Coronary tortuosity affects left ventricular myocardial functions: a 3D-speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Coronary artery tortuosity (CAT) is a common finding in coronary angiography, and is defined as three fixed bends during both systole and diastole in at least one epicardial coronary artery, with each bend showing a 45° change in vessel direction. The impact of CAT on the myocardial deformation has not been completely evaluated using 3D-STE. As a result of this, we aimed to assess the effects of CAT on LV functions using 3D-STE in the present study. Eighty-two patients with CAT and 80 age- and gender-matched controls who proved to have normal coronary angiograms were enrolled into the study. 3D-STE was performed and LV-GLS, LV-GCS, LV-GAS, and LV-GRS were obtained for every patient after coronary angiography. The LV-GLS was significantly depressed in the CAT ( +) group than in the control group (p = 0.001). ROC analysis was performed to find out ideal LV-GLS cut off value to predict the presence of CAT. A LV-GLS value of > - 17 has 81.3% sensitivity, 56.7% specificity to detect the presence of CAT. The present study is the first to focus on the assessing LV myocardial functions in patients with CAT by 3D-STE. CAT has a considerable negative effect on LV myocardial longitudinal deformation as evaluated by 3D strain parameters. Our results support that patients with CAT may have subclinical LV longitudinal deformation abnormalities even though they are apparently healthy.

3D-speckle tracking echocardiography for assessment of coronary artery disease severity in stable angina pectoris.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Stable angina pectoris is a common disease that may cause disability. Some noninvasive new methods can be useful for the detection of early-stage coronary artery disease. The relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and resting 3-dimensional-speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) in stable angina pectoris patients was evaluated in this study. METHODS: One hundred and twenty consecutive patients between 18-80 years of age and without a history of CAD to whom elective coronary angiography was planned after positive stress test or myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were enrolled in the study. 3D-STE was performed and global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS), and global area strain (GAS) were measured before coronary angiography. A Gensini score of ≥20 was accepted as critical CAD. Correlation between Gensini scores and 3D-STE results were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean age was 60.7 ± 10.01 years, and 55% of the patient population were male. There were not any significant differences between critical CAD and noncritical CAD groups for age, gender, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction. Mean GLS was -12, GCS was -18.8, GRS was 33.4, GAS was -28.9, and mean Gensini score was 18.8. GLS and all other strain parameters were significantly worse in patients with critical CAD group compared with noncritical CAD group and also positive linear correlation was observed between Gensini score and all measured strain parameters (r = 0.568, P < 0.001 for Gensini score and GLS; r = 0.617, P < 0.001 for Gensini score and GAS). A GLS value of >-10 has 88.9% sensitivity and 92.9% specificity; A GAS value of >-21 has 97.2% sensitivity and 88.1% specificity to detect critical CAD. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-STE is a noninvasive and handy parameter to detect subclinical left ventricular dysfunction and global strain values were significantly correlated with CAD severity. GAS has the sensitivity of 97.2% and specificity of 88.1% to detect critical CAD. Adding 3D strain echocardiography to exercise test or myocardial perfusion scintigraphy might increase sensitivity to detect critical CAD in clinical practice.

Early Reverse Cardiac Remodeling Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the early postoperative benefits of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on the left ventricular (LV) function and left atrial (LA) structural, mechanical, and electrical functions in severely obese patients. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with severe obesity who were consecutively scheduled for LSG and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. LV global longitudinal strain (LGS), peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), and strain rates (S-Sr, E-Sr, and A-Sr) of the lateral and septal LA walls, and intra- and interatrial dyssynchrony periods for all subjects were evaluated using strain echocardiography. The measurements were repeated in patients 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: LGS of the LV was significantly depressed in the patient group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). LA peak septal and lateral wall strain values were significantly lower in patients than in controls (both p values <0.001). LA intra- and interatrial dyssynchrony periods were longer in patients than in controls (p = 0.012 and p = 0.004, respectively). LGS significantly improved after LSG (p < 0.001). Significant reductions were noted in the LA antero-posterior diameter (p < 0.001), LA volume index (LAVI, p = 0.001), and in the mitral velocity to the early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus ratio (E/e' ratio, p = 0.046). The PALS of the septal and lateral LA walls significantly increased (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). S-Sr, E-Sr, and A-Sr values of the septal LA wall (p = 0.049, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively) and the lateral LA wall (p = 0.009, p = 0.007, and p = 0.002, respectively) significantly improved postoperatively. Intra- and interatrial dyssynchrony significantly decreased (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Weight loss positively correlated with changes in LGS (R = 0.39, p = 0.039), LAVI (R = 0.39, p = 0.034), intra-atrial dyssynchrony (R = 0.45, p = 0.021), interatrial dyssynchrony (R = 0.42, p = 0.038), septal LA wall peak strain (R = 0.44, p = 0.027), lateral LA wall peak strain (R = 0.46, p = 0.017), septal LA wall A-Sr (R = 0.43, p = 0.028), and lateral LA wall A-Sr (R = 0.46, p = 0.019). The comparison of postoperative findings of the patients with controls revealed that the LA diameter, both LA volume and volume index (LAVI), E/e' ratio, S-Sr and E-Sr of both lateral and septal LA walls, intra- and interatrial LA dyssynchrony of the patient group became similar to the control group (all p value >0.05). Postoperative A-Sr values of both LA walls (both p value <0.001) were higher in patients than controls. CONCLUSION: The benefits of LSG on LV and LA function may be observed even in the early postoperative phase. The resulting weight loss correlates with LV and LA reverse remodeling in severely obese patients.

