Twist deformation for predicting postoperative left ventricular function in patients with mitral regurgitation: A speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Purpose: Postoperative LV dysfunction is associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality in patient with mitral regurgitation undergoing surgery. With this study, we aimed to investigate the predictive value of classic and speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) LV deformational parameters for estimating postoperative LV dysfunction.

Methods: Fifty-nine asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) due to mitral valve prolapse, who had sinus rhythm and LV ejection fraction (EF) ≥50%, were included.

Severe biventricular hypertrophy mimicking infiltrative cardiomyopathy in old man with pulmonary stenosis and systemic hypertension.

Hypertrophic biventricular cardiomyopathy is a rare finding and generally caused by systemic infiltrative diseases. Its association with pulmonary stenosis in same patient is even rarer. We report a case report of male patient with biventricular hypertrophy coexisting with pulmonary valve stenosis and systemic hypertension.

Effect of mitral valve repair versus replacement on left ventricular rotational deformation: a study with speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Radial and longitudinal movements of the heart do not fully reflect cardiac hemodynamics and physiology. Twist deformation of the heart is essential for adequate cardiac filling and stroke volume. The study aim was to examine the effects of mitral valve replacement or repair on left ventricular rotational parameters, evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography, in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR).

[Relationship between D-dimer and systemic embolism in patients with infective endocarditis].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of plasma D-dimer (DD) levels for predicting systemic embolism in patients with infective endocarditis (IE).

Study Design: A total of 42 patients (mean age: 46±16 years; 78% males) with IE were included. Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic findings of the patients were evaluated.

Multimodality imaging of a giant caseous calcification of the mitral annulus.

We present an unusual case of giant caseous calcification of the mitral annulus in a 58-year-old female patient. The mass was detected during echocardiography and was defined as a big, round echodense lesion attached to the posterior mitral ring annulus. The patient was further evaluated with a full spectrum of cardiac noninvasive imaging modalities and the diagnosis was confirmed.