Left atrial volume assessed by echocardiography identifies patients with high risk of adverse outcome after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The left atrial (LA) volume has been demonstrated to be an important predictor of adverse outcome in patients with various cardiac conditions, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, new treatment strategies in patients with AMI have led to better patient outcomes. We hypothesised that increased LA size could still predict mortality in patients with AMI despite improved treatment strategies.

The Prognostic Value of Left Atrial Function in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The prognostic value of left atrial (LA) volume is well-established in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. LA strain provides further patophysological insights. In the present study, we evaluated LA volume and LA strain in AMI patients including those with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Mortality in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome-A Prospective 5-Year Follow-Up Study.

Our objective was to compare long-term outcomes in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) between two time periods in Southern Norway. There are limited contemporary data comparing long-term follow-up after revascularization in the last decades. This prospective follow-up study consecutively included both NSTEMI and STEMI patients during two time periods, 2014-2015 and 2004-2009.

Deep Learning for Improved Precision and Reproducibility of Left Ventricular Strain in Echocardiography: A Test-Retest Study.

Aims: Assessment of left ventricular (LV) function by echocardiography is hampered by modest test-retest reproducibility. A novel artificial intelligence (AI) method based on deep learning provides fully automated measurements of LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and may improve the clinical utility of echocardiography by reducing user-related variability. The aim of this study was to assess within-patient test-retest reproducibility of LV GLS measured by the novel AI method in repeated echocardiograms recorded by different echocardiographers and to compare the results to manual measurements.

Increased deformation of the left ventricle during exercise test measured by global longitudinal strain can rule out significant coronary artery disease in patients with suspected unstable angina pectoris.

Background: Noninvasive identification of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) is challenging. Exercise stress testing has been used for years in patients with suspected CAD but has low diagnostic accuracy. The use of Global longitudinal strain (GLS) by speckle tracking echocardiography is a highly sensitive and reproducible parameter for detection of myocardial ischemia.

Strain echocardiography improves prediction of arrhythmic events in ischemic and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) may not offer mortality benefit. We aimed to investigate if etiology of heart failure and strain echocardiography can improve risk stratification of life threatening ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in heart failure patients.

Methods: This prospective multi-center follow-up study consecutively included NICM and ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%.

Artificial Intelligence for Automatic Measurement of Left Ventricular Strain in Echocardiography.

Objectives: This study sought to examine if fully automated measurements of global longitudinal strain (GLS) using a novel motion estimation technology based on deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) are feasible and comparable with a conventional speckle-tracking application.

Background: GLS is an important parameter when evaluating left ventricular function. However, analyses of GLS are time consuming and demand expertise, and thus are underused in clinical practice.

Myocardial Function Imaging in Echocardiography Using Deep Learning.

Deformation imaging in echocardiography has been shown to have better diagnostic and prognostic value than conventional anatomical measures such as ejection fraction. However, despite clinical availability and demonstrated efficacy, everyday clinical use remains limited at many hospitals. The reasons are complex, but practical robustness has been questioned, and a large inter-vendor variability has been demonstrated.

Real-Time Automatic Ejection Fraction and Foreshortening Detection Using Deep Learning.

Volume and ejection fraction (EF) measurements of the left ventricle (LV) in 2-D echocardiography are associated with a high uncertainty not only due to interobserver variability of the manual measurement, but also due to ultrasound acquisition errors such as apical foreshortening. In this work, a real-time and fully automated EF measurement and foreshortening detection method is proposed. The method uses several deep learning components, such as view classification, cardiac cycle timing, segmentation and landmark extraction, to measure the amount of foreshortening, LV volume, and EF.

Global longitudinal strain is a more reproducible measure of left ventricular function than ejection fraction regardless of echocardiographic training.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is an established method for evaluation of left ventricular (LV) systolic function. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) by speckle tracking echocardiography seems to be an important additive method for evaluation of LV function with improved reproducibility compared with LVEF. Our aim was to compare reproducibility of GLS and LVEF between an expert and trainee both as echocardiographic examiner and analyst.

