Preoperative Predictors of Recurrent Tricuspid Regurgitation After Annuloplasty: Insights into the Role of 3D Echocardiography.

Background: While tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) is an effective treatment option for tricuspid regurgitation (TR), understanding the echocardiographic factors contributing to recurrent TR can help in developing more effective preventive measures to reduce the rate of recurrent TR after TAP.

Methods: This study was designed as a prospective observational cohort study to investigate factors contributing to recurrent TR following surgical tricuspid valve (TV) repair in patients with moderate or severe functional TR caused by left heart valvular disease, with severe mitral regurgitation as the dominant pathology. The study included 66 patients who underwent preoperative two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic assessments.

T1 Mapping in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance-A Marker of Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In our study, we aimed to find subclinical changes in myocardial tissue after HSCT with the help of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) tissue imaging techniques. The data of 44 patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic HSCT in the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics from October 2021 to February 2023 were analyzed.

Early Impact of Mobilization Process on Cardiac Function and Size in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) process is known to cause cardiac toxicity of different grades. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the impact of mobilization procedure of hematopoietic stem cells for autologous HSCT process for left and right ventricle sizes and functions. The data of 47 patients undergoing autologous HSCT were analyzed.

Left atrial strain rate: marker of hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis?

To assess the diagnostic value of left atrial deformation parameters during dobutamine stress echocardiography to predict significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with moderate pretest probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). Rest and stress echocardiography were performed on 61 patients with a moderate and high probability of CAD. Based on presence of CAD patients were divided into pathological and nonpathological groups.

Value of myocardial deformation parameters for detecting significant coronary artery disease.

The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of global and regional myocardial deformation parameters derived from two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography to detect functionally significant coronary artery stenosis. Dobutamine stress echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance myocardial perfusion imaging (CMR-MPI) were performed on 145 patients with a moderate and high probability of coronary artery disease (CAD) and LVEF≥55%. Significant CAD was defined as>50% stenosis of the left main stem,>70% stenosis in a major coronary vessel, or in the presence of intermediate stenosis (50-69%) validated as hemodynamically significant by CMRMPI.

The association of left ventricular histologically verified myocardial fibrosis with pulmonary hypertension in severe aortic stenosis.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between histologically verified left ventricular (LV) myocardial fibrosis (MF) and its bio- and functional markers with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: About 34 patients with isolated severe AS underwent 2D echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, and plasma NT-proBNP evaluation before aortic valve replacement (AVR). LV measurements were analyzed by CMR and LV strain using feature tracking software (Medis Suite QStrain 2.

Atrial and Ventricular Structural and Functional Alterations in Obese Children.

: Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in the world. Obesity in children is defined as a body mass index (BMI) equal to or above the 95th percentile for age and sex. The aim of this study was to determine early changes in cardiac structure and function in obese children by comparing them with their nonobese peers, using echocardiography methods.

Echocardiographic predictors of exercise induced pulmonary hypertension in patients with asymptomatic moderate to severe mitral regurgitation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: The significant role of mitral regurgitation (MR) in development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been proved in previous studies. Experts suggest systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) ⩾60 mmHg during exercise as a significant threshold of negative prognostic value in patients with MR.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of SPAP and to ascertain the determinants of exercise induced pulmonary hypertension (EIPH) in patients with asymptomatic primary MR.

Multicentric Atrial Strain COmparison between Two Different Modalities: MASCOT HIT Study.

Two methods are currently available for left atrial (LA) strain measurement by speckle tracking echocardiography, with two different reference timings for starting the analysis: QRS (QRS-LASr) and P wave (P-LASr). The aim of MASCOT HIT study was to define which of the two was more reproducible, more feasible, and less time consuming. In 26 expert centers, LA strain was analyzed by two different echocardiographers (young vs senior) in a blinded fashion.

Right Ventricle Mechanics and Function during Stress in Patients with Asymptomatic Primary Moderate to Severe Mitral Regurgitation and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

. Mitral regurgitation (MR) is usually dynamic and increasing with exertion. Stress may provoke symptoms, cause the progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and unmask subclinical changes of the left and right ventricle function.

Long-term outcomes and predictors of recurrent aortic regurgitation after aortic valve-sparing and reconstructive cusp surgery: a single centre experience.

Background: Aortic valve sparing surgery (AVS), in combination with aortic cusp repair (ACR), still raises many questions about the increased surgical complexity and applicability for patients with pure aortic valve regurgitation (AR). The aim of this study was to investigate our long-term outcomes and predictors of recurrent AR (> 2+) after AVS and reconstructive cusp surgery.

Methods: We reviewed data of 81 patients who underwent AVS (a reimplantation technique) with concomitant ACR for AR and or dilatation of the aortic root at our institution during the period from April 2004 to October 2016.

Left Ventricular Morphology and Function as a Determinant of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

The influence of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) derived left ventricular (LV) parameters on the prognosis of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) was analyzed in several studies. However, the data on the relations between the LV parameters and the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in severe AS is lacking. Our objectives were to evaluate the CMR-derived changes of the LV size, morphology, and function in patients with isolated severe AS and PH, and to investigate the prognostic impact of these parameters on elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP).

