Lipid-Core Plaque Assessed by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Procedure Related Microvascular Injury

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES@#Microvascular damage due to distal embolization during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an important cause of periprocedural myocardial infarction. We assessed the lipid-core plaque using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and microvascular dysfunction invasively with the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and evaluated their relationship.@*METHODS@#This study is pilot retrospective observational study. We analyzed 39 patients who performed NIRS before and after PCI, while fractional flow reserve, thermo-dilution coronary flow reserve (CFR) and IMR were measured after PCI. The maximum value of lipid core burden index (LCBI) for any of the 4-mm segments at the culprit lesion (culprit LCBI(4mm)) was calculated at the culprit lesion. We divided the patients into 2 groups using a cutoff of culprit LCBI(4mm) ≥500.@*RESULTS@#Mean pre-PCI LCBI was 333±196 and mean post-PCI IMR was 20±14 U. Post-PCI IMR was higher (15.6±7.3 vs. 42.6±17.6 U, p<0.001) and post-PCI CFR was lower (3.7±2.2 vs. 2.1±1.0, p=0.029) in the high LCBI group. Pre-PCI LCBI was positively correlated with post-PCI IMR (ρ=0.358, p=0.025) and negatively correlated with post-PCI CFR (ρ=−0.494, p=0.001). The incidence of microvascular dysfunction (IMR ≥25 U) was higher in the high LCBI group (9.4% vs. 85.7%, p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the incidences of creatine Kinase-MB (9.4% vs. 14.3%, p=0.563) and troponin-I elevation (12.5% vs. 14.3%, p=1.000).@*CONCLUSIONS@#A large lipid-core plaque at the ‘culprit’ lesion is observed higher incidence of post-PCI microvascular dysfunction after PCI. Prospective study with adequate subject numbers will be needed.

Deep Learning-Based Electrocardiogram Signal Noise Detection and Screening Model / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: Biosignal data captured by patient monitoring systems could provide key evidence for detecting or predicting critical clinical events; however, noise in these data hinders their use. Because deep learning algorithms can extract features without human annotation, this study hypothesized that they could be used to screen unacceptable electrocardiograms (ECGs) that include noise. To test that, a deep learning-based model for unacceptable ECG screening was developed, and its screening results were compared with the interpretations of a medical expert. METHODS: To develop and apply the screening model, we used a biosignal database comprising 165,142,920 ECG II (10-second lead II electrocardiogram) data gathered between August 31, 2016 and September 30, 2018 from a trauma intensive-care unit. Then, 2,700 and 300 ECGs (ratio of 9:1) were reviewed by a medical expert and used for 9-fold cross-validation (training and validation) and test datasets. A convolutional neural network-based model for unacceptable ECG screening was developed based on the training and validation datasets. The model exhibiting the lowest cross-validation loss was subsequently selected as the final model. Its performance was evaluated through comparison with a test dataset. RESULTS: When the screening results of the proposed model were compared to the test dataset, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and the F1-score of the model were 0.93 and 0.80 (sensitivity = 0.88, specificity = 0.89, positive predictive value = 0.74, and negative predictive value = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: The deep learning-based model developed in this study is capable of detecting and screening unacceptable ECGs efficiently.

Lipid-Core Plaque Assessed by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Procedure Related Microvascular Injury

