Three-dimensional versus two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in mitral valve repair.

Objectives: We sought to compare the diagnostic performance of 3-dimensional (3D) versus 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography in patients with regurgitant mitral valve.

Background: An accurate assessment of morphology and function of the mitral valve is essential for surgical repair. Two-dimensional echocardiography has certain spatial limitations that could be overcome by 3D imaging.

[Primary prophylaxis with the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in heart failure: a clinical point of view].

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is one of the great inventions of modern cardiology. Its use for the prevention of sudden death in patients with left ventricular dysfunction has meant that clinical cardiologists are now fully involved in decision-making on the implantation of these devices. The majority of clinical trials, which have used low ejection fraction as the only or main criterion for patient recruitment, have shown that ICD use leads to a significant improvement in survival.

[Mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation].

We analyzed the results of mitral valve repair in 81 consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation. Of these patients, 66.6% had myxomatous degeneration, 11% ischemic disease, 8% chordal rupture, 5% congenital disease, and 3.

Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with unrepaired double-chambered right ventricle.

Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a congenital anomaly characterized by the division of the ventricular cavity into two chambers separated by an abnormal hypertrophied muscular band or by severe hypertrophy of the muscle wall. Two adult patients with a diagnosis of DCRV presented sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. In both cases, the clinical tachycardia was induced with programmed stimulation.