TALISMAN: Eine Softwareumgebung für die interaktive Verarbeitung medizinischer Bildserien

Fur die kardiologische Diagnostik eroffnen sich durch die interaktive Auswertung digitalisierter Bildserien zahlreiche neue Moglichkeiten. Die entstehenden Hardware- und Softwaresystem sind interaktiv zu erproben und unterliegen einer schnellen Entwicklung und Veranderung der Algorithmen und der Benutzeroberflachen. Die TALISMAN- Softwareumgebung erleichtert diese Vorgange durch folgende Eigenschaften: 1. Unterstutzung eines modularen Aufbaus der Anwendungsprogramme durch Bereitstellung eines Botschaftensystems (vgl. objektorientierte Umgebungen wie z. B. Smalltalk). 2. Standardisierung der Struktur der bildverarbeitenden Programm-Module (z.B. Daten-struktur und visuelle Darstellung der Bot…

Parametric assessment of myocardial perfusion by densitometric evaluation of digital subtraction coronary angiograms: a comparison with tomographic TL-201 scintigraphy results

Densitometric results about local myocardial perfusion are compared with those derived from a quantitative analysis of TL-201 single photon emission computer tomograms (TL-201 SPECT). Ten patients underwent conventional TL-201 SPECT at rest and after maximum bicycle stress and dipyridamole infusion the day prior to the investigation. SPECT was applied to provide improved spatial resolution for the detection of perfusion abnormalities. During the catheterization procedure four digital subtraction coronary angiograms were performed, two of the left and two of the right coronary artery both before and after pharmacologically induced hyperemia by intracoronary papaverine. The densitometric para…

Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography to diagnose ventricular septal rupture

BACKGROUND Rapid and accurate diagnosis of ventricular septal rupture (VSR) remains difficult, and the monitoring of hemodynamic deterioration is a prerequisite for the institution of adequate therapy. The timing of surgical repair is a matter of controversy. METHODS Transthoracic, transesophageal, color Doppler, and contrast echocardiography were evaluated in 17 patients with VSR in whom the diagnosis was confirmed by catheterization, surgery, or necropsy. RESULTS Routine transthoracic echocardiography visualized VSR in four out of 17 patients and, with additional views, in 12 out of 17 patients. Color Doppler echocardiography identified the rupture in 15 out of 16, and contrast echocardio…

Importance of calibration for diameter and area determination by intravascular ultrasound

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) permits quantitative assessment of the lumen diameter and area of coronary arteries. The experimental study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of diameter and area measurements.Lumen quantitation (lumen diameter D and cross-sectional area A) in lucite tubes (lumen diameter 2.5 to 5.7 mm, Plexiglas) was performed using a mechanical IVUS system (HP console, 3.5 F catheter, Boston Scientific, 30 MHz). The influence of fluid type (blood, water and saline solution), fluid temperature (20 degrees C/37 degrees C), catheter to catheter variation, gain setting and ultrasound frequency (12, 20 and 30 MHz) was determined. In blood at 20 degrees C there was a constan…

Coronary Artery Shape and Flow Changes Induced by Myocardial Bridging.

Changes in coronary shape and blood flow induced by myocardial bridging were analyzed in a 56-year-old patient with symptoms of unstable angina after the exclusion of other heart disease. Coronary angiography demonstrated a 1.8-cm long myocardial bridge in the middle part of the left anterior descending coronary artery. In systole, an eccentric compression of the artery occurred, resulting in a stenosis that occupied 86% of the diameter and 96% of the area. Intraluminal ultrasound was performed with a 20-MHz transducer in a 4.8-Fr catheter sheath (Boston Scientific Corp.) connected to an ultrasound console (Diasonics Inc.). A side saddle catheter was introduced into the left anterior descen…

The German CPU Registry: Comparison of troponin positive to troponin negative patients

Lars S. Maier ⁎, Harald Darius , Evangelos Giannitsis , Raimund Erbel , Michael Haude , Christian Hamm , Gerd Hasenfuss , Gerd Heusch , Harald Mudra , Thomas Munzel , Claus Schmitt , Burghard Schumacher , Jochen Senges , Thomas Voigtlander , Jan B. Schuttert a a Dept. of Cardiology & Pneumology/Heart Centre, Georg-August-University, Gottingen, Germany b Dept. of Cardiology, Angiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Vivantes Hospital Neukolln, Berlin, Germany c Dept. of Cardiology, Angiology & Pneumology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany d Dept. of Cardiology, West-German Heart Centre, University of Essen, Germany e Dept. of Cardiology & Nephrology, Lukas Hospital, Neuss, Germany f …

<title>Ultrasound detection of cavitation as a phenomenon common to intervention devices causing tissue ablation</title>

Cavitation previously has been observed in association with ultrasonic angioplasty and high- frequency rotational atherectomy. This study evaluates the production of cavitation accompanying the use of several catheter-based devices under development or in current use in the practice of interventional cardiology. Catheters were examined in an in vitro model, and cavitation was evaluated using standard ultrasound imaging equipment. Cavitation was detected with each of the devices that effects tissue ablation, but not tissue resection. Devices produced characteristic patterns of cavitation dependent on the mode of energy release of the device. The size, but not the intensity, of the cavitation…

Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Volumenanalyse bei Herzmodellen

Um eine erste Aussage uber die Verlaslichkeit der Methode zu gewinnen, fuhrten wir zunachst an Herzmodellen eine Testreihe durch. Es wurden asymmetrische Herzmodelle verwandt, um Bedingungen zu simulieren, die auch bei koronarer Herzerkrankung vorhegen. Das direkt bestimmte Volumen und das rontgenologisch bestimmte Volumen wurden zum Vergleich herangezogen. Die Berechnungen wurden mit verschiedenen mathematischen Ansatzen durchgefuhrt und in ihrer Wertigkeit uberpruft.

Regurgitant flow in apparently normal valve prostheses: improved detection and semiquantitative analysis by transesophageal two-dimensional color-coded Doppler echocardiography.

In 128 patients with apparently normally functioning prosthetic valves ( n = 136) in the aortic position ( n = 79) and the mitral position ( n = 57), the prevalence of transprosthetic regurgitant flow was studied by use of transthoracic and transesophageal two-dimensional color-coded Doppler echocardiography. With the transthoracic approach, regurgitant flow was detected in early systole or diastole for 28% of the mitral prostheses and for 29% of the aortic prostheses. With transesophageal color-coded Doppler echocardiography, regurgitant jets were visualized for 95% of the mitral prostheses and for 44% of the aortic prostheses. In 40% of the Bjork-Shiley prostheses and 88% of the St. Jude …

Endoventricular patch plasty improves results of LV aneurysmectomy.

From May 1985 to December 1991 52 patients were operated upon for postischemic left ventricular aneurysm (LV-A). Between May 1985 and July 1989 25 patients (group I) with a mean age of 59 (46-72) years underwent conventional aneurysmectomy with direct closure of the left ventricle (LV) and a mean of 1.9 (0-3) additional bypass grafts (54% triple-vessel disease). The hospital mortality was 8% (2/25) and the late mortality during a median follow-up time of 34 months was 28% (7/25) with a 4-year survival of 66%. Improvement in the quality of life (NYHA from 2.6 to 2.1, P = 0.078) and global left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (from 35 to 38%) proved to be unsatisfactory in conjunction with…

Aktuelle Komplikationsrate der perkutanen transluminalen Koronarangioplastie bei stabiler und unstabiler Angina

During a four-year period (1983-1986) percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed on 930 patients with stable or unstable angina with a mortality rate of 0.4%. A transmural myocardial infarct developed in 1.1% and 1.0% of patients required an urgent aorto-coronary bypass. Thus the total rate of severe cardiac complications was 2.5%. Compared with the years 1983-1985, there was in 1986 a significant fall in the number of deaths and of myocardial infarcts from 2.2% to 0.5% (P less than 0.05), while there was a nonsignificant increase in emergency coronary bypass surgery from 0.7 to 1.3%. Patients with unstable angina compared with those with stable angina had a signifi…

Associations of long-term exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise with cognitive function : an analysis of effect measure modification

Background: Adverse effects of traffic-related air pollution (AP) and noise on cognitive functions have been proposed, but little is known about their interactions and the combined effect of co-exposure. Methods: Cognitive assessment was completed by 4086 participants of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study using five neuropsychological subtests and an additively calculated global cognitive score (GCS). We assessed long-term residential concentrations for size-fractioned particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides with land use regression. Road traffic noise (weighted 24-h (LDEN) and night-time (LNIGHT) means) was assessed according to the EU directive 2002/49/EC. Linear r…

Quantitative comparison of new image processing methods for volumetric analysis of left ventricular contrast echocardiograms

An effort has been made to develop image processing methods which allow a definite and precise tracking of the borderline of the ventricle in two-dimensional echocardiograms. Experience is reported with two new methods, which are based on the gray-level rise (GL) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in combined heart-phase-triggered image series. A quantitative comparison of these time-series methods is presented with respect to the interpretation of a single native image (noncontrast image), a single contrast-material image, the corresponding subtraction image, and the corresponding color superposition image. The comparison is based on the calculation of the ejection fraction using the abov…

Prediction of rapid versus prolonged healing of infective endocarditis by monitoring vegetation size.

The diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography in monitoring the clinical course has been evaluated in 83 patients with echocardiographic evidence of infective endocarditis. A total of 103 vegetations attached to the aortic or mitral valves were detected by use of the transesophageal approach. The patients were monitored for a mean of 74 weeks and underwent a minimum of two consecutive transesophageal echocardiographic examinations. Group A included patients with increasing or remaining constant size of vegetation (8.2 +/- 1.5 to 11.2 mm, p less than 0.05) during 4 to 8 weeks of antimicrobial therapy, whereas group B was formed by patients with decreasing vegetation size (8.3 +/- …

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia…

Kardiale MRT : Änderungen der normalisierten myokardialen Gadolinium-Anreicherung über die Zeit nach Kontrastmittelinjektion in Patienten mit akuter Myokarditis und gesunden Probanden

PURPOSE An increased normalized gadolinium accumulation (NGA) in the myocardium during early washout has been used for the diagnosis of acute myocarditis (AM). Due to the fact that the pharmacokinetics of contrast agents are complex, time-related changes in NGA after contrast injection are likely. Because knowledge about time-related changes of NGA may improve the diagnostic accuracy of MR, our study aimed to estimate the time course of NGA after contrast injection in patients as well as in healthy volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS An ECG-triggered inversion recovery SSFP sequence with incrementally increasing inversion times was repetitively acquired over the 15 minutes after injection of …

Three dimensional reconstruction of intracoronary ultrasound images: roadmapping with simultaneously digitised coronary angiograms

Three dimensional reconstruction of intracoronary ultrasound images offers a better appreciation of the axial relationship of vessel features and permits volumetric assessment, both of which depend critically on the spatial accuracy of the technique. This in turn is dependent on precise longitudinal orientation of the transducer in the vessel. The authors have developed a system which utilises simultaneously digitised fluoroscopic tracking of the radio-opaque transducer to orient the corresponding 2D ICUS images. This system may offer improved spatial accuracy of the three dimensional reconstruction and a means of precise identification of the 2D ICUS image which corresponds with a selected…

Identification of abscess formation in native-valve infective endocarditis using transesophageal echocardiography: implications for surgical treatment.

The object of the study was to follow patients with endocarditis-associated abscesses in order to evaluate the clinical outcome with and without surgical intervention. Transesophageal echocardiography successfully displayed the location and extent of abscess cavities in 14 patients (group A) with aortic valve endocarditis. The infective process was limited to the perivalvular tissue in two, extended into the ascending aorta in six, and included the interventricular septum, the right ventricular outflow tract, interatrial septum, and/or mitral valve annulus in six patients. The complication rate was significantly higher in group A than in group B, which consisted of 27 patients with proven s…

One simple claudication question as first step in Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) screening: A meta-analysis of the association with reduced Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) in 27,945 subjects

Purpose and methods A meta-analysis using data from seven German population-based cohorts was performed by the German Epidemiological consortium of Peripheral Arterial Disease (GEPArD) to investigate whether one question about claudication is more efficient for PAD screening than established questionnaires. Claudication was defined on the basis of the answer to one question asking for pain in the leg during normal walking. This simple question was compared with established questionnaires, including the Edinburgh questionnaire. The associations of claudication with continuous ABI values and decreased ABI were analyzed by linear and logistic regression analysis, respectively. The results of t…

A query language for medical statistical analysis

While standard query languages support primarily the definition of single queries, in the evaluation of medical studies one usually formulates large sets of interdependent queries. A set of this type is called an integrated transaction. Our system for the definition of integrated transactions is based on the observation that in medicine a large number of statistical evaluations is founded on a conceptional model that can be structured as a tree. We describe a screen oriented tree editor for the relational data base system DBase and report on our experience with its application in the evaluation of the success rate of PTCA interventions.

