[Echography with contrast media. State of the art and future perspectives].
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Blood Vessels↗
Biomedical subjects
P Voci
Publications and source records attributed to P Voci.
[Describing and interpreting systemic hypertension in heart transplantation with non-invasive arterial pressure monitoring].
This investigation was performed in 34 heart transplanted patients (HTP), 28 males and 6 females, mean age 49 +/- 13 years. The aim of the study was to detect hypertension in HTP by casual sphygmomanometry and non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The evaluation of ABPM demonstrated that 71% out of the HTP was hypertensive because of some elevated blood pressure values scattered during the hours of the day and/or of the night. These hypertensives were found within the groups of normotensives as well as of hypertensives considered to be correctly treated. Fifty percent hypertensive HTP did not show the physiologic nocturnal decrease in blood pressure (non-dippers); 25% out of the non-dipper hypertensives showed absence of the blood pressure circadian rhythm, demonstrating that their hypertension was prevalently nocturnal and could not be detected by casual sphygmomanometry-The ABPM is recommended in clinical follow-up of HTP for a correct diagnosis of hypertension, which frequently complicates heart transplantation, and with the aim of avoiding hypertensive damage of the transplanted organ. The ABPM is useful for adjusting the antihypertensive therapy, in order to restore the blood pressure circadian rhythm.
Adult↗
[Hypertensive cardiac damage in heart transplantation. A noninvasive monitoring study of arterial pressure].
This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between cardiac hypertrophy and blood pressure (BP) 24-h pattern in 34 heart transplanted patients (HTP), 9 out of them (26%) being considered as normotensives, the other ones (74%) being regarded as hypertensives under adequate treatment, via casual sphygmomanometry. The study is an attempt to explain the occurrence of at least one sign of hypertrophic cardiopathy in 20 cases (59%), hypothesizing the presence of false normotensives among the putative normotensives and presumably-cured hypertensives. The ambulatory BP monitoring was able to identify 7 hypertensives (78%) among the putative normotensives, and 17 not well-cured subjects (68%) among the presumably cured hypertensives. At least one sign of cardiac hypertrophy was found in 5 (50%) of the 10 true normotensives, who were all non-dipper, and in 15 (63%) of the 24 hypertensives. The 9 hypertensives without cardiac hypertrophy (37%) had developed hypertension very recently. These findings stress the role of the ambulatory BP monitoring as a diagnostic tool during the follow-up of HTP, in order to identify the false normotensives as well as the not well-treated hypertensives. This role can contribute to optimize the prophylaxis of hypertensive damage for the transplanted heart.
Adult↗
Papillary muscle perfusion pattern. A hypothesis for ischemic papillary muscle dysfunction.
BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of posterior papillary muscle dysfunction is poorly understood. We hypothesized that papillary muscle perfusion pattern may explain the higher prevalence of posterior papillary muscle dysfunction after myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty patients were monitored by transesophageal echocardiography during coronary surgery. Superselective coronary graft injections of 0.2 to 0.5 mL of sonicated albumin microbubbles were performed to assess graft patency and papillary muscle perfusion. Thirty-five graft injections were analyzed: 13 in the right coronary artery, 15 in an obtuse marginal branch, 1 in the left anterior descending coronary artery, and 6 in the first diagonal branch. The posterior papillary muscle was opacified in 16 patients, 11 from the right coronary artery and 5 from one obtuse marginal branch. In 10 of 16 patients (63%), the papillary muscle was perfused by one vessel, while in 6 of 16 (37%), it was perfused by two vessels. The anterior papillary muscle was opacified in 14 patients. Ten patients (71%) had double-vessel and 4 (29%) had single-vessel supply. In the subgroup of 10 patients with old inferior myocardial infarction, mitral regurgitation was present only among those 6 with single rather than double blood supply (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial infarction may cause papillary muscle dysfunction when the blood supply is provided by one rather than two vessels, as is more frequently the case with the posterior rather than the anterior papillary muscle.