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Microvascular damage due to distal embolization during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an important cause of periprocedural myocardial infarction. We assessed the lipid-core plaque using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and microvascular dysfunction invasively with the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and evaluated their relationship. METHODS: This study is pilot retrospective observational study. We analyzed 39 patients who performed NIRS before and after PCI, while fractional flow reserve, thermo-dilution coronary flow reserve (CFR) and IMR were measured after PCI. The maximum value of lipid core burden index (LCBI) for any of the 4-mm segments at the culprit lesion (culprit LCBI(4mm)) was calculated at the culprit lesion. We divided the patients into 2 groups using a cutoff of culprit LCBI(4mm) ≥500. RESULTS: Mean pre-PCI LCBI was 333±196 and mean post-PCI IMR was 20±14 U. Post-PCI IMR was higher (15.6±7.3 vs. 42.6±17.6 U, p<0.001) and post-PCI CFR was lower (3.7±2.2 vs. 2.1±1.0, p=0.029) in the high LCBI group. Pre-PCI LCBI was positively correlated with post-PCI IMR (ρ=0.358, p=0.025) and negatively correlated with post-PCI CFR (ρ=−0.494, p=0.001). The incidence of microvascular dysfunction (IMR ≥25 U) was higher in the high LCBI group (9.4% vs. 85.7%, p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the incidences of creatine Kinase-MB (9.4% vs. 14.3%, p=0.563) and troponin-I elevation (12.5% vs. 14.3%, p=1.000). CONCLUSIONS: A large lipid-core plaque at the ‘culprit’ lesion is observed higher incidence of post-PCI microvascular dysfunction after PCI. Prospective study with adequate subject numbers will be needed.

Survival of in-hospital cardiac arrest patients before and after the implementation of the act on decisions on life-sustaining treatment: the well-dying law

OBJECTIVE: The act on decisions on life-sustaining treatment, the well-dying law (WDL), has been implemented in Korea since February of 2018 so that a patient may die with dignity in his or her death bed. On the other hand, there has been an increase in in-hospital cardiac arrest patients, resulting in poor outcomes due to strict regulations of withdrawal of life support. This study examined the survival of in-hospital cardiac arrest patients before and after implementation of the WDL. METHODS: The in-hospital cardiac arrest data registry from the authors' in-hospital cardiac arrest committee and electronic medical records were reviewed retrospectively. The baseline characteristics, cardiac arrest variables, and cardiac arrest outcomes were compared before and after implementation of the WDL. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to analyze the association of the implementation of the WDL and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) of in-hospital cardiac arrest patients. RESULTS: This study analyzed 183 patients before and 346 patients after the implementation of the WDL. The ROSC (115 [62.8%] vs. 158 [45.7%]), 24-hour survival (53 [29.0%] vs. 60 [17.3%]), and survival discharge (25 [13.7%] vs. 29 [8.4%]) were higher in the before period than in the after period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the WDL was associated with a lower ROSC (odds ratio [OR], 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.85; P<0.01) and lower survival at 24 hours (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.31–0.93; P=0.03), but not a lower survival discharge (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.39–1.83; P=0.67). CONCLUSION: The implementation of the WDL has been associated with a lower ROSC and lower survival at 24 hours in in-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Longitudinal Stent-Strut Injury at the Distal End of a Newer-generation Drug-eluting Stent

No abstract available.

Ischemia-based Coronary Revascularization: Beyond Anatomy and Fractional Flow Reserve

Treatment strategies for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) should be based on objective evidence of inducible ischemia in the subtended myocardium to improve clinical outcomes, symptoms, and cost-effectiveness. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is the most verified index to-date for invasively evaluating lesion-specific myocardial ischemia. Favorable results from large clinical trials that applied FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) prompted changes in coronary revascularization guidelines to emphasize the importance of this ischemia-based strategy using invasive coronary physiology. However, the frequency of functional evaluations is lacking in daily practice, and visual assessment still dominates treatment decisions in CAD patients. Despite recent efforts to integrate functional and anatomical assessments for coronary stenosis, there is considerable discordance between the 2 modalities, and the diagnostic accuracy of simple parameters obtained from current imaging tools is not satisfactory to determine functional significance. Although evidence that supports or justifies anatomy-guided PCI is more limited, and FFR-guided PCI is currently recommended, it is important to be aware of conditions and factors that influence FFR for accurate interpretation and application. In this article, we review the limitations of the current anatomy-derived evaluation of the functional significance of coronary stenosis, detail considerations for the clinical utility of FFR, and discuss the importance of an integrated physiologic approach to determine treatment strategies for CAD patients.