The presence of infection-related antiphospholipid antibodies in infective endocarditis determines a major risk factor for embolic events.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The impact of infection-associated antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) on endothelial cell activation, blood coagulation and fibrinolysis was evaluated in patients with infective endocarditis with and without major embolic events. BACKGROUND An embolic event is a common and severe complication of infective endocarditis. Despite the fact that APAs are known to be associated with infectious diseases, their pathogenic role in infective endocarditis has not been clearly defined. METHODS The relationship among the occurrence of major embolic events, echocardiographic vegetation size, endothelial cell activation, thrombin generation, fibrinolysis and APA was examined in 91 patie…

Intensivtherapie des Myokardinfarktes — Limitierung der Infarktgröße

Der akute Myokardinfarkt gehort mit der instabilen Angina pectoris und dem plotzlichen Herztod zu den drei akuten Koronarsyndromen, die sich nur im Ausmas und der Geschwindigkeit der Thrombusentstehung unterscheiden [16]. Ein solcher Koronarverschlus (Abb. 1) fuhrt zu einem akuten Ausfall der Myokardperfusion und innerhalb weniger Sekunden zum Ausfall der Funktion des nicht mehr perfundierten Myokards. Wird das Gefas innerhalb weniger Minuten wieder geoffnet [34, 37, 38, 48], erholt sich das Myokard vollstandig. Bleibt die Durchblutung langere Zeit blockiert, entwickelt sich ein Infarkt, der von subendokardial nach epikardial sich ausbreitet [24, 46, 47, 52, 53]. t bedeutet eine kurze Ischa…

Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Dissection of the Aorta and Evaluation of Degenerative Aortic Disease

The combination of different ultrasound techniques such as transthoracic, suprasternal, subcostal, and TEE has a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of aortic dissection. Limitations of this combined ultrasound technique are related to the visualization of the ascending part of the aortic arch, which, because of the interposition of the trachea, cannot be visualized completely. The beginning or end of a dissection in this part of the aorta may be misinterpreted. However, false-negative results are rare. False-positive results due to artifacts resulting from reverberations in an ectatic ascending aorta must be taken into account. The most important diagnostic goals in acute or …

MR-tomographische Funktionsanalyse des linken Ventrikels

The following contribution presents a continuous MRT analysis of the contraction and relaxation processes of healthy left ventricles giving reference values for contraction and relaxation velocities. For the total ventricle we have Vsyst. r. total = 342 +/- 47% LVEDV/sec and Vdiast. r. total = 303 +/- 59% LVEDV/sec. In relation to the end-diastolic (tomographic) volume (EDSV) significantly greater changes in volume per unit of time were measured apically compared to basal (systolic: 411 +/- 89% EDSV/sec apical vs 261 +/- 35% EDSV/sec basal; diastolic: 810 +/- 145% EDSV/sec apical vs 245 +/- 70% EDSV/sec basal). Occurrence of the end-systolic minimal volumes of apical tomographic layers was …

Indications for early PTCA after thrombolysis

There are several ways to reopen an acutely occluded coronary artery. Thrombolysis can be achieved with various methods (1, 5, 7, 10). After thrombolysis we find that the residual thrombus can sometimes be seen, but in most cases, a more or less high grade coronary stenosis remains (2). It is also a question of whether it is always optimal to reopen the vessel, because if the vessel remains occluded, another occlusion cannot occur. With this situation one faces the possibility that the patient will suffer another infarction, and that the vessel will occlude again (4).

Author response: Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

Arrhythmia profile in acromegaly.

In a controlled study, the cardiac involvement and arrhythmia profile of 32 patients with acromegaly were correlated with endocrine parameters (somatomedine C, growth hormone), clinical score and duration of the disease. Data were compared with those of 50 controls free of cardiac disease. Stress ECG, 24 h Holter monitoring and echocardiography were performed. Supraventricular premature complexes occurred no more often in acromegalics than in controls. Both prevalence and severity of ventricular arrhythmia, however, were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (P less than 0.01). 15/32 (48%) acromegalic patients had complex ventricular arrhythmias (Lown III-IV) as compared wit…

The influence of Albunex on the pulmonary circulation in patients with pulmonary hypertension or left heart failure.

To determine the safety of the ultrasound contrast agent Albunex, its influence on right and left heart haemodynamics in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension or left heart failure was assessed after intravenous injection. Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction smaller than 40% or a systolic pulmonary artery pressure greater than 40 mmHg received 0.08 and 0.22 ml.kg -1 Albunex and 10 ml albumin in random order during right heart catheterization and transthoracic echocardiography. Right atrial, systolic and diastolic pulmonary artery and capillary wedge pressures were measured at 3 min and 5 min and cardiac output at 5 min after the intravenous injection of Albunex and cont…

Impact of routine angiographic follow-up after angioplasty

Abstract Background There is an ongoing controversy as to whether repeat coronary angiography should be routinely performed after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods We examined the 10-year outcome in 400 patients who had or had not undergone an angiographic control 6 months after successful PTCA and a subsequent event-free 6-month period. Our comparison was based on data gathered by questionnaire and telephone interview in 315 patients with (group A) and 85 patients without (group B) a routine 6-month angiographic control. Multivariate analysis (Cox model) was performed to identify predictors of adverse events. Results During the 10-year follow-up peri…

Zweidimensionale echokardiographische Funktionsanalyse des linken Ventrikels

Bei der Funktionsanalyse der linken Herzkammer fuhrt die zweidimensionale Echokardio­graphie im Vergleich zu den cineventrikulographisch ermittelten Werten zu einer systemati­schen Unterschatzung von Volumen und Ejektionsfraktion des linken Ventrikels. Die angio­graphisch ermittelten Normwerte dieser Parameter konnen somit nicht als gultige Ausgangs­und Bezugsgrosen fur die Ultraschall-Funktionsdiagnostik des Herzens herangezogen und ubernommen werden. Aus diesem Grunde ist es erforderlich, fur die zweidimensionale echo­kardiographische Analyse der Herzfunktion eigene Normwerte zu ermitteln und entspre­chende Toleranzgrenzen zu berechnen. Hierbei ist die Auswertung mehrerer konsekutiver Her…

Das Mitralklappenprolaps-Syndrom

Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

BACKGROUND: Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents.

Zweidimensionale echokardiographische Volumenbestimmung bei Patienten mit koronarer Herzerkrankung, kongestiver Kardiomyopathie und Herzklappenfehlern

Im nicht simultanen Vergleich soll im folgenden die Beziehung zwischen der cineventrikulo- graphischen und echokardiographischen Bestimmung der Volumina und der Ejektionsfrak- tion des linken Ventrikels bei Patienten mit unterschiedlichen Herzerkrankungen untersucht werden. Vergleichend wird die Volumenbestimmung aus dem 4-Kammerschnittbild und dem RAO-Aquivalent-Schnitt des apikalen zweidimensionalen Echokardiogramms vorgenommen und der biplanen cineventrikulographischen Auswertung gegenubergestellt. Zur Volumenberechnung wird die Scheibchen-Summationsmethode, die Flachen-Langen- und die El- lipsoid-Methode verwandt. Die Zuverlassigkeit der drei Berechnungsverfahren soll uberpruft werden. …

Factors Correlating with Restenosis after PTCA

Since its introduction in 1977 [7, 8], PTCA has been widely used in patients with coronary artery disease. Restenosis with recurrence of angina remains the major problem, limiting the long-term success after PTCA. Reported restenosis rates vary from 17% to 47% [9–19, 22–26]. In larger series [12, 15, 26] a restenosis rate of about 30% was constantly found, irrespective of the definition of restenosis in use.

Patient documentation for the ultrasound laboratory

The development of a PC based system for the storage of patient data in the echocardiography laboratory is described. Special design objectives were low cost and user friendliness, including an integrated special query language. After 3 years of use, the system stores 80000 diagnoses from 12000 patients without any relevant slowdown of response. Future developments concerning the communication between the database system and an echocardiographic sector scanner are discussed.

Verlaufsbeobachtung von Patienten mit chronischer Aortenklappeninsuffizienz unter ACE-Hemmer-Therapie (Follow-up of patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation)

In dieser Untersuchung wurde der Einflus einer 3monatigen ACE-Hemmer-Therapie mit Cilazapril (2,5–5 mg) bei 13 Patienten mit chronischer Aortenklappeninsuffizienz spiroergometrisch und echokardiographisch untersucht. Nach 3monatiger Therapie sanken der linksventrikulare enddiastolische Diameter-Index von 3,5 auf 3,1 cm/m2 (p = 0,005), der linksventrikulare endsystolische Diameter-Index von 2,3 auf 2,0 cm/m2 (p = 0,005). Der Wallstress reduzierte sich von 174 auf 150 dyn/cm2 (p = 0,01). Die linksventrikulare Muskelmasse nahm um 14% ab, von anfangs 570 g (= 295 g/m2) auf 488 g (= 253 g/m2) (p < 0,05). Die von apikal gemesesene Jetflache reduzierte sich von 10,1 auf 8,1 cm2 (p < 0,05). Weder d…

Elektrokardiographische Infarktlokalisation: Ein Beitrag zur EKG-Nomenklatur

Detection of central pulmonary artery thromboemboli by transesophageal echocardiography in patients with severe pulmonary embolism.

Transthoracic echocardiography generally provides only indirect signs of pulmonary embolism. In contrast, with transesophageal echocardiography the thromboembolus itself can be visualized in the central parts of the pulmonary artery. The aims of our study were to evaluate, first, the incidence of central pulmonary artery thromboemboli in patients with severe pulmonary embolism, and second, the accuracy of the echocardiographic diagnosis. Our study group comprised 60 patients with proved severe pulmonary embolism. All patients were examined by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. The echocardiographic findings concerning the absence or presence of central pulmonary artery thro…

Value and limitations of transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of aortic prostheses.

Results of 34 transesophageal (TEE) studies in patients with suspected aortic prosthetic dysfunction were compared with transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) results and to anatomic findings. Mass lesions noted at surgery (autopsy) were correctly described in 93% by TEE versus 43% by TTE. Abscesses were detected in 88% by TEE versus 18% by TTE. Bioprosthetic degeneration was visualized in 88% versus 38% and prosthetic obstruction correctly identified in 75% versus 50% by TEE and TTE, respectively. Anatomic aortic regurgitant lesions were identified in 96% by TEE versus 77% by TTE, whereas the correct origin was detected in 88% of cases by TEE versus 54% of cases by TTE. TEE provides valuabl…

Imaging in the catheterization laboratory

Recent work confirms that visual assessment of the effect of widely employed coronary interventions is highly inaccurate. Rapid and reliable on-line angiographic quantitation is a useful advance, but problems in the application of the technique are encountered in a substantial number of cases. New algorithms have been devised to provide a comprehensive assessment of the geometry and likely functional significance of lesions as well as an objective evaluation of lesion morphology, and recent work has provided the framework for the quantitation of diffuse disease. Studies with intravascular ultrasound confirm the inadequate sensitivity of angiography in demonstrating mild to moderate atheroma…

Beta-adrenergic stimulation enhances left ventricular diastolic performance in normal subjects.

To determine the effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on transmitral Doppler echocardiography flow characteristics of left ventricular diastolic filling, we studied 10 healthy volunteers aged 23-31 years (mean age, 26.6 years) during intravenous infusion of isoprenaline in consecutive steps of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.75, and 1.5 micrograms/min (each for 15 min). Saline control infusion was given in the same manner in a crossover and blinded protocol. Compared with the infusion of placebo, stepwise increasing doses of isoprenaline caused a dose-related increase in early and late diastolic filling velocities and velocity-time integrals, a lengthening of the acceleration time, and a shortening of t…

Mediastinal lymph node staging with transesophageal echography in cancer of the lung.

