Prevalence and follow-up of subclinical rheumatic heart disease among asymptomatic school children in a north-western district of India based on the World Heart Federation echocardiographic criteria.

Background: The present study is based on the World Heart Federation (WHF) echocardiographic criteria to assess the prevalence of subclinical rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and elucidate evolution of the disease when the cases were placed on appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis and regular follow-up. The prevalence of subclinical RHD reported by previous active surveillance studies among asymptomatic school children is not comparable to our study because of major differences in screening methods.

Methods: A random inclusion strategy was adopted to recruit urban and rural school children of Bikaner district in the state of Rajasthan, India.

Comparison of the newer proposed diagnostic score with the World Heart Federation criteria for echocardiographic detection of rheumatic heart disease.

Introduction: Echocardiography has been found to be a much better screening tool compared to clinical examination for the detection of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in asymptomatic school children living in the RHD endemic areas. Recently, World Heart Federation (WHF) published echocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of RHD. The present study was done to compare the performance of the newer proposed, quantitative diagnostic score against the qualitative WHF criteria in a field survey of asymptomatic school children belonging to the district having high prevalence of RHD.

Effects of antegrade versus integrated blood cardioplegia on left ventricular function evaluated by echocardiographic real-time 3-dimensional speckle tracking.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate left ventricular free wall and interventricular septal function by 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and live/real-time 3-dimensional transthoracic speckle tracking echocardiography before and after on-pump cardiac surgery and to assess the effect of mode of cardioplegia delivery.

Methods: A total of 22 patients were studied 1 day before and 4 to 5 days after surgery. Cold blood cardioplegia was delivered by intermittent antegrade infusion or by the integrated method.

Live/Real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects.

Objectives: This study assessed the ability of live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) in measuring (1) atrial septal defect (ASD) maximum dimension, area, and adjacent rim size, (2) ASD occluder left and right atrial disk size, (3) length of contact between the left atrial (LA) disk and the aorta, and in (4) assessing device related complications such as residual shunt, device embolization, and device encroachment upon adjacent cardiac structures.

Materials And Methods: 3DTEE images acquired during percutaneous ASD closure by the Amplatzer Septal Occluder in 15 adult patients were retrospectively analyzed. Offline analysis was done using both the Philips 5500 ultrasound system and Philips QLAB software.

Two years of follow-up validates the echocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis and screening of rheumatic heart disease in asymptomatic populations.

Objectives: Out of 1,059 school children aged 6-15 years, screened 2 years ago, 54 children were diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and put on penicillin prophylaxis. Significant regurgitation of mitral valves was detected in 39 cases of echocardiography diagnosed RHD, and in 15 cases significant regurgitation was detected to coexist with valve deformities. Three children had isolated mitral valve thickening without regurgitation.

High prevalence of rheumatic heart disease detected by echocardiography in school children.

Objectives: It is fairly easy to detect advanced valve lesions of established rheumatic heart disease by echocardiography in the clinically identified cases of rheumatic heart disease. However, to diagnose a subclinical case of rheumatic heart disease, no uniform set of echocardiographic criteria exist. Moderate thickening of valve leaflets is considered an indicator of established rheumatic heart disease.

Camphor induced myocarditis: a case report.

Availability of camphor containing products in households is not uncommon. In certain parts of the world, camphor is used in medicines intended for enteral intake and also used as a flavoring agent in edibles. Toxicity due to ingestion of camphor has been described and in severe forms it manifests as seizures, apnea, asystole, circulatory collapse and death.