Right-Sided Heart Structural and Functional Remodeling in Mitral Regurgitation Secondary to Mitral Valve Prolapse.

Preoperative evaluation of the mitral valve but also of tricuspid valve and right ventricular (RV) function is mandatory in primary mitral regurgitation (MR) secondary to mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Tricuspid annulus (TA) diameter plays a pivotal role in the surgical decision to perform preventive combined tricuspid valve annuloplasty. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard for the assessment of RV size and function.

Quantitative assessment of primary mitral regurgitation using left ventricular volumes obtained with new automated three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic software: A comparison with 3-Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: Quantitative assessment of primary mitral regurgitation (MR) using left ventricular (LV) volumes obtained with three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D TTE) recently showed encouraging results. Nevertheless, 3D TTE is not incorporated into everyday practice, as current LV chamber quantification software products are time consuming.

Aims: To investigate the accuracy and reproducibility of new automated fast 3D TTE software (HeartModel; Philips Healthcare, Andover, MA, USA) for the quantification of LV volumes and MR severity in patients with isolated degenerative primary MR; and to compare regurgitant volume (RV) obtained with 3D TTE with a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) reference.

Transesophageal echocardiography for the assessment of left atrial appendage thrombus: Study of the additional value of systematic real time 3D imaging after regular 2D evaluation.

Background: Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) is currently validated for left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus assessment but has some limitations.

Aims: To evaluate the performance and interest of systematic real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) for LAA thrombus assessment, when performed after 2DTEE.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients undergoing TEE were prospectively included.

Diuretics versus volume expansion in acute submassive pulmonary embolism.

Background: The benefit of volume expansion (VE) in submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is unclear.

Aim: To compare the effects of diuretic treatment versus VE in patients hospitalized for PE with RV dysfunction.

Methods: We prospectively included 46 consecutive patients with submassive PE treated on admission with a 40mg bolus of furosemide (D group, n=24) or 500mL of saline infusion (VE group, n=22).

Three-dimensional right-ventricular regional deformation and survival in pulmonary hypertension.

Aims: Survival in pulmonary hypertension (PH) relates to right ventricular (RV) function. However, the RV unique anatomy and structure limit 2D analysis and its regional 3D function has not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to assess the implications of global and regional 3D RV deformation on clinical condition and survival in adults with PH and healthy controls.

Performance of new automated transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiographic software for left ventricular volumes and function assessment in routine clinical practice: Comparison with 3 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is superior to two-dimensional Simpson's method for assessment of left ventricular (LV) volumes and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Nevertheless, 3D TTE is not incorporated into everyday practice, as current LV chamber quantification software products are time-consuming.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility, accuracy and reproducibility of new fully automated fast 3D TTE software (HeartModel; Philips Healthcare, Andover, MA, USA) for quantification of LV volumes and LVEF in routine practice; to compare the 3D LV volumes and LVEF obtained with a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) reference; and to optimize automated default border settings with CMR as reference.

Cardiac remodelling amongst adults with various aetiologies of pulmonary arterial hypertension including Eisenmenger syndrome-implications on survival and the role of right ventricular transverse strain.

Aims: Survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) relates to right ventricular (RV) function. Little is known about differences of ventricular function between ES patients and those suffering from other PAH aetiologies. In this study, we compared global ventricular function assessed by speckle-tracking in adult patients with ES, other PAH aetiologies, or healthy controls; and assessed the relationship between ventricular function and survival.

Early detection of cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis with 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Background/objectives: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is associated with high morbidity and sudden death. The absence of specific symptoms and lack of diagnostic gold standard technique is challenging. New imaging methods could improve the diagnosis of CS.

Outcomes After Proton Beam Therapy for Large Choroidal Melanomas in 492 Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate proton beam therapy (PBT) as a means to preserve the eye and spare some vision while not deteriorating survival in patients with large choroidal melanomas.

Design: This is a retrospective, consecutive cohort study of patients with T3-4 choroidal melanomas according to the 7th edition of the American Joint Cancer Classification treated with PBT over a 24-year period.

Results: A total of 492 patients were included.

B blood group: A strong risk factor for venous thromboembolism recurrence.

Background: Non-O blood group patients are at higher risk of first episode of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, only little is known about the risk of recurrence according to the blood group. In this study, we aimed to determine the impact of ABO blood group on VTE recurrence.

Lack of copeptin elevation during induced myocardial infarction.

The specific kinetic of copeptin secretion during the course of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) had poorly been studied, with most studies assessing copeptin levels in the very first hours of chest pain onset and not ACS itself. To overcome this issue, we took advantage of septal embolization technique for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) treatment, a unique situation during which myocardial infarction (MI) is provoked, to measure plasmatic copeptin levels variation.