Chronic Papillary Muscle Rupture: 14-Year Survival without Surgical Treatment.

UNLABELLED: Papillary muscle rupture is a life-threatening complication of myocardial infarction which is usually refractory to medical treatment. We present a very rare case of a 65-year-old woman who had a myocardial infarction and posteromedial papillary muscle rupture which was only treated with medical therapy, including her corresponding 14-year follow-up. However, surgical intervention is still strongly recommended because the prognosis of acute papillary muscle rupture associated with myocardial infarction remains poor. KEY WORDS: Complication; Myocardial infarction; Papillary muscle rupture; Survival.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting with large left ventricular apical thrombus and pulmonary embolism.

A 45-year-old man presented with dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, and cough. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large apical thrombus in the left ventricle. The laboratory results showed prominent eosinophilia on blood smear, elevated acute phase reactants and D-dimer serum levels. Bone marrow examination showed a Fip1-like platelet-derived growth factor receptor alfa fusion gene mutation. The case was diagnosed as myeloproliferative variant hypereosinophilic syndrome. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated thrombi not only in left ventricle but also in multiple segmental pulmonary arteries. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed left ventricular apical thrombus without subendocardial fibrosis. Cardiopulmonary manifestations of hypereosinophilic syndrome completely resolved after treatment.

Evaluation of the severity of mitral regurgitation by the use of signal void in magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: The study was designed to evaluate the severity of mitral regurgitation by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We proposed a new measurement of signal void by MRI and tried to define threshold values for the severity of regurgitation with different sequences. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with mitral regurgitation were evaluated by echocardiography and MRI. We measured the length, width, and the area of jet flow void from long-axis and four-chamber views. The regurgitant area was measured with TrueFISP, FLASH sequences, and phase images by tracing the signal-void area in left atrium parallel to mitral annulus. This new parameter for grading of the severity of mitral regurgitation by cine MRI was called regurgitant area from short axis (RAFSA). RESULTS: All methods (EROA, vena contracta) were correlated for determining the regurgitation severity (P < 0.01). There was a correlation between EROA by echocardiography and RAFSA by MRI with the TrueFISP, FLASH sequences, and phase images (P < 0.01). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that EROA was significantly correlated with RAFSA by phase images (P < 0.001). After regression analysis, threshold values of RAFSA by phase imaging were calculated and found to be 0.27 cm(2) and 0.92 cm(2) between mild, moderate, and severe mitral regurgitations (100% sensitivity, 67% specificity, and 100% sensitivity, 78% specificity, respectively) (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MRI is an alternative method for evaluating mitral regurgitation. Our study suggests a new parameter, RAFSA by cine MRI, to grade the severity of mitral regurgitation and provides threshold values in order to define mild, moderate, and severe regurgitations.

Right ventricular adaptations along with left ventricular remodeling in older athletes.

BACKGROUND: Afterload changes and anatomic interaction between the ventricles cause right ventricle (RV) adaptation along with left ventricle (LV) remodeling. This study was designed to evaluate RV adaptations along with LV remodeling and to determine the effect of aging on both ventricles in a population of older athletes. METHODS: Echocardiographic characteristics of 48 endurance trained older athletes were examined by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and integrated backscatter (IBS). RESULTS: Mean LV mass index was calculated as 107.8+/-17.0 g/m(2). Twenty-two athletes were > 55 years old. Age was found to be a risk factor for diastolic dysfunction regarding lateral TDI velocities (E(m) < A(m)) (r = 0.385, P < 0.001). RV long-axis (LAX) diameters were associated with LA volumes and LV masses (r = 0.380, P < 0.01 and r = 0.307, P < 0.05). RV LAX diameters were correlated with RV TDI E-wave (r =-0.285, P < 0.05), RV LAX average, and peak IBS values (r = 0.36, P < 0.05 and r = 0.348, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TDI and IBS are applicable methods to evaluate the relationship between the two ventricles in athletes' heart. Increased RV LAX IBS values indicate increased LV mass and LA volume as a result of RV changes along with LV remodeling. Our data suggest that RV TDI E-wave and average RV IBS values reflect cardiac adaptations of both RV and LV in older athletes.