Adult↗
Low-dose dobutamine echocardiography predicts the early response of dysfunctioning myocardial segments to coronary artery bypass grafting.
Dobutamine echocardiography has recently been introduced for use in identification of viable myocardium in patients with acute myocardial infarction and prediction of the response of dysfunctioning myocardial segments to coronary angioplasty. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this test may be used to predict the early response of dysfunctioning myocardial segments to surgical revascularization. We studied 30 patients with three-vessel disease and chronic, stable angina pectoris during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Patients were monitored by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in the transgastric short-axis view at the papillary muscle level. The left ventricle was divided into eight segments; and 240 myocardial segments were analyzed. Percentage of systolic wall thickening (PSWT) was calculated in each segment at baseline (early after pericardiectomy), before bypass during dobutamine infusion (5 micrograms/kg/min), and after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass. Segments showing PSWT < 30% at baseline were considered dysfunctional. Segments showing an increase in PSWT > 10% during dobutamine infusion were considered responders. Segments showing an increase in PSWT < 10% during dobutamine infusion were considered nonresponders. At baseline, 161 (67%) of 240 segments had PSWT < 30% (dysfunctioning segments). During dobutamine, 98 (60%) of these segments increased PSWT > 10% (from 11.3% +/- 7.6% to 24.2% +/- 12.0%, p < 0.01; responder segments), and 63 (40%) increased PSWT < 10% (from 10.2% +/- 4.9% to 8.3% +/- 5.5%, p value not significant [NS]; nonresponder segments).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗
Atrial septal aneurysm and cardiac arrhythmias.
Atrial septal aneurysm has been associated with thromboembolic events, interatrial shunting, mitral valve prolapse, and systolic click. An association between atrial septal aneurysm and cardiac arrhythmias has been also described. Twenty patients with atrial septal aneurysm and 19 control subjects performed 24-h Holter monitoring. Frequent (> 10/h) atrial premature beats were observed in seven patients vs. none of the controls (P = 0.008). The mean number of episodes of supraventricular tachycardia and the prevalence of ventricular tachycardia were also higher in the atrial septal aneurysm group (P = 0.044 and P = 0.046, respectively). Left atrial enlargement, mitral valve prolapse and left ventricular hypertrophy were more frequent than in the normal subjects. In conclusion, atrial and ventricular 'complex' arrhythmias occurred more frequently in patients with atrial septal aneurysm than in normal subjects. Further studies in patients with atrial septal aneurysm without other associated echocardiographic abnormalities need to be done to ascertain a potential arrhythmogenicity of this condition.
Adult↗
Risk factors of incomplete distribution of cardioplegic solution during coronary artery grafting.
Myocardial distribution of cardioplegic solution infused by combined antegrade/retrograde routes was assessed with myocardial contrast echocardiography in 18 patients with chronic stable angina and three-vessel disease undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Overall myocardial opacification was significantly greater in retrograde than in antegrade cardioplegia (77.7% +/- 13.4% versus 59.1% +/- 15.7%; p = 0.0009). The difference was affected by collateral circulation, as pointed out by the significant interaction between coronary collateral circulation and percent of myocardial opacification after antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia (p = 0.002). When we performed multiple comparisons, in patients with good collaterals the opacification difference between antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia was not statistically significant (66.4% +/- 10.2% versus 76.0% +/- 15.2%; p = not significant), whereas in patients with poor collaterals myocardial opacification during retrograde cardioplegia was significantly greater (44.3% +/- 15.0% versus 81.2% +/- 9.0%; p < 0.02). During antegrade cardioplegia, patients with poor collaterals showed a lower degree of myocardial opacification than patients with good collaterals (44.3% +/- 15.0% versus 66.4% +/- 10.2%; p < 0.01). Our results show that retrograde cardioplegia in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting offers no advantage over antegrade cardioplegia when collateral circulation is well developed. On the other hand, conventional aortic root infusion may not provide adequate myocardial protection in the subset of patients with significantly narrowed or occluded coronary arteries and poor collaterals.
