPG) than can be quantified by echocardiography. We sought to confirm the quantitative relationship between peak untwisting rate and peak DIVPG in a large adult population.

Methods: From our echocardiographic database, we retrieved all the echocardiograms with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction, for whom color Doppler M-Mode interrogation of mitral inflow was available, and left ventricular untwisting rate was measurable using speckle tracking. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Feb 15;18(1). Epub 2020 Feb 15.

The Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Stefana Zeromskiego 5, 25-001, Kielce, Poland.

Background: Peak left atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) can help identify left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) in patients with atrial fibrillation. Nevertheless, few studies have been performed in patients in sinus rhythm without established indications for anticoagulation but with increased risk of LAAT, such as heart failure (HF) with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction patients. The primary aim of this study was to identify clinical and transthoracic echocardiography predictors of LAAT in HF patients with very low left ventricular ejection fraction and sinus rhythm. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Feb 13;18(1). Epub 2020 Feb 13.

Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155 Nanjingbei Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, People's Republic of China.

Background: Coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) involves the delayed opacification of the coronary distal vessel, in the absence of an obstructive lesion in the epicardial coronary artery during angiography. Since the link between left atrial (LA) function and decreased left ventricular function is still unclear, we evaluated LA function using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) in patients with CSFP, and subsequently determined the incremental value of RT3DE.

Methods: This study enrolled 60 patients with CSFP and 45 control subjects. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jan 31;18(1). Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Department of Echocardiography, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No.16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266003, China.

Background: Mitral regurgitation volume (MRvol) by quantitative pulsed Doppler (QPD) method previously recommended suffers from geometric assumption error because of circular geometric assumption of mitral annulus (MA). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different geometric assumption of MA on the assessment of MRvol by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic QPD method.

Methods: This study included 88 patients with varying degrees of mitral regurgitation (MR). Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jan 27;18(1). Epub 2020 Jan 27.

Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relationship between right ventricular function derived from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), echocardiography and exercise stress test performance, NT-proBNP (N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide) level and NYHA class in patients with a systemic right ventricle.

Methods: All patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA), or transposition of the great arteries after Mustard or Senning procedures, (TGA) followed at our centre who had undergone CMR, echocardiography, an exercise stress test and blood sampling, were included in the study.

Results: We examined 11 patients (six after the Senning procedure, one after the Mustard procedure, and four ccTGA) who have a median age of 32 years (22-67 years). Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jan 21;18(1). Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Department of Echocardiography, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, No180, Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Background: To evaluate the detailed dynamic change of left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) by echocardiography in aortic stenosis (AS) patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and compare LVDF classification according to 2009 ASE/EAE and 2016 ASE/EACVI recommendations.

Methods: Thirty-five AS patients receiving TAVI underwent echocardiography the day before operation (PRE), on the third day (3D), in the first-month (1 M) and the six-month (6 M) after TAVI. LVDF was analyzed using 2D and doppler imaging to get parameters including E/A, E/e', isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), deceleration time, LA area, LA volume index (LAVI) and systolic tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TR). Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jan 15;18(1). Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale Translational Research Imaging Center, Yale University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208017, Dana 3, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.

Background: Quantitative regional strain analysis by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) may be particularly useful in the assessment of myocardial ischemia and viability, although reliable measurement of regional strain remains challenging, especially in the circumferential and radial directions. We present an acute canine model that integrates a complex sonomicrometer array with microsphere blood flow measurements to evaluate regional myocardial strain and flow in the setting of graded coronary stenoses and dobutamine stress. We apply this unique model to rigorously evaluate a commercial 2D STE software package and explore fundamental regional myocardial flow-function relationships. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2020 Jan 13;18(1). Epub 2020 Jan 13.

Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8501 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 200, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, 90211, USA.

Background: Despite significant improvements in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of mortality in the United States. Ultrasound is a widely available tool that can be used to evaluate the presence of cardiac wall motion during cardiac arrest. Several clinical studies have evaluated the use of ultrasound to visualize cardiac motion as a predictor of mortality in cardiac arrest patients. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Dec 26;17(1):31. Epub 2019 Dec 26.

Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Weill Cornell Medicine, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA.

Background: Echocardiography (echo) is widely used to guide therapeutic decision-making for patients being considered for MitraClip. Relative utility of two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) echo predictors of MitraClip response, and impact of MitraClip on mitral annular geometry, are uncertain.

Methods: The study population comprised patients with advanced (> moderate) MR undergoing MitraClip. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Dec 26;17(1):32. Epub 2019 Dec 26.

3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Kútvölgyi 4, Budapest, 1125, Hungary.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction are common echocardiographic features of both aortic valve stenosis (AS) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA). These two different entities therefore may mask each other. From recent years, there is a growing body of evidence about the relatively high incidence of wild-type transthyretin (wtTTR) amyloidosis in AS, but there are scarce data on the prevalence of AS in CA, particularly in AL-type amyloidosis. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Dec 3;17(1):30. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 205 Uehara, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa, 901-0215, Japan.

Purpose: Left ventricular (LV) wall thickness can be measured at the posterior wall (PW) and the intraventricular septum (IVS) in a parasternal long axis view by transthoracic echocardiography. Thus, there are three methods to calculate relative wall thickness as follows: RWT = 2 × PWth/LVDd; RWT = (IVSth + PWth) /LVDd; and RWT = 2 × IVSth/LVDd (IVSth = interventricular septum thickness; LVDd = LV internal dimension at end--diastole; PWth = posterior wall thickness). The aim was to compare the prognostic values of these RWTs in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Dec 3;17(1):29. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is a functional assessment that helps to detect disorders affecting the system involved in oxygen transport and utilization through the analysis of the gas exchange during exercise. The clinical application of CPET is various, it including training prescription, evaluation of treatment efficacy and outcome prediction in a broad spectrum of conditions. Furthermore, in patients with shortness of breath it provides pivotal information to bring out an accurate differential diagnosis between physical deconditioning, cardiopulmonary disease and muscular diseases. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Nov 21;17(1):28. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.

Background: The search for reliable cardiac functional parameters is crucial in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). In the Italian arm of the European Registry of MR, we compared the ability of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) to detect cardiac damage in MR.

Methods: Five hundred four consecutive patients with MR underwent a complete echo-Doppler exam. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Nov 15;17(1):27. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

Department of Medicine - HeartOtago, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Box 56, Dunedin, PO, 9054, New Zealand.

Myocardial pathology results in significant morbidity and mortality, whether due to primary cardiomyopathic processes or secondary to other conditions such as ischemic heart disease. Cardiac imaging techniques characterise the underlying tissue directly, by assessing a signal from the tissue itself, or indirectly, by inferring tissue characteristics from global or regional function. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is currently the most investigated imaging modality for tissue characterisation, but, due to its accessibility, advanced echocardiography represents an attractive alternative. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Nov 13;17(1):26. Epub 2019 Nov 13.

Department of Cardiology, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, 10-15, Fumizono-cho, Moriguchi, Osaka, 570-8507, Japan.

A high incidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased risk of cardiovascular events have been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus. Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors selectively inhibit kidney glucose and sodium reabsorption, and cardiovascular benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors beyond other antidiabetic drugs have been reported in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) clinical trials. However, underlying mechanisms contributing to the improvement of cardiovascular outcomes have not been clearly identified. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Nov 12;17(1):25. Epub 2019 Nov 12.

Department of Echocardiography, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Background: To evaluate left atrial (LA) phasic functions in patients with hypertension and/or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and its clinical significance.

