Right ventricular functional assessment by 2D multi-plane echocardiography prior to left ventricular assist device implantation.

Objectives: Right ventricular (RV) failure post left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A novel RV multi-plane imaging method using two-dimensional echocardiography and electronic plane rotation (MPE) was used to quantify RV function prior to LVAD implantation and to identify potential added value in this patient population.

Methods: In twenty-five end-stage heart failure patients (age 58.

Multi-plane echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function in adults with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

In patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), detailed assessment of right ventricular (RV) function is important for management and timing of possible pulmonary valve re-intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate RV function using two-dimensional multi-plane echocardiography (2D MPE), a novel four-wall imaging method obtained from one apical acoustic window utilising electronic plane rotation. In sixty-two ToF patients (aged - 28 [22, 39] years, 65% male), systolic function of four different RV walls (lateral, anterior, inferior and inferior coronal) were evaluated using MPE.

Intermodality variation of aortic dimensions: How, where and when to measure the ascending aorta.

Background: No established reference-standard technique is available for ascending aortic diameter measurements. The aim of this study was to determine agreement between modalities and techniques.

Methods: In patients with aortic pathology transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were performed.

Transthoracic 3D echocardiographic left heart chamber quantification in patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease.

Integration of volumetric heart chamber quantification by 3D echocardiography into clinical practice has been hampered by several factors which a new fully automated algorithm (Left Heart Model, (LHM)) may help overcome. This study therefore aims to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of the LHM software in quantifying left atrial and left ventricular volumes and left ventricular ejection fraction in a cohort of patients with a bicuspid aortic valve. Patients with a bicuspid aortic valve were prospectively included.

Left Atrial Deformation Analysis in Patients with Corrected Tetralogy of Fallot by 3D Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography (from the MAGYAR-Path Study).

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography coupled with speckle-tracking echocardiographic (STE) capability is a novel methodology which has been demontrated to be useful for the assessment of left atrial (LA) volumes and functional properties. There is increased scientific interest on myocardial deformation analysis in adult patients with corrected tetralogy of Fallot (cTOF).

Objectives: To compare LA volumes, volume-based functional properties and strain parameters between cTOF patients and age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

Three-dimensional Echocardiography in Congenital Heart Disease: An Expert Consensus Document from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and the American Society of Echocardiography.

Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has become important in the management of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly with pre-surgical planning, guidance of catheter intervention, and functional assessment of the heart. 3DE is increasingly used in children because of good acoustic windows and the non-invasive nature of the technique. The aim of this paper is to provide a review of the optimal application of 3DE in CHD including technical considerations, image orientation, application to different lesions, procedural guidance, and functional assessment.

Normal myocardial strain values using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography in healthy adults aged 20 to 72 years.

Aims: Evaluation of left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is useful for clinical and research purposes. However, strain measurements depend on the used software. Normative data for QLAB 10 (Philips) are scarce.

Quantitative assessment of the entire right ventricle from one acoustic window: an attractive approach.

Aims: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and establish normal values of functional right ventricle (RV) parameters as assessed in our four, long-axis view RV model using iRotate echocardiography. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential use of this model in patients with abnormally loaded RVs.

Method And Results: One hundred and fifty-five healthy subjects aged 20-72 years (≥28 subjects per decile) were prospectively recruited.

Quantitative assessment of systolic left ventricular function with speckle-tracking echocardiography in adult patients with repaired aortic coarctation.

Despite successful aortic coarctation (CoA) repair, systemic hypertension often recurs which may influence left ventricular (LV) function. We aimed to detect early LV dysfunction using LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) in adults with repaired CoA, and to identify associations with patient and echocardiographic characteristics. In this cross-sectional study, patients with repaired CoA and healthy controls were recruited prospectively.

A Novel 13-Segment Standardized Model for Assessment of Right Ventricular Function Using Two-Dimensional iRotate Echocardiography.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of transthoracic two-dimensional (2D) iRotate, a new echo modality, to assess the whole right ventricle (RV) from a single transducer position based on anatomic landmarks.

Methods And Results: The anatomic landmarks were first defined based on three-dimensional echocardiographic datasets using multiplane reconstruction analyses. Thereafter, we included 120 healthy subjects (51% male, age range 21-67 years).

Transthoracic two-dimensional xPlane and three-dimensional echocardiographic analysis of the site of mitral valve prolapse.

This study sought to assess the value of two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 2D xPlane imaging and three-dimensional (3D) TTE for the definition of the site and the extent of mitral valve (MV) prolapse. Fifty patients underwent transthoracic 2D, 2D xPlane and 3D echocardiography. With 2D xPlane a segmental analysis of the MV was performed, by making a lateral sweep across the MV coaptation line as seen in the parasternal short-axis view.

