Fat embolism syndrome: A severe case diagnosed early using dual-energy CT and saved with VA-ECMO and inhaled nitric oxide.

Diagnosing FES is difficult and time-consuming, and identify FES as an etiology of right ventricular volume overload for early diagnosis. Because FES is a reversible condition, even severe cases can bse treated if the patient survives the acute phase.

Left atrial volume index as a predictor for left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation receiving appropriate oral anticoagulation therapy: A prospective multi-center study.

Objectives: We previously reported a higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) was independently associated with left atrial (LA) appendage (LAA) thrombus formation in 737 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) receiving appropriate oral anticoagulation therapy. Since our previous study was a retrospective single-center study, we designed and conducted a prospective multi-center study to verify our findings for LAVI as a predictor of LAA thrombus in patients with NVAF receiving appropriate oral anticoagulation therapy.

Methods: This prospective multi-center study comprised 746 consecutive patients with NVAF recruited between December 2021 and March 2023 from eight institutions in Japan, who were receiving appropriate oral anticoagulation therapy, had undergone transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Severe Functional Tricuspid Stenosis Due to Phosphoglyceride Crystal Deposition Disease in Right Atrium.

This case report concerns a 72-year-old-female with severe functional tricuspid stenosis due to phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease and a history of atrial septum closure and tricuspid valvuloplasty. Phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease is extremely rare, and percutaneous transcatheter biopsy under intracardiac echocardiographic guidance proved to be useful for its diagnosis. ().

Acute Adrenal Insufficiency Precipitated by the Discontinuation of a Betamethasone and Dextrochlorpheniramine Combination: The Diagnostic Utility of an Echocardiographic Assessment of Systemic Vascular Resistance.

A 72-year-old woman with primary biliary cholangitis was admitted to our hospital with heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. An accidental right ventricular perforation that occurred during an endomyocardial biopsy precipitated cardiogenic shock. Despite successful surgical treatment, she demonstrated progressive hemodynamic deterioration, which was resistant to the administration of high-dose catecholamines.

Successful Triple Combination Immunosuppressive Therapy with Prednisolone, Cyclosporine, and Mycophenolate Mofetil to Treat Recurrent Giant Cell Myocarditis.

A 59-year-old man with a history of giant cell myocarditis was admitted to our hospital with recurrent giant cell myocarditis triggered by a 1 mg/day taper in his prednisolone dose. During the initial episode, he had undergone rescue implantation of a temporary left ventricular assist device followed by the administration of dual immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone and concomitant cyclosporine. Triple combination immunosuppressive therapy maintained with additional mycophenolate mofetil successfully controlled recurrent myocarditis, enabled a reduction in the prednisolone dose, and achieved the functional recovery of the left ventricle.

Combined assessment of left atrial volume parameters for predicting recurrence of atrial fibrillation following pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Our aim was to test the hypothesis that comprehensive simplified left atrial (LA) assessment derived from routine echocardiography may be more useful than assessment of LA volume alone for predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Methods: We studied 156 patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) who had undergone PVI. Echocardiography was performed within two days before PVI.

Baseline Global Longitudinal Strain as a Predictor of Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Hospitalization for Heart Failure of Patients With Malignant Lymphoma After Anthracycline Therapy.

Background: Our aim was to investigate the baseline clinical and echocardiographic parameters for predicting left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after anthracycline chemotherapy and heart failure (HF) hospitalization in a single cancer disease.

Methods and results: We studied 73 patients with malignant lymphoma and preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Echocardiography was performed before and after anthracycline chemotherapy.

Quetiapine-related Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Transient Continuous Hemodiafiltration.

A 73-year-old man, with congestive heart failure due to combined valvar disease, underwent curative surgery. Although the surgery was successful, his clinical course was eventful because of pulmonary complications, and he began to deteriorate mentally. Quetiapine was prescribed, which appeared to effectively settle his mental status.

Left ventricular dispersion as a parameter for augmented left ventricular stroke volume in patients with atrial septal defect following transcatheter closure.

Objectives: The closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) results in normalized left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) geometry, and can increase LV stroke volume (LVSV), but the parameters associated with this increase after the closure of ASD remain uncertain.

Methods: Seventy ASD patients, who underwent transcatheter closure, were studied. Their mean age was 57.