Construction of an Electrocardiogram Database Including 12 Lead Waveforms / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: Electrocardiogram (ECG) data are important for the study of cardiovascular disease and adverse drug reactions. Although the development of analytical techniques such as machine learning has improved our ability to extract useful information from ECGs, there is a lack of easily available ECG data for research purposes. We previously published an article on a database of ECG parameters and related clinical data (ECG-ViEW), which we have now updated with additional 12-lead waveform information. METHODS: All ECGs stored in portable document format (PDF) were collected from a tertiary teaching hospital in Korea over a 23-year study period. We developed software which can extract all ECG parameters and waveform information from the ECG reports in PDF format and stored it in a database (meta data) and a text file (raw waveform). RESULTS: Our database includes all parameters (ventricular rate, PR interval, QRS duration, QT/QTc interval, P-R-T axes, and interpretations) and 12-lead waveforms (for leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6) from 1,039,550 ECGs (from 447,445 patients). Demographics, drug exposure data, diagnosis history, and laboratory test results (serum calcium, magnesium, and potassium levels) were also extracted from electronic medical records and linked to the ECG information. CONCLUSIONS: Electrocardiogram information that includes 12 lead waveforms was extracted and transformed into a form that can be analyzed. The description and programming codes in this case report could be a reference for other researchers to build ECG databases using their own local ECG repository.

Ischemia-based Coronary Revascularization: Beyond Anatomy and Fractional Flow Reserve

Treatment strategies for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) should be based on objective evidence of inducible ischemia in the subtended myocardium to improve clinical outcomes, symptoms, and cost-effectiveness. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is the most verified index to-date for invasively evaluating lesion-specific myocardial ischemia. Favorable results from large clinical trials that applied FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) prompted changes in coronary revascularization guidelines to emphasize the importance of this ischemia-based strategy using invasive coronary physiology. However, the frequency of functional evaluations is lacking in daily practice, and visual assessment still dominates treatment decisions in CAD patients. Despite recent efforts to integrate functional and anatomical assessments for coronary stenosis, there is considerable discordance between the 2 modalities, and the diagnostic accuracy of simple parameters obtained from current imaging tools is not satisfactory to determine functional significance. Although evidence that supports or justifies anatomy-guided PCI is more limited, and FFR-guided PCI is currently recommended, it is important to be aware of conditions and factors that influence FFR for accurate interpretation and application. In this article, we review the limitations of the current anatomy-derived evaluation of the functional significance of coronary stenosis, detail considerations for the clinical utility of FFR, and discuss the importance of an integrated physiologic approach to determine treatment strategies for CAD patients.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of the First Korean-made Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent with Abluminal Bioresorbable Polymer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of the Genoss drug-eluting coronary stent. METHODS: This study was a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial with a 1:1 ratio of Genoss drug-eluting stent (DES)™ and Promus Element™. Inclusion criteria were the presence of stable angina, unstable angina, or silent ischemia. Angiographic inclusion criteria were de novo coronary stenotic lesion with diameter stenosis >50%, reference vessel diameter of 2.5–4.0 mm, and lesion length ≤40 mm. The primary endpoint was in-stent late lumen loss at 9-month quantitative coronary angiography follow-up. Secondary endpoints were in-segment late lumen loss, binary restenosis rate, death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and stent thrombosis during 9 months of follow-up. RESULTS: We enrolled 38 patients for the Genoss DES™ group and 39 patients for the Promus Element™ group. In-stent late lumen loss at 9 months was not significantly different between the 2 groups (0.11±0.25 vs. 0.16±0.43 mm, p=0.567). There was no MI or stent thrombosis in either group. The rates of death (2.6% vs. 0%, p=0.494), TLR (2.6% vs. 2.6%, p=1.000), and TVR (7.9% vs. 2.6%, p=0.358) at 9 months were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: This first-in-patient study of the Genoss DES™ stent showed excellent angiographic outcomes for in-stent late lumen loss and major adverse cardiac events over a 9-month follow-up.

