ABSTRACT
The present study evaluated the application of three dimensional echocardigraphy (3DE) in the diagnosis of atrial septal defect (ASD) and the measurement of its size by 3DE and compared the size with surgical findings.Two-dimensional and real-time three dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was performed in 26 patients with atrial septal defect,and the echocardiographic data were compared with the surgical findings.Significant correlation was found between defect diameter by RT3DE and that measured during surgery (r=0.77,P<0.001).The defect area changed significantly during cardiac cycle.Percentage change in defect size during cardiac cycle ranged from 6%-70%.Our study showed that the size and morphology of atrial septal defect obtained with RT3DE correlate well with surgical findings.Therefore,RT3DE is a feasible and accurate non-invasive imaging tool for assessment of atrial septal size and dynamic changes.
ABSTRACT
city on the systolic function of left ventricular subendocardial myocardium, and early monitor the epirubicin-induced cardiotoxic-ity.
ABSTRACT
The myocardial viability after myocardial infarction was evaluated by intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography. Intravenous real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed on 18 patients with myocardial infarction before coronary revascularization. Follow-up echocardiography was performed 3 months after coronary revascularization. Segmental wall motion was assessed using 18-segment LV model and classified as normal, hypokinesis, akinesis and dyskinesis. Viable myocardium was defined by evident improvement of segmental wall motion 3 months after coronary revascularization. Myocardial perfusion was assessed by visual interpretation and divided into 3 conditions: homogeneous opacification; partial or reduced opaciflcation or subendocardial contrast defect; contrast defect. The former two conditions were used as the standard to define the viable myocardium. The results showed that 109 abnormal wall motion segments were detected among 18 patients with myocardial infarction, including 47 segments of hypokinesis, 56 segments of akinesis and 6 segments of dyskinesis. The wall motion of 2 segments with hypokinesis before coronary revascularization which showed homogeneous opacification, 14 of 24 segments with hypokinese and 20 of 24 segments with akinese before coronary revascularization which showed partial or reduced opaciflcation or subendocardial contrast defect was improved 3 months after coronary revascularization. In our study, the sensitivity and specificity of evaluation of myocardial viability after myocardial infarction by intravenous real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography were 94.7% and 78.9%, respectively. It was concluded that intravenous real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography could accurately evaluate myocardial viability after myocardial infarction.