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Biomedical subjects

D J Sahn

Publications and source records attributed to D J Sahn.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Contributions of newer MR imaging strategies for congenital heart disease.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a valuable noninvasive adjunct in the evaluation of congenital heart disease (CHD). With its multiplanar image acquisition, good spatial resolution, and large-field-of-view image display, MR imaging can allow appreciation of vascular connections not readily apparent at echocardiography or angiography. Evaluation of CHD with MR imaging has two components: definition of cardiovascular anatomy and characterization of blood flow. However, the variety of MR imaging options is large and often confusing. Besides spin-echo and gradient-echo imaging, MR imaging techniques for evaluation of CHD include MR angiography, cine MR imaging, and flow quantification. An understanding of the potential MR imaging options enables formulation and more efficient application of MR imaging strategies. When performed well, MR imaging greatly enhances surgical planning and can even obviate cardiac catheterization. MR imaging is also an excellent modality for serial evaluation of surgical results and complications in cases of CHD.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1995

Factors influencing pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns in mitral regurgitation: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting pulmonary venous flow patterns in mitral regurgitation. BACKGROUND: Although pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns have been reported to be helpful in assessing the severity of mitral regurgitation, the influence of regurgitant jet direction, pulmonary venous location and left atrial pressures on pulmonary venous flow patterns has yet to be clarified. METHODS: The mitral regurgitant jet was produced by a pulsatile piston pump at 10, 30 and 40 ml/beat through a circular orifice, whereas the pulmonary venous flow was driven by gravity. Four different patterns of pulmonary venous flow and mitral regurgitation were examined. The V wave pressure was set at 10, 30 and 50 mm Hg and pulmonary venous flow velocity at 30 cm/s. Color and pulsed Doppler recordings were obtained with a VingMed 800 scanner interfaced with a computer facilitating digital analysis. RESULTS: The decrease in the velocity time integral of pulmonary venous flow was more prominent for any given volume of mitral regurgitation at higher left atrial pressure. When the mitral regurgitant jet was directed toward the pulmonary vein, a more prominent decrease in the velocity time integral was seen, especially for severe mitral regurgitation (40 ml) with high left atrial pressure (95% vs. 55%, p < 0.001); and the time to peak deceleration of forward flow was significantly shorter (485 vs. 523 ms, respectively, p < 0.01). Also, two different types (laminar and turbulent) of reversed pulmonary venous flow were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple factors, including jet direction, mitral regurgitant volume and left atrial pressure, determine the effect of mitral regurgitation on pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of four Doppler echocardiographic methods for calculating pulmonary-to-systemic shunt flow ratios in patients with ventricular septal defect.

Several methods currently exist for quantifying pulmonary (Qp) and systemic (Qs) shunt flow using Doppler echocardiography, although none is widely utilized. In this study, 39 patients (age 2 months to 12 years, mean 2.1 years) underwent an echocardiographic examination within 1 month of Qp:Qs shunt flow determination by oximetry at catheterization. Qp:Qs was determined by 4 methods that utilized: (1) velocity time integrals and luminal areas to estimate volume flow of the pulmonary artery and aorta; (2) the square of the ratios of pulmonary artery to aorta, multiplied by the ratio of pulmonary to aortic peak flow velocities; (3) inclusion of mitral and tricuspid valve volume flow to pulmonary and aortic volume flow; and (4) ventricular septal defect (VSD) diameter and velocity time integral to calculate left-to-right shunt, which, when added to aortic volume flow (Qs), can be used to estimate Qp. Each of the first 3 methods was statistically correlated to the oximetry Qp:Qs, with r values ranging from 0.54 to 0.66 (p < 0.001). However, the fourth method, based on direct computation of flow across the VSD, had the best correlation to catheterization data (r = 0.82), and further improved when 7 patients with a large VSD (> 9 mm/m2), all of whom had bidirectional shunting, were removed (r = 0.90). Thus, we concluded that this latter method demonstrated the best correlation to catheterization-derived shunt flow data, and because this method is somewhat less labor-intensive than the others, should provide clinically useful data well suited for serial evaluation in infants and children with VSD.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Effects of pulmonary venous flow direction on mitral regurgitation jet area as imaged by color Doppler flow mapping. An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Although the effects of adjacent walls and left atrial pressure on mitral regurgitation (MR) jet area imaged by color Doppler have been examined, few data exist regarding the influence of pulmonary venous (PV) filling flow on regurgitant jets. Therefore, we designed a left atrial model to examine the relation between PV flow direction and MR jet area. METHODS AND RESULTS: The left atrial chamber (7.6 cm in diameter) was built with a PV inflow (1.0 cm in diameter) and mitral valve regurgitant orifice in the same plane. The MR jet was simulated as fixed in volume and velocity (3.5 m/s) and directed with a pulsatile pump into the left atrial model. PV flow with a constant velocity (30 cm/s) was driven by gravity (83 cm H2O). With left atrial mean pressure at either 10, 30, or 50 mm Hg, four flow patterns were examined: (1) PV flow away from the mitral valve, MR jet toward the pulmonary vein; (2) PV flow toward the mitral valve, MR jet toward the pulmonary vein; (3) PV flow away from the mitral valve, MR jet away from the pulmonary vein; and (4) PV flow toward the mitral valve, MR jet away from the pulmonary vein. MR color Doppler images were recorded with a 3.5-mHz frequency transducer and at 7-kHz pulse repetition frequency. For each condition, we compared jet area, length, and width of the MR signal. MR jet areas for conditions 3 and 4 were larger at 10 mm Hg than at 30 or 50 mm Hg left atrial pressure. Especially at the lower pressures, PV flow diminished the MR jet area in condition 4 compared with that in condition 3, such that MR jets were smaller in condition 4. In conditions 1 and 2, the jets were imaged at an oblique angle and were smaller than in conditions 3 and 4 (P < .001), but they were not significantly different from each other as imaged. CONCLUSIONS: In this model, factors including the direction of PV flow, the direction of MR as relates to the angle of interrogation, and the level of left atrial pressure influenced the size of MR jets. The effect of PV flow direction was diminished by increased left atrial pressure. PV flow directed away from the mitral valve was associated with larger MR jets than when PV flow was directed toward it (condition 4), probably because of jet distortion and flattening.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1995