Transesophageal echography (TEE) was used prospectively to study mediastinal lymph node enlargement in 23 patients with cancer of the lung. The findings were validated blindly by comparison with computed tomography (CT, n = 23) and pathological N classification after curative surgery (n = 9). Lymph nodes larger than 1 cm were defined as pathologically enlarged. In the upper mediastinum, 22% (8 vs 36), in the lower mediastinum including the subaortic region 112% (37 vs 33) and in the hilar region 67% (6 vs 9) of enlarged lymph nodes diagnosed by CT were detected by TEE. A pathological study in 9 patients demonstrated true positive findings in 2 vs 1, true negatives in 4 vs 5, false positives…

The German CPU Registry: Dyspnea independently predicts negative short-term outcome in patients admitted to German Chest Pain Units.

While dyspnea is a common symptom in patients admitted to Chest Pain Units (CPUs) little is known about the impact of dyspnea on their outcome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of dyspnea on the short-term outcome of CPU patients.We analyzed data from a total of 9169 patients admitted to one of the 38 participating CPUs in this registry between December 2008 and January 2013. Only patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected ACS were included. 2601 patients (28.4%) presented with dyspnea.Patients with dyspnea at admission were older and frequently had a wide range of comorbidities compared to patients without dyspnea. Heart failure symptoms in particular wer…

Percutaneous transluminal coronary rotary ablation with Rotablator (European experience)

This study reports the results from 3 European centers using rotary ablation with Rotablator, a device that is inserted into the coronary artery and removes atheroma by grinding it into millions of tiny fragments. Rotary ablation was performed in 129 patients. Primary success (reduction in percent luminal narrowing greater than 20%, residual stenosis less than 50%, without complications) was achieved by rotary angioplasty alone in 73 patients (57%). An additional 38 patients (29%) had successful adjunctive balloon angioplasty. Thus primary success was achieved in 111 patients (86%) at the end of the procedure. Acute occlusion occurred in 10 patients (7.7%). Recanalization was achieved by ba…

Linksventrikuläre Funktionsanalyse: Kritische Wertung der Stellung der Echokardiographie

Mit Hilfe der M-mode-Echokardiographie last sich das Myokard des linken Ventrikels mit Endo- und Epikard abgrenzen. Die zeitliche Auflosung der M-mode-Echokardiographie ubertrifft dabei alle anderen zur Verfugung stehenden Methoden. Aus den diastolischen und systolischen Werten wird die Verkurzungsfraktion und die Wanddickenanderung bestimmt. Liegt keine Wandbewegungsstorung vor, kann die globale Ventrikelfunktion uber die Durchmesserbestimmung (Abb. 1) sicher abgeschatzt werden [13]. Der enddiastolische Durchmesser wurde dabei zu Beginn von QRS, der endsystolische Durchmesser zum Zeitpunkt der Inzisur der Septumbewegung bestimmt [13]. Nur fur wenige Patienten konnte eine fehlerhafte Klassi…

Effect of antibiotic treatment on vegetation size and complication rate in infective endocarditis

Background: Infective endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with valvular destruction, and with congestive heart failure. Embolic events are more common in patients with echocardiographically discernible vegetations, especially when vegetations are >10 mm in diameter. Hypothesis: The objective of the study was to follow vegetation morphology during native valve endocarditis, to compare it with the clinical course and antibiotic treatment chosen, and to evaluate whether the impact on vegetation size and complication rate of antibiotic regimens differed in patients with positive and negative blood cultures. Methods: The effect of different antibiotic regimes on …

Effects of Ciprostene on Restenosis Rate during Therapeutic Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Ciprostene, a chemically stable prostacyclin analog was studied for its effects on restenosis in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing therapeutic percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In a double-blind, randomized trial 32 patients were randomized to receive either ciprostene or the respective placebo. The infusion started intracoronarily at a rate of 40 ng/kg/min 20 min before introduction of the balloon catheter into the coronary artery. Thereafter infusion was continued intravenously for 36 hours at a rate of 120 ng/kg/min and a tapering off period until 48 hours. The quantitative analyses of the degree of coronary artery stenoses on the angiographic films be…

Requirements on resolution of digital imaging equipment in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

We evaluated the requirements on spatial resolution of digital imaging equipment in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Fifty cinefilms of the heart as the biological object and one film of a lead-ladder-pattern as an objective test were used. The patient films were examined for the visibility of the left ventricular angiogram, coronary arterial tree, coronary artery lesions, branching of septal arteries and the number of septal arteries. All films were viewed three times: with a 625 line TV-system, with a 1249 line TV-system and with a cineprojector. It was found that two application areas with different demands on the spatial and temporal resolution can be distinguished: 1) low spatia…

Color superposition: a new modality for contrast echocardiography.

To improve the estimation of endocardial borders in echocardiography, a technique has been developed to combine images from contrasted and noncontrasted echocardiograms of the same heart-phase using a color superposition mode. This method allows both experienced as well as less experienced examiners to define the endocardial borders more reproducibly and objectively. This is achieved by displaying tissue structures as gray level images while the ventricular cavity is marked selectively by the color display of the contrast material zone. Results of volume estimations of the left ventricle by different examiners using several imaging modes including color superposition display are presented.

High-Frequency rotablation of occluded coronary artery during heart catheterization

High-frequency rotation atherectomy of an occluded left circumflex coronary artery was performed in a 45-year-old man. Over a 0.009 inch flexible tip steel wire a diamond-coated brass burr fasten to a flexible drive shaft that rotates and tracks was advanced. The drive shaft was connected to a turbine and driven by compressed air with 150,000 rpm. After rotablation of the posterior lateral branch over 3 cm with a 1.5 mm burr and rotablation with a 1.75 mm burr of the posterior branch of the left circumflex coronary artery the vessel was reopened with a smooth surface without perforation and dissection. 24 h control and 6 mo control revealed an open coronary vessel. High frequency rotating c…

Diagnosis of aortic dissection: the value of transesophageal echocardiography.

Using the transesophageal approach the descending part of the aorta can be imaged by two-dimensional enchocardiography in cross sections comparable to computer tomograms. The value of combined transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography was evaluated in 53 patients who were studied consecutively from 1983 to 1986 with symptoms of aortic dissection and compared with computed tomography, angiography, surgery and/or autopsy. In all patients the transthoracic aorta could be visualized and the dissection could be classified according to DeBakey: in 9 of 29 patients (34%) type I dissection, in 4 (14%) type II dissection and in 16 (55%) type III dissection was found. Operation was carried o…

Onset of heart failure determines the hepatic cell death pattern.

Background and rationale. Acute and chronic heart failure (HF) may affect the liver, but the underlying mechanisms that lead to progressive liver damage are poorly understood. The hepatic cytokeratin-18 (CK18) epitopes M65 and M30 have been reported to distinguish between overall (necrotic) and apoptotic cell death, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the predominant hepatic cell death pattern in acute vs. chronic heart failure and examined if these assays predict the course of the disease. Main results. In a prospective study comprising 21 patients with acute HF (AHF) and 18 patients with chronic HF (CHF) serum levels of M65 and M30 were assessed. Compared with CHF, M65 levels were signific…

Color-Doppler Flow Mapping of the Heart in Normal Subjects

The use of statins in people at risk of developing diabetes mellitus: Evidence and guidance for clinical practice

Reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels using statins is associated with significant reductions in cardiovascular (CV) events in a wide range of patient populations. Although statins are generally considered to be safe, recent studies suggest they are associated with an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes (T2D). This led the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to change their labelling requirements for statins to include a warning about the possibility of increased blood sugar and HbA1c levels and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to issue guidance on a small increased risk of T2D with the statin class. This review examines the evidence leading to these clai…

PTCA of the left main stem following protective coronary artery bypass grafting.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 14 patients with significant left main stem stenosis following protective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The procedure was successful in 13/14 patients (93%), achieving a decrease in mean diameter stenosis from 74% +/- 7% to 31% +/- 12% (P less than 0.01). Accordingly, the absolute stenosis diameter increased from 0.9 mm +/- 0.3 mm to 2.4 mm +/- 0.5 mm (P less than 0.01). Dissection of the left main stem artery and a transient significant fall of blood pressure each occurred in one patient. No other serious complications were noted. Eight of 13 patients (62%) with successful PTCA underwent control angiography. R…

Clinical relevance of vegetation localization by transoesophageal echocardiography in infective endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with valvular destruction and congestive heart failure being more common in patients with echocardiographically discernible vegetations. The transoesophageal approach affords consistently high quality images with excellent structural resolution. Two-hundred and eighty-one patients with clinically suspected infective endocarditis were studied, to evaluate the prognostic value of ascertaining the site of vegetations. Among them were 118 patients with vegetations attached to the aortic or mitral valve. These patients were followed for a mean period of 14 months. Mitral valve vegetations were associated with a signif…

Diagnosis of aortic dissection by transesophageal echocardiography.

Hochfrequenz-Rotationsatherektomie bei koronarer Herzkrankheit

Percutaneous high frequency coronary rotational ablation (PTCR) was used in 10 patients with significant coronary artery disease. PTCR removes arteriosclerotic material from the vessel wall. A diamond-coated (60-80 micron) brass burr-drill, fastened to a flexible drive shaft rotating and tracking along a central coaxial guide wire, was used. The turbine rotates the drive shaft in excess of 150,000-190,000 revolutions per minute. PTCR was successful in all patients, but in three additional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was then successfully performed. Coronary dissection occurred only once, requiring surgery which was successful. No vessel perforation was observed. Al…

Coarctation of the Aorta: Quantitative Analysis by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Summary Transesophageal echocardiography and standard two-dimensional echocardiography were performed in 15 patients with suspected coarctation of the aorta. Aortic diameters and crosssectional areas were determined by means of TEE and compared with clinical findings and catheterization data. The isthmus of the aorta could be imaged in all patients using TEE, but in only seven patients using standard suprasternal echocardiography. Compared with controls, aortic diameters were narrowed in 9 of 15 patients, and cross-sectional areas were reduced in 13 of 15. There was a satisfactory correlation between TEE data and angiographic and hemodynamic data. TEE is a promising method of a diagnosing a…

Sum of ST-segment elevations on admission electrocardiograms in acute myocardial infarction predicts left ventricular dilation.

In summary, ST-segment elevations on the admission electrocardiogram not only diagnose acute myocardial infarction but also provide predictive information with respect to developing infarct size and left ventricular remodeling as well as survival.

Dobutamine stress Doppler echocardiography: reproducibility and physiologic left ventricular filling patterns

Qualitatively, dobutamine stress echocardiography has become an established procedure. Quantitative results are in great demand but this is still difficult due to limited endo- and epicardial border definition. Transmitral Doppler variables are strictly quantitative and less subjective. Furthermore, ischemic alterations precede systolic ones (ischemic cascade). There are preliminary reports of the utility of dobutamine stress Doppler echocardiography, but proof of reproducibility and left ventricular filling patterns are still lacking. Fourteen healthy volunteers (10 men, 4 women, median age 25.9 years, range 21-32 years) were investigated according to the usual dobutamine stress echocardio…

Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) for the treatment of aortic diseases: a position statement from the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), in collaboration with the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI)

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is an emerging treatment modality, which has been rapidly embraced by clinicians treating thoracic aortic disease.1–4 Fundamentally, it is a far less invasive approach than open surgery and its availability and relative ease of application has changed and extended management options in thoracic aortic disease, including in those patients deemed unfit or unsuitable for open surgery. In the operating room, this requires considerable perceptual, cognitive and psychomotor demands on the operators. The dramatic expansion of TEVAR activity has necessarily prompted a requirement to systematically consider the indications, appropriateness, limitations and…

Left ventricular volume determination using colour superpositioning of contrast echocardiograms

Abstract Objective: To delineate the endocardium, selective colouring of contrast regions in left ventricular contrast echocardiograms was performed using digital image processing. Methods: Volume determinations were performed in end-diastolic and end-systolic frames before and after the injection of contrast agent into the left ventricle and were compared to cineventriculograms in 30 patients by two independent investigators. Results: The mean end-diastolic volume measured was 114 ± 44 ml in the native, 235 ± 79 ml in the contrast, 175 ± 70 ml in the color-superimposed (observer 1), and 187 ± 79 ml in the cineventriculographic images. Thus, native echocardiograms underestimated angiographi…

Contrast echocardiography of the left ventricle an independent predictor of pulmonary artery pressure?

