Maximum-fixed energy shocks for cardioverting atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Direct-current cardioversion is one of the most commonly performed procedures in cardiology. Low-escalating energy shocks are common practice but the optimal energy selection is unknown. We compared maximum-fixed and low-escalating energy shocks for cardioverting atrial fibrillation.

Cardioversion Efficacy Using Pulsed Biphasic or Biphasic Truncated Exponential Waveforms: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Several different defibrillators are currently used for cardioversion and defibrillation of cardiac arrhythmias. The efficacy of a novel pulsed biphasic (PB) waveform has not been compared to other biphasic waveforms. Accordingly, this study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of PB shocks with biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) shocks in patients undergoing cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or -flutter.

Resting myocardial dysfunction in cirrhosis quantified by tissue Doppler imaging.

Background: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is described as latent cardiac failure. However, it remains to be investigated whether the myocardial dysfunction is present even at rest.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to quantify left ventricular function at rest by means of tissue Doppler imaging in patients with cirrhosis and relate the findings to liver status and cirrhosis aetiology.

Ketamine reduce left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Objective: Ketamine may be followed by a general increase in haemodynamics and oxygen consumption, which may be of concern in patients with ischaemic heart disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ketamine on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function by different modalities of echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Methods And Results: Prospective observational study of 11 patients acting as own control based on echocardiographic imaging before and after bolus ketamine 0.

Left ventricular longitudinal strain for perioperative cardiac monitoring in aortic aneurysm surgery using transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography: a feasibility and repeatability study.

Objective: This study investigated perioperative echocardiographic image quality, the feasibility, and intra- and interobserver repeatability of left ventricular longitudinal two-dimensional strain echocardiography (2DSE) in aortic aneurysm surgery.

Design: A prospective, descriptive method evaluation.

Setting: A single-center study.

High thoracic epidural analgesia improves left ventricular function in patients with ischemic heart.

Background: In patients with ischemic heart disease, high thoracic epidural analgesia (HTEA) has been proposed to improve myocardial function. Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) is a tool for quantitative determination of myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities and a derivative of TDI is tissue tracking (TT), which allows quantitative assessment of myocardial systolic longitudinal displacement during systole. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function by means of two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and TDI in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Hypertrophied hearts: what of sevoflurane cardioprotection?

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that inhalation anaesthetics, like sevoflurane, confer cardioprotection both experimentally and clinically. However, coexisting cardiac disease might diminish anaesthetic cardioprotection and could partly explain why the clinical results of cardioprotection with anaesthetics remain controversial--in contrast to solid experimental evidence. Concomitant left ventricular hypertrophy is found in some cardiac surgery patients and could change cardioprotection efficacy.

Perioperative feasibility of imaging the heart and pleura in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Background: The postoperative monitoring and treatment of the patient undergoing aortic valve replacement is a complex challenge. Echocardiography is the only method which provides dynamic and real-time bedside imaging of the heart. Focused assessed transthoracic echocardiography has been shown to provide a usable window for cardiac imaging in a mixed ICU population.

Propofol reduces tissue-Doppler markers of left ventricle function: a transthoracic echocardiographic study.

Background: Propofol is thought to minimally depress myocardial function, but mainly to reduce blood pressure by vasodilation. Transthoracic tissue-Doppler echocardiography (TDE) is a novel, validated method of quantifying myocardial function. It provides new insight into myocardial function by measuring myocardial motion.

Assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction may invalidate the reliability of EuroSCORE.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of different echocardiographic methods for assessment of left ventricular dysfunction on the predictive value of EuroSCORE and thus its reliability in daily practice and benchmarking.

Methods: Twenty-five recordings obtained by transthoracic echocardiography, optimal for study using four different echocardiographic methods, were examined and placed into relevant EuroSCORE classes. The four methods were eyeballing, Wall Motion Index, Simpson 2D volumetric method and Motion mode.

[Rat-bite fever].

Background: Rat bite fever and Haverhill fever are caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis which is part of the natural oral flora of rats and other rodents. Fever accompanied by headache, nausea and myalgia develops within ten days. Complications can be fatal.