In utero pulmonary artery and aortic growth and potential for progression of pulmonary outflow tract obstruction in tetralogy of Fallot.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to define patterns of pulmonary artery and aortic growth in fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot and to determine the potential for in utero progression of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. BACKGROUND: Despite an abundance of reports documenting the prenatal diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot, there is little information about its course in utero. METHODS: Pulmonary artery and ascending aortic diameters were measured from prenatal and postnatal echocardiograms of 16 fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot, initially studied at 23.6 +/- 6.0 (mean +/- SD) weeks of gestation. Fetuses were classified retrospectively as having mild and severe tetralogy of Fallot according to whether the pulmonary artery circulation was (severe, n = 5) or was not (mild, n = 11) ductus arteriosus dependent at birth. RESULTS: Initial main pulmonary artery diameter was small for gestational age in 9 fetuses, large in 2 and normal in 5 compared with data from 57 gestational age-adjusted normal fetal studies; it was significantly smaller in the group with severe tetralogy of Fallot (p = 0.05). The initial main pulmonary artery/aortic diameter ratio was also smaller for the group with severe tetralogy of Fallot (0.50 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.14 in the group with mild tetralogy of Fallot, p = 0.01). Initial aortic and branch pulmonary artery diameters tended to be normal or near normal for age. In eight fetuses serially studied, main and branch pulmonary artery growth was normal or reduced during prenatal follow-up. Pulmonary artery growth was most reduced in two fetuses in the group with severe tetralogy of Fallot, resulting in pulmonary artery hypoplasia at birth. Two fetuses with valvular pulmonary atresia at birth had previously shown anterograde pulmonary outflow in midgestation, suggesting progression of pulmonary outflow obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The postnatal spectrum of pulmonary artery size in tetralogy of Fallot can be attributed to variable patterns of growth in utero. Main pulmonary artery size, main pulmonary artery/aortic diameter ratio and pattern of pulmonary artery growth may be predictive of the severity of postnatal pulmonary outflow obstruction. Pulmonary atresia can develop in utero in some fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot.

Aorta↗
PubMed1995

Relation of left atrial V-wave/left ventricular systolic pressure ratio to mitral regurgitant volume.

Evaluation of mitral regurgitation is difficult whether invasive or noninvasive methods are used. The determination of the regurgitant volume itself cannot be done in clinical practice with reasonable accuracy. In six sheep with chronic mitral regurgitation, left ventricular and left atrial pressures were recorded with high-fidelity catheters. The regurgitant volume was measured directly with electromagnetic flow probes positioned at the mitral annulus and around the ascending aorta, balanced against each other. A total of 24 hemodynamic states were obtained varying preload and afterload by fluid expansion and angiotensin infusion. On the basis of these studies, the pressure ratio of the V wave divided by the left ventricular systolic pressure is proposed as an index of regurgitant volume. A good correlation was found between this ratio and the regurgitant volume (r = 0.75). The ratio is easily recorded during routine heart catheterization.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Color flow Doppler determination of transmitral flow and orifice area in mitral stenosis: experimental evaluation of the proximal flow-convergence method.