Methods: LA strain was studied in 77 patients (25 hypertension, 24 lone AF, and 28 with both hypertension and PAF) and 28 controls using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D STE). The following indexes during atrial reservoir, conduit and pump phase were analyzed respectively: (1) peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) and strain rate (PALSR), (2) the standard deviation of time to PALS and PALSR of all LA segments (TpS-SD% and TpSR-SD%). Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Nov 4;17(1):24. Epub 2019 Nov 4.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Background And Objective: Cardiac involvement due to iron overload is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with thalassemia, and many patients remain asymptomatic until the late stages. Therefore, early detection of heart problems in such patients at subclinical stages can improve the prognosis of these patients. We investigated the role of speckled tracking (SI) and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDI) in early detection of iron overload in these patients. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Oct 31;17(1):23. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Department of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hospital of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is the most widely used parameter for clinical decision-making, but reproducibility and accuracy problems remain. We evaluated the usefulness of a novel training program based on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to obtain more reliable values of 2DE-derived LVEF and LV volumes.

Methods: Fifty-four sonographers from five hospitals independently measured LV volumes and LVEF using the same 2DE images from 15 patients who underwent CMR and 2DE. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Oct 30;17(1):22. Epub 2019 Oct 30.

2nd Department of Medicine - Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, U Nemocnice 2, 128 08, Praha 2, Czech Republic.

Background: Normative reference values for echocardiographic chamber quantification are of great importance; however, this can be challenging. Our aim was to derive these values including degrees of abnormality from a random Central European population sample with a homogeneous subset of healthy subjects.

Methods: We analysed echocardiograms obtained in a randomly selected population sample during the Czech post-MONICA survey in 2007/2008. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Oct 28;17(1):21. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

Division of Cardiology, Heart Center, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06273, South Korea.

Background: Whether mitral leaflet elongation is a primary phenotype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is controversial. We investigated the genetic relevance and determinants of mitral leaflet size by performing extensive gene analyses in patients with HCM.

Methods: Anterior mitral leaflet (AML) lengths were measured in HCM patients (n = 211) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 30) using echocardiography with hemodynamic and chamber geometric assessments. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Oct 20;17(1):20. Epub 2019 Oct 20.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine-Sports Medicine and Exercise Unit, University of Florence, AOUC, Careggi, Florence, Italy.

Background: Cardiac adaptation to intense physical training is determined by many factors including age, gender, body size, load training and ethnicity. Despite the wide availability of ECG analysis, with a higher presence of abnormalities in different races, echocardiographic studies on young Afro-Caribean (AA) and Caucasian athletes (CA) are lacking in literature. We aimed to assess the effect in the secondary LV remodelling of load training in young AA players compared to matched CA players. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Oct 10;17(1):19. Epub 2019 Oct 10.

Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9100, Aalborg, Denmark.

Background: Nearly one-third of heart failure (HF) patients do not respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) despite having left bundle branch block (LBBB). The aim of the study was to investigate a novel method of quantifying left ventricular (LV) contractile asymmetry in HF.

Methods: Patients with HF and LBBB undergoing CRT (n = 89, 37. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Sep 2;17(1):18. Epub 2019 Sep 2.

Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is an established method for evaluation of left ventricular (LV) systolic function. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) by speckle tracking echocardiography seems to be an important additive method for evaluation of LV function with improved reproducibility compared with LVEF. Our aim was to compare reproducibility of GLS and LVEF between an expert and trainee both as echocardiographic examiner and analyst. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Aug 13;17(1):17. Epub 2019 Aug 13.

Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Aims: The Doppler-derived myocardial performance index (MPI) has been considered as a diagnostic and prognostic Doppler marker for many different clinical conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of traditional Pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD-MPI) and Pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging (TDI-MPI) and the degree of agreement between these methods in patients with grade-I diastolic dysfunction (DDI) and a normal ejection fraction.

Methods: Forty-seven consecutive ambulatory patients with DDI were compared to 51 healthy subjects with normal echocardiograms. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Aug 10;17(1):16. Epub 2019 Aug 10.

Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Background: Myocardial deformation imaging using speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess global longitudinal strain (GLS) is today considered a more sensitive measure of left ventricular (LV) systolic function than ejection fraction. General anesthesia and positive pressure ventilation (PPV) are known to change the right ventricular (RV) and LV loading conditions. However, little is known about the effects of anesthesia and PPV on RV free wall and LV GLS. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Aug 5;17(1):15. Epub 2019 Aug 5.

Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Background: Previous studies highlighted the usefulness of integrating left ventricular (LV) deformation (strain) and hemodynamic parameters to quantify LV performance. In a population sample, we investigated the anthropometric and clinical determinants of a novel non-invasive index of LV systolic performance derived from simultaneous registration of LV strain and brachial pressure waveforms.

Methods: Three hundred fifty-six randomly recruited subjects (44. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Jul 20;17(1):14. Epub 2019 Jul 20.

Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.

Background: Postnatal outcome of fetuses with isolated single umbilical artery (SUA) is determined mainly by right ventricular function. Our study examined whether there are differences in right ventricular function during the gestation period of fetuses with isolated SUA compared to healthy fetuses.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 77 fetuses with isolated SUA and 77 gestational age-matched controls from 22 to 39 weeks. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Jul 4;17(1):13. Epub 2019 Jul 4.

Institute of Clinical Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University, Santariskiu St. 2, 08661, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Background: Recent triple-blind sham procedure-controlled study revealed neutral effects of the cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) on exercise tolerance and symptoms in patients with stable angina. Current data about the effects of CSWT on global and regional myocardial contractility and perfusion is limited. Hereby we report the results of an imaging sub-study that evaluated the capacity of CSWT to ameliorate myocardial ischemia induced during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and cardiac single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Jun 11;17(1):12. Epub 2019 Jun 11.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology and Angiology, Magdeburg University, Leipzigerstr. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.

Background: A new zero-fluoroscopy technique for electrophysiology catheter navigation relying on intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has been recently reported (Ice&ICE trial). We investigated potential differences in efficacy, safety or procedural performance between conventional fluoroscopy- and ICE-guided cryothermal ablation (CA) in symptomatic AVNRT patients.

Methods: Clinical and electrophysiological data of AVNRT patients included in the Ice&ICE trial (22 patients, 16 females; =zero-fluoroscopy group) were compared to those of consecutive AVNRT patients, who underwent fluoroscopy-guided CA (25 patients, 17 females; = fluoroscopy group) during the last 2 years in our institution. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Jun 7;17(1):11. Epub 2019 Jun 7.

Department of Medicine/Cardiology Division, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA.

Background: Intraoperative or post procedure right ventricular (RV) dysfunction confers a poor prognosis in the post-operative period. Conventional predictors for RV function are limited due the effect of cardiac surgery on traditional RV indices; novel echocardiographic techniques hold the promise to improve RV functional stratification.

Methods: Comprehensive echocardiographic data were collected prospectively during elective cardiac surgery. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 May 21;17(1):10. Epub 2019 May 21.

Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.

Background: The association of a Classical left bundle branch block (LBBB) contraction pattern and better outcome after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has only been studied using vendor-specific software for echocardiographic speckle-tracked longitudinal strain analysis. The purpose of this study was to assess whether a Classical LBBB contraction pattern on longitudinal strain analysis using vendor-independent software is associated with clinical outcome in CRT recipients with LBBB.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including CRT recipients with LBBB, heart failure, and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction ≤35%. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 May 15;17(1). Epub 2019 May 15.

Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Academy of Medicine Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou, 510100, China.

Background: Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) enables objective assessment of left atrial (LA) deformation through the analysis of myocardial strain, which can be measured by different speckle-tracking software. The aim of this study was to compare the consistency of 3 different commercially available software, which include vendor-specific software for measuring left ventricle (VSS), vendor-independent software packages for measuring LV strain (VIS) and vendor-independent software packages for measuring LA strain (VIS).

Methods: Sixty-four subjects (mean age: 44 ± 16 years, 50% males) underwent conventional echocardiograms using a GE Vivid 9 (GE Ultrasound, Horten, Norway) cardiac ultrasound system. Read More