Left atrial strain in adults after the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.

Background: No study has focused on left atrial (LA) function assessed by echocardiography in adult patients with simple D-TGA after arterial switch operation (ASO). We aimed to describe LA strain parameters in these patients.

Methods: A prospective cohort study including 42 adult patients with simple D-TGA after ASO and 33 aged-matched controls.

Changes in echocardiographic parameters over time in paradoxical low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis.

Aims: To assess the progression of the disease and evolution of the main echocardiographic variables for quantifying AS in patients with severe low-flow low-gradient (LFLG) AS compared to other severe AS subtypes.

Methods And Results: Longitudinal, observational, multicenter study including consecutive asymptomatic patients with severe AS (aortic valve area, AVA < 1.0 cm²) and normal left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 50%).

Spatiotemporal Complexity of Vena Contracta and Mitral Regurgitation Grading Using Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Analysis.

Background: Spatiotemporal complexity of the color Doppler vena contracta challenging the assumption of a circular and constant orifice may lead to mitral regurgitation (MR) grading inconsistencies. Using 3D transesophageal echocardiography, we characterized spatiotemporal vena contracta complexity and its impact on MR severity grading.

Methods: In 192 patients with suspected moderate or severe MR (100 primary MR [PMR]; 92 secondary MR [SMR]), we performed three-dimensional vena contracta area (VCA) quantification using single-frame (midsystolic or VCAmid, maximum or VCAmax) and multiframe (VCAmean) methods, as well as measures of orifice shape (shape index) and systolic variation of VCA.

CA125: a new biomarker in patients with Fontan circulation.

Introduction And Objectives: Patients with Fontan circulation (FC) have a high incidence of clinical complications. However, no biomarker is able to accurately stratify risk. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between biomarkers and clinical complications, including carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) for the first time, and to propose a risk estimation based on a combination of biomarkers.