Primary angioplasty for infarction due to isolated right ventricular artery occlusion.

We report an unusual case of an isolated right ventricular infarction with haemodynamic compromise caused by spontaneous isolated proximal occlusion of the right ventricular branch of the right coronary artery (RCA), successfully treated by balloon angioplasty. A 58-year-old gentleman presented with epigastric pain radiating into both arms. Electrocardiograph with right ventricular leads confirmed ST elevation in V4R and a diagnosis of isolated right ventricular infarction was made. Urgent primary percutaneous intervention was performed which revealed occlusion of the right ventricular branch of the RCA. During the procedure, the patient's blood pressure dropped to 80/40 mmHg, and echocardiography showed impaired right ventricular systolic function. Despite aggressive fluid resuscitation, the patient remained hypotensive, continued to have chest pain and persistent electrocardiograph changes, and hence balloon angioplasty was performed on the proximal right ventricular branch which restored flow to the vessel and revealed a severe ostial stenosis. This was treated with further balloon angioplasty which restored TIMI 3 flow with resolution of patient's symptoms. Repeat echocardiography showed complete resolution of the ST-elevation in leads V4R and V5R and partial resolution in V1. Subsequent dobutamine-stress echocardiography at 4 wk showed good left and right ventricular contractions. The patient was discharged after a 3-d in-patient stay without any complications.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance validation of fractional changes in annulo-apical angles and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion for rapid assessment of right ventricular systolic function.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of right ventricular (RV) annulo-apical angle (AA) changes acquired by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), alongside tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), for its association with RV systolic function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with varying RV dysfunction and 10 normal controls were enrolled and scanned after obtaining written consent. Systolic change in AAs, alpha (α), beta (ß), and theta (θ), subtended by a triangle connecting the septal and lateral extent of the tricuspid valve annulus and RV apex, and TAPSE were measured. Spearman rank correlations of parameters with RV ejection fraction (RVEF) were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine accuracy of these surrogate markers for detecting abnormal RVEF. RESULTS: Correlations with RVEF included: TAPSE (r = 0.74 P < 0.001), fractional systolic changes in α angle (0.64, P < 0.001), ß angle (-0.39, P < 0.05), and θ angle (-0.77, P < 0.001). The best markers for RVEF <50% were fractional θ angle change ≥ -25.5% (eg, -24%) (sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 91%), and TAPSE ≤1.87 cm (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 82%). Intra- and inter-observer agreement was excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients for fractional θ angle change (intra = 0.96, inter = 0.94) and TAPSE (intra = 0.98, inter = 0.87). CONCLUSION: Fractional θ angle change is a useful semiquantitative parameter associated with the presence and severity of RV systolic dysfunction, with high observer agreement.

Left ventricular filling and diastolic myocardial deformation in chronic primary mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: Chronic primary mitral regurgitation (MR) results in enhanced filling of the left ventricle (LV) during early diastole. Filling is impaired with the onset of LV systolic dysfunction, due to increased myocardial stiffness and reduced restoring forces. We investigated echocardiographic parameters of early diastolic function in relation to LV systolic function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Early diastolic transmitral flow and tissue Doppler velocities, propagation velocity of early filling (V(p)), and early diastolic strain rates (SR-E) were measured in 30 patients with chronic degenerative MR and 30 age-matched controls. MR subjects were further subdivided into group 1 (14 subjects) if they had well compensated LV, and group 2 (16 subjects) if they had one or more of the following: functional limitation (> NYHA class I), LV end-systolic diameter >or=4.0 cm, and LV ejection fraction

Left atrial function and deformation in chronic primary mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: To study global and regional left atrial (LA) mechanics in chronic primary mitral regurgitation (MR) with echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: LA volumes during reservoir, conduit, and contractile phases were measured in 27 MR patients and 25 controls. LA ejection fraction (EF) and ejection force were calculated. Reservoir (SR-R), conduit (SR-C), and contractile phase (SR-A) strain rates, and reservoir phase strain were obtained. LA volumes were higher in MR in all phases. In MR, ejection force was increased (21.5 vs. 12.3 kdynes, P = 0.001); reservoir phase strain (32.91 +/- 14.26%), SR-R (2.65 +/- 0.87), SR-C (-2.02 +/- 0.58), and SR-A (-2.55 +/- 1.31 s(-1)) were increased (23.14 +/- 7.96%, 1.62 +/- 0.53, -1.29 +/- 0.59, -1.98 +/- 0.65 s(-1), in controls, respectively, P < or = 0.004). Regional deformation correlated with corresponding volumetric parameters. Despite enhanced SR-A in MR, LA EF was unchanged (31.34 vs. 29.23%, P = ns), and LA contractile tissue velocity (A') was reduced (-5.39 +/- 1.95 vs. -6.91 +/- 1.80 cm/s, P = 0.006). The LA contractile contribution to left ventricular filling was significantly reduced in MR. CONCLUSION: LA deformation is increased in all phases in MR. Unchanged LA EF and reduced A' may reflect the reduced contractile contribution to left ventricular filling.