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Biomedical subjects

E Craige

Publications and source records attributed to E Craige.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Echocardiographic findings in left ventricular to right atrial shunts.

The echocardiographic abnormalities of tricuspid valve motion in 2 patients with left ventricular to right atrial shunts are described. In both patients the abnormal anatomy was defined at surgery, in one patient the shunt being above the tricuspid valve leaflets (supravalvar) and in the other patient through the septal leaflet (intravalvar). Different patterns of tricuspid valve systolic fluttering were seen in these two cases and the possible reasons for this are discussed. After surgical closure of the defects the systolic fluttering of the tricuspid valve was no longer observed. Echocardiography appears to be useful in detecting the presence of left ventricular to right atrial shunts which otherwise may be difficult to diagnose.

Adult↗

Echocardiographic and hemodynamic relationships of ejection sounds.

The physiologic correlates of ejection sounds have been studied by simultaneous phonocardiograms, echocardiograms and high fidelity pressure tracings. Ejection sounds associated with semilunar valve stenosis or hypertension of the systemic or pulmonary circulation occur at the moment of complete opening of the aortic or pulmonary valve recorded echocardiographically. The start of opening of these valves occurs at the onset of the pressure rise in the corresponding great vessel and completion of valve opening always occurs on the pressure upstroke. The ejection sound in the presence of stenotic valves occurs with checking of the opening motion of the thickened valve cusps. Although the hypertensive ejection sounds also occur at the precise moment of full opening of the valve it remains to be seen whether this relationship is causal or coincidental.

Aorta↗

Echophonocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm.

We report the presence of an unusual systolic murmur associated with a traumatic left ventricular pseudoaneurysm. Echophonocardiographic studies showed the murmur to begin at the first heart sound, but end well before the second heart sound. It seems likely that the murmur is caused by the systolic flow of blood from the left ventricle into the relatively noncompliant pseudoaneurysm. The echocardiographic scan of the left ventricle demonstrated a relatively echo-free space posterior to the left ventricular wall, supporting the diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm, which has confirmed with angiographic studies and at surgery. These findings indicate that a combination of noninvasive techniques is useful in establishing this diagnosis.

Adult↗

An echocardiographic study of the interventricular septum in constrictive pericarditis.

Ten patients with constrictive pericarditis were studied echocardiographically with specific reference to inter-ventricular septal dynamics. Abnormal movement of the interventricular septum was present in 8 patients and consisted of flattening in systole and unusual posterior motion in diastole. The aetiology of this type of movement is at present unknown but may be related to restriction of normal cardiac rotational dynamics. The interventricular septum also showed diminished degree of thickening (mean 21-2%). The amplitude of excursion was generally at the upper limit of or greater than normal. Left ventricular posterior wall amplitude of excursion was normal. Flattening of left ventricular posterior wall diastolic movement was seen in 4 patients. Right ventricular end-diastolic dimension was slightly increased (1-2 to 1-7 cm/m2) in 5 of 8 patients with abnormal septal motion, but no haemodynamic evidence of diastolic volume overload was found. Posterior pericardial thickening was noted echocardiographically when posterior calcification was present. We conclude that the most common though non-specific feature of the echocardiogram in patients with constrictive pericarditis is abnormal septal motion. Flattening of left ventricular posterior wall diastolic movement, posterior pericardial thickening, and epicardial-pericardial separation may also occur.

Adult↗

Diagnosis of prosthetic mitral valve malfunction with combined echo-phonocardiography.

Fifty-three patients were studied with combined echo-phonocardiography or phonocardiography alone following prosthetic valve replacement. In sixteen of these patients, clinical deterioration developed, and all subsequently underwent cardiac catheterization and/or surgery. Two patients came to autopsy. Included in this group of sixteen patients were five with obstructed prosthesis, six with paravalvular regurgitation, and five with left ventricular dysfunction. Measurements were made of the time interval from the aortic valve closure sound to the peak opening of the mitral prosthesis determined echocardiographically or to the mitral prosthetic opening click (A2-MVO). Echocardiographic studies of left ventricular wall motion were also performed. The A2-MVO interval was significantly shortened (P less than 0.01) with prosthetic valve obstruction (.05 +/- .02 sec) and paravalvular regurgitation (.05 +/- .01 sec) compared with normally functioning prostheses (Starr-Edwards ball valves .10 +/- .02 sec, Lillehei-Kaster tilting disc prostheses .09 +/- .01 sec). Shortening of this interval was not specific for these conditions because it was sometimes shortened with left ventricular dysfunction. Echocardiographic studies of left ventricular wall motion were helpful in distinguishing among prosthetic valve obstruction, paravalvular regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction. The combined echo-phonocardiographic technique was especially helpful in detecting malfunction of tilting disc prostheses, because the technique enables measurement of the A2-MVO interval in the absence of an audible opening click.

Adult↗

Echophonocardiographic studies of the contribution of the atrioventricular valves to the first heart sound.

The movements of the mitral, tricuspid and aortic valves have been recorded echocardiographically and related to the first heart sound (S1) in patients with various hemodynamic and conduction abnormalities. Closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves has been studied with respect to the corresponding atrioventricular pressure crossover and it is clear that both valves finish closing about 50 msec after pressure crossover. In order to clarify the relative contribution of tricuspid valve closure and aortic root events to the second high frequency component of S1, a new simultaneous dual echophonocardiographic technique was employed. This permitted the simultaneous registration of tricuspid and aortic valve movements and demonstrated that in certain circumstances the second high frequency component of S1, could be attributed to tricuspid closure, aortic root events being excluded from the genesis of this sound. These observations suggest that the two high frequency components of S1 are related to closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves. The results do not however, exclude a contribution to S1 of aortic root events, which may be of lower frequency vibrations.