Angina Pectoris↗
Diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography.
Persistent left superior vena cava occurs in 2-4% of all congenital cardiac defects. The diagnosis is often missed if the lesion is not accurately looked for. Drainage to the coronary sinus is well tolerated, whereas drainage to the left atrium produces right to left shunt and may be associated with brain abscesses and/or embolization secondary to intravenous therapy administered through the left arm. This paper describes for the first time the diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava by transesophageal contrast echocardiography. Echocardiography is the method of choice in the diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava, because it can be used at the patient's bedside and allows easy detection of the drainage site.
Echocardiography, Transesophageal↗
Left ventricular-coronary sinus fistula after mitral valve replacement: diagnosis by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.
Repeated mitral valve replacement, particularly in case of heavily calcified mitral annulus, may lead to iatrogenic injury to the posterior atrioventricular groove leading to hematoma, myocardial rupture and/or intracardiac shunt. In this report, the echocardiographic features of left ventricular to coronary sinus fistula developed after repeated mitral valve replacement, are described for the first time. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography allow the early detection of this extremely rare form of iatrogenic injury.
Arteriovenous Fistula↗
[New trends in the evaluation of myocardial viability by echocardiography].
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Coronary Circulation↗
Dipyridamole myocardial contrast echocardiography in patients with single-vessel coronary artery disease: perfusion, anatomic, and functional correlates.
The aim of this study was to examine whether myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) may be used to study regional myocardial blood flow distribution during dipyridamole-induced hyperemia. MCE was performed before and after dipyridamole infusion in 11 patients with a proximal, significant left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery stenosis. The relation between contrast-derived parameters and the degree of coronary narrowing and the occurrence of transient regional wall motion abnormalities was also investigated. In the territory supplied by left circumflex coronary artery, mean peak contrast intensity increased after dipyridamole from 50 +/- 18 to 76 +/- 27 IU (p < 0.001). In contrast, a significant reduction in mean peak intensity was observed after dipyridamole in the LAD territory (from 41 +/- 27 to 13 +/- 13 IU, p < 0.01). Similar results were obtained with the use of the area under the time-intensity curve. An increase in peak intensity > or = 10 IU after dipyridamole administration separated normal regions from those supplied by a significant coronary artery lesion with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 91%. Perfusion abnormalities were always detected by contrast echocardiography when septal motion abnormalities developed and, in five patients they were detected in the absence of clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic signs of ischemia. A weak correlation was found between both peak intensity and area under the curve and percent coronary diameter stenosis and cross-sectional area. In conclusion, dipyridamole MCE can be used during routine coronary angiography to assess myocardial blood flow distribution in patients with coronary artery disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗
Influence of residual perfusion within the infarct zone on the natural history of left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction: a myocardial contrast echocardiographic study.
OBJECTIVES: This study used myocardial contrast echocardiography to investigate the extent of residual perfusion within the infarct zone in a select group of patients with recently reperfused myocardial infarction and evaluated its influence on the ultimate infarct size. BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on the status of myocardial perfusion within postischemic dysfunctional segments at predischarge and on its influence on late regional and global functional recovery. METHODS: Twenty patients with acute myocardial infarction were selected for the study. Patients met the following inclusion criteria: 1) single-vessel coronary artery disease; 2) patency of infarct-related artery with persistent postischemic dysfunctional segments at predischarge; 3) stable clinical condition up to 6 months after hospital discharge. All selected patients underwent coronary angiography and myocardial contrast echocardiography before hospital discharge and repeated the echocardiographic examination 6 months later. Patients were grouped according to the pattern of contrast enhancement in predischarge dysfunctional segments. RESULTS: In nine patients (group I), the length of segments showing abnormal contraction coincided with that of the contrast defect segments. In the remaining 11 patients (group II), postischemic dysfunctional segments were partly or completely reperfused. There was no difference between the two groups in asynergic segment length at predischarge (7.3 +/- 2.5 vs. 7.2 +/- 4.3 cm, p = NS). At follow-up study, asynergic segment length was significantly reduced in group II patients, whereas no changes were observed in group I patients (from 7.2 +/- 4.3 to 4.7 +/- 3.7 cm, p < 0.005; and from 7.3 +/- 2.5 to 7.5 +/- 2.9 cm, p = NS, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with a predischarge patent infarct-related artery, further improvement in regional and global function may be expected during follow-up when residual perfusion in the infarct zone is present.