To test the hypothesis that left heart opacification is dependent on pulmonary artery pressure, we analyzed consecutively 12 patients with normal and 8 patients with abnormal pulmonary artery pressure with a new lung capillary stable echo contrast agent. Patients underwent contrast echocardiographic examination within 6 hours before right and left heart catheterization with 200 mg/ml and 400 mg/ml SHU 508A intravenously. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was 15.4 mmHg in the patients with normal pulmonary artery pressures and 46.4 mmHg in the patients with pulmonary hypertension (p0.000). Echocardiograms were video-intensitometrically analyzed for intensity maximum (MAX), half-time of vide…

Detection of dissection of the aortic intima and media after angioplasty of coarctation of the aorta. An angiographic, computer tomographic, and echocardiographic comparative study.

Balloon coarctation angioplasty (BCA) was performed in eight patients (five male and three female) who were 14-49 years old (mean, 27.3 years) with isolated discrete unoperated coarctation of the aorta (n = 7) and postoperative recoarctation (n = 1). BCA was successful in seven of eight patients, resulting in a decrease in the gradient (64 +/- 19 to 16 +/- 13 mm Hg, p less than 0.01), an increase in the diameter at the coarctation site (0.9 +/- 0.4 to 1.6 +/- 0.4 mm, p less than 0.01). Follow-up (6 months) has demonstrated continued gradient relief (6 +/- 9 mm Hg) and diameter increase (1.6 +/- 0.2 cm). Monitoring was performed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during BCA, and befor…

Spectral estimators for Doppler analysis of intracoronary ultrasound catheters

With the zero-cross-detection method (ZCD) it has been shown that it is not possible to achieve a reproducible quantitative, and robust evaluation of an inter-coronary audio signal. The authors define spectral estimators to analyze the Doppler-audio signal. Measurements in a blood flow model have shown that the ZCD method underestimates the expected velocity at all speeds. Spectral analysis allows the determination of the actual and peak velocity more robustly and precisely. >

Hämodynamik nach sublingualer Applikation von Captopril bei schwerer Herzinsuffizienz*: Eine Pilotstudie

In a preliminary trial, 23 patients in severe left-heart failure and, in some instances, also right-heart failure (NYHA classes III and IV) received a single sublingual dose of 25 mg captopril. Invasive measurement of various haemodynamic parameters indicated (1) an increase in cardiac index and stroke-volume index of 34% and 38%, respectively (P less than 0.001 for each); (2) decrease in pulmonary artery and systemic pressures by an average of 7% and 11.4% (P less than 0.01 and less than 0.001, respectively); (3) no significant change in heart rate and mean right atrial pressure; (4) decrease in systemic and pulmonary artery resistance by 33% and 29% (P less than 0.001 for both); (5) an in…

Noninvasive Visualization of an Apparent Patent Intracoronary Stent by Transesophageal Echocardiography

In the area of increasing interventional techniques there is a need for noninvasive imaging modalities to provide postinterventional follow-up. We were able to visualize the apparent patency and measure the dimensions of an intracoronary Palmaz-Schatz stent in the left circumflex coronary artery using transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography. This report indicates the potential of echocardiography to directly assess coronary stents.

Quantitative Coronary Angiography and Digital Densitometric Perfusion Measurements?How to Assess the Success of Intracoronary Balloon Dilatation

Densitometric evaluation of digital subtraction angiocardiograms allows the assessment of local myocardial perfusion before and after pharmacological stimulation of coronary flow reserve during the catheterization procedure. This report deals with a case of a severe stenosis of the left coronary artery in which PTCA was regarded successful based on an appropriate increase in luminal diameter while an intima and media dissection at the dilatation site was documented. The perfusion measurements, however, pointed out a clear impairment of poststenotic myocardial perfusion after PTCA.

Normalwerte für die Dobutamin-Streßechokardiographie*

UNLABELLED Dobutamine stress echocardiography having established itself as a sensitive method for diagnosing coronary heart disease, even in the absence of normative values, the physiological haemodynamics as well as the physiological values for global and regional left ventricular myocardial function were measured. TEST PERSONS AND METHODS 14 healthy subjects (ten men, four women; median age 25 [range 21-32] years) underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography according to an internationally practised dosage steps protocol (5-40 micrograms/kg/min with additional 0.5 mg atropine at 40 micrograms). RESULTS Maximal infusion rate achieved a serum dobutamine level of 1.67 micrograms/ml with mini…

Echocardiographic and angiographic evaluation of left ventricular function during percutaneous transluminal aortic valvuloplasty.

Transesophageal echocardiography was used to study the effect of the balloon inflation on left ventricular function in 20 patients with critical aortic stenosis undergoing balloon valvuloplasty. Balloon inflation caused an increase of end-diastolic (15% to 34%) and end-systolic (57% to 72%) left ventricular volume. Left ventricular wall stress increased from 30 +/- 10 x 10(3) dyn/cm2 at diastole and 121 +/- 40 x 10(3) dyn/cm2 at systole to 44 +/- 11 x 10(3) dyn/cm2 and 191 +/- 55 x 10(3) dyn/cm2, respectively, when the balloon was inflated (P less than 0.05). Turbulent regurgitant jet across the mitral valve increased from 15 +/- 2% to 25 +/- 3% during balloon inflation (P less than 0.01). …

Spontaneous echo contrast imaging in infective endocarditis: a predictor of complications?

Infective endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Valvular destruction and congestive heart failure are more common in patients with echocardiographically detectable vegetations. In addition, spontaneous platelet aggregation is increased when vegetations are present on cardiac valves. The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) imaging, as SEC is supposed to reflect red blood cell aggregates stimulated by platelet activity. We studied 293 patients with clinical signs of infective endocarditis. Vegetations, attached to the aortic or mitral valve, were found in 130 patients (44.4%) who were followed for a mean period …

Left atrial thrombi despite anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy

To investigate risk factors for embolization in patients with echocardiographically detected left atrial thrombi and to evaluate thrombus development, we examined 29 patients with transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography at two points during a follow-up of 18 months. We compared patients with a history of possible arterial embolization (n = 13) with those without (n = 16) in regard to age, gender, left atrial dilatation, localization of the thrombus in the left atrial cavity, spontaneous echo contrast, and atrial fibrillation. Eight patients were treated with aspirin, 20 with phenprocoumon. Only left atrial spontaneous contrast was associated with thromboembolism (10/15 patients w…

Diagnosis of papillary muscle rupture after acute myocardial infarction by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.

The sensitivity of transthoracic echocardiography to visualize the structural abnormality of papillary muscle rupture (PMR) after acute myocardial infarction can be anticipated to average about 50%; therefore, we evaluated five patients exhibiting the condition with both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. The use of the two imaging techniques resulted in the fact that no instance of PMR was missed. Using transthoracic echocardiography in two patients and transesophageal echocardiography in four, the ruptured papillary muscle was visualized directly. Mitral insufficiency as an indirect sign was observed in all patients. In one patient the papillary muscle rupture developed i…

Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Nicorandil in Coronary Artery Disease

Nicorandil is a potent vasodilator with antianginal and anti-ischemic properties that acts on both the coronary and the peripheral vascular bed. Because of its dual vasodilatory mechanisms mediated by an increase in cyclic GMP similar to that of nitrates and by a selective increase in the K+ conductance of the smooth muscle cell membrane, nicorandil unloads the right and left ventricles at rest and during exercise. Thus, compared with the classic nitrates, nicorandil is a more balanced vasodilator, i.e., it affects not only the venous capacitance vessels (as predominantly affected by nitrates) but also the arterial resistance vessels. In clinical pharmacologic trials, nicorandil has been ad…

Monitoring prothrombin fragment 1+2 during initiation of oral anticoagulant therapy after intracoronary stenting

Patients with intracoronary stent implantation are treated with aggressive anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy consisting of high-dose heparin, phenprocoumon, acetylsalicylic acid, dipyridamole, and the infusion of dextran to prevent a subacute thrombotic occlusion of the stented segment. In an effort to optimize this treatment by reducing both imminent bleeding complications and subacute thrombotic occlusion, the concentrations of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F 1 + 2) were determined after intracoronary Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation in 19 consecutive patients. The F 1 + 2 concentrations after stent implantation and before the initiation of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) were 0.35 nm…

Variations in acoustical beam properties of intracoronary Doppler catheters.

The limitations of coronary angiography in assessing the functional significance of coronary obstructions is well known. While the critical variable of coronary blood flow cannot be readily measured, intraluminal Doppler sonography offers useful related functional information on blood flow velocity. In order to fully evaluate Doppler signals it is essential to have exact knowledge of the transducer transmission characteristics and of the ultrasound beam topology. In an experimental set-up, the transmitter-receiver characteristics of five commonly used Doppler catheters were investigated. In comparing the beam characteristics we found inhomogeneities in the lateral beam spread. At a penetrat…

Left ventricular volume determination using Albunex.

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of intravenous injection of Albunex to improve left ventricular volume determination in patients with various cardiac diseases. It is conceivable that the intravenous injection of microbubbles could improve echocardiographic left ventricular border delineation leading to improved interobserver variability. Echocardiograms were obtained during simultaneous intravenous injection of 0.08 and 0.12 ml/kg Albunex (four-chamber view). Within 6 hours after the recording of the contrast echocardiograms routine left heart angiography was performed. Volumes were measured using the slice method in native and contrast echocardiograms as well as in the angi…

A new thrombectomy catheter device (AngioJet) for the disruption of thrombi: An in vitro study

In this study we examined a new thrombectomy catheter device. Different kinds of in vitro generated thrombi and cadaver thrombi were disrupted in test tubes. The mean disruption rate (and disruption time for 1 g of thrombus) was 225 +/- 65 mg/sec (5 +/- 2 sec) for whole-blood, 117 +/- 60 mg/sec (12 +/- 9 sec) for fibrin, 41 +/- 18 mg/sec (30 +/- 18 sec) for mixed, 70 +/- 42 mg/sec (17 +/- 5 sec) for unorganized, 45 +/- 8 mg/sec (22 +/- 4 sec) for partly, and 5 +/- 1 mg/sec (216 +/- 29 sec) for completely organized cadaver thrombi (P0.05). More than 99% of fragmented particles of whole-blood thrombi were 0-12 microm in diameter. The particle size of fibrin, mixed, and cadaver thrombi was sim…

Mitral valve aneurysm revealed by cross-sectional echocardiography in a patient with mitral valve prolapse

We report a cerebral ischemia in a 23-year-old woman, in whom a mitral valve aneurysm with thrombotic masses was diagnosed by cross-sectional echocardiography. A prolapsing mitral leaflet was also visualized.

Exercise echocardiography for the evaluation of patients after nonsurgical coronary artery revascularization.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the accuracy of stress echocardiography for detecting the progression of coronary artery disease after nonsurgical revascularization. Background. The expanding role of nonsurgical coronary revascularization procedures mandates the development of sensitive noninvasive techniques for tbe detection of recurrent ischemia. Methods. Bicycle stress echocardiography was performed in a series of 86 patients 6.5 ±1.3 months after a revascularization procedure. Seven patients were excluded from analysis because of poor echocardiographic image quality. Results. Digital analysis achieved a sensitivity of 83% for the entire group and a specificity …

Intravaskuläre Sonographie: Erste klinische Ergebnisse

Intravascular ultrasound is a new diagnostic modality which, for the first time, provides high resolution images of the vessel wall. 91 intraluminal ultrasound studies were performed in 50 patients during the course of 55 diagnostic and therapeutic catheterizations. A F-6 ultrasound catheter (20 MHz) was used. The method is an easily and rapidly performed addition to angiography. Changes in vessel walls (arteriosclerosis, dissection, tumour infiltration) can be readily diagnosed and their extent can be accurately described. The ability to determine luminal cross sectional area is particularly helpful for planning and performing therapeutic interventions.

Hemichorea associated with varicella-zoster reinfection and endocarditis. A case report.

