Effect of atrial fibrillation on the dynamics of mitral annular area.

Background And Aims Of The Study: The mitral annulus shows dynamic changes in shape and size during the cardiac cycle. A smaller size in end-diastole is attributed to the sphincteric action of atrial systole, and this may be important for functional integrity of the mitral valve. However, the effect of atrial fibrillation (AF) on dynamic changes in mitral annular size in humans is not known.

Predictors of recurrent restenosis after coronary stenting: an analysis of 197 patients.

One of the major limitations in coronary stenting is in-stent restenosis. This study was aimed to identify clinical, angiographic, and procedural factors that may be related to recurrent in-stent restenosis. We analyzed consecutive 197 patients who underwent coronary stenting.

Left Atrial Systolic Performance in the Presence of Elevated Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure: Evaluation by Transesophageal Pulsed Doppler Echocardiography of Left Ventricular Inflow and Pulmonary Venous Flow Velocities.

We recorded left ventricular inflow (LVIF) and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) velocities by transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 25 patients with a ratio of peak atrial systolic to early diastolic LVIF velocity of <1 and a left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) of 15 mmHg or greater, as well as in 30 normal subjects. The group consisted of 14 patients with prior myocardial infarction, 7 with dilated cardiomyopathy, and 4 with cardiac amyloidosis, and were divided into: (1) group A (n = 7): peak atrial systolic LVIF velocity of 40 cm/sec or greater; (2) group B (n = 7): peak atrial systolic LVIF velocity of <40 cm/sec and peak atrial systolic PVF velocity of 30 cm/sec or greater; and (3) group C (n = 11): peak atrial systolic LVIF velocity of <40 cm/sec and peak atrial systolic PVF velocity of <30 cm/sec. Although LVEDPs in groups B and C were significantly greater than in group A, there was no difference between groups B and C.

Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Reconstruction of the Left Ventricle by a Transesophageal Tomographic Technique: In Vitro and In Vivo Validation of its Volume Measurement.

Accurate determination of left ventricular (LV) volume has important therapeutic and prognostic implications in patients with cardiac disease. Volume estimations by two-dimensional techniques are not very accurate due to geometric assumptions. OBJECTIVES: To validate LV volume determinations by a new transesophageal three-dimensional echocardiographic technique.