To evaluate the in vivo accuracy of color Doppler flow-convergence methods for determining transmitral flow volumes and effective orifice areas in mitral stenosis, we studied two models for flow-convergence surface geometry, a hemispheric (HS) model and an oblate hemispheroid (OH) model in a chronic animal model with quantifiable mitral flows. Color Doppler flow mapping of the proximal flow-convergence region has been reported to be useful for evaluation of intracardiac flows. Flow-convergence methods in patients with mitral stenosis that use HS assumption for the isovelocity surface have resulted in underestimation of actual flows. Chronic mitral stenosis was created surgically in six sheep with annuloplasty rings (group 1) and 11 sheep with bioprosthetic porcine valves (group 2). Hemodynamic and echocardiographic/Doppler studies (n = 18 in group 1; n = 21 in group 2) were performed 20 to 34 weeks later. Left ventricular inflow obstruction was of varied severity, with mean transmitral valve gradients in group 1 ranging from 1.3 to 18 mm Hg and in group 2 ranging from 6.3 to 25.6 mm Hg. Although transmitral flows derived by both geometric flow convergence models showed significant correlations with reference cardiac outputs, the correlations for the OH model were better than those for the HS model (group 1, r = 0.86 for the OH model vs r = 0.72 for the HS model; group 2; r = 0.84 for the OH model vs r = 0.62 for the HS model). The OH model was also superior to the HS model in determining effective orifice areas compared to reference orifice areas determined by postmortem planimetry of anatomic orifices (group 1 only, r = 0.64 for OH vs 0.58 for HS), by the Gorlin and Gorlin formula (group 1, r = 0.63 for OH vs 0.72 for HS; group 2, r = 0.82 for OH vs 0.76 for HS), and by the Doppler pressure half-time method (group 1, r = 0.76 for OH vs 0.69 for HS; group 2, r = 0.84 for OH vs 0.62 for HS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Doppler evaluation of severity of mitral regurgitation: relation to pulmonary venous blood flow patterns in an animal study.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the influence of regurgitant volume on pulmonary venous blood flow patterns in an animal model with quantifiable mitral regurgitation. BACKGROUND: Systolic pulmonary venous blood flow is influenced by atrial filling and compliance and ventricular output and by the presence of mitral regurgitation. The quantitative severity of the regurgitant volume itself is difficult to judge in clinical examinations. METHODS: Six sheep with chronic mitral regurgitation produced by previous operation to create chordal damage were examined. At reoperation the heart was exposed and epicardial echocardiography performed. Pulmonary venous blood flow waveforms were recorded by pulsed Doppler under color flow Doppler guidance using a Vingmed 750 scanner. The pulmonary venous systolic inflow to the left atrium was expressed as a fraction of the total inflow velocity time integral. Flows across the aortic and mitral valves were recorded by electromagnetic flowmeters balanced against each other. Pressures in the left ventricle and left atrium were measured directly with high fidelity manometer-tipped catheters. Preload and afterload were systematically manipulated, resulting in 24 stable hemodynamic states. RESULTS: Simple logarithmic correlation between the regurgitant volume and size of a positive or negative pulmonary venous inflow velocity time integral during systole was good (r = -0.841). By stepwise linear regression analysis with pulmonary venous negative systolic velocity time integral as a dependent variable compared with the regurgitant volume, fractional shortening, left atrial v wave size, systemic vascular resistance and left ventricular systolic pressure, only contributions from v wave size and regurgitant volume (r = 0.80) reached statistical significance in determining pulmonary venous negative systolic flow. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of systolic pulmonary venous blood flow velocity time integral can give valuable information helpful for estimating the regurgitant volume secondary to mitral regurgitation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Nature of flow acceleration into a finite-sized orifice: steady and pulsatile flow studies on the flow convergence region using simultaneous ultrasound Doppler flow mapping and laser Doppler velocimetry.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the proximal centerline flow convergence region simultaneously by both color Doppler and laser Doppler velocimetry. BACKGROUND: Although numerous investigations have been performed to test the flow convergence method, to our knowledge there has yet been no experimental study using reference standard velocimetric techniques to define precisely the hydrodynamic factors involved in the accelerating flow region during steady and pulsatile flow. METHODS: Using an in vitro model that allows velocity measurements by laser Doppler velocimetry with simultaneous comparison with color Doppler results, we studied the centerline flow acceleration region proximal to orifices of various sizes (0.08 to 2.0 cm2). RESULTS: Agreement between theory and experimental velocities was good for large flow rates through small orifices only, and only at distances > 1.2 cm from the orifice. Changing the orifice shape from circular to slitlike produced no significant changes in velocity profiles. Constraining the proximal side walls caused a significant increase in proximal velocities at distances > 0.7 cm for the largest orifice only (2.0 cm2). Calculated flow rates agreed well with actual flow rates, with functional dependence on proximal distance and orifice size. Velocity profiles for pulsatile flow were similar to steady state flow profiles and could be integrated to calculate stroke volumes, which followed actual flow volumes well, although with general overestimation (y = 1.22x + 0.164, r = 0.92), most likely due to the use of all available proximal velocities. CONCLUSIONS: The accelerating proximal flow region responds to several hydrodynamic factors that can affect flow quantitation using the flow convergence method in the clinical situation.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1995