A 20-year-old woman developed transient right-sided hemichoreatic movements after household exposure to varicella-zoster. Some days before the appearance of involuntary movements a vesicular rash had occurred. About 6 months later an elevated IgG serum titer against varicella virus was found and two-dimensional echocardiography showed signs of an endocarditis. During the following 2 months the IgG value returned to within the normal range and the choreatic movements disappeared almost totally. The possibility is discussed that endocarditis had been caused and maintained by serum antibodies to varicella-zoster virus which cross-reacted with valvular tissue. Embolization to the region of the …

Echocardiographic Image Analysis Based on the Evaluation of first Order Speckle Statistics

Basic theoretical considerations on the statistical properties of the speckle phenomenon indicate that a conventional quantization (intervals of uniform width) of the received and envelope detected RF — signal is not adequate. We therefore propose a quantization scheme which is based on the application of quantization intervals producing always the same confidence level (adaptive quantization). The advantages are: homogenous distribution of speckle noise reduction to about 10 – 20 significant quantization levels (with neglectable loss of morphological information) quantitative measure (confidence level) of the separability of regions represented with different quantization levels. We furthe…

Emergency angioplasty of totally occluded left main coronary artery in acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris--institutional experience and literature review.

Acute occlusion of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) is a rare angiographic finding. We report five patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and one patient with unstable angina, in whom reperfusion was achieved or attempted with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). All patients had a long history of stable angina pectoris. The indication for emergency PTCA was cardiogenic shock in the five patients with MI. PTCA was successful in five of six patients. Three patients with reperfusion survived, three died. All survivors underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and were still alive at 23 months, 3 and 8 years respectively in NYHA functional class II or III.…

Acute coronary artery closure following intracoronary ultrasound examination

Two patients undergoing intracoronary ultrasound examination were complicated by acute coronary artery closure. One of the complications was thought to be caused by intimal dissection and thrombus formation and the other was thought to be caused by intimal dissection and subsequent embolization. The complications were successfully managed conservatively in both cases. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Enhanced detection of contrast regions in echocardiograms by adaptive quantization

The statistics of ultrasound echo images are governed by Rayleigh statistics. The authors derive some experimentally verifiable predictions of this theory, compare them with experimental results obtained from echocardiographic images, and derive a new color coding scheme, (adaptive quantization) that is adapted to the signal-dependent noise predicted by theory. This results in some technical advantages and in an improved discrimination of regions of the echo image that are enhanced by echo contrast material. >

Ten-year outcome after coronary angioplasty in patients with single-vessel coronary artery disease and comparison with the results of the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS).

The 10-year results of randomized trials comparing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in patients with single-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and medical treatment are not available yet. The aim of this evaluation was to compare our 10-year follow-up results after PTCA in patients with single-vessel CAD with the 10-year follow-up results after CABG and medical treatment in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) trial. We evaluated the clinical outcome of 509 patients with single-vessel CAD 10 years after coronary angioplasty. The data were compared with the results of 214 patients with single-vessel CAD after CABG or medi…

Inhomogenität der linksventrikulären Kontraktion unter der Beatmung mit positiv-endexspiratorischem Druck

Anhand dieser Untersuchung sollte die Auswirkung der Beatmung mit positivem enddiastolischem Druck auf das regionale Kontraktionsverhalten des linken Ventrikels mittels transosophagealer echokardiographischer Messungen gezeigt werden. Das Kollektiv bestand aus 17 intensivpflichtigen Patienten, die wegen einer akuten respiratorischen Insuffizienz beatmet werden musten. Bei allen Patienten wurden fortlaufende transosophageale Querschnittsmessungen des linken Ventrikels in der kurzen Achse unter ZEEP (Zero End-Expiratory Pressure), dann uber 5 min unter PEEP 16 und anschliesend wieder uber 5 min nach Abschalten von PEEP 16 cm H2O registriert. Bei funf Patienten wurde der gleiche Mesvorgang auc…

Residual coronary stenosis after thrombolysis with rt-PA or streptokinase: acute results and 3 weeks follow-up

Ninety-one patients with acute myocardial infarction were assigned to intravenous treatment with streptokinase or rt-PA as part of the randomized trial carried out by the European Study Group for Recombinant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator (rt-PA). A patent coronary artery was found in 37 of 45 (82%) patients treated with rt-PA and in 27 of 46 (59%) patients treated with streptokinase 75-90 minutes after start of infusion. Patients were subsequently anticoagulated with heparin or dicoumarol up to a repeat angiography 3 weeks after the infarction. Of the 64 patients with successful reperfusion, 3 died and 3 suffered reocclusion of the vessel. Quantitative analysis of the coronary stenosis …

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)

High-frequency rotational ablation following failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) failed in 29 of 1,150 patients (2.5%) after successful passage of the guide wire. The reasons for failure were inability to pass the lesion with a balloon in 28 patients and inability to dilate the lesion in 1 patient. In these patients (15 stenoses and 14 chronic occlusions) rotational ablation was performed. We were able to pass the burr through the lesion in all of them, resulting in a reduction of diameter stenosis from 87 +/- 15 to 51 +/- 18%. Rotational ablation alone was initially successful (stenoses reduction > 20% and residual stenoses < 50%) in 15 of 29 (52%) patients. Additional PTCA was performed in 21 of 29 (72%) patients, …

Current status of phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

The phosphodiesterase inhibitors have been recognised as potent inotropic and vasodilating drugs. In acute congestive heart failure they increase cardiac output, decrease left pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and reduce total peripheral resistance with an improvement in loading conditions of the failing heart. Their potency in reversal of symptoms of acute congestive heart failure is quite similar to, or even better than, treatment with intravenous catecholamines and sodium nitroprusside. In chronic congestive heart failure, however, these agents increase mortality and have deleterious effects in the outcome of patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Sublingual administration of captopril versus nitroglycerin in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition has proven to be a successful approach for the long-term treatment of patients with congestive heart failure. This investigation compared the acute hemodynamic changes after sublingual administration of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril with those after nitroglycerin. A total of 24 patients with severe left heart failure (New York Heart Association classes III and IV) were given 25 mg captopril and 0.8 mg nitroglycerin sublingually in this randomized, cross-over study. Hemodynamic monitoring revealed a clear improvement in pre- and afterload parameters for both drugs (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001), while captopril induce…

Densitometry and parametric imaging with quality control

X-ray contrast image series of the myocardium were studied using the approaches of densitometry and parametric imaging accompanied by quality control. Contrast angiograms were digitized at six predefined phases of the heart cycle. For densitometry, regions of interest (ROIs) were defined semi-automatically for all phases. The resulting six densograms were summed up and weighted according to their quality determined by a measure. Previously validated parameters such as rise time were calculated. The enddiastolic images were only used for the calculation of color-coded parametric images accompanied by pixel-densogram-quality information. An observer gives a score for the perfusion of roughly …

“Three-level shock” in ablation-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

His-bundle ablation is a very effective method to control drug-refractory supraventricular arrhythmias. We present a 69-year-old woman with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, in whom several attempts of unipolar and bipolar His-bundle ablation were ineffective. Ultimately a stable 2/1 atrioventricular block was induced when three successive shocks of 400 W were applied. The first shock was given in that position with the largest His-potential deflection. The other two shocks were applied at catheter positions more distal and more proximal from the first one, respectively. We suppose that the initial lack of success was due to an atypical atrioventricular junction anatomy.

Analysis of risk factors for restenosis after PTCA

To identify risk factors for restenosis, we evaluated data in 473 patients with single-vessel percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and control angiography after 6 months. Restenosis, defined as (1) loss greater than 50% of the initial gain, and (2) stenosis greater than 50% was found in 138 patients (29.2%). Univariate analysis revealed eight factors related to restenosis: (1) duration of symptoms less than 1 month (P = 0.005), (2) unstable angina (P = 0.004), (3) high-grade stenosis before PTCA (P = 0.014), (4) large residual stenosis after PTCA (P = 0.001), (5) insufficient improvement of stenosis (P = 0.042), (6) prolonged single inflation time (P = 0.017), (7) prolonged…

Non-invasive determination of cardiac output by transesophageal Doppler ultrasound-clinical application and validation

The authors describe the development and validation of a device using transesophageal (TE) Doppler ultrasound to provide continuous and noninvasive monitoring of cardiac output (CO) and related parameters. In intubated and artificially ventilated patients who underwent pulmonary artery catherization for hemodynamic monitoring, CO was determined by the esophageal Doppler ultrasound probe and compared to the results obtained simultaneously by means of thermodilution. A very close correlation was found between the results (r=0.99), with a standard estimate of error less than 5% as well as good reproducibility (r=0.96 and r=0.98). >

Quantitative analysis of elastic recoil after balloon angioplasty and after intracoronary implantation of balloon-expandable Palmaz-Schatz stents.

AbstractObjectives. The purpose of this study was to measure elastic recoil from sequential angiograms after balloon angioplasty and after implantation of a balloon-expandable Palmaz-Schatz stent in the same patient, and to compare the results with the late angiographic outcome.Background. The immediate result of coronary balloon angioplasty is influenced by plastic deformation, primarily of the atherosclerotic plaque, and by elastic recoil, primarily of the less or nondiseased vessel circumference,Methods. The extent of elastic recoil was measured quantitatively as the difference between maximal balloon size and the resulting vessel diameter or cross-sectional area.Results. Analysis was pe…

Relative sensitivity of four noninvasive methods in assessing systolic cardiovascular effects of isoproterenol in healthy volunteers.

Study objective The study was performed to evaluate the relative sensitivity of various noninvasive methods to detect and describe the systolic cardiovascular effects of stepwise increasing doses of isoproterenol: two-dimensional left ventricular echocardiography (main variable, ejection fraction), ACVF (attenuation compensated volume flow)–dual-beam Doppler echoaortography (time-averaged mean velocity), electrical impedance cardiography [(dZ/dtmax)/RZ index], and systolic time intervals from mechanocar-diography (PEP and QS2c). Methods Isoproterenol was administered by constant rate intravenous infusion in consecutive steps of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.75, and 1.5 µg/min (each for 15 minutes). Sali…

113. Beurteilung klappenrekonstruktiver Massnahmen mittels intraoperativer transoesophagealer Kontrastechokardiographie

Bei 30 Patienten mit Mitral- bzw. Tricuspidalklappenfehlem (6 Mitralstenosen bzw. 13 -insuffizienzen, 12 Tricuspidalinsuffizienzen) wurde intraoperativ am schlagenden Herzen mittels transoesophagealer Echokardiographie (TEE) der Erfolg einer operativen Rekonstruktion uberpruft. 1 ml eines Echokontrastmittels wurde nach Bypassende in den jeweiligen Ventrikel injiziert. Anhand des Ausmasses der Regurgitation des Kontrastmittels in den betreffenden Vorhof konnte das Rekonstruktionsergebnis beurteilt werden. Bei allen Tricuspidalklappen sowie bei 16/19 Mitralklappen konnte eine erfolgreiche Rekonstruktion belegt werden. Die Aufdeckung einer massiven Mitralinsuffizienz bei 3/19 Patienten durch d…

Meßfehlerschätzung bei der MR-tomographischen Volumetrie des linken Ventrikels mit Mehrschicht-Technik

A multi-slice technique for MRT measurements of the left ventricular volume is much faster than the use of single-slice methods and is therefore better tolerated, leaving time for additional measurements. The end-diastolic left ventricular volume can be reliably measured by this method (123.3 +/- 13.5 ml vs. 124.1 +/- ml). The end-systolic volume is consistently overestimated by 23.7 +/- 18.3% compared with the reference value obtained by single slice measurements (47.9 +/- 8.9 ml vs 39.1 +/- 7.9 ml). Correspondingly, stroke volume and ejection fraction is underestimated on average by 10.6 +/- 9.7% and 10.6 +/- 7.6% respectively).

Reliability and Accuracy of Echocardiography for Follow-up Studies after Intervention

By two-dimensional echocardiography limitations of M-mode echocardiography have been eliminated. As a direct and noninvasive method two-dimensional echocardiography seems to be an ideal method for analysis of left ventricular function in follow-up studies. In relation to other methods there are no limitations concerning x-ray exposure, physicians and patients safety. Before different studies can be discussed, reliability and accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiography have to be evaluated. Beat-to-beat, day-to-day, intra- and interobserver variability will be discussed, followed by description of follow-up studies after intervention.

