Real-time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.

Background: Complex anatomy of intra-cardiac structures requires spatial orientation of image in three dimensions for better understanding and enhanced image interpretation. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of the emerging 'real-time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography' technique for comprehensive assessment of cardiac anatomy, physiology, pathomorphology and pathophysiology in patients with structural heart disease.

Methods And Results: Patients with structural heart disease (n=152) were evaluated by conventional two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and real-time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography using standard protocol.

Non-invasive assessment of endothelial function by brachial artery flow mediated vasodilatation and its association with coronary artery disease: an Indian perspective.

Endothelial dysfunction is the final common pathway through which various coronary risk factors culminate into atherosclerosis and subsequent coronary artery disease (CAD). Endothelial function can be reliably assessed by flow mediated vasodilatation (FMD) in the brachial artery using high-resolution ultrasonography and has been shown to be an excellent surrogate marker for the presence of CAD. Two hundred and forty-one individuals comprising of 101 patients with CAD (angiographically proven, or with history of documented myocardial infarction) and 140 individuals without CAD were included in the study.

Carotid intima-media thickness and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with and without coronary artery disease.

Background: Carotid intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity are non-invasive markers of atherosclerosis and have been shown to reliably predict presence and extent of atherosclerotic vascular disease. However, studies examining their association with each other have shown inconsistent results. Hence it was sought to assess correlation between carotid intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity in patients with and without coronary artery disease.

Carotid intima-media thickness and coronary artery disease: an Indian perspective.

To determine whether carotid intima-media thickness is associated with coronary artery disease and cardiovascular risk factors in the Indian population, carotid intima-media thickness was measured using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in 101 patients with coronary artery disease and 140 control subjects. Carotid intima-media thickness was measured at 3 predefined sites on each side. The maximum carotid intima-media thickness was significantly higher in the coronary disease group compared to the controls (1.