Estimating mean pulmonary wedge pressure in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation from transthoracic Doppler indexes of mitral and pulmonary venous flow velocity.

Objectives: We sought to obtain a noninvasive estimation of mean pulmonary wedge pressure (MPWP) in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: It has previously been demonstrated that MPWP can be reliably estimated from Doppler indexes of mitral and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) in patients with sinus rhythm. Doppler estimation of MPWP has not been validated in patients with AF.

[Right atrial thrombosis with concomitant thrombus attached to a central venous catheter. Clinical case].

A clinical case of a patient in whom a right atrial thrombosis was casually discovered by transthoracic echocardiography is described. The hypothesis that also the central venous catheter (CVC) could be seat of thrombosis was done, and was confirmed by chest X-ray with dye injection in the CVC. A thrombolytic therapy with plasminogen tissular activator and with heparin infusion was started.

Hemodynamic evaluation of 23 mm Pericarbon and 23 mm Hancock II bioprostheses in the aortic position at mid-term follow up.

Background And Aims Of The Study: Pericardial xenografts were introduced for clinical use following evidence of their good hemodynamic characteristics in laboratory tests; however, their efficiency in comparison with porcine valves has not been fully assessed. Pericarbon, a new type of pericardial bioprosthesis, has been recently developed in order to provide better hemodynamic performances and longer durability than such bioprostheses currently in use.

Methods: Fifteen patients operated on for aortic valve replacement with a 23 mm Pericarbon and a sex- and age-matched group operated on with a 23 mm Hancock II bioprosthesis were submitted to echocardiographic and Doppler examinations in order to compare the hemodynamic performance of the two devices.

Usefulness of transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography in recognition and management of cardiovascular injuries after blunt chest trauma.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic potential of transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography for the detection of traumatic cardiovascular injuries in patients suffering from severe blunt chest trauma.

Design: Prospective study over a three year period.

Setting: A regional cardiothoracic centre.