[Double chamber right ventricle: about 3 cases]

The double chambered right ventricle is a rare congenital abnormality. It creates an obstacle for the right ventricular ejection. The cardiac ultrasonography examination allows the diagnosis in most majority of cases. The angiography is performed in difficult cases. We report 3 cases of infundibular stenosis with normal interventricular septum. The diagnosis was suspected for the 3 cases by the constellation of clinical findings pointing to systolic murmur over the precordium. and the electrocardiography showing right ventricular hypertrophy. It is confirmed by the echocardiogram and the hemodynamic exploration with a trans stenotic gradient evaluated at 72,80 and 80 mmHg. The 3 patients underwent surgery and had all good post operative follow up. These 3 observations allow us to recall the epidemiological. embryological. clinical and echocardiographic particularities of pure infundibular stenosis and to determin the adequate treatment and the prognosis

[Stress echocardiography and mitral stenosis: what interest?]

The stress echocardiography is used extensively as a diagnostic and prognostic tool and the assessment of ischemic cardiopathies. Its use in valvulopathies is more limited, but is increasing with time. The discrepancies between the functional symptoms and hemodynamics at rest is frequently met in patients with mitral stenosis. By assessing changes of pressures, gradients and surface stress echocardiography helps to identify the real hemodynamic conditions permitting to recommend a more aggressive approach in certain situations

[Introduction of the myocardal dopler tissue imaging]

Introduced in 1989, the myocardial doppler tissue imaging has now many clinical applications. The doppler tissue imaging explores the proper systolic and diastolic regional function of myocardial fibers. We can measure myocardial velocities by recording signals of low v‚locitiy and high magnitude, the strain and the strain rate are then derived from velocities. Specific softwares are therefore necessary. There are many ways of recording and representing myocardial doppler tissue parameters. Diagnostic and prognostic value of myocardial doppler tissue imaging is now proved and this method has many applications in ischemic cardiopathy and in cardiomyopathies. The development of powerful softwares is promising for the applications of the strain in the future