Longitudinal strain and myocardial work in symptomatic patients having recovered from COVID-19 and possible associations with the severity of the disease.

COVID-19 may have residual consequences in multiple organs, including the cardiovascular system. The purpose of the present investigation is to quantify myocardial function in symptomatic individuals with long COVID and investigate the association between illness severity and myocardial function. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in which symptomatic individuals with previous COVID-19 underwent echocardiographic analysis of left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and myocardial work (MW).

Endovascular repair of ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation during pulmonary transplant.

We demonstrated an endovascular technique excluding an ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm using an aortic extension. A 32-year-old woman, 3 years after lung transplantation with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation presented with an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm. Vascular surgery was consulted after open repair was deemed high risk.

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with heart failure: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is no definition for strain deformation values in relation to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in different heart failure (HF) phenotypes.

Aim: To identify the relationship between echocardiographic systolic function measurements and CRF in HF patients.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA recommendations.

Evaluation of myocardial work in patients with resistant arterial hypertension.

Aims: Individuals with resistant arterial hypertension are particularly at risk of developing target organ damage and cardiovascular events. The advanced echocardiography technique called myocardial work (MW), through the analysis of the left ventricular pressure-strain loop, is among the possibilities for evaluating these individuals. Our study was designed to describe the behavior of MW indices in individuals with resistant arterial hypertension (RH), controlled hypertension (CH), and normal arterial pressure (N).

Echocardiographic assessment of atrial function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with and without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Introduction And Objectives: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is accompanied by pathophysiological changes that predispose to the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). This arrhythmia impacts negatively on the morbidity, mortality and quality of life of these patients. Our objective was to evaluate the behavior of left atrial function, by means of atrial strain (derived from speckle tracking) and volumetric analysis by three-dimensional echocardiography, in patients with HCM with paroxysmal AF.

Septal Ablation with Radiofrequency Catheters Guided by Echocardiography for Treatment of Patients with Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Initial Experience.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can cause obstruction in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), and be responsible for the onset of limiting symptoms, such as tiredness. When such symptoms are refractory to pharmacological treatment, interventionist alternative therapies can be useful, such as septal ablation through the infusion of alcohol in the coronary artery or through myectomy. Recently, the use of a radiofrequency (RF) catheter for endocardial septal ablation guided by electroanatomic mapping has proven to be efficient, despite the high incidence of complete atrioventricular block.

Myocardial strain pattern progress in patients with Coarctation of the Aorta undergoing aortic stenting.

Background And Aim: Ventricular function evaluation in coarctation of the aorta (CoA) has become more sophisticated and precise with speckle tracking, revealing subclinical changes. However, CoA stenting treatment effects in on myocardial strain are still controversial. This study aimed to estimate the extent to which changes in left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) occur in patients with CoA who undergo stenting.

Mid- to long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with a new-generation, self-expandable system.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate mid- to late clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with Acurate neo™ (Boston Scientific, Boston, MA).

Background: TAVR is an established treatment for aortic stenosis (AS). Few data exist on mid- to long-term outcomes and durability after new-generation valves.

Predictive role of Selvester QRS score in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Introduction: Few data exist regarding the late clinical impact of the Selvester score prediction of myocardial fibrosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study evaluated the predictive power of the Selvester score on survival in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing TAVR.

Methods And Results: Patients with severe AS who had preoperative electrocardiograms were included.

E/e` ratio is superior to speckle tracking for detecting elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in patients with coronary artery disease and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: A weak correlation has been reported between left ventricular filling pressures and the traditional echocardiographic tools for the evaluation of diastolic function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). On the other hand, studies that compared invasive measurements with speckle tracking echocardiography have shown promising results, but they were not exclusively targeted on this specific population.

Methods And Results: Immediately before the left heart catheterization, a comprehensive two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and speckle tracking analysis was prospectively performed in outpatients referred for coronary angiography.

Association between left atrial strain and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Left ventricular diastolic function is an important prognostic marker in acute coronary syndrome. However, classification of the dysfunction grade using isolated echocardiographic parameters remains difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to combine multiple data in diagnostic algorithms.