Dynamic change in mitral regurgitant orifice area: comparison of color Doppler echocardiographic and electromagnetic flowmeter-based methods in a chronic animal model.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate dynamic changes in the mitral regurgitant orifice using electromagnetic flow probes and flowmeters and the color Doppler flow convergence method. BACKGROUND: Methods for determining mitral regurgitant orifice areas have been described using flow convergence imaging with a hemispheric isovelocity surface assumption. However, the shape of flow convergence isovelocity surfaces depends on many factors that change during regurgitation. METHODS: In seven sheep with surgically created mitral regurgitation, 18 hemodynamic states were studied. The aliasing distances of flow convergence were measured at 10 sequential points using two ranges of aliasing velocities (0.20 to 0.32 and 0.56 to 0.72 m/s), and instantaneous flow rates were calculated using the hemispheric assumption. Instantaneous regurgitant areas were determined from the regurgitant flow rates obtained from both electromagnetic flowmeters and flow convergence divided by the corresponding continuous wave velocities. RESULTS: The regurgitant orifice sizes obtained using the electromagnetic flow method usually increased to maximal size in early to midsystole and then decreased in late systole. Patterns of dynamic changes in orifice area obtained by flow convergence were not the same as those delineated by the electromagnetic flow method. Time-averaged regurgitant orifice areas obtained by flow convergence using lower aliasing velocities overestimated the areas obtained by the electromagnetic flow method ([mean +/- SD] 0.27 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.12 +/- 0.06 cm2, p < 0.001), whereas flow convergence, using higher aliasing velocities, estimated the reference areas more reliably (0.15 +/- 0.06 cm2). CONCLUSIONS: The electromagnetic flow method studies uniformly demonstrated dynamic change in mitral regurgitant orifice area and suggested limitations of the flow convergence method.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Adult congenital heart disease: use of transthoracic echocardiography versus magnetic resonance imaging scanning.

There are many potential imaging modalities available for the assessment of patients with adult congenital heart disease, yet a dearth of information exists as to their comparative clinical value. Transthoracic echocardiography provides high-resolution, real-time imaging of intracardiac structures and is well suited to the investigation of these patients. It is limited by problems of acoustic penetration that vary from patient to patient, and rarely provides high-quality images of the great vessels in adults. The introduction of spectral Doppler ultrasound and color Doppler flow mapping has greatly enhanced the accuracy and quantitative ability of cardiac ultrasound in adult congenital heart disease. Magnetic resonance imaging is not subject to the problems of ultrasound but does not provide real-time imaging and it is comparatively expensive and time consuming. However, the high-resolution imaging it provides is a major advance in the investigation of patients with poor transthoracic echocardiograms or in delineating the extracardiac structures often unseen by conventional echocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging are complimentary investigations in adult congenital heart disease providing high-resolution anatomic and functional information in even the most complex forms of congenital heart lesions in this difficult and expanding population.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Intravascular ultrasound imaging of coarctation of the aorta: animal and human studies.

Although the use of balloon dilation for treatment of native and recurrent coarctation of the aorta (coA) has become widespread, the optimal balloon size and postdilation vessel wall changes remain undetermined. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging has emerged as a an important adjunct in the treatment and follow-up of patients with coronary artery and peripheral vascular lesions, and has been used for evaluation in a limited number of patients with CoA. We used a combination of balloon dilation/ultrasound imaging catheter in animals with experimentally-induced CoA. We used a combination balloon dilation/ultrasound imaging catheter in animals with experimentally-induced CoA . This technique provided real-time data regarding aortic wall morphology and luminal diameter during balloon angioplasty of the CoA. In humans, we used IVUS to study CoA before and after both transcatheter and surgical therapy. IVUS was more sensitive than angiography in the detection of intimal tears post-balloon dilation and in the evaluation of vessel wall changes and remodelling observed at follow-up after relief of CoA. IVUS may provide valuable information regarding vascular wall changes that predict aneurysm format ion, restenosis, or a successful result after balloon dilation.

Animals↗