Aortic Valve↗

Assessing the hemodynamic severity of acute aortic regurgitation due to infective endocarditis.

Nine patients who underwent aortic-valve replacement for acute aortic regurgitation due to infective endocarditis were studied for clinical features that may be useful in assessing the severity of this condition. The traditional physical signs of a wide pulse pressure were absent. As compared to a group of patients with chronic aortic regurgitation, the mean (plus or minus S.D.) pulse pressure (55 plus or minus 7 vs. 105 plus or minus 22 mm Hg), left ventricular end diastolic volume (146 plus or minus 28 vs. 264 plus or minus 64 ml per square meter) and stroke volume (89 plus or minus 22 vs. 163 plus or minus 57 ml per square meter) were significantly smaller in the acute group (P less than 0.01). Left ventricular pressure exceeded left atrial pressure in late diastole, causing premature closure of the mitral valve, and the degree of early closure reflected the increase in left ventricular end diastolic pressure. Premature closure of the mitral valve was demonstrated by echocardiography in all patients. Those with echocardiographic signs of very early mitral-valve closure have severely volume-overloaded ventricles and are candidates for early valve replacement.

Acute Disease↗

First heart sound and ejection sounds. Echocardiographic and phonocardiographic correlation with valvular events.

To provide additional information on the relation of valvular events to the principal components of the first heart sound (s1), combined echocardiograms and phonocardiograms were recorded in 49 subjects, chosen because of audible splitting of S1 or a combination of S1 and an ejection sound. The subjects included 14 normal persons, 16 patients with a variety of predominantly right-sided heart conditions, 7 with mitral stenosis, 3 with pulmonary stenosis and 9 with aortic valve disease or systemic hypertension. A precise relation was found between completion of closure of the atrioventricular (A-V) valves manifested in the echocardiogram and the high-frequency components of S1 (M1 and T1). The average time from the Q wave of the electrocardiogram to M1 was 0.06 plus or minus 0.003 second and the Q-T1 interval was 0.09 plus or minus 0.002 second. In mitral stenosis the Q-M1 interval was delayed to 0.10 plus or minus 0.005 second, resulting in some instances in reversed splitting of S1. In pulmonary stenosis, the ejection sound occurred 0.10 plus or minus 0.003 second from the Q wave. In 7 of the 16 patients with various right-sided abnormalities, but without valvular stenosis, an ejection sound of pulmonary origin occurred 0.18 plus or minus 0.012 second from the Q wave. In the nine patients with aortic valve disease or systemic hypertension, the time from the Q wave to the aortic ejection sound was 0.13 plus or minus 0.004 second. With only two exceptions the ejection sounds of aortic and plumonary origin coincided exactly with achievement of a fully opened position of the respective semilunar valve. Our findings support the postulate that M1, T1 and the ejection sounds occur in association with closing or opening of valves with consequent sudden deceleration or acceleration of a column of blood that, in turn, results in vibrations of the cardiohemic system and audible sounds.

Adolescent↗

Echocardiographic studies of left ventricular wall motion and dimensions after valvular heart surgery.

Echocardiograms obtained from 50 patients after valvular heart surgery (in 33 cases within 2 months of the procedure) were examined to study patterns of interventricular septal motion and left ventricular dimensional changes. Preoperative echograms were available in 28 cases. Before and after mitral commissurotomy septal motion and left ventricular diameters as well as the percent systolic shortening of the echocardiographic transverse axis were within normal limits. Before operation, aortic and mitral regurgitation were associated with increases in end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters, septal motion and percent systolic shortening of the left ventricular diameter. Septal dyssynergy, defined as paradoxical motion or marked hypokinesia, was seen within 2 months of operation in 91 percent of patients after aortic valve replacement and in 42 percent after mitral valve replacement. Of subjects studied more than 2 months postoperatively, none with mitral valve replacement and only 33 percent with aortic valve replacement manifested septal dyssynergy. After valve replacement for aortic or mitral regurgitation there were significant decreases in end-diastolic diameter, septal excursion and total and percent left ventricular systolic shortening. Two subjects not having valve replacement also demonstrated paradoxical septal motion postoperatively. The cause of septal dyssynergy after valvular surgery was not apparent although the use of cardiopulmonary bypass was an esential condition. We conclude that echocardiography can be utilized to follow up changes in left ventricular wall motion and dimensions after surgery for valvular heart disease, and that it may be of value in assessing the early and late postoperative results.

Adolescent↗

The value of apexcardiography in cardiac diagnosis.

As can be seen from the aforementioned examples, apexcardiography may be helpful in cardiac diagnosis. It will, however, not yield much of value if done in isolation and with only an accompanying ECG. When it is part of a carefully chosen battery of noninvasive graphic records, the ACG may provide useful ancillary information in a variety of clinical situations. It should be recorded by a physician knowledgable concerning the patient's condition, so that the area most suitable for recording may be selected as well as an appropriate array of other graphic tracings. Care in the selection and periodic testing of equipment for adequacy of time constant and absence of air leaks in the system is necessary to guard against misleading distortions and artifacts.

Aortic Stenosis, Subvalvular↗