Applicability of Longitudinal Strain of Left Ventricle in Unstable Angina.

Background: Unstable angina (UA) is a common cause of hospital admission; risk stratification helps determine strategies for treatment.

Objective: To determine the applicability of two-dimensional longitudinal strain (SL2D) for the identification of myocardial ischemia in patients with UA.

Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study lasting 60 days.

Progression and Prognosis of Paravalvular Regurgitation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background: The impact of paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of PVR on mortality and hospital readmission one year after TAVI.

Methods: Between January 2009 and June 2015, a total of 251 patients underwent TAVI with three different prostheses at two cardiology centers.

[Consensus on Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography of the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology and the Department of Cardiovascular Image of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology].

Through the Life Cycle of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (ETTI/SBA) the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology, together with the Department of Cardiovascular Image of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (DIC/SBC), created a task force to standardize the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography by Brazilian anesthesiologists and echocardiographers based on scientific evidence from the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists/American Society of Echocardiography (SCA/ASE) and the Brazilian Society of Cardiology.

Primary Mitral Valve Regurgitation Outcome in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis 1 Year After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Echocardiographic Evaluation.

Background:: Mitral valve regurgitation (MR), present in up to 74% of the patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), can be a negative prognostic factor when moderate or severe. The outcome of MR after percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and predictors associated with that outcome have not been well established in the literature.

Objective:: To assess the outcome of primary MR in patients submitted to TAVI and to identify associated factors.

Prospective comparison between three TAVR devices: ACURATE neo vs. CoreValve vs. SAPIEN XT. A single heart team experience in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Objective: We sought to compare the new transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device ACURATE neo (ACT) with the already established CoreValve (MCV) and SAPIEN XT (SXT) for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Background: Very few data on TAVR devices are available beyond MCV and SAPIEN and there is no previous study comparing ACT with MCV and SXT.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR for the treatment of severe AS.

Prognostic value of renal function in patients with aortic stenosis treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to analyze the variation of renal function after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) focused on acute kidney injury (AKI) and its impact on short- and mid-term mortality.

Background: Changes on renal function after TAVR and their impact on clinical outcomes are incompletely understood until now.

Methods: At two tertiary centers 221 consecutive patients were submitted to TAVR.

Serial assessment of arterial structure and function in patients with coarctation of the aorta undergoing stenting.

Stenting for CoA has become an acceptable treatment modality in the last 20 years. However little is known about arterial changes after this procedure. To assess arterial structure and function including peripheral reactivity and stiffness and intima-media thickness (IMT) pre and post stenting for coarctation of the aorta (CoA).

Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction and left atrium reverse remodeling after mitral regurgitation surgery.

Background: Left atrium enlargement has been associated with cardiac events in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). Left atrium reverse remodeling (LARR) occur after surgical correction of MR, but the preoperative predictors of this phenomenon are not well known. It is therefore important to identify preoperative predictors for postoperative LARR.

Early improvement in left atrial remodeling and function after mitral valve repair or replacement in organic symptomatic mitral regurgitation assessed by three-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: Left atrial (LA) dilation is associated with worse prognosis in various clinical situations including chronic mitral regurgitation (MR). Real time three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has allowed a better assessment of LA volumes and function. Little is known about LA size and function in early postoperative period in symptomatic patients with chronic organic MR.

Initial experience of two national centers in transcatheter aortic prosthesis implantation.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an effective alternative to surgical treatment of severe aortic stenosis in patients who are inoperable or at high surgical risk.

Objectives: To report the immediate and follow-up clinical and echocardiographic results of the initial experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Methods: From 2009 June to 2013 February, 112 patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Effect of mitral valve repair on cardiopulmonary exercise testing variables in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation.

Background: Mitral valve repair is the surgical procedure of choice for patients with chronic Mitral Regurgitation (MR). The good early and late results allow surgical indication before symptom onset. The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) can objectively assess functional capacity, but little is known about the effect of surgery on their variables.