Angiographic spontaneous pseudo-resolution of a coronary artery aneurysm after implantation of a sirolimus-eluting stent

No abstract available.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Deferred Coronary Lesions according to Disease Severity Assessed by Fractional Flow Reserve

Data on the clinical outcomes in deferred coronary lesions according to functional severity have been limited. This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of deferred lesions according to fractional flow reserve (FFR) grade using Korean FFR registry data. Among 1,294 patients and 1,628 lesions in Korean FFR registry, 665 patients with 781 deferred lesions were included in this study. All participants were consecutively categorized into 4 groups according to FFR; group 1: ≥ 0.96 (n = 56), group 2: 0.86–0.95 (n = 330), group 3: 0.81–0.85 (n = 170), and group 4: ≤ 0.80 (n = 99). Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. The median follow-up period was 2.1 years. During follow-up, the incidence of MACE in groups 1–4 was 1.8%, 7.6%, 8.8%, and 13.1%, respectively. Compared to group 1, the cumulative rate by Kaplan-Meier analysis of MACE was not different for groups 2 and 3. However, group 4 had higher cumulative rate of MACE compared to group 1 (log-rank P = 0.013). In the multivariate Cox hazard models, only FFR (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; P = 0.005) was independently associated with MACE among all participants. In contrast, previous history of percutaneous coronary intervention (HR, 2.37; P = 0.023) and diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (HR, 2.35; P = 0.015), but not FFR, were independent predictors for MACE in subjects with non-ischemic (FFR ≥ 0.81) deferred coronary lesions. Compared to subjects with ischemic deferred lesions, clinical outcomes in subjects with non-ischemic deferred lesions according to functional severity are favorable. However, longer-term follow-up may be necessary.

Anatomical Discrepancy Between The Coronary Sinus and the Mitral Annulus by Fluoroscopy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intracardiac electrocardiograms (ECGs) from the coronary sinus (CS) provide important information for identifying a left-sided bypass tract. However, a previous study revealed an anatomical discrepancy between the CS and mitral annulus (MA) in cadaver hearts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical relationship between the CS and MA in the living body by using fluoroscopy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed patients who had an ablation for 42 left-sided bypass tracts and one paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A left atriogram was performed during the ablation by using a pigtail catheter via the transseptal approach. The distances between the CS and MA were measured at 30° right anterior oblique (RAO) and 60° left anterior oblique (LAO) projections at the end of ventricular systole and diastole. RESULTS: The distances between the CS and MA at the RAO projection were 9.74±3.50, 3.86±2.58, and 9.02±6.04 mm during systole and 12.89±5.59, 3.97±3.24, and 10.71±4.12 mm during diastole at the proximal, middle, and distal CS, respectively. The distances between the CS and MA at the LAO projection were 6.84±2.77, 1.80±1.51, and 4.57±3.24 mm during systole and 9.91±3.25, 4.21±3.59, and 7.02±3.12 mm during diastole at the proximal, middle, and distal CS, respectively. CONCLUSION: An anatomical discrepancy was detected between the CS and MA in most cases. Therefore, intracardiac ECGs of the CS cannot exactly localize left-sided bypass tracts.

Usefulness of Hyperemic Microvascular Resistance Index as a Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Microvascular function is a useful predictor of left ventricular functional changes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We evaluated the usefulness of the hyperemic microvascular resistance index (hMVRI) for predicting long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with STEMI assessed immediately after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: hMVRI were evaluated in 145 patients with first acute STEMI treated with primary PCI using an intracoronary Doppler wire. hMVRI was defined as the ratio of mean aortic pressure over hyperemic averaged peak velocity of infarct-related artery. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) included cardiac death and re-hospitalization for congestive heart failure. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up of 85+/-43 months, MACEs occurred in 17.2% of patients. Using a receiver-operating characteristics analysis, hMVRI >2.82 mm Hg.cm-1.sec (sensitivity: 87%; specificity: 69%; and area under curve: 0.818) was the best cut-off values for predicting future cardiac events. The Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that hMVRI was an independent predictor for long-term MACEs (hazard ratio 1.741, 95% confidence interval 1.348-2.264, p2.82 mm Hg.cm-1.sec (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: hMVRI was a strong predictor of long-term MACEs in patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI.