Left ventricular function in professional football players evaluated by tissue Doppler imaging and strain imaging.

BACKGROUND: Long-term regular exercise is associated with physiologic and morphologic cardiac alterations. Tissue Doppler Imaging(TDI) and Strain Myocardial Imaging(SI) are new tools in the evaluation systolic and diastolic myocardial function. We sought to compare TDI and SI findings in professional football players and age adjusted sedentary controls to assess the effect of regular athletic training on myocardial function. METHODS: Transthoracic echocardiography, M-mode, 2-D measurements, Doppler derived mitral-tricuspid annular velocities, reconstructed spectral pulsed wave tissue Doppler velocities, strain and strain rate imaging of seven different myocardial regions were obtained from 24 professional football players and age, sex and weight adjusted 20 controls. RESULTS: Age, body surface area, blood pressure and heart rate were comparable between 2 groups. Football players had significantly increased LV mass, mass index (due to both higher wall thickness and end-diastolic diameter), end-systolic and end-diastolic volume, left atrial diameter and decreased transmitral diastolic late velocity. In athletes TDI analysis showed significantly increased mitral annulus septal TDI peak early diastolic(e) velocity(0.22 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.04 m/s, P < 0.05), lateral TDI peak e velocity (0.19 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.16 +/- 0.02 m/s, P < 0.05) and lateral TDI e/a ratio (1.96 +/- 0.41 and 1.66 +/- 0.23, P < 0.05). In SI analysis mid septal walls (1.71 +/- 0.23 in athletes and 1.49 +/- 0.25 in controls, P < 0.05) and mid lateral walls (1.55 +/- 0.28 and 1.34 +/- 0.25 respectively, P < 0.05) peak systolic strain rate values differences were found to be increased in athletes. CONCLUSIONS: Professional football playing is associated with morphologic alteration in left ventricle and left atrium and improvement in left ventricle diastolic function which can be detected by TDI. Strain rate imaging may be a new tool to define subtle change in systolic left ventricular function in "athletes heart" which cannot be determined in standard echocardiographic parameters.

Alterations in left ventricular structure and diastolic function in professional football players: assessment by tissue Doppler imaging and left ventricular flow propagation velocity.

BACKGROUND: Long-term regular exercise is associated with physiologic and morphologic cardiac alterations. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and ventricular early flow propagation velocity (Vp) are new tolls in the evaluation of myocardial function. We sought to compare TDI and Vp findings in professional football players and age-adjusted sedentary controls to assess the effect of regular athletic training on myocardial function. METHODS: Twenty-four professional football players and age-, sex-, and weight-adjusted 20 control subjects underwent standard Doppler echocardiography pulsed TDI, performed parasternal four-chamber views by placing sample volume septal and lateral side of mitral annulus and lateral tricuspid annulus. Vp values were obtained by measuring the slope delineated by first aliasing velocity from the mitral tips toward the apex by using apical four-chamber color M-mode Doppler images. RESULTS: Age, body surface area, blood pressure, and heart rate were comparable between two groups. Football players had significantly increased LV mass, mass index (due to both higher wall thickness and end-diastolic diameter), end-systolic and end-diastolic volume, left atrial diameter, and decreased transmitral diastolic late velocity. In athletes TDI analysis showed significantly increased mitral annulus septal DTI peak early diastolic (e) velocity (0.22 +/- 0.04 vs 0.19 +/- 0.04, P < 0.05), lateral DTI peak e velocity (0.19 +/- 0.03 vs 0.16 +/- 0.02, P < 0.05) and lateral DTI e/a peak velocity ratio (1.96 +/- 0.41 and 1.66 +/- 0.23, P < 0.05). The ratio of transmitral peak early diastolic velocity (E) to e in both lateral (4.72 +/- 1.20 vs 5.95 +/- 1.38, P = 0.007) and septal (3.90 +/- 0.80 vs 5.25 +/- 1.50, P = 0.002) side of mitral annulus were significantly lower in athletes. In Vp evaluation, we found higher Vp values (60.52 +/- 6.95 in athletes and 56.56 +/- 4.24 in controls, P = 0.03) in football players. CONCLUSIONS: Professional football playing is associated with morphologic alteration in left ventricle and left atrium and improvement in left ventricle diastolic function that can be detected by TDI and Vp. These techniques may be new tools to define and quantitate the degree of LV diastolic adaptations to endurance exercise.

