The prognostic significance of right ventricular tissue Doppler parameters in patients with left ventricular systolic heart failure: an observational cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate the value of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) measurements of right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic function as a predictor of long term cardiovascular outcomes in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic heart failure.

Background: In patients with LV systolic heart failure, RV function has been shown to be an important predictor of outcome. TDI is probably a clinically useful method for assessing RV function.

CRP, IL-6 and endothelin-1 levels in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Do preoperative inflammatory parameters predict early graft occlusion and late cardiovascular events?

Background: Inflammation is a major contributor to atherosclerotic vascular disease. Inflammatory parameters such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been shown to be strong predictors of cardiovascular events. The association between preoperative inflammatory parameters and early graft occlusion as well as cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has not, however, been fully elucidated.

Improvement in diastolic left ventricular function after coronary artery bypass grafting as assessed by recordings of mitral annular velocity using Doppler tissue imaging.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in diastolic function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), using pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging (DTI).

Methods: Fifty-three patients with coronary artery disease were studied before and 3 and 12 months after CABG. Using pulsed-wave DTI, the mitral annular velocities were determined at 4 sites in the left ventricle (LV).

Decreased right ventricular function after coronary artery bypass grafting and its relation to exercise capacity: a tricuspid annular motion-based study.

Background: Decreased right ventricular (RV) function is a known echocardiographic finding after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). For patients with heart failure, RV dysfunction is a predictor of poor exercise capacity. The significance and time course of RV dysfunction and its relation to exercise capacity after CABG have not been elucidated, however.