Tomographic left ventricular volume determination in the presence of aneurysm by three-dimensional echocardiographic imaging. I: Asymmetric model hearts

To improve the accuracy of measurements of left ventricular volume in the presence of an aneurysm, we used three-dimensional echocardiographic imaging to analyze the shape of left ventricles in 23 asymmetric model hearts with eccentric aneurysms of different sizes, shapes, and localizations. A standard 3.75 MHz ultrasound probe with a rotation motor device was used to obtain a three-dimensional data set. By rotating the probe stepwise 1 degree, 180 radial ultrasound pictures were digitized. On the basis of the three-dimensional data set, the following parameters were determined and compared with the dimensions of the model hearts obtained by direct measurement: total left ventricular volume…

Influence of vessel dilatation on restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of vessel dilation on restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on the basis of quantitative angiographic analysis. To have the best comparison possible, we restrospectively studied a homogenous series of patients from the early 1980s treated according to a standardized PTCA procedure. The study group consisted of 86 patients with stable angina pectoris and single-vessel disease, all of whom underwent successful PTCA for a short concentric lesion in proximal vessel parts. The overall restenosis rate was 27%. Angiographically measured balloon size remained below specifications. The size of the inflate…

Results of intracoronary stents for management of coronary dissection after balloon angioplasty.

Dissections after coronary balloon angioplasty are risk factors for acute or subacute vessel closures. Intracoronary stenting was developed to avoid these complications by pressing the intimal and medial flaps against the vessel wall, thus reducing the risk of acute thrombosis. A total of 22 stents were implanted into the coronary arteries of 15 patients with dissections after balloon angioplasty causing angina pectoris or ischemic electrocardiographic changes. Stent delivery was successful in all cases. In 1 patient acute stent thrombosis was documented and treated successfully by thrombolytic therapy. Another patient underwent coronary artery bypass surgery 24 hours later because of persi…

Improved Assessment of Pathological Regurgitation in Patients with Prosthetic Heart Valves by Multiplane Transesophageal Echocardiography

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic increment of individually optimized axes in the assessment of pathological prosthetic valve regurgitation. Forty-two patients with pathologically regurgitant prostheses in the aortic (n = 21), mitral (n = 15), and tricuspid (n = 6) positions were examined by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography. The investigation was performed utilizing the transverse axis first, the longitudinal axis second, and the intermediate axes afterwards. The presence of regurgitation, the differentiation between trans- and perivalvular origin, and the localization of perivalvular leakages at the sewing ring were evaluated. Findings in the biplane and inter…

Manifestation und Therapie von Reperfusionsarrhythmien bei der Thrombolyse des akuten Myokardinfarktes

Schon seit 1943 ist bekannt, das die Wiederherstellung der Durchlassigkeit eines verschlossenen Kranzgefases zu Rhythmusstorungen fuhren kann (9). Diese Art von Rhythmusstorungen werden Reperfusionsarrhythmien genannt. Seitdem die intrakoronare und intravenose Streptokinaseapplikation bei Patienten mit frischem Herzinfarkt immer haufiger verabreicht werden, ist auch das Interesse fur die Reperfusionsarrhythmien gestiegen.

Reinfarction Related to PTCA-Induced Coronary Embolism after Successful Thrombolytic Therapy

Coronary embolism originating from residual thrombotic material is one of the complications arising during acute percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in acute myocardial infarction. This case report describes a symptomatic embolization of the right posterolateral and right posterior descending branch during success-ful PTCA of a subtotal stenosis of the midright coronary artery after acute inferior myocardial infarction. Typical ECG signs of reinfarction were recorded. We succeeded in recanalizing these branches by superselective thrombolysis and angioplasty.

Recanalization of occluded left main coronary artery in unstable angina pectoris

Analysis of high-frequency rotational angioplasty-induced echo contrast.

During high-frequency rotational angioplasty (HFRA), myocardial contrast enhancement (echo contrast) was observed by means of two-dimensional echocardiography. In order to evaluate the echo contrast produced by HFRA, an in vitro experimental model was built using a cylinder with the HFRA catheter scanned in a water bath. The cylinder was filled with blood, mineral water, and distilled water. With a 2.5-MHz transducer, echograms were recorded and analyzed by video intensitometer, and the maximum intensity IUmax and persistence time P were calculated. Rotation frequencies of 20,000-200,000 rpm with 2.0--mm burrs and times of 10 s were tested. In another model, hyperbaric conditions for the sa…

Isolated in-vitro perfusion of pig hearts obtained from the abattoir: an alternative to animal experiments?

Isolated pig hearts (German farm pigs) were characterized after global in-vivo ischaemia as a potential alternative to in-vivo animal studies. Hearts were harvested from adult farm swine at the abattoir 10.3 +/- 2.1 min after incision of the carotid artery. They were immediately perfused and thereafter stored in ice-cold cardioplegic (St Thomas's) solution. After 38 +/- 3 min, retrograde perfusion was started with oxygenated pig blood (37 degrees C; 5000 U Heparin.l-1; pH 7.38 +/- 0.1; 11 mmol glucose.l-1) at a flow rate of 85 ml.min-1 100 g-1 wet weight (gww-1) for 30 min (n = 10). Additionally, shortly after obtaining the hearts, ATP and CP content were measured by enzymatic tests in 10 p…

Coronary Spasm in Patients Treated by Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

The appearance of coronary spasm during PTCA was analyzed in 140 consecutive patients with stable and unstable angina. Coronary spasm was found in 27 patients (19%) and was more common in unstable than in stable angina pectoris (22 versus 5 patients). While coronary spasm could be seen in the first coronary angiogram in 5/27 patients, it developed during the diagnostic procedure in 6/27 patients. In 16/27 patients coronary spasm was induced by the balloon or the guide wire itself.

High-Frequency Rotational Angioplasty

In 19 patients with significant coronary artery disease, PTCR was used instead of PTCA. The PTCR was successful in all patients, but in nine patients additional PTCA was successfully performed. Coronary luminal narrowing could be reduced from 78 ± 19% to 32 ± 14% after rotablation and by combined treatment to 21 ± 14%. Only in one patient did coronary dissection occur; the patient was sent to surgery and had an uneventful outcome. No vessel perforation was observed. In one patient peripheral diagonal branch occlusion occurred. All vessels were open according to 24-control coronary angiography. Restenosis (>70% stenosis) occurred in 4/15 patients controlled after 6 months, mainly in those wi…

Coronary thrombolysis with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA)

Coronary thrombolysis is presently under intensive investigation as a treatment for acute myocardial infarction for two main reasons. Firstly it is now well established that acute myocardial infarction is often associated with thrombotic occlusion of an atherosclerotic coronary artery [1]. Secondly it has been shown that administration of thrombolytic agents can reopen an occluded coronary artery in the majority of patients [2, 3] and that reperfusion of ischemic myocardial tissue is generally well tolerated. Coronary thrombolysis is however not a goal in itself but is employed to prevent necrosis and dysfunction of jeopardized myocardial cells. There is ample evidence in animals that the i…

Clinical and morphological characteristics in Streptococcus bovis endocarditis: a comparison with other causative microorganisms in 177 cases

Aim—To compare the clinical and morphological characteristics of patients with Streptococcus bovis endocarditis with those of patients with endocarditis caused by other microorganisms. Methods—177 consecutive patients (Streptococcus bovis, 22; other streptococci, 94; staphylococci, 44; other, 17) with definite infective endocarditis according to the Duke criteria were included. All patients underwent transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography. In 88 patients, findings from surgery/necropsy were obtained. Results—S bovis endocarditis was associated with older patients, with a higher mortality (p = 0.04), and with a higher rate of cardiac surgery (p < 0.001) than other microorganisms…

Interventional cardiology: Differences in the morphology of unstable and stable coronary lesions and their impact on the mechanisms of angioplasty. An in vivo study with intravascular ultrasound

The aim of this study was to compare the morphology of stable and unstable coronary lesions using intravascular ultrasound in patients undergoing coronary balloon angioplasty and to determine whether lesion morphology had any influence on the mechanism of balloon angioplasty. Thirty three (15 stable and 18 unstable) patients undergoing single lesion percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were studied with intravascular ultrasound before and after intervention. All examinations, recorded on S-VHS video tape, were studied off-line and matched sites from the point of minimum lumen area after the procedure and the corresponding site prior to intervention were compared. The morphology of…

Quantification of mitral valve stenosis by three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the diagnostic potentials of transesophageal 3D- echocardiography in the determination of mitral valve stenosis. 54 patients were investigated by transthoracic and multiplane transesophageal echocardiography. In 41 patients cardiac catheterization was performed. 3D- echocardiographic data acquisition was performed by automatic transducer rotation at 2 degree increments over a span of 180 degrees. The transesophageal probe was linked to an ultrasound unit and to a 3D- workstation capable of ECG- and respiration gated data acquisition, postprocessing and 2D/3D image reconstruction. The mitral valve was visualized in sequential cross-sectional planes…

Comparison of Statistical Methods for the Detection of Contrast Material in Echocardiographic Image Sequences

Ultrasonic imaging of the heart is a diagnostic tool which is increasingly used in cardiology. In addition to the representation of important anatomical information two dimensional images provided by mechanical or electronically steered sector scanners can be used for the extraction of functional parameters of the heart (as e.g. enddiastolic volume or ejection fraction). A poor definition of the endocardial border especially resulting from the noisy appearance of the images and from qualitatively restricted echocardiograms leads to uncertainties in the quantitative analysis and therefore requires refined methods for the determination of functional parameters. Our investigations which are ba…

Aortic dissection detected by transoesophageal echocardiography

The diagnostic value of transoesophageal echocardiography was evaluated in 24 patients with aortic dissection and compared to transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography, computer tomography, aortography, surgery and autopsy. Using transoesophageal echocardiography we found in 5 patients a type I dissection, in 5 patients a type II and in 14 patients a type III dissection. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography was positive in 3/5 type I, 2/5 in type II and 2/14 in type III dissections. Computer tomography was unable to demonstrate an intimal flap in 1/2 patients with type I, 2/3 type II and 1/11 type III dissections. Aortography was negative in 1/4 type I, 3/5 type II and 3/12 p…

The effect of balloon dilatation on post-stenotic myocardial perfusion before and after stimulation of coronary flow reserve: evaluation by the densitometric parameter 'mean rise time'.

From densitometric evaluation of digital subtraction cineangiocardiograms the parameter 'Mean Rise Time' (MRT), defined as the time from the onset of local myocardial contrast medium opacification to the point of maximal opacification can be derived; this parameter revealed a close correlation with the results on myocardial perfusion obtained by Thallium-201 scintigraphy. A prolonged 'Mean Rise Time' was indicative of an impairment of myocardial perfusion. We have developed a heart-phase gated real-time digitization procedure and computer-supported method for the densitometric estimation of the MRT to obtain information about the effect of coronary balloon dilatation on myocardial perfusion…

Long-Term Enoximone Therapy in Unstable Chronic Heart Failure

Long-term safety and efficacy of oral enoximone were evaluated in 32 patients with unstable chronic heart failure despite digitalis, diuretics, and vasodilator therapy. Oral enoximone, 75-150 mg t.i.d. was given for an average of 32 weeks. At baseline, 21 patients were in NYHA functional class IV, 10 patients in class III, and 1 patient in class II. Within 12 weeks, 14 of 20 patients surviving for more than 26 weeks had improved by at least one functional class. Hemodynamic data showed an 18% increase of cardiac index and a 34% decrease of diastolic pulmonary artery pressure. Echocardiographic recordings revealed an increase of fractional shortening from 13.9 +/- 7 to 15.6 +/- 5% after 12 w…

Intraluminal Doppler-Sonography: Analysis and “in Vitro Test” of a New Device

In treating patients with coronary heart disease it’ s necessary first to determine what influence the stenose has on the coronary blood flow. This is a prerequisite for any invasive treatment method. Coronary angiography explosures are only partially useful in attaining a functional evaluation of the haemodynamic stenoses.

Sublingual administration of captopril in patients with acute myocardial ischemia.