Adult↗
Intraoperative detection of coronary artery graft occlusion by myocardial contrast echocardiography.
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Contrast Media↗
Severe calcific pulmonic valve stenosis and restrictive ventricular septal defect in a 64-year-old man. Results of percutaneous double balloon valvuloplasty.
The clinical and hemodynamic features of a 64-year-old symptomatic man with severe calcific pulmonic valve stenosis and restrictive ventricular septal defect are reported. Successful double balloon percutaneous pulmonic valvuloplasty immediately produced excellent symptomatic benefit and introduced expected and well tolerated hemodynamic changes. The transpulmonic valve peak systolic pressure gradient was reduced from 130 to 30 mmHg and pulmonary artery pressure increased to top normal levels acquiring normal pulse wave configuration. A left-to-right shunt, negligible prior to valvuloplasty, increased appreciably producing a pulmonary to systemic flow ratio of 1.7. Reevaluation at 5 months revealed sustained hemodynamic profile. Symptomatic benefit and tolerance to ordinary physical activities have remained excellent at 1 year follow-up.
Calcinosis↗
Intraoperative contrast echocardiography for assessment of the surgical repair of coronary artery fistula.
We report two cases of acquired coronary fistula in whom fistula flow and surgical repair were evaluated intraoperatively by contrast echocardiography. Surgical repair was carried out through the left atrium because of the associated surgical procedure on the mitral valve. Contrast echocardiography allowed easy identification of the fistula openings in the left atrium and intraoperative control of the efficacy of the surgical closure. Contrast echocardiography is an ideal tool for the intraoperative diagnosis of effective interruption of a coronary fistula.
Arterio-Arterial Fistula↗
Apical transgastric echocardiography: new imaging projections.
New transgastric echocardiographic projections, obtained by monoplane transoesophageal echocardiography are presented. Starting from the transgastric short-axis view, the probe is first advanced 3-5 cm and slightly rotated clockwise. From this projection either a tricuspid valve long-axis or a subcostal-like 4-chamber view is obtained. Advancing the probe 48-55 cm from the incisor teeth and rotating it counter clockwise with maximal anterior flexion, an apical long-axis view is obtained. The left ventricle, including the apex, the left ventricular outflow tract, the aortic valve, the proximal ascending aorta and the left atrium are imaged. In this projection the Doppler beam is parallel to the left ventricular outflow tract, resulting in more accurate flow velocity measurements than from the oesophagus. Additional morphological and Doppler information on right ventricular outflow tract obstruction are obtained by slight changes in transducer position. The feasibility of these new transgastric imaging projections was assessed in 196 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic TEE (104 conscious patients) or peroperative TEE monitoring (92 anaesthetized patients). Eighty-nine patients had coronary heart disease, 55 had valvular heart disease, nine had congenital heart disease, 22 had aortic aneurysm or dissection and 21 were studied for detection of cardiac sources of embolism. The morphology of the right ventricular outflow tract was visualized in detail in all patients, and high quality Doppler tracings parallel to the direction of flow were obtained. The subcostal-like view was successful in 86 out of 196 subjects (44%). The apical 4 and/or 5-chamber view was obtained in 139 subjects (71%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Echocardiography, Doppler↗
Mechanisms of incomplete cardioplegia distribution during coronary artery surgery. An intraoperative transesophageal contrast echocardiography study.
