Position Statement on the Use of Myocardial Strain in Cardiology Routines by the Brazilian Society of Cardiology's Department Of Cardiovascular Imaging - 2023.

Central Illustration : Position Statement on the Use of Myocardial Strain in Cardiology Routines by the Brazilian Society of Cardiology's Department Of Cardiovascular Imaging - 2023 Proposal for including strain in the integrated diastolic function assessment algorithm, adapted from Nagueh et al.67 Am: mitral A-wave duration; Ap: reverse pulmonary A-wave duration; DD: diastolic dysfunction; LA: left atrium; LASr: LA strain reserve; LVGLS: left ventricular global longitudinal strain; TI: tricuspid insufficiency. Confirm concentric remodeling with LVGLS.

Influence of Physical Training after a Myocardial Infarction on Left Ventricular Contraction Mechanics.

Background: Exercise plays a positive role in the course of the ischemic heart disease, enhancing functional capacity and preventing ventricular remodeling.

Objective: To investigate the impact of exercise on left ventricular (LV) contraction mechanics after an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: A total of 53 patients was included, 27 of whom were randomized to a supervised training program (TRAINING group), and 26 to a CONTROL group, who received usual recommendations on physical exercise after AMI.

Global Longitudinal Strain or Left Ventricular Twist and Torsion? Which Correlates Best with Ejection Fraction?

Background: Estimative of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a major indication for echocardiography. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) allows analysis of LV contraction mechanics which includes global longitudinal strain (GLS) and twist/torsion, both the most widely used. Direct comparison of correlations between these novel parameters and LVEF has never been done before.

Indeterminate form of Chagas disease: is left ventricular torsional mechanics a clue to subclinical myocardial abnormalities?

Background: Chagas disease (CD) is highly endemic in Latin America, and has been emerging in developed countries. Early diagnosis of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, routinely done by echocardiography, is crucial for therapy. Speckle tracking echocardiography allows determination of LV segmental rotations, twist/torsion, and this analysis may disclose an unapparent myocardial contractile deficit in initial stages of CD.

Comprehensive left ventricular mechanics analysis by speckle tracking echocardiography in Chagas disease.

Background: Chagas disease (CD) is a frequent cause of dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP) in developing countries, leading to clinical heart failure and worse prognosis. Therefore, the development and evolution of this CMP has always been a major topic in numbers of previous studies. A comprehensive echocardiographic study of left ventricular (LV) mechanics, fully assessing myocardial contraction, has never been done before.

Myocardial infarction caused by coronary artery injury after a blunt chest trauma.

We report the case of a 29-year-old man, victim of a car accident, who suffered a severe blunt chest trauma, with evolving congestive heart failure. He had previously had a good overall health status, with no symptoms of cardiovascular disease. At the initial assessment, the electrocardiogram showed Q waves in the precordial leads and the echocardiogram disclosed severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Hemoptysis and hemothorax as presentation of thoracic aortic rupture.

Thoracic aortic dissection is a disease of great mortality in its initial phase, but in some cases it can assume chronic course. We report a case of a patient with Stanford type A1 aortic dissection, admitted with mental confusion, dyspnea and event of severe hemoptysis. Electrocardiogram showed unspecific change and chest X-ray revealed opacification of the left hemithorax.