Quantification of the area and shunt volume of multiple, circular, and noncircular ventricular septal defects: A 2D/3D echocardiography comparison and real time 3D color Doppler feasibility determination study.

Background: Quantification of defect size and shunt flow is an important aspect of ventricular septal defect (VSD) evaluation. This study compared three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) with the current clinical standard two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) for quantifying defect area and tested the feasibility of real time 3D color Doppler echocardiography (RT3D-CDE) for quantifying shunt volume of irregular shaped and multiple VSDs.

Methods: Latex balloons were sutured into the ventricles of 32 freshly harvested porcine hearts and were connected with tubing placed in septal perforations.

Mitigation of Variability among 3D Echocardiography-Derived Regional Strain Values Acquired by Multiple Ultrasound Systems by Vendor Independent Analysis.

Introduction: This study compared the variability of 3D echo derived circumferential and longitudinal strain values computed from vendor-specific and vendor-independent analyses of images acquired using ultrasound systems from different vendors.

Methods: Ten freshly harvested porcine hearts were studied. Each heart was mounted on a custom designed phantom and driven to simulate normal cardiac motion.

Image-Derived Assessment of Left Ventricular Mass in Fetal Myocardial Hypertrophy by 4-Dimensional Echocardiography: An In Vitro Study.

Objectives: This study tested the accuracy of new 4-dimensional fetal echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular (LV) mass in an experimental model of fetal myocardial hypertrophy.

Methods: Ten fresh rabbit hearts were studied. Fetal myocardial hypertrophy was simulated by fixing different amounts of myocardial tissue to the LV epicardium.

Quantification of Shunt Volume Through Ventricular Septal Defect by Real-Time 3-D Color Doppler Echocardiography: An in Vitro Study.

Quantification of shunt volume is important for ventricular septal defects (VSDs). The aim of the in vitro study described here was to test the feasibility of using real-time 3-D color Doppler echocardiography (RT3-D-CDE) to quantify shunt volume through a modeled VSD. Eight porcine heart phantoms with VSDs ranging in diameter from 3 to 25 mm were studied.

Real Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Evaluations of Fetal Left Ventricular Stroke Volume, Mass, and Myocardial Strain: In Vitro and In Vivo Experimental Study.

Background: Left ventricular stroke volume, mass, and myocardial strain are valuable indicators of fetal heart function. This study investigated the feasibility of nongated real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) to determine fetal stroke volume (SV), left ventricular mass (LVM), and myocardial strain under different conditions.

Methods: To evaluate fetal hearts, fetal-sized rabbit hearts were used in this study.

Quantitative assessment of mitral inflow and aortic outflow stroke volumes by 3-dimensional real-time full-volume color flow doppler transthoracic echocardiography: an in vivo study.

Objectives: Noninvasive quantification of left ventricular (LV) stroke volumes has an important clinical role in assessing circulation and monitoring therapeutic interventions for cardiac disease. This study validated the accuracy of a real-time 3-dimensional (3D) color flow Doppler method performed during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for quantifying volume flows through the mitral and aortic valves using a dedicated offline 3D flow computation program compared to LV sonomicrometry in an open-chest animal model.

Methods: Forty-six different hemodynamic states in 5 open-chest pigs were studied.

Comprehensive evaluation of cardiac function and detection of myocardial infarction based on a semi-automated analysis using full-volume real time three-dimensional echocardiography.

Objective: Quantitative left ventricular mass (LVM) as well as regional strain values may be obtained from full-volume real time 3D echocardiography data via semi-automated feature tracking and represent indices of heart function, both in health and disease.

Methods: Fresh adult porcine and ovine hearts were passively pumped to simulate normal cardiac motion at stroke volumes (SVs) varying from 30 to 70 mL. A 3V-D Matrix probe, interfaced with a GE Vivid E9 ultrasound system, was used to image each heart at baseline conditions and after simulated myocardial infarction (MI).

Regional strain determination and myocardial infarction detection by three-dimensional echocardiography with varied temporal resolution.

Background: Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is a promising method for strain determination; however, there are temporal resolution concerns. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of 3DE on longitudinal and circumferential strain (LS, CS) determination and infarction detection under variable frame rates (FR) and "heart rates" (stroke rates [SR]) conditions.

Methods: Latex balloons were sewn into the left ventricle (LV) of 20 freshly harvested pig hearts which were then passively driven by a pulsatile pump apparatus at stroke volumes (SV) 30-70 mL.

Evaluation of stroke volume and ventricular mass in a fetal heart model: a novel four-dimensional echocardiographic analysis.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and accuracy of nongated four-dimensional echocardiography (4DE) for determining left ventricular (LV) stroke volume (SV) and mass in a fetal heart-sized LV model.

Methods: A balloon was inserted into the LV of 20 fresh rabbit hearts and attached to a calibrated pulsatile pump. Ten hearts retaining the right ventricle were imaged in Group A.

Evaluation of a new 3-dimensional color Doppler flow method to quantify flow across the mitral valve and in the left ventricular outflow tract: an in vitro study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy, feasibility, and reproducibility of determining stroke volume from a novel 3-dimensional (3D) color Doppler flow quantification method for mitral valve (MV) inflow and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) outflow at different stroke volumes when compared with the actual flow rate in a pumped porcine cardiac model.

Methods: Thirteen freshly harvested pig hearts were studied in a water tank. We inserted a latex balloon into each left ventricle from the MV annulus to the LVOT, which were passively pumped at different stroke volumes (30-80 mL) using a calibrated piston pump at increments of 10 mL.

Sympathetic cardiac hyperinnervation and atrial autonomic imbalance in diet-induced obesity promote cardiac arrhythmias.

Obesity increases the risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, but the mechanisms are unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that obesity-induced cardiac sympathetic outgrowth and hyperinnervation promotes the development of arrhythmic events. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-275 g), fed a high-fat diet (33% kcal/fat), diverged into obesity-resistant (OR) and obesity-prone (OP) groups and were compared with rats fed normal chow (13% kcal/fat; CON).

Assessment of interventricular dyssynchrony by real time three-dimensional echocardiography: an in vitro study in a porcine model.

Background: Loss of synchronous contraction between or within the right and left ventricle (RV, LV) leads to adverse ventricular function. We used real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) for evaluation of severity of interventricular dyssynchrony and function in a porcine heart model.

Methods: Six fresh in vitro porcine hearts were used to create a controlled model of LV and RV dyssynchrony using two sets of pulsatile pumps.