A Case of Secondary Hypertension Associated with the Nutcracker Phenomenon

A 25-year-old Korean woman was referred for uncontrolled hypertension. Laboratory examination revealed increased plasma renin activity and microscopic hematuria. Computed tomography demonstrated compression of the left renal vein (LRV) between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery; however, both renal arteries were intact and there was no adrenal mass. Renal vein catheterization showed external compression with a pressure gradient of up to 8 mm Hg between the LRV and the inferior vena cava. Plasma renin activity in the LRV was almost five times higher than that in the right renal vein. In this patient, renin-dependent hypertension was caused by renal congestion due to LRV obstruction.

Index of Microcirculatory Resistance as Predictor for Microvascular Functional Recovery in Patients with Anterior Myocardial Infarction

IMR is useful for assessing the microvascular dysfunction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It remains unknown whether index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) reflects the functional outcome in patients with anterior myocardial infarction (AMI) with or without microvascular obstruction (MO).This study was performed to evaluate the clinical value of the IMR for assessing myocardial injury and predicting microvascular functional recovery in patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI. We enrolled 34 patients with first anterior AMI. After successful primary PCI, the mean distal coronary artery pressure (Pa), coronary wedge pressure (Pcw), mean aortic pressure (Pa), mean transit time (Tmn), and IMR (Pd * hyperemic Tmn) were measured. The presence and extent of MO were measured using cardiac magnetic resonance image (MRI). All patients underwent follow-up echocardiography after 6 months. We divided the patients into two groups according to the existence of MO (present; n = 16, absent; n = 18) on MRI. The extent of MO correlated with IMR (r = 0.754; P < 0.001), Pcw (r = 0.404; P = 0.031), and Pcw/Pd of infarct-related arteries (r = 0.502; P = 0.016). The IMR was significantly correlated with the DeltaRegional wall motion score index (r = -0.61, P < 0.01) and DeltaLeft ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.52, P < 0.01), implying a higher IMR is associated with worse functional improvement. Therefore, Intracoronary wedge pressures and IMR, as parameters for specific and quantitative assessment of coronary microvascular dysfunction, are reliable on-site predictors of short-term myocardial viability and Left ventricle functional recovery in patients undergoing primary PCI for AMI.

Impact of Arterial Stiffness on Regional Myocardial Function Assessed by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Patients with Hypertension

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffening may affect regional myocardial function in hypertensive patients with normal ejection fraction (EF). METHODS: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in 70 patients, of mean age 48 +/- 14 years, with untreated hypertension and EF > 55%. Using two-dimensional-speckle tracking echocardiography, we measured longitudinal and circumferential strain (epsilon) and strain rate (SR). Basal and apical rotations were measured using short axis views. RESULTS: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in these patients was 152 +/- 15 mmHg and 92 +/- 11 mmHg, respectively. The mean value of PWV was 1578 +/- 274 cm/s. PWV significantly correlated with age (r = 0.682, p 1700 cm/s compared to those with PWV < or = 1400 cm/s or those with PWV 1400-1700 cm/s. CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patients with normal ejection fraction, arterial stiffening contributes to impaired systolic and diastolic function of the regional myocardium. Compensatory increases in ventricular twist were diminished in patients with advanced stage of vascular stiffening.

Analysis of Relationship between Levofloxacin and Corrected QT Prolongation Using a Clinical Data Warehouse / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether or not levofloxacin has any relationship with QT prolongation in a real clinical setting by analyzing a clinical data warehouse of data collected from different hospital information systems. METHODS: Electronic prescription data and medical charts from 3 different hospitals spanning the past 9 years were reviewed, and a clinical data warehouse was constructed. Patients who were both administrated levofloxacin and given electrocardiograms (ECG) were selected. The correlations between various patient characteristics, concomitant drugs, corrected QT (QTc) prolongation, and the interval difference in QTc before and after levofloxacin administration were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2,176 patients from 3 different hospitals were included in the study. QTc prolongation was found in 364 patients (16.7%). The study revealed that age (OR 1.026, p < 0.001), gender (OR 0.676, p = 0.007), body temperature (OR 1.267, p = 0.024), and cigarette smoking (OR 1.641, p = 0.022) were related with QTc prolongation. After adjusting for related factors, 12 drugs concomitant with levofloxacin were associated with QTc prolongation. For patients who took ECGs before and after administration of levofloxacin during their hospitalization (n = 112), there was no significant difference in QTc prolongation. CONCLUSIONS: The age, gender, body temperature, cigarette smoking and various concomitant drugs might be related with QTc prolongation. However, there was no definite causal relationship or interaction between levofloxacin and QTc prolongation. Alternative surveillance methods utilizing the massive accumulation of electronic medical data seem to be essential to adverse drug reaction surveillance in future.

