A prediction model of echocardiographic variables to screen for potentially correctable shunts in adult ASD-PAH patients.

Background: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a prevalent congenital heart condition in adults that leads to pulmonary hypertension (PAH) and right heart failure if left untreated. During a routine follow-up of adult ASD-PAH patients, the suitability of shunt closure depends on the invasive right heart catheterization (RHC).Nevertheless, performing RHC at every follow-up is impractical and may be harmful.

Prediction value of pulmonary hypertension in newly identified left ventricular dysfunction among adult patients after patent ductus arteriosus closure.

The present study aimed to propose the pulmonary hypertension for predicting left ventricular dysfunction in adults after patent ductus arteriosus closure. A total of 183 patients (age ≥18 years) after patent ductus arteriosus occlusion were retrospectively collected in this study. In brief, pre-, post-procedure and short-term follow-up transthoracic echocardiography were performed.

Transesophageal echocardiography for coronary sinus imaging in partially unroofed coronary sinus.

Background: Partially unroofed coronary sinus (PUCS) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly and prone to be misdiagnosed. The purpose of this study was to explore the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in CS imaging for the detection of PUCS and to develop a special two-dimensional TEE-based en face view of CS.

Methods: Twenty adult patients with suspected PUCS, showing a dilated coronary sinus and an enlarged right heart on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), underwent TEE examination.

Transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults: immediate and two-year follow-up results.

Background: Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a well established procedure and an accepted treatment modality for small to moderate-sized PDA. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and follow-up results of transcatheter closure of large PDAs with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults.

Methods: After a complete hemodynamic evaluation differentiating from the reversibility of severe PAH, transcatheter closure of PDA was performed.

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale in Chinese patients with paradoxical embolism. -Immediate results and long-term follow-up-.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess immediate and long-term clinical outcome of Chinese patent foramen ovale (PFO) patients with paradoxical embolism who underwent transcatheter PFO closure.

Methods And Results: One hundred and ninety-two patients underwent transcatheter PFO closure for secondary prevention of thromboembolic events (TE). During the procedure, 7 patients had frequent atrial premature beats or transient atrial tachycardia in implantation and 1 patient had a transitory ST-elevation in leads II, III and aV(F).

[Immediately effects of inhaled aerosolised iloprost in adult patients with severe pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart diseases].

Objective: To investigate the immediately effects of inhaled aerosolized iloprost in adult patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) secondary to congenital heart diseases (CHD).

Methods: Adult patients with severe PAH secondary to CHD (n = 165) were included in this study. Right heart catheterization was performed, Pulmonary and systemic blood flow, the oxygen consumption VO(2) (ml/min) were calculated using Fick's principle.

Acute left ventricular failure after transcatheter closure of a secundum atrial septal defect in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

We report a case of acute left ventricular failure at one hour after transcatheter closure of a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in a 28-year-old man with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Afforded noninvasive mechanical ventilation and the administration of intravenous morphine and high doses of furosemide, the patient exhibited improvement of his clinical condition, reduction of pulmonary congestion at chest X-ray, and satisfactory blood gas analyses in twelve hours. Twenty-four hours later, the patient received oral administration of furosemide and metoprolol.

[Correlation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene polymorphisms to essential hypertension and ischemic stroke].

Objective: To study the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene polymorphisms and the risk factor for essential hypertension (EH) with concurrent ischemic stroke in southern Chinese population.

Methods: The G9570A polymorphism in ACE2 gene were detected in 139 patients with EH and stroke using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Detailed clinical and biochemistrical data of the patients, including the pulse pressure, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), intima-media thickness (IMT), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and uric acid levels, were collected to study the relationship between ACE2 gene and the risk factor of EH and stroke.

[Quantitative assessment of pulmonary blood flow by echocardiography in patients with congenital heart defect].

Objective: To explore the possibility and reliability of echocardiography in quantitative evaluation of pulmonary blood flow in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Sixty-four patients with left to right shunt congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) underwent echocardiographic examinations of the right upper and lower pulmonary vein blood flow spectrum in the four-chamber face, and the right upper pulmonary vein flow velocity time integral (VTIrupv) and right inferior pulmonary venous flow velocity time integral (VTIrlpv) were calculated according to the heart rate. The VTIrupv and VTIrlpv were compared with the pulmonary blood flow (Qp) calculated by Fick method with right heart catheterization.

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale with the Spider patent foramen ovale occluder: a prospective, single-center trial.

Background: Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a promising alternative to surgical closure or anticoagulation therapy to prevent paradoxical embolic events in patients with PFO. Several different devices have been used for transcatheter PFO closure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility for closure of PFO with a new PFO occluder, the Spider PFO occluder.

[Chronic outcome of percutaneous transcatheter patent foramen ovale closure with Left-disk-coated patent foramen ovale occluder].

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure with Left-disk-coated PFO occluder.

Methods: The device was implanted in patients with PFO under the guidance of fluoroscopy and transthoracal echocardiography using a 10-12 French delivery sheath via femoral vein approach. Aspirin (100 mg/d for 6 months) was administered post procedure.

[Efficacy of a domestic left-disk-coated atrial septal occluder on treating patent foramen Ovale in a miniswine model].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of domestic left-disk-coated atrial septal occluder on treating patent foramen ovale in a miniswine model.

Methods: Foramen ovale was punctured in 12 Guangxi BA-MA miniswine and occluded by domestic left-disk-coated atrial septal occluder (Spider(TM) PFO closure system) under the guidance of fluoroscopy. After occlusion, miniswine were executed after transthoracic echocardiography examination with color Doppler at month 1, 2, 3 and 6 respectively for gross inspection and microscopic examinations.