Summary: To investigate the anti-ischemic capability of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril, 10 patients with acute myocardial ischemia (angina pectoris >1 h, ST-segment depression ±0.1 mV, no rise in creatine phosphokinase) received 25 mg captopril sublingually after being treated with an intravenous infusion of nitroglycerin (3 mg/h) and heparin (1200 IU/h) for 1 hour. A control group of 10 patients received placebo instead of captopril. Results showed a decrease of the initial ST-segment depression from 0.25±0.04 to 0.2±0.03 mV (p>0.01) with nitroglycerin for the captopril group and from 0.26±0.05 to 0.21±0.05 mV (p>0.01) for the control group. An additional decrease to…

Combined medical and mechanical recanalization in acute myocardial infarction

A technique of combined medical and mechanical recanalization was employed in 96 patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction. The mean time between onset of symptoms and admission to hospital was 170 +/- 65 min (X +/- SD). After 10 +/- 16 min, 250,000 U streptokinase was administered intravenously for 20 min. Intracoronary thrombolysis was commenced within 38 +/- 14 min. First coronary angiograms demonstrated reperfusion, an open vessel in 25/96 patients (26%). In 15/71 patients (21%) reperfusion occurred during thrombolysis therapy, before mechanical recanalization could be performed. Recanalization was achieved mechanically in 37/71 patients (52%) with occluded coronary vessels. …

Diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease and mitral insufficiency

Any diagnosis of mitral regurgitation must always include the etiology. The clinical history is only rarely informative, as are chest x-ray examinations. The ECG is of value to diagnose coronary artery disease with or without previous myocardial infarction — but further differentiation is not possible. During heart catheterization mitral insufficiency can be diagnosed and quantified according to Seller’s classification [1]. A differentiation of etiology is only rarely possible. Rheumatic heart disease and mitral valve prolapse can be differentiated.

Intraoperative Evaluation of Reconstruction of the Atrio ventricular Valves by Transesophageal Echocardiography

In a total of 30 operations the mitral valve was reconstructed in 18, the tricuspid valve in 11, and both AV-valves in one patient. The result of reconstruction was tested first in the open arrested heart by injection of crystalloid solution into the appropriate ventricle either through the reconstructed valve or one of the great arteries. Upon termination of cardiopulmonary bypass the valve function was examined in the beating heart by means of transesophageal contrast echocardiography (TEE). For visualization 0.5-1.0 cc of agitated Gelifundol was injected into the ventricle. In 22 patients open testing as well as echocardiographic visualization showed identical and good operative results.…

Magnetresonanztomographie bei chronischer Aortendissektion

17 patients with chronic aortic dissection were examined by MRI. In 12 patients, comparison between gradient echo sequences and SE sequences was possible. Gradient echo sequences, unlike SE sequences, permitted evaluation of flow in the true and false lumen, reliable differentiation between thrombus and flowing blood and clear delineation of the intimal flap. An additional comparison between transoesophageal ultrasound and MRT in 15 patients showed significant advantages in favour of MRI. In three patients MRI was able to detect more proximal origins of the dissection. Moreover, MRI allowed evaluation of the major aortic branches and their relation to the dissection; this was not possible w…

New techniques for visualization of losses due to image compression in grayscale medical still images

To evaluate the visual influence of irreversible compression on medical images, changes of the images have to be visualized. The authors have explored alternative techniques to be used instead of the usual side-by-side comparison, where the information contained in both images is perceived in a single image, preserving the context between compression errors and image structures. Thus fast and easy comparison can be done. These techniques make use of the human ability to perceive information also in the dimensions of color, space, and time. A study was performed with JPEG-compressed coronary angiographic images. Changes in the resulting images for six compression factors from 7 to 30 were sc…

Comparison of myocardial perfusion reserve before and after coronary balloon predilatation and after stent implantation in patients with postangioplasty restenosis.

Background Stents provide a scaffold for coronary arteries after angioplasty and inhibit elastic recoil. Methods and Results In 25 patients with postangioplasty restenosis of the left anterior descending artery, ECG-gated digital subtraction coronary angiograms were recorded at baseline and during hyperemia (12 mg papaverine IC) before and after balloon predilatation (PTCA), after implantation of a Palmaz-Schatz stent, and after 6 months. Densitometric evaluation revealed different time and density parameters to calculate two definitions of myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR1 and MPR2) and maximum flow ratio (MaxFR). Poststenotic MPR1 increased from 1.57±0.14 to 2.59±0.86 after PTCA and to …

Recanalization of Totally Occluded Coronary Vessels by Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

Since its introduction in 1977, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has become an effective approach for treatment of patients with single-vessel disease [1–3, 5]. Treatment of double- and multiple-vessel disease has also been attempted [5, 6]. In patients with angina pectoris total occlusion of coronary vessels is found, and PTCA has also been used in an attempt to restore coronary blood flow in such patients [8, 10]. Even main stem occlusions have been recanalized [11]. In patients with total occlusion of coronary vessels, collateral flow is sufficient to maintain cardiac function at rest but not during exercise [12–14]. Therefore, PTCA seems to be an ideal method for re…

High frequency rotational ablation: an alternative in treating coronary artery stenoses and occlusions.

OBJECTIVE--To prove the safety and effectiveness of high frequency rotational ablation of coronary artery stenoses and occlusion in humans. SUBJECTS--106 patients with symptoms (91 men, 15 women) who had 67 significant stenoses, mainly types B and C, and 46-chronic occlusions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Mean change in diameter stenosis after rotational angioplasty alone and in combination with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty immediately after treatment and 24 hours and six months later; restenosis rates at six months; complication of treatment. RESULTS--Rotational ablation could not be used in five stenoses and 16 chronic occlusions because of inability to reach or cross the lesi…

Diagnosis of culture-negative endocarditis: The role of the Duke criteria and the impact of transesophageal echocardiography

Abstract Background The Duke criteria have been shown to be more sensitive than the von Reyn criteria in the diagnosis of culture-positive endocarditis but to date have not been fully validated for culture-negative endocarditis (CNE). The aim of this study was (1) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Duke criteria versus clinical judgment and the von Reyn criteria in CNE and (2) to assess the diagnostic impact of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) on the Duke criteria in CNE. Methods The study group consisted of 49 patients with suspected CNE in whom the presence (n = 32) or absence (n = 17) of endocarditis was confirmed by surgery, autopsy, or both. All patients underwent transtho…

Treatment of Chronic Congestive Heart Failure

Detection of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast within the left atrium by transesophageal echocardiography: spontaneous echocardiographic contrast

Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 314 patients over a period of 24 months using a 3.5 MHz phased-array system fitted to the distal end of a conventional 12 mm endoscope. In 12 patients (2.6%) transesophageal echocardiography could not be performed because of adverse reaction to the gastroscopic procedure. Side effects were a transient A-V block in one patient and asthmatic attack in another. Mitral valve lesions were found in 99 of 314 patients. In 9 of these 99 patients (11%), including 1 patient with mitral valve stenosis and sinus rhythm, 2 with atrial fibrillation, 3 with disc, and 3 with porcine mitral prosthesis, spontaneous echocardiographic contrast was found within …

Parametric assessment of myocardial perfusion during interventional cardiac catheterization by means of X-ray densitometry-short-and long-term results.

X-ray densitometric evaluation of digital subtraction angiocardiograms allows an assessment of myocardial perfusion by means of the parameter 'MEAN RISE TIME' (MRT), defined as the time from the onset of local myocardial contrast medium opacification to the point of maximum opacification. Best results are obtained when the response of that parameter is compared before and after stimulation of coronary flow by papaverine. A prolongation of this parameter, especially after papaverine, was indicative of an impairment of myocardial perfusion, when compared to the results of TL-201 scintigraphy. In 50 patients with single vessel coronary artery disease the results of MRT pre and post papaverine …

Evaluation of post-myocardial infarction regional and global left ventricular function by monoplane ventriculography: superiority of right versus left anterior oblique projection at any infarct location.

OBJECTIVES To study the significance of serial quantitative regional wall motion analysis, volumes, and ejection fraction findings as well as their prognostic implications derived from cineventriculography in 30 degrees right anterior oblique (RAO) projection in comparison with 60 degrees left anterior oblique (LAO) projection in post-myocardial infarction patients. Ventriculographic left ventricular parameters are accepted surrogates of mortality in myocardial infarction. Nowadays, in contrast to a biplanar approach in most institutions and clinical trials, the investigation is reduced to monoplanar ventriculography. However, it is not known whether the relevance of the two established pro…

Intraluminal Doppler-sonography: a new device for data analysis and its in vitro test

Summary form only given. A special data acquisition unit has been developed which allows to process on-line not only the mean-phasic Doppler shift signal but also to analyze the spectral contents and the received A-mode signal. The probe consists of a 3f-catheter which is activated by a pulsed transmitter-receiver (Millar). The carrier frequency is 20 MHz and the impulse repetition rate is 62.5 kHz. Two modular A/D converters are used. One digitizes directly the Doppler shift frequencies in the range less than 20 kHz (sampling rate 100 kHz, resolution 12 bit); the other digitizes the RF-signal (sampling rate 200 MHz, resolution 8 bit). For further processing, data are transferred via separa…

Arrhythmieprofil und Herzfrequenz bei Hyperthyreose

Arrhythmia profiles and heart rates, obtained by 24-hour ECG monitoring, were analysed in 48 patients with hyperthyroidism before (T3 level: 331 +/- 108 ng/100 ml, heart rate: 95 +/- 13/min), during (T3 level: 202 +/- 98 ng/100 ml, heart rate: 85 +/- 11/min) and after (T3 level: 149 +/- 41 ng/100 ml, heart rate: 79 +/- 9/min) antithyroid treatment. 50 persons in whom organic heart disease has been excluded by invasive and noninvasive tests served as controls. Only 6% of patients had repetitive ventricular arrhythmias (Lown group IV) before treatment (controls: 4%; P greater than 0.05). Supraventricular extrasystoles were common both before and after treatment (P less than 0.001), especially…

New balloon catheter for prolonged percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and bypass flow in occluded vessels.

A new balloon catheter was developed for continuous perfusion of coronary arteries during angioplasty (CPC catheter). Steerable Gruntzig balloon catheters (3.7 mm) with two lumina were formed. The first lumen was used for balloon inflation. Side holes to the second lumen proximally and distally to the balloon were created for coronary perfusion even during inflation phase. At a perfusion pressure of 120 mmHg, a flow rate of 63 +/- 3 ml/min with 0.9% saline and 43 +/- 1 ml/min with plasma expander were measured. In experiments on five dogs, dilation time until appearance of signs of ischemia could be prolonged in three of five dogs from 30 to 40 s, 120 to 203 s, and 180 to 420 s comparing co…

Intraoperative Evaluation of the Reconstruction of the Atrioventricular Valves by Means of Transesophageal Echocardiography

In 44 operations, the mitral valve was reconstructed in 28 patients, the tricuspid valve in 12, and both atrioventricular (AV) valves in four. The results of reconstruction were tested first in the open arrested heart by injection of a crystalloid solution into the left or right ventricle, either through the reconstructed valve or via one of the great arteries. Upon termination of cardiopulmonary bypass the valve function was examined in the beating heart by transesophageal contrast echocardiography (TEE). For purposes of visualization, 0.5–1.0 cc of agitated Gelifundol was injected into the ventricle. In 31 patients, open testing and echocardiographic visualization showed identical, good o…

Assessment of left ventricular function during aortic balloon valvuloplasty by transesophageal echocardiography

Several reports have documented the feasability and utility of balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a palliative treatment for high-surgical-risk patients with critical aortic valve stenosis (1–3).