Validation of Three-Dimensional Echocardiography for Quantification of Aortic Root Geometry: Comparison with Multi-Detector Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography has been reported to be valuable for evaluating the geometry of cardiac chambers. We validated the accuracy of 3D transthoracic echocardiography for quantifying aortic root geometry in comparison with cardiac multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: Twenty-three patients who underwent cardiac MDCT and showed normal left ventricular ejection fraction (> 55%), as assessed by 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, were enrolled (12 male, mean 53 +/- 9 years). We defined the aortic root volume as the volume from the aortic annulus to the sinotubular junction. The aortic root volume at end-diastole measured by both cardiac MDCT and 3D echocardiography was assessed. RESULTS: The cross-sectional area of the aortic root was asymmetric. At the annulus level, the cross-sectional area showed asymmetric triangle. From the aortic annulus to the most dilated point of the sinus of Valsalva, the asymmetric triangular shape was maintained. From the most dilated point of the sinus of Valsalva to the sinotubular junction, the cross-sectional shape of the aortic root changed to oval. The average aortic root volumes measured by 3D echocardiography (ARV-3DE) were 13.6 +/- 4.8 mL at end-diastole and 14.1 +/- 5.3 mL at end-systole, respectively. The average aortic root volume measured by MDCT at end-diastole (ARV-CT) was 14.1 +/- 5.7 mL. At end-diastole, the ARV-3DE correlated well with the ARV-CT (R2 = 0.926, difference = 0.5 +/- 1.7 mL), and the two methods were in excellent agreement (the percent difference was 0%). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate both the feasibility and accuracy of 3D echocardiography for the clinical assessment of the geometry of the aortic root.

Acute Mitral Regurgitation due to Spontaneous Chordal Rupture in a Patient With Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

A 69-year-old male presented with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mitral valve regurgitation, and myxomatous mitral valve prolapse. A spontaneous chordal rupture and acute severe mitral regurgitation resulted in abrupt clinical deterioration despite complete relief of severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet. The patient underwent extensive cardiac surgery due to intractable heart failure. Surgical procedures included a mitral valve replacement, a septal myectomy, and the Maze procedure.

Echocardiographic Plains Reflecting Total Amount of Epicardial Adipose Tissue as Risk Factor of Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggested that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) might be associated with metabolic syndrome and coronary atherosclerosis. But, little had been studied whether the thickness of EAT on echocardiography could represent the whole amount of EAT. The purpose of this study was to identify the best echocardiographic methods reflecting total amount of EAT. \METHODS: Sixty subjects (32 women, mean: 58+/-12 years-old) who underwent 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) were consecutively enrolled. All CT scanning was performed one Brilliance CT-64-channel configuration scanner (Philips, Cleveland, USA) and axially contiguous 10-mm-thickeness sections were obtained from aortic valve to diaphragm level. EAT area was manually traced in each slice and summed up. The EAT thickness was measured as the echo-lucent or echo-dense space between epicardium and pericardium at parasternal long-axis, modified 4-chamber, and apical 4-chamber view. RESULTS: The EAT thickness at parasternal long-axis and modified 4-chamber view and the sum of EAT thickness from each views (median thickness: 1.0, 2.8, 1.1 and 5.0 mm, respectively) were all correlated with total EAT area on MDCT. Among echo parameters, the EAT thickness measured on parasternal long-axis view during diastole correlated best with total EAT area on MDCT (r=0.572, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The echocardiographic EAT measurement might be easily accessible and less harmful method representing whole amount of EAT. The measurement of the thickness of EAT on parasternal long-axis view during diastole by echocardiography might be feasible and reliable in the studying field of EAT.