Left atrial compression with acute heart failure caused by esophageal bolus.

We report a case of left atrial extrinsic compression caused by an esophageal food bolus in a patient presenting with acute heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography along with contrast-enhanced CT showed evidence of esophageal dilation producing left atrial compression. Esophageal endoscopy and fragmentation of the bolus, allowing the accumulated food to descend into the stomach, produced a rapid improvement of hemodynamic and clinical status.

Prognostic value of total atrial conduction time measured with tissue Doppler imaging to predict the maintenance of sinus rhythm after external electrical cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, with a high recurrence rate, especially during the first months after cardioversion (CV). Few parameters have been evaluated as predictors for the maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR), with limited results. Recently total atrial conduction time (TACT) has been proposed as independent predictor of AF recurrence.

Role of echocardiographic dyssynchrony parameters in predicting response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: In the present study, we compare different echocardiographic cardiac dyssynchrony parameters, both of intraventricular and interventricular dyssynchrony, in order to predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods And Results: In a population of 77 heart failure patients scheduled for CRT, we measured the interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) and we analyzed six different parameters of intraventricular dyssynchony: the tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) septum-lateral wall delay, the systolic dyssynchrony index; the three-dimensional SD of the time to reach minimum systolic volume for 16 left ventricular segments (3D-SDI); the speckle-tracking radial, circumferential and longitudinal dyssynchrony. At 6 months of follow-up, 61 (79%) patients were responders (≤15% in left ventricular end-systolic volume).

Isolated supravalvular pulmonary stenosis: a rare echocardiographic finding.

Isolated supravalvular pulmonary stenosis is a rare finding, usually evidenced in the pediatric age. Here, we report a case of a 76-year-old patient with isolated, severely obstructive, pulmonary supravalvular stenosis. The peculiarity of the present case is the paucity of symptoms and lack of changes in right heart sections, despite of the importance of stenosis.

[Herbs and cardiotoxic effects].

Accidental or deliberate ingestion of poisonous herbs has become an increasingly common phenomenon over the last years. From existing literature data and case reports from emergency room visits or poison control centers, an overview is presented of the potential cardiotoxic manifestations following intoxication by wild herbal plants of the territory. The effects of the consumption of cardiac glycoside-containing plants (e.

Usefulness of three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in particular clinical settings: a case of aorto-cavitary fistula in periprosthetic aortic valve abscess.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) due to staphylococcus aureus is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Paravalvular abscess formation is a common complication of PVE at the aortic position, but fistula formation is rarely seen. The transesophageal echocardiography is the "gold-standard" exam to detect PVE.

Transthoracic second harmonic two- and three-dimensional echocardiography for detection of patent foramen ovale.

Aims: Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with contrast administration is still considered as the reference method for the detection of patent foramen ovale (PFO) with interatrial shunt, but it is a semi-invasive exam. The aim of the present study is to evaluate a role of two- and three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE and R3DTE) as a diagnostic alternative to transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) and TEE for detection of atrial right-to-left shunt.

Methods And Results: Seventy-five patients with history of cerebrovascular events were subjected to four diagnostic examinations: TCD, TTE, R3DTE, and TEE, with bubble contrast.

Digitalis must be banished from the table: a rare case of acute accidental Digitalis intoxication of a whole family.

Advanced Digitalis intoxication is a rare event, mainly associated with overdose in patients with Digitalis therapy. We report an unusual case of acute 'familiar' digitalis poisoning in three patients who had eaten potato dumplings flavoured with leaves of Borago officinalis L. unconsciously mixed with leaves of Digitalis purpurea L.