Right ventricular volume determination in isolated human hearts

For right ventricular volume determination a new method was developed that took into account right ventricular imaging by apical two-dimensional echocardiography in the four- and two-chamber views. Right ventricular volume was calculated by subtraction of the partial volume of the left ventricle and interventricular septum from the total heart volume of the right and left ventricles including the interventricular septum. Accuracy of the subtraction method was evaluated in isolated human hearts by two-dimensional echocardiography and radiography. Regression analysis indicated that for both the echocardiographic and radiologic procedures, the subtraction method gave the best correlation with …

New bundle branch block after coronary artery bypass grafting— evaluation by CK-MB isoenzyme analysis and transoesophageal echocardiography

Twelve patients with a new complete bundle branch block after coronary artery bypass grafting underwent transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The results of TEE were compared with the pre-operative ventriculography, CK-MB isoenzyme time-release curves and clinical course. In eight patients with transient right bundle branch block or bifascicular block, low CK-MB activities and an uncomplicated postoperative course, transoesophageal echocardiography showed no new segmental wall motion abnormalities apart from a paradoxical septal movement in five. A persistent right or left bundle branch block was associated with either elevated isoenzyme activities, transoesophageal echocardiographic evi…

Use of transoesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of abscess in infective endocarditis

Transoesophageal echocardiography is invaluable clinically since it accurately images abscess cavities or aneurysms. It provides the information about the site and extension of abscesses which is needed by surgeons to time and define surgical intervention. Early diagnosis is advantageous, and abscesses should be expected in 5%-30% of patients with echocardiographically discernible vegetations. Since there is no 'abscess typical' organism, transoesophageal echocardiographic examination is helpful at the first indication of infective endocarditis, to identify high-risk patients. Involvement of the aortic valve, growth in the size of vegetations, and the presence of spontaneous echo contrast a…

Short and long term results after intracoronary stenting in human coronary arteries: monocentre experience with the balloon-expandable Palmaz-Schatz stent.

OBJECTIVE--Intracoronary stenting was designed to overcome acute complications after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and to achieve a reduced rate of restenosis, both of which are major limitations of this well accepted method for treating coronary heart disease. This report describes the experience at one centre with the implantation of balloon-expandable Palmaz-Schatz stents and focuses on device related complications and the short and long term angiographic outcome. DESIGN--A retrospective data analysis. PATIENTS--Stenting was attempted in 50 patients. Restenosis after an initially successful angioplasty procedure, inadequate postangioplasty results, saphenous coronary byp…

A framework for PACS development in cardiology

The authors develop a framework for the integration of cardiology into hospitalwide picture archiving and communication systems (PACSs) by the definition of user requirements in cardiology image information systems. These user requirements have to be based on the consensus of users and industry. A topdown layered scheme is proposed for the development of documents based on user requirements. The structure of committees within the European Society of Cardiology that are working in this field is discussed. >

Computerized estimation of quality standards for the X-ray densitometric assessment of myocardial perfusion

The densitometric evaluation of heart-phase-gated digital subtraction coronary angiograms derives different parameters which provide information about coronary blood flow, myocardial perfusion, and coronary flow reserve: appearance time, rise time, mean ascending time, and maximum intensity. The reliability and reproducibility of these measurements and of the derived parameters were investigated. Four digital subtraction coronary angiograms were obtained in ten patients, including two baseline measurements and two measurements under hyperemia induced by papaverine ic. Different reproducibility results were found for the parameters, depending on the heart phase of the densogram (diastolic be…

Ambulatory follow-up of aortic dissection by transesophageal two-dimensional and color-coded Doppler echocardiography.

Follow-up of 18 patients with aortic dissection (five with type I, one with type II, 11 with type III dissection according to DeBakey) by transesophageal, two-dimensional and color-coded Doppler echocardiography showed a persistence of the false lumen in five of seven patients (71%) after surgery and in nine of 11 patients (82%) after medical therapy. In two patients treated with surgery, the dissected part of the aorta had been resected, whereas in two patients treated medically, a progressive and complete obliteration of the false lumen was observed. In the false lumen, thrombus formation was absent in four, localized in four, and progressive in six patients. Flow within the false lumen c…

High-speed rotational angioplasty-induced echo contrast in vivo and in vitro optical analysis

High-speed rotational angioplasty is being evaluated as an alternative interventional device for the endovascular treatment of chronic coronary occlusions. It has been postulated that this type of angioplasty device may produce particulate debris or cavitations that induce myocardial ischemia. To determine the clinical presence of myocardial ischemia during rotational angioplasty, echocardiographic monitoring for wall motion abnormalities was performed in 9 patients undergoing rotational atheroablation using the Auth Rotablator for 10-sec intervals at 150,000 and 170,000 rpm. No wall motion abnormalities were detected in 5 patients evaluated with transesophageal echocardiography or in 4 pat…

Coronary stent implantation in acute vessel closure 48 hours after an unsatisfactory coronary angioplasty

We report the implantation of a balloon-expandable stent in a patient with acute vessel closure in the state of evolving myocardial infarction following 48 hr after unsatisfactory coronary angioplasty. The stent was implanted after successful recanalization of an occluded left anterior descending artery, with repeated unsatisfactory results of balloon angioplasty. Adjunct thrombolytic therapy was contraindicated. No residual stenosis was documented in immediate control angiograms, or after 24 hr, 3 weeks, and 4 months.

Historischer Überblick zur Funktionsdiagnostik des linken Ventrikels

Das Beschwerdebild eines herzinsuffizienten Patienten erlaubt nur eine grobe Abschatzung der Funktion des Herz-Kreislauf-Systems. Allgemein anerkannt ist die New York Heart As­sociation Klassifikation der Herzinsuffizienz in vier Schwere grade (32). Unter Herzinsuffi­zienz wird ein Zustand verstanden, bei dem das Herz nicht mehr in der Lage ist, dem Korper ausreichend Sauerstoff und Substrat zur Verfugung zu stellen. Eine pulmonale Stauung weist den Arzt auf eine Linksherzinsuffizienz und eine venose Stauung auf eine Rechtsherzinsuffi­zienz hin. Eine ausgepragte Funktionseinschrankung des Herzens last sich so leicht erkennen. Eine geringgradige Insuffizienz ist dagegen schwer zu objektivier…

INFLUENCE OF RECOMBINANT PRO-UROKINASE ON THE HEMOSTATIC SYSTEM IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Recombinant unglycosylated pro-urokinase (recombinant single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator, CG4509) was given to twelve patients (pts.) with acute myocardial infarction as a 20 mg bolus followed by a 60 mg intravenous infusion (iv.inf.) over 1 hour and to twelve pts. as a 10 mg bolus followed by a 30 mg iv.inf. over 1 hour. Reperfusion was angiographically confirmed in 9/12 pts. with the higher dose and in 6/12 pts. who obtained the lower dose. Different parameters of hemostasis were determined before administration, 30 min after the beginning of inf.,at the end of inf., 60 min thereafter and 6-12 hours afterwards .The most significant systemic changes were observed 60 min afte…

Ein diagnostisch-therapeutischer Stufenplan bei instabiler Angina pectoris

Unter instabiler Angina pectoris wird 1. eine Crescendo-Angina-pectoris verstanden, die an Starke und Haufigkeit zunimmt oder sich auf eine bestehende typische Belastungs-Angina-pectoris aufpfropft, 2. eine Angina pectoris in Ruhe und bei minimaler Belastung und 3. eine neu auftretende Angina pectoris, die bei geringster Belastung ausgelost wird [3].

Determination of myocardial perfusion and coronary flow reserve by densitometric measurements: a selective classification of regions of interest

To evaluate the functional effect of a coronary artery stenosis on the dependent myocardium, digitized coronary angiograms (DCAs) were recorded. The DCAs, acquired during heart catheterization, provide information about myocardial perfusion and coronary flow reserve of areas supplied by this coronary artery. For each analysis the myocardium is separated into different regions of interest (ROIs); 16 ROIs in the distribution of the LCA and 8 ROIs for the RCA. In addition to that, the ROIs of the diseased vessels are divided into ROIs which are proximal, within and distal to the stenosis. Using a semiautomatic procedure, densograms are constructed from which the parameter rise time is calculat…

Spontaneous plaque rupture visualized by intravascular ultrasound.

An intravascular ultrasound examination was performed in order to evaluate an angiographically complicated lesion. Intravascular ultrasound was able to demonstrate spontaneous plaque rupture in a patient with recent acute subendocardial infarction. The inconclusive angiographic appearance was clarified by the intravascular examination and led us to conclude that the myocardial infarction was due to plaque rupture with subsequent thrombotic occlusion, which had spontaneously resolved by the time of the study.

Intravascular ultrasound imaging of arterial wall architecture.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a promising new technique for assessing vascular morphology and structure. Controversy exists whether the three-layer appearance of the arterial wall correctly reflects the histologic structures of the intima, media, and adventitia. We performed an experimental study to clarify the three-layer appearance. The vessel wall architecture was analyzed by IVUS on eight different kinds of plastic cylinders, 24 normal blood vessels from pigs, and 59 human arterial segments. A distinct three-layer appearance was observed on all the plastic cylinders when the ultrasound beam was perpendicular to the wall. A three-layer appearance was also seen in the arterial wall, …

Langzeitverlauf über 10 Jahre nach Ballondilatation bei stabiler und instabiler Angina pectoris

OBJECTIVE To assess the cardiac status of patients ten years after percutaneous transluminal coronary artery angioplasty (PTCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS Data of 534 patients (436 men, 98 women; mean age 53.2 +/- 8 years) in whom a PTCA had been performed between 1983 and 1986 were analysed, based on a questionnaire answered 121 +/- 11 months after the initial procedure. At the time of PTCA 184 patients (35%) had unstable angina, 350 (65%) stable angina. RESULTS 116 patients (63%) with unstable angina and 164 (47%) with stable angina had at least one cardiac event after the initial PTCA (repeat PTCA, bypass operation, myocardial infarction, death). None of these events occurred in 68 patients (…

Echocardiography in myocardial infarction

This paper discusses the usefulness of echocardiography in thrombolysis, its diagnostic value and drawbacks for therapy and the possibilities for follow-up studies. The diagnostic value is seen in the possibility of localizing and defining the extent of myocardial infarction, not only of the left but also of the right ventricle, and recognizing the complications of myocardial infarction as soon as possible 1, 2, 4.

Short-and long-term outcome after PTCA in patients with stable and unstable angina

Acute results and follow-up data over a period of 36 months after attempted PTCA in 406 patients with stable angina and 202 patients with unstable angina are reported. The rate of acute complications (death, myocardial infarction and bypass grafting (CABG) amounted to 1.5% in stable and 6.4% in unstable patients (P less than 0.005). Within the first week after PTCA a significantly lower percentage (1.7% vs 10.4%) of cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, CABG and repeat PTCA) was observed in the stable group (P less than 0.001). During a 12-month follow-up period, another 16.3% of the patients in the stable group and 30.7% of unstable patients suffered a new cardiac event (P less tha…

Assessment of successful valve reconstruction by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

In 17 patients (10 patients with mitral insufficiency, 5 patients with tricuspid regurgitation, 2 patients with mitral stenosis) the result of valve reconstruction was evaluated by intraoperative two-dimensional transesophageal contrast-echocardiography (TEE). Therefore, 1–2 cc of an agitated contrast-medium (GelifundolR) were injected into the left or right ventricle. The result of reconstruction was assessed by the extent of regurgitant microbubbles into the left or right atrium. A successful valve repair could be demonstrated in 15 patients without or with only minimal regurgitation of contrast-fluid. In one patient residual severe mitral insufficiency after valve reconstruction could on…

Transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiographic volumetry of distorted left ventricles using rotational scanning

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation of transthoracic three- and two-dimensional echocardiographic left ventricular volumetry to cineventriculographic volumetry. Twenty-five patients with distorted left ventricles were included in the study. To demonstrate the impact of acquiring data by rotational scanning, we performed three- and two-dimensional echocardiography in 36 latex ventricles with data acquisition in different areas of the ultrasound sectors. Interobserver and intraobserver variability were calculated to test for reproducibility. The three-dimensional imaging system consisted of a rotation motor device, a transthoracic 2.5 MHz transducer, a conventional ultrasou…

Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse

Three-dimensional imaging of cardiac mass lesions by transesophageal echocardiographic computed tomography.

Three-dimensional echocardiography is a new imaging technique that allows more realistic visualization of cardiac morphology. This study presents data about the diagnostic potentials of this technique concerning cardiac mass lesions, as well as its feasibility in clinical application. After the conventional investigation, multiple cross-sectional images were obtained during automatic forward advancement of a monoplane transducer mounted on a transesophageal probe. Three-dimensional reconstruction and volume determination were performed off line. Twenty-four patients were studied. In 14 cases results of echocardiographic computed tomography (echo-CT) were compared with those of monoplane/bip…

Congenital mitral regurgitation caused by a perforation in the anterior leaflet: Perioperative evaluation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography

Color-coded two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography confirmed the presence of severe congenital mitral regurgitation in an 8-month-old infant. Intraoperative inspection revealed an isolated perforation in the anterior leaflet.