Mycotic aneurysms of aortic root and aorta-to-left atrial fistula complicating bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis.

Unlike root abscess, fistula formation is quite uncommon in aortic valve endocarditis. In this report, we describe a patient with subacute bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis complicated by aortic insufficiency, mycotic aneurysms of the aortic root and fistulous communication between the aorta and the left atrium and his recovery upon surgical treatment.

A giant inferoposterior true aneurysm of the left ventricle mimicking a pseudoaneurysm.

A left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is most commonly the result of myocardial infarction, usually involving the anterior wall. A left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVPSA) or false aneurysm forms when cardiac rupture is contained by adherent pericardium or scar tissue. The accurate diagnosis, although difficult to establish, is an important one to make because these aneurysms are prone to rupture. In this article, we report a challenging case of a cardiac aneurysm a year after a coronary bypass operation which could not be definitively diagnosed despite of imaging with different techniques including echocardiography, coronary angiography, left ventriculography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient underwent a second cardiac surgery, the aneurysm was resected, the mitral valve was replaced and the defect in the ventricular wall was repaired. Because of the combined diagnostic capabilities like detailed and functional pathoanatomy and aneurysmal wall characterization, MRI seems to have multiple advantages in differential diagnosis.

[Evaluation of early alterations in transmitral diastolic flow and tissue Doppler findings of the Basal segments of both ventricles in early period after coronary angioplasty]. / Koroner anjiyoplasti sonrasi erken dönemde mitral diyastolik akim ve her iki ventrikül bazal bölge doku Doppler bulgularindaki degisikliklerin degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVE: Diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) appears to be the earliest manifestation of myocardial ischemia. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that both early and late improvements of diastolic function occur after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Because of the limited utility of transmitral flow profile in the evaluation of the LV diastolic function, recently, assessment of myocardial velocities by Doppler tissue imaging is gaining importance. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of pulsed wave tissue Doppler (PWTD) pattern from the mitral and tricuspid annulus motion in the evaluation of early alterations of the LV diastolic function after revascularization with PTCA in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: Pulsed wave tissue Doppler in combination with conventional pulsed-Doppler indices were used to evaluate LV diastolic function before and 24 hours after PTCA. Examinations were performed on 31 patients with chronic ischemic heart disease underwent elective first PTCA. As conventional Doppler indices, early diastolic mitral velocity (e), and its deceleration time (Edt), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), late diastolic mitral velocity (a) were measured. Using 2-dimensional echocardiography four chamber apical window, mitral annulus septal and lateral site and tricuspid annulus lateral site were viewed, and PWTD velocity profile were used to calculate; early diastolic maximum velocity and time, late diastolic maximum velocity and time, systolic maximum velocity and time, IVRT and isovolumic contraction time (IVCT) from each site. RESULTS: After PTCA only 2 transmitral conventional pulsed-Doppler indices were changed significantly (IVRT; from 139.7+/-22.2 msec to 120.0+/-15.9 msec, p=0.0001; Edt; from 279+/-11 msec to 248+/-36 msec, p=0.005). However, PWTD (mitral annulus lateral site) analyses showed significant improvement in most of the diastolic parameters: e/a ratio - from 0.80+/-0.26 to 0.89+/-0.22, p=0.012; s wave - from 11.6+/-3.1 cm/sec to 13.2+/-3.6 cm/sec, p=0.03; IVRT - from 130+/-37 msec to 108+/-29 msec, p=0,0001; IVCT - from 84.1+/-19.2 msec to 75.6+/-12.2 msec, p=0.02. Similar significant changes were also observed in the PWTD diastolic parameters of both the mitral annulus septal and tricuspid annulus sites. Peak systolic velocities that reflect the LV systolic functions, of three annular sites significantly improved early after PTCA, however ejection fraction was not changed as much as tissue Doppler parameters (s maximum velocity before PTCA: 11.7+/-3.1 cm/sec versus 13.2+/-3.6 cm/sec after PTCA, p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Tissue Doppler indices of the mitral annulus reflecting both the diastolic and systolic functions, improve early after successful PTCA in patients with coronary artery disease.

Relationship Between Echocardiographic Determinants of Left Atrial Spontaneous Echo Contrast and Thrombus Formation in Patients with Rheumatic Mitral Valve Disease.

Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) may be detected by ultrasonography in environments favoring blood stasis. It is most commonly seen through the use of transesophageal echocardiography in the left atrium of patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease especially in the presence of atrial fibrillation. We studied the predictors of SEC, such as cardiac rhythm, left atrium and left atrial appendage functions, and mitral and pulmonary vein flow parameters, in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. The relationship between these parameters and the severity of SEC and appearance of thrombus was evaluated.