Assessment of ventricular function in adults with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot using myocardial deformation imaging.

Aims: Many patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) have right ventricular (RV) volume overload due to pulmonary regurgitation (PR). We studied the effect of volume overload on global and regional RV and left ventricular (LV) deformation, and their relationships with conventional diagnostic parameters.

Methods And Results: In this cross-sectional study, 94 prospectively recruited ToF patients (61% male, age 32.

Ventricular myocardial deformation in adults after early surgical repair of atrial septal defect.

Aims: It is unknown whether right-ventricular (RV) volume overload caused by an atrial septal defect (ASD) still has its effect on RV deformation long after repair. We evaluated RV and left-ventricular (LV) deformation beyond 30 years after surgical ASD repair in childhood, and studied relationships with conventional diagnostic parameters.

Methods And Results: In this prospective study, we included 102 subjects: 51 patients with repaired ASD (39% male, age 43.

Quantitative assessment of systolic right ventricular function using myocardial deformation in patients with a systemic right ventricle.

Aims: Late systolic dysfunction of the systemic right ventricle (RV) in patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is of major concern. Right ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) might be able to identify early dysfunction.

Methods And Results: Adults with TGA after Mustard operation (TGA-Mustard) or congenitally corrected-TGA (ccTGA) underwent echocardiography, electrocardiography, and NT-proBNP measurement.

Characterization of atrial septal defect by simultaneous multiplane two-dimensional echocardiography.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the value of two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic simultaneous multiplane imaging (SMPI) in the evaluation of suitability for percutaneous atrial septal secundum defect (ASD) closure compared with the golden standard 2D transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Methods And Results: Twenty-nine patients with an ASD underwent both SMPI and TEE. Ten patients (34%) were male (age 41 ± 18 years, range 20-74).

Associations between N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac function in adults with corrected tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Amino-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may detect early cardiac dysfunction in adults with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) late after corrective surgery. We aimed to determine the value of NT-proBNP in adults with ToF and establish its relationship with echocardiography and exercise capacity.

Methods And Results: NT-proBNP measurement, electrocardiography and detailed 2D-echocardiography were performed on the same day in 177 consecutive adults with ToF (mean age 34.

Abnormal left ventricular rotation and twist in adult patients with corrected tetralogy of Fallot.

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is a major determinant of late adverse clinical outcome in adult patients with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). Therefore, early detection is important. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has emerged as a quantitative technique to assess LV function.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and its relationship with cardiac function in adults with congenital heart disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and investigate its relationship with ventricular function and exercise capacity.

Background: NT-proBNP may detect early deterioration in cardiac function.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, extensive echocardiography, exercise testing, and NT-proBNP measurements were performed on the same day in consecutive adult patients with CHD.

Ascending aortic diameters in congenital aortic stenosis: cardiac magnetic resonance versus transthoracic echocardiography.

Objectives/background: Congenital aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common obstructive left heart lesion in the young adult population and often complicated by aortic dilatation. Our objective was to evaluate accuracy of aortic imaging with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) compared with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: Aortic diameters were measured at 4 levels by CMR and TTE.

New Scores for the Assessment of Mitral Stenosis Using Real-Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiography.

Nonsurgical management of patients with symptomatic mitral valve stenosis has been established as the therapeutic modality of choice for two decades. Catheter-based balloon dilation of the stenotic valvular area has been shown, at least, as effective as surgical interventions. Unfavorable results of catheter-based interventions are largely due to unfavorable morphology of the valve apparatus, particularly leaflets calcification and subvalvular apparatus involvement.

Right ventricular quantification in clinical practice: two-dimensional vs. three-dimensional echocardiography compared with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Aims: To establish the additional value of three-dimensional echocardiography (3D echo) for assessment of right ventricular (RV) size and function in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) in everyday clinical practice, the accuracy and reproducibility of 3D echo were compared with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography (2D echo) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging as reference.

Methods And Results: Patients with CHD and primarily affected right ventricles (n = 62), patients with CHD and primarily affected left ventricles (LV group, n = 27), and healthy controls (n = 31) were studied. 2D echo-, 3D echo- and CMR data sets were obtained.

Test-retest variability of volumetric right ventricular measurements using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: Substantial variability in sequential echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) quantification may exist. Interobserver and intraobserver values are well known, but acquisition (test-retest) variability has been rarely assessed. The objective of this study was to determine the test-retest variability of sequential RV volume and ejection fraction (EF) measurements by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in patients with congenital heart disease and healthy controls.