Accuracy of three-dimensional systolic dyssynchrony and sphericity indexes for identifying early left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Left ventricle (LV) geometry and dyssynchrony are associated with LV remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this prospective study was to assess the diagnostic value of new three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) parameters [sphericity (SI) and systolic dyssynchrony indexes (SDI)] for the prediction of LV remodeling after AMI and to compare them with two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) parameters.

Methods: 2DE and 3DE were performed in 75 patients with AMI within 3 days from the onset of MI and 6 months later.

Early and long-term results of aortic valve sparing aortic root reimplantation surgery for bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves.

Introduction: To evaluate early and long-term clinical outcomes following aortic valve sparing aortic root reimplantation surgery in patients with leaking bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves.

Methods: The study consisted of 92 consecutive adult patients (tricuspid aortic valve group = 63 and bicuspid aortic valve group = 29) who underwent aortic valve sparing aortic root reimplantation surgery with or without aortic cusp repair for dilatation of the aortic root and/or aortic valve regurgitation at our institution from April 2004 to October 2016. Clinical outcomes were investigated using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests between groups.

Changes in right ventricular longitudinal function: primary mitral and concomitant tricuspid valve repair.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of concomitant tricuspid valve (TV) repair on the right ventricular (RV) function postoperatively and within the 6 months following degenerative mitral valve (MV) repair.

Methods: The prospective study included 37 patients (mean age 57.32 ± 2.

Impact of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction and Biomarkers on Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis.

: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with poor outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). There is still scarce information about predictors of secondary PH in this group of patients. : The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of biomarkers together with conventional Doppler echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular diastolic function on elevated pulmonary systolic pressure (PSP) in severe AS patients before surgical AVR.

Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for evaluation of dilative ascending aorta biomechanics.

Background: Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography is one of the most feasible, noninvasive methods for assessing the aortic diameter and biomechanical changes. We studied possible interfaces between noninvasive biomechanical and speckle-tracking (ST) echocardiographic data from dilated aortas.

Methods: Altogether, 44 patients with dilative pathology of ascending aorta (DPAA) were compared with subjects without ascending aortic dilation (diameter <40 mm).

Dobutamine-stress echocardiography speckle-tracking imaging in the assessment of hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis in patients with moderate and high probability of coronary artery disease.

Background And Objective: Myocardial deformation indices are considered as sensitive markers of ischemia and may be useful in the quantification of hemodynamic significance of coronary artery disease (CAD). We sought to determine the diagnostic value of speckle-tracking echocardiography derived myocardial deformation parameters at rest and during stress to determine hemodynamically significance coronary artery stenosis in patients with moderate and high probability of CAD.

Materials And Methods: In 81 patients (mean age, 64±8.

Early and late diastolic strain rate vs global longitudinal strain at rest and during dobutamine stress for the assessment of significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with a moderate and high probability of coronary artery disease.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the usefulness of global longitudinal strain (GLS), regional diastolic and systolic strain, strain rate (SR) parameters at rest and during dobutamine stress echocardiography for detecting significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with a moderate or high probability of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Dobutamine stress echocardiography and adenosine magnetic resonance imaging (AMRI) were performed on 127 patients with a moderate and high probability of CAD and left ventricle ejection fraction ≥55%. CAD was defined as ≥70% diameter stenosis on coronary angiography validated as hemodynamically significant by AMRI.

Non-ischaemic mitral valve suture annuloplasty: late follow-up results.

Objective: To evaluate late outcomes after posterior mitral valve (MV) annulus double-suture annuloplasty for degenerative (non-ischaemic) MV insufficiency.

Design: Between 2005 and 2011, 138 patients underwent MV repair using posterior MV double-suture annuloplasty and an additional 105 patients underwent tricuspid valve repair. The study protocol included operative mortality, reoperation rate and reasons, as well as echocardiographic parameters at pre- and postoperative and follow-up periods (2-9 years).

Relationship between left ventricular mechanics and low free triiodothyronine levels after myocardial infarction: a prospective study.

Low free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are associated with greater impairment in cardiac mechanics compared with patients with AMI who have normal values of thyroid hormones. The objectives are to investigate left ventricular (LV) function and mechanics during a 6-month follow-up after myocardial infarction and to evaluate their prognostic implication using two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with low fT3 levels. The study design is prospective cohort study.

Left ventricular function by speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with low-T3 syndrome and acute myocardial infarction.

Background And Objective: Low-T3 syndrome is common in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Recent experimental and clinical data have suggested a potential negative impact of low-T3 syndrome on myocardial function in patients with AMI. The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) myocardial function in patients with low-T3 syndrome and to investigate the association between hormonal profile and the severity of LV dysfunction using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE).

Determinants of reduced tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in patients with severe systolic left ventricular dysfunction.

Objective: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with poor exercise tolerance and prognosis, regardless of left ventricular (LV) function. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a non-invasive parameter of RV longitudinal function which can predict outcome in heart failure (HF) patients (pts). Our aim was to investigate the relation of TAPSE to clinical and echocardiographic parameters in severe LV dysfunction.