Early assessment of strain echocardiography can accurately exclude significant coronary artery stenosis in suspected non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Many patients with suspected non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) do not have significant coronary artery disease. The current diagnostic approach of repeated electrocardiography and cardiac biomarker assessment requires observation for >6 to 12 hours. This strategy places a heavy burden on hospital facilities.

Strain echocardiography improves risk prediction of ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that strain echocardiography might improve arrhythmic risk stratification in patients after myocardial infarction (MI).

Background: Prediction of ventricular arrhythmias after MI is challenging. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35% is the main parameter for selecting patients for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy.

Mean strain throughout the heart cycle by longitudinal two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography enables early prediction of infarct size.

Background: Early prediction of infarct size directs therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Global strain by echocardiography describes myocardial deformation and correlates with infarct size. However, peak strain measures deformation at a single time point, whereas ischemia and necrosis influence deformation throughout the heart cycle.

Postsystolic shortening is a strong predictor of recovery of systolic function in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: Differentiation between necrotic and viable myocardium is difficult in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Post-systolic shortening (PSS) has been proposed as a marker of recovery after revascularization, but has not previously been assessed in patients with NSTEMI prior to revascularization. In this study, we aimed to examine the relation between PSS and improvement of contractile function after successful revascularization.

The advantage of global strain compared to left ventricular ejection fraction to predict outcome after acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of the study was to compare the ability of global strain and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to predict outcome after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Left ventricular (LV) function was measured using strain by Doppler and LVEF in 77 patients. Measurements were performed at admission and after 10 ± 5 days.

Acute coronary occlusion in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome: outcome and early identification by strain echocardiography.

Objectives: To compare infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) with and without acute coronary occlusions, and determine if myocardial strain by speckle-tracking echocardiography can identify acute occlusions in patients presenting with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods: 111 patients with suspected NSTE-ACS were enrolled shortly after admittance. Echocardiographic measurements were performed a median of 1 h (interquartile range 0.

Changes of myocardial function in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome awaiting coronary angiography.

The optimal timing of coronary angiography in patients with non-ST elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is debated. American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend an early invasive strategy <12 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. The objective of the present study was to determine possible changes in myocardial function in patients with NSTE ACS awaiting coronary angiography.

Strain echocardiography predicts acute coronary occlusion in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Aims: Patients with acute coronary occlusion may lack typical signs of myocardial infarction in the electrocardiogram. We tested the ability of different echocardiographic modalities to identify coronary occlusion by quantifying myocardial dysfunction in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods And Results: One hundred and fifty patients were examined by echocardiography immediately prior to coronary angiography, 2.

Strain echocardiography and wall motion score index predicts final infarct size in patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Infarct size is a strong predictor of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events after myocardial infarction. Acute reperfusion therapy limits infarct size and improves survival, but its use has been confined to patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular (LV) systolic function obtained before revascularization and final infarct size in patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, as well as the ability of these parameters to identify patients with substantial infarction.

[Simple electrophysiologic examination of patients with palpitation or tachycardia].

Background: Discomfort because of palpitation and tachycardia is a frequent phenomenon. Clinical practice for diagnosing tachycardia has a low sensitivity, and patients without a correct diagnosis are often not treated optimally.

Material And Methods: Results from all 24-hour-ECGs taken at Telemark Hospital in the period 1.

Comparison of left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular global strain as determinants of infarct size in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The aim was to compare left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular (LV) global strain by speckle tracking as predictors of final infarct size.

Methods: LV global strain and LVEF by echocardiography were assessed in the acute phase and after revascularization in 39 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis.

Results: After revascularization, global strain and LVEF correlated well with infarct size measured by contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance.

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation as a bridge to heart transplantation does not impair long-term survival.

Aims: There are few studies of the use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) treatment as a bridge to heart transplantation (HTx). This is the first study to compare long-term clinical and haemodynamic outcomes in IABP-treated HTx patients and electively transplanted patients.

Methods And Results: This was a retrospective study of all adult HTx recipients between 2001 and 2007.