Right Ventricular Function and Outcomes Stratified by the Effective Regurgitant Orifice Area in Secondary Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Background: In patients with moderate and severe secondary tricuspid regurgitation (STR), the effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA), corrected using the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method for tricuspid valve leaflet tethering and low TR jet velocities, has an unclear threshold for identifying high-risk patients. This study aimed to establish a risk-based EROA cutoff and assess the impact of right ventricular (RV) remodeling on outcomes in low-risk STR patients according to EROA.

Methods: We included 513 consecutive outpatients (age 75±13 years, 47% male) with moderate and severe STR.

The role of multi-modality imaging for the assessment of left atrium and left atrial appendage. A clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Structural, architectural, contractile or electrophysiological alterations may occur in the left atrium (LA). The concept of LA cardiopathy is supported by accumulating scientific evidence demonstrating that LA remodeling has become a cornerstone diagnostic and prognostic marker. The structure and the function of LA and left atrial appendage (LAA) which is an integral part of the LA, are key elements for a better understanding of multiple clinical conditions, most notably atrial fibrillation (AF), cardioembolism, heart failure and mitral valve diseases.

Right ventricular reserve in cardiopulmonary disease: a simultaneous hemodynamic and three-dimensional echocardiographic study.

Background: RV reserve has been linked to exercise capacity and prognosis in cardiopulmonary diseases. However, evidence in this setting is limited, due to the complex shape and load dependency of the RV. We sought to study right ventricular (RV) adaptation to exercise by simultaneous three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and right heart catheterization (RHC).

Utility of the Ratio Between the Size of the Right Atrium and the Right Ventricle at End-Systole to Diagnose Atrial Secondary Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Background: In the multiparametric framework for diagnosing atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation (A-STR), an end-systolic (ES) right atrial (RA)-to-right ventricular (RV) volume or area ratio ≥1.5 supports the diagnosis of A-STR over the ventricular secondary tricuspid regurgitation phenotype (V-STR). However, this threshold value has never been tested.

Tricuspid Valve S-Curves and Chamber Views: Implications for Transcatheter Tricuspid and Pulmonary Valve Interventions, Part 2 of the S-Curves and Chamber Views Series.

Despite the challenges associated with periprocedural imaging, transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions have shown important impact on outcomes. A comprehensive understanding of the anatomy of the right heart and surrounding structures is crucial. One way to optimize these interventions is by identifying the optimal fluoroscopic viewing angles along the S-curve of the tricuspid valve.

Association With Outcomes of Correcting the Proximal Isovelocity Surface Area Method to Quantitate Secondary Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Background: Although the correction of the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method has been shown to improve the accuracy of assessing the severity of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (STR), its clinical impact remains to be investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the association of the quantitative parameters of STR severity obtained from the corrected and conventional PISA methods with outcomes.

Methods: Both conventional and corrected effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) (EROA vs corrected EROA [EROAc]), regurgitant volume (RegVol) (RegVol vs corrected RegVol [RegVolc]), and regurgitant fraction (RegFr) (RegFr vs corrected RegFr [RegFrc]) were measured in 519 consecutive patients (mean age, 75 ± 12 years; 44% men; 74% with ventricular STR) with moderate and severe STR.

Three-Dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiography for Semiautomated Analysis of the Tricuspid Annulus: Validation and Normal Values.

Background: The expansion of tricuspid valve (TV) interventions has underscored the need for accurate and reproducible three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) tools for evaluating the tricuspid annulus and for 3D normal values of this structure. The aims of this study were to develop new semi-automated software for 3D TTE analysis of the tricuspid annulus, compare its accuracy and reproducibility against those of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) reference, and determine normative values.

Methods: Three-dimensional TTE images of 113 patients with variable degrees of tricuspid regurgitation were analyzed using the new semiautomated software and conventional MPR methodology (as the reference standard), each by three independent readers.

Benefit of isolated surgical valve repair or replacement for functional tricuspid regurgitation and long-term outcomes stratified by the TRI-SCORE.

Background And Aims: Severe tricuspid regurgitation is associated with increased mortality rates, but benefit of its correction and ideal timing are not clearly determined. This study aimed to identify patient subsets who might benefit from the surgery.

Methods: In TRIGISTRY, an international cohort study of consecutive patients with severe isolated functional tricuspid regurgitation (33 centres, 10 countries), survival rates up to 10 years were compared between patients who underwent isolated tricuspid valve surgery (repair or replacement) and those conservatively managed, overall and according to TRI-SCORE category (low: ≤3, intermediate: 4-5, and high: ≥6).

