Organization and Activity of Italian Echocardiographic Laboratories: A Survey of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging.

Background: The Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SIECVI) conducted a national survey to understand better how different echocardiographic modalities are used and accessed in Italy.

Methods: We analyzed echocardiography laboratory activities over a month (November 2022). Data were retrieved via an electronic survey based on a structured questionnaire, uploaded on the SIECVI website.

[Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of tricuspid endocarditis from implanted pacemaker: description of two cases].

Two cases of tricuspid valve endocarditis due to staphylococcus epidermidis have been examined in patients with permanent transvenous pacemaker. While transthoracic echocardiography was unable to detect any tricuspidal abnormalities, large vegetations located on the tricuspidal leaflets and the electrocatheter were detected by transesophageal echocardiography. Both cases required surgical removal of the electrostimulation system and valve toilet.

Above-normal left ventricular systolic performance during exercise in young subjects with mild hypertension.

Debate continues on whether left ventricular (LV) systolic function during exercise is abnormal in young subjects with mild hypertension and on whether the abnormal blood pressure (BP) trend observed in hypertensives during prolonged exercise is due to impaired LV function. LV function was measured by means of M-mode echocardiography during prolonged exercise in 13 physically trained, young, mild hypertensives and 12 age-matched, trained normotensives with similar working capacity. Systolic BP/end-systolic volume (SBP/ESV) and end-systolic stress/ESV at rest were greater in the hypertensives (P < 0.

Effects of ACE inhibition on endurance exercise haemodynamics in trained subjects with mild hypertension.

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of chronic angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on haemodynamics and left ventricular performance during long-lasting exercise at the anaerobic threshold. For this purpose exercise haemodynamics and left ventricular performance were assessed in 14 physically trained hypertensives (aged 26 y) before and after 3 months on quinapril 20 mg once daily. During exercise intraarterial blood pressure was monitored using the Oxford method and left ventricular dimensions were measured by M-mode echocardiography.