BACKGROUND: Cardioplegia is used to protect the myocardium from ischemic injury during open-heart surgery. However, the delivery of cardioplegic solutions may be impaired by anatomic and/or functional conditions, such as the development of transient aortic regurgitation during antegrade administration of cardioplegia or shunting through a foramen ovale during retrograde administration. In this study, the authors used a new method of cardioplegia administration, based on intraoperative contrast echocardiography, to detect on-line causes of inadequate cardioplegia delivery. METHODS: Forty patients with coronary artery disease and a competent aortic valve, who were treated consecutively, were enrolled in this study. Patients were monitored intraoperatively by transesophageal contrast echocardiography during cardioplegia delivery. Antegrade cardioplegia was administered into the aortic root following aortic occlusion in all patients. Twenty-two patients also received retrograde cardioplegia, administered through the right atrium. The echo-contrast agent consisted of a stable suspension of 5% human albumin microbubbles with a concentration of 4 x 10(8) microbubbles/ml and a diameter of 4 +/- 1 mu. RESULTS: Antegrade cardioplegia was not associated with aortic regurgitation in 23 of 40 (58%) patients. Seven patients (17%) had only mild aortic regurgitation, four patients (10%) had moderate regurgitation, and six (15%) had severe aortic regurgitation. The percent of myocardial opacification was 76.0 +/- 10.5 in the 23 patients who did not have aortic regurgitation, 76.0 +/- 17.0 in the 7 patients who had mild regurgitation, 52.5 +/- 18.1 in the 4 patients who had moderate regurgitation, and 48.5 +/- 18.3 in 6 patients who had severe aortic regurgitation (Kruskal-Wallis stat, 12.9; P < 0.005). Retrograde cardioplegia was not associated with right-to-left shunt in 11 of 22 patients (50%). In seven patients (32%), there was only a mild passage of contrast material to the left atrium. In the remaining four patients (18%), there was a moderate (one patient) to severe (three patients) right-to-left shunt at the level of the fossa ovalis. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that incomplete myocardial distribution of cardioplegia, secondary to transient aortic valve incompetence or shunting through the foramen ovale, is not uncommon in patients undergoing coronary surgery.
Cardioplegic Solutions↗
[Anterograde and retrograde cardioplegia in myocardial revascularization. An intraoperative contrast echographic study].
The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia with intraoperative contrast echocardiography in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Fifteen patients with chronic stable angina pectoris and severe coronary artery disease were studied. The severity of coronary artery disease was assessed at coronary angiography, using the Jeopardy Score System. The presence and the extent of collateral circulation was evaluated on the basis of preoperative coronary angiography and graded as: absent or poor; good or excellent. Coronary revascularization was carried out during extracorporeal circulation and myocardial protection was performed with antegrade (aortic root) and retrograde (right atrial) cardioplegia. The echo contrast agent was sterilely prepared 1 hour prior to surgery and consisted of a solution of sonicated 5% human albumin microbubbles. Two ml of sonicated albumin were injected along with antegrade cardioplegia and 4 ml with retrograde cardioplegia. The echocardiographic images were obtained with transesophageal echocardiography in the transgastric left ventricular short-axis view. Images were recorded on videotape for off-line planimetric measurement of percent myocardial opacification. Data were analyzed with the analysis of variance. Multiple comparisons were made with Student's paired t test and using Bonferroni's correction. Myocardial opacification was 58.9 +/- 12.9% during antegrade cardioplegia and 77.5 +/- 16.4% during retrograde cardioplegia (p = 0.003). This overall difference was mainly due to the impact of collateral circulation in the distribution of antegrade cardioplegia. Patients with absent or poor collateral circulation showed a lower degree of myocardial opacification than patients with good or excellent myocardial opacification (44.3 +/- 12.0% versus 64.2 +/- 8.6%; p < 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Analysis of Variance↗