Assessing right atrial size in patients with tricuspid regurgitation: importance of the right ventricular-focused view.

Aims: To assess the accuracy of measuring the right atrial volume (RAV) using two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) in a right ventricular focused (RVF) view compared to the conventional apical four-chamber (4Ch) view in patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation (STR). We also compared the clinical correlates of the measures obtained using different methods.

Methods And Results: The accuracy of RAV measurements obtained between 2DE-4Ch and RVF views in 384 patients with STR were compared using three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) as a reference.

Advances in the Assessment of Patients With Tricuspid Regurgitation: A State-of-the-Art Review on the Echocardiographic Evaluation Before and After Tricuspid Valve Interventions.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can have a significant impact on the health and mortality of a patient. Unfortunately, many patients with advanced right-sided heart failure are not referred for isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery in a timely manner. This delayed referral has resulted in a high in-hospital mortality rate and significant undertreatment.

Multimodality imaging for the evaluation and management of patients with long-term (durable) left ventricular assist devices.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are gaining increasing importance as therapeutic strategy in advanced heart failure (HF), not only as bridge to recovery or to transplant but also as destination therapy. Even though long-term LVADs are considered a precious resource to expand the treatment options and improve clinical outcome of these patients, these are limited by peri-operative and post-operative complications, such as device-related infections, haemocompatibility-related events, device mis-positioning, and right ventricular failure. For this reason, a precise pre-operative, peri-operative, and post-operative evaluation of these patients is crucial for the selection of LVAD candidates and the management LVAD recipients.

Arrhythmic Mitral Valve Prolapse Phenotype: An Unsupervised Machine Learning Analysis Using a Multicenter Cardiac MRI Registry.

Purpose To use unsupervised machine learning to identify phenotypic clusters with increased risk of arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Materials and Methods This retrospective study included patients with MVP without hemodynamically significant mitral regurgitation or left ventricular (LV) dysfunction undergoing late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac MRI between October 2007 and June 2020 in 15 European tertiary centers. The study end point was a composite of sustained ventricular tachycardia, (aborted) sudden cardiac death, or unexplained syncope.

Social media for cardiac imagers: a review.

Cardiac imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases. In the burgeoning landscape of digital technology and social media platforms, it becomes essential for cardiac imagers to know how to effectively increase the visibility and the impact of their activity. With the availability of social sites like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, cardiac imagers can now reach a wider audience and engage with peers, sharing their findings, insights, and discussions.

Significant Disagreement Between Conventional Parameters and 3D Echocardiography-Derived Ejection Fraction in the Detection of Right Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Its Association With Outcomes.

Aims: Conventional echocardiographic parameters such as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), and free-wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) offer limited insights into the complexity of right ventricular (RV) systolic function, while 3D echocardiography-derived RV ejection fraction (RVEF) enables a comprehensive assessment. We investigated the discordance between TAPSE, FAC, FWLS, and RVEF in RV systolic function grading and associated outcomes.

Methods: We analyzed two- and three-dimensional echocardiography data from 2 centers including 750 patients followed up for all-cause mortality.

EACVI survey on radiation exposure in interventional echocardiography.

Aims: The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) Scientific Initiatives Committee performed a global survey on radiation exposure in interventional echocardiography. The survey aimed to collect data on local practices for radioprotection in interventional echocardiography and to assess the awareness of echocardiography operators about radiation-related risks.

Methods And Results: A total of 258 interventional echocardiographers from 52 different countries (48% European) responded to the survey.

Timing and Patient Position During Cuff Blood Pressure Measurement Affect Myocardial Work Parameters Measured by Echocardiography.

Background: Although cuff blood pressure measurement is a critical parameter to calculate myocardial work noninvasively, there is no recommendation about when and how to measure it. Accordingly, we sought to evaluate the effects of the timing during the echo study and the patient's position on the scanning bed during the cuff blood pressure measurement on myocardial work parameter calculations.

Methods: One hundred one consecutive patients (44 women, 66 ± 14 years) undergoing clinically indicated echocardiography were prospectively enrolled.

Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation: pathophysiology, definition, diagnosis, and treatment.

Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation (A-STR) is a distinct phenotype of secondary tricuspid regurgitation with predominant dilation of the right atrium and normal right and left ventricular function. Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation occurs most commonly in elderly women with atrial fibrillation and in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in sinus rhythm. In A-STR, the main mechanism of leaflet malcoaptation is related to the presence of a significant dilation of the tricuspid annulus secondary to right atrial enlargement.