Impact of overweight on left ventricular function in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Coexistence of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal myocardial systolic dysfunction with LV diastolic dysfunction could lead to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known as a significant factor associated with HFpEF. Although the mechanisms of DM-related LV myocardial injury are complex, it has been postulated that overweight contributes to the development of LV myocardial injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Significant Prognostic Value of Acute Preload Stress Echocardiography Using Leg-Positive Pressure Maneuver for Patients With Symptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis Awaiting Aortic Valve Intervention.

Background: Although aortic valve intervention is recommended for virtually all symptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS), how urgently the intervention should be performed remains controversial. The aim of this study was thus to determine whether the preload reserve in response to leg-positive pressure (LPP) maneuver could serve for decision-making for AS patients awaiting aortic valve intervention.

Methods and results: Sixty-eight patients with symptomatic AS, who were referred for aortic valve intervention, were recruited.

Impact of left ventricular longitudinal functional mechanics on the progression of diastolic function in diabetes mellitus.

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and longitudinal systolic dysfunction were identified in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). This study's aim was to investigate the impact of LV longitudinal systolic function on LV diastolic function in DM patients with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF). We studied 177 DM patients with preserved LVEF (all ≥50%), and 82 age-, gender- and LVEF-matched healthy volunteers as control.

Compression of the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract due to Straight Back Syndrome Clarified by Low-dose Dual-source Computed Tomography.

A 23-year-old asymptomatic woman was referred to our hospital for further examination of a systolic ejection murmur with fixed splitting of the second heart sound auscultated at the third left sternal border. Initial echocardiography could not detect the cause. Subsequently performed low-dose computed tomography, however, ruled out the possibility of any congenital heart diseases, but revealed a markedly shortened anteroposterior diameter of the chest, which led us to a diagnosis of straight back syndrome.

Right ventricular relative wall thickness as a predictor of outcomes and of right ventricular reverse remodeling for patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Mid-term right ventricular (RV) reverse remodeling after treatment in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with long-term outcome as well as baseline RV remodeling. However, baseline factors influencing mid-term RV reverse remodeling after treatment and its prognostic capability remain unclear. We studied 54 PH patients.

Effects of a changeover from other angiotensin II receptor blockers to olmesartan on left ventricular hypertrophy in heart failure patients.

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor for heart failure (HF) patients. The renin-angiotensin system plays a key role in LVH, and since olmesartan increases plasma angiotensin-(1-7) through an increase in angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase (ACE2) expression, it was hypothesized to reduce LVH, unlike other angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of a changeover from other ARBs to olmesartan on LVH in HF patients.

Impaired Mechanics of Left Ventriculo-Atrial Coupling in Patients With Diabetic Nephropathy.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is independently associated with longitudinal systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) in asymptomatic diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF). However, the effect of diabetic nephropathy on left atrial (LA) function remains unknown.

Methods and results: We studied 198 asymptomatic DM patients (LVEF ≥50%).

Comprehensive Functional Assessment of Right-Sided Heart Using Speckle Tracking Strain for Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) systolic function is one of the most important determinants of outcome for pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients, but the factors influencing prognosis vary widely. Elevated right atrial (RA) pressure is reported to be one of these prognostic factors, but its functional importance has scarcely been assessed.

Methods: Eighty-two PH patients, all of whom underwent echocardiography and right heart catheterization, were recruited.

Left ventricular dyssynergy and dispersion as determinant factors of fatal ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Current guidelines recommend implantation of prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) in patients with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) <35%. We explored the prognostic factors of fatal ventricular arrhythmias for heart failure (HF) patients with LVEF ≥35%.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively studied 72 patients with LVEF of 52 ± 12% (all ≥35%) who had undergone ICD implantation.

Association of peripheral nerve conduction in diabetic neuropathy with subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Background: Subclinical left ventricular (LV) longitudinal myocardial systolic dysfunction occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and is closely related to DM-related complications. However, the association of diabetic neuropathy (DN) with subclinical LV systolic longitudinal dysfunction in such patients has not been fully clarified.

Methods: The subjects of this study were 112 consecutive DM patients with preserved LVEF (all ≥50%) without coronary artery disease and overt heart failure (aged 59 ± 14 years; 60 women, 52 men).

Clinical features of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) longitudinal systolic dysfunction has been identified even in asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF). However, its relevant clinical features have not been fully evaluated.

Methods: We studied 144 asymptomatic DM patients without coronary artery disease.