Improvement of tricuspid regurgitation after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy

For patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension who undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) it has not yet been systematically investigated how operation affects the severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). This study sought (1) to evaluate the extent of TR reversibility after operation, (2) to identify potential predictors of the reversibility of TR, and (3) to investigate the influence of geometric and hemodynamic alterations on the extent of TR severity.Thirty-nine patients (55+/-12 years) undergoing PTE without tricuspid valve repair were investigated before and 13+/-8 days after operation by Doppler color flow mapping. Geometry of the tricuspid valve as well as r…

Reversibilität von Veränderungen der links- und rechtsventrikulären Geometrie und Hämodynamik bei pulmonaler Hypertonie. Echokardiographische Charakterisierung bei Patienten vor und nach pulmonaler Thrombendarteriektomie (Reversibility of changes in left- and right ventricular geometry and hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiographic characteristics before and after pulmonary thrombendarterectomy)

Durch pulmonale Thrombendarteriektomie kann bei Patienten mit chronischer embolisch bedingter pulmonaler Hypertonie eine akute rechtsventrikulare Nachlastsenkung erzielt werden. Der Einflus auf die rechts- und linksventrikulare Geometrie und Hamodynamik wurde prospektiv mit Hilfe der transthorakalen Echokardiographie an einem Kollektiv von 14 Patienten (8 Frauen, 6 Manner; Alter 55 ± 20 Jahre) vor und nach 18 ± 12 Tagen postoperativ untersucht. Nach operativer Desobliteration der Pulmonalarterien fand sich eine Abnahme des invasiv bestimmten totalen pulmonalen Gefaswiderstands von 986 ± 318 auf 323 ± 280 dyn x s/cm5; p < 0,05. Der echokardiographisch erfaste systolische pulmonalarterielle D…

Pathophysiology of Impaired Right and Left Ventricular Function in Chronic Embolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Study objectives: This study sought to evaluatethe pathophysiology of left and right heart failure in patients withchronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who werehospitalized to undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). Design: Thirty-nine patients (16 women and 23 men;mean ± SD age, 55 ± 12 years) with severe CTEPH were examinedbefore and 13 ± 8 days after PTE by way of transthoracicechocardiography and right heart catheterization. Measurements and results: Examination resultsconfirmed in all cases that before surgery the right ventricles wereenlarged and systolic function was impaired. Moderate to severetricuspid valve regurgitation was observed. Left ventriculareccent…

Intraventrikuläre Obstruktionen bei der Dobutamin-Streßechokardiographie: Determinanten ihrer Entstehung und klinische Folgen (Dynamic intraventricular obstruction during dobutamine stress echocardiography. Determinants of the phenomenon and clinical consequences)

Die Dobutamin-Stresechokardiographie (DSE) fuhrt zu einer starken Hyperkontraktilitat des Myokards bei Tachykardie und Vesodilatation. Diese Effekte konnen zu einer unphysiologischen Abnahme des endsystolischen Volumenindex (ESVI) mit Obstruktion des linksventrikularen Ausflustraktes (LVOT) fuhren. Bei 100 Patienten (Pat.), die sich einer DSE (5–40) μg/kg/min) unterzogen, wurde die kontinuierliche Dopplerregistrierung (DW-Doppler) vor Infusion und bei maximaler Herzfrequenz durchgefuhrt. Eine dynamische, spat-systolische, Flusakzeleration auf mehr als 2 Meter/Sekunde (m/s) unter maximaler Stimulation wurde als systolische Obstruktion des LVOT interpretiert. Manifestationsfaktoren systolisch…

Aktuelle Frühergebnisse nach pulmonaler Thrombendarteriektomie bei chronischer thromboembolischer pulmonaler Hypertonie (Early results of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension)

Die pulmonale Thrombendarteriektomie ist ein potentiell kuratives Operationsverfahren bei Patienten mit chronischer thromboembolischer pulmonaler Hypertonie. Von Juni 1989 bis Dezember 1994 wurden in unserer Klinik 109 Patienten einer pulmonalen Thrombendarteriektomie unterzogen. Seit Januar 1995 wurden vielfaltige Veranderungen des operativen und postoperativen Therapiekonzepts vorgenommen. Wir berichten uber die Fruhergebnisse von 32 Thrombendarteriektomien, die von Januar 1995 bis Januar 1997 durchgefuhrt worden sind.

Detection of Strands in Native Aortic Valves by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Prevalence and echocardiographic characteristics of strands on the leaflets of native aortic valves were examined. According to our data, the strands we found in 39% of patients are most likely Lambl's excrescences.

Assessment of cardiac performance using Tei indices in patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

This study was designed to evaluate left and right ventricular performance using Tei indices in patients with severe chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). The Doppler-derived indices are easily measurable indicators of ventricular function based on nongeometric assessment, which helps overcome some of the difficulties entailed in the geometric assessment of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function in pulmonary hypertension.The indices were derived for 24 patients (aged 54+/-14 years) before and after PTE. Calculation of these indices was based on the duration of two time intervals using the formula (A - B)/B, where A…

258 Right heart wall motion and volume analysis in severe chronic pulmonary hypertension using realtime three dimensional echocardiography compared to MR imaging

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…

Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Evaluation of Aortic and Mitral Valve Stenosis

Dynamic volume rendered three-dimensional echocardiography allows the spatial recognition of anatomy and function of the aortic and mitral valves with acceptable image quality. The aortic valve can be best visualized in a view from the ascending aorta down to the valve level, thus allowing an overview of the aortic aspect of the valve in a surgeon's perspective in ∼ 80% of patients. Planimetric measurement of the aortic valve area was possible in 88% of patients, and there is no systematic overestimation or underestimation of aortic valve area compared with two-dimensional echocardiography and catheterization. The entire valvular circumference of the mitral valve can be assessed from both a…

Long-term results after thromboendarterectomy for chronic pulmonary embolism1

Objective: In patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) can be reduced by pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). In this study, long-term symptomatic and hemodynamic effects were investigated. Methods: Twenty-two patients (12 female, 10 male, mean age 40 years, preoperative NYHA functional class II/III/IV: n = 1/12/9) were re-evaluated 48‐72 months (mean 60 months) after surgery. In addition to clinical assessment, radiologic, hemodynamic and echocardiographic investigations were performed. Results: All patients reported a marked improvement of their clinical condition. At follow-up, 11 patients were identified as NYHA class I, 10 as NY…

Quantitative Assessment of Right Ventricular Volumes in Severe Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension using Transthoracic Three-dimensional Echocardiography: Changes due to Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

Evaluation of a three-dimensional reconstruction method to show the changes of right ventricular volume and systolic function when patients undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.In the examination of 11 patients (four female, seven male; age 56+/-10 years) before and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, end-diastolic and end-systolic right ventricular volumes were determined as a sum total of the calculated volumes of derived parallel slices of the right ventricle. Using a Tomtec workstation and a Vingmed CFM 800 echocardiography device, the acquired data were ECG-and respiration-triggered in the course of transthoracic examination, usin…

Quantitative assessment of aortic stenosis by three-dimensional echocardiography

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of three-dimensional echocardiography in aortic stenosis. Planimetric determination of valve area and dynamic volume-rendered display were performed. Three-dimensional echocardiography permits display of any desired plane of the cardiac structure. Thus in the case of aortic stenosis, the plane used for planimetric evaluation can be positioned exactly through the valve orifice. Dynamic volume-rendered display may provide a spatial demonstration of the stenotic valve. In 48 patients aortic valve area was measured by planimetry. The three-dimensional data set was acquired by a workstation in the course of a multiplane transesophageal exam…