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R S Freedberg

Publications and source records attributed to R S Freedberg.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of cardiac catheterization and Doppler echocardiography in the decision to operate in aortic and mitral valve disease.

Clinical decisions utilizing either Doppler echocardiographic or cardiac catheterization data were compared in adult patients with isolated or combined aortic and mitral valve disease. A clinical decision to operate, not operate or remain uncertain was made by experienced cardiologists given either Doppler echocardiographic or cardiac catheterization data. A prospective evaluation was performed on 189 consecutive patients (mean age 67 years) with valvular heart disease who were being considered for surgical treatment on the basis of clinical information. All patients underwent cardiac catheterization and detailed Doppler echocardiographic examination. Three sets of two cardiologist decision makers who did not know patient identity were given clinical information in combination with either Doppler echocardiographic or cardiac catheterization data. The combination of Doppler echocardiographic and clinical data was considered inadequate for clinical decision making in 21% of patients with aortic and 5% of patients with mitral valve disease. The combination of cardiac catheterization and clinical data was considered inadequate in 2% of patients with aortic and 2% of patients with mitral valve disease. Among the remaining patients, the cardiologists using echocardiographic or angiographic data were in agreement on the decision to operate or not operate in 113 (76% overall). When the data were analyzed by specific valve lesion, decisions based on Doppler echocardiography or catheterization were in agreement in 92%, 90%, 83% and 69%, respectively, of patients with aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. Differences in cardiac output determination, estimation of valvular regurgitation and information concerning coronary anatomy were the main reasons for different clinical management decisions. These results suggest that for most adult patients with aortic or mitral valve disease, alone or in combination, Doppler echocardiographic data enable the clinician to make the same decision reached with catheterization data.

Adult↗

Transesophageal echocardiography is superior to transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnosis of sinus venosus atrial septal defect.

The purpose of this study was to compare transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of various types of atrial septal defects. Forty-one adult patients with the clinical diagnosis of atrial septal defect were studied by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (30 women, 11 men; 18 to 81 years of age). Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated the atrial septal defect in 33 patients (secundum type in 28, primum type in 3 and sinus venosus type in 2). Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated the defect in all 41 patients. Thus, in 8 (20%) of 41 patients the atrial septal defect was demonstrated by transesophageal and not by transthoracic echocardiography. Six of the eight had a sinus venosus type atrial septal defect; the other two patients had a secundum atrial septal defect (one of these two had a technically poor transthoracic echocardiogram and the other had a small atrial septal defect). Transthoracic echocardiography, therefore, failed to demonstrate the sinus venosus defect in six (75%) of eight patients. An anomalous venous connection associated with the sinus venosus defect was visualized by transesophageal echocardiography in seven of the eight patients but was not seen on transthoracic echocardiography in any patient. Sinus venosus type atrial septal defects are frequently not visualized in adults by conventional transthoracic echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography is recommended when an atrial septal defect is clinically suspected but cannot be visualized by transthoracic echocardiography.

Adult↗

Transesophageal echocardiography to detect atrial clots in candidates for percutaneous transseptal mitral balloon valvuloplasty.

Left atrial thrombi are common in patients with mitral stenosis. When percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty is performed on such patients, there is a potential risk of thrombus dislodgment and embolization. In this study conventional transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography were performed for percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty on 19 consecutive candidates (6 men, 13 women, 23 to 81 years old). In five patients (26%), transesophageal echocardiography revealed a left atrial thrombus; in only one of these was there a suspicion of left atrial thrombus on transthoracic echocardiography. Balloon mitral valvuloplasty was canceled in four of the five patients. Three underwent mitral valve surgery that confirmed the echocardiographic findings. Transesophageal echocardiography is better than conventional transthoracic echocardiography in detecting left atrial clots in candidates for balloon mitral valvuloplasty. Because of the potential risk of embolization, transesophageal echocardiography is recommended in all candidates for balloon mitral valvuloplasty.

Catheterization↗

The anatomy of the interatrial septum: a transesophageal echocardiographic study.

Transesophageal echocardiography provides a unique view of the IAS. We reviewed results of 119 transesophageal studies (1) to study the detailed anatomy of the IAS, and (2) to determine the thickness of the IAS at different times during the cardiac cycle, (3) the effect of age, and (4) the thickness of the IAS in relation to various disease states. From the transesophageal view the IAS extends from the right posteriorly toward the left and anteriorly. The more inferior aspect of the septum courses in a more direct posteroanterior direction and is more difficult to accurately visualize. The IAS is thickest peripherally and gradually narrows toward the more centrally located fossa ovalis. A region of constant thickness is frequently present between the most peripheral aspect of the IAS and the fossa ovalis. We standardized the measurement of the thickness of the septum by measuring it only at this region of constant thickness in the plane that visualized the fossa ovalis. The mean thickness at this point was 6 +/- 2 mm. The thickness correlated weakly with the age of the patient. These results agree with previously published autopsy findings. Thickness was not affected by the presence of significant disease of the atrioventricular valves, atrial fibrillation, or an atrial septal defect. However, the thickness increased to 7 +/- 2 mm with atrial contraction during sinus rhythm (p less than 0.0001). The mean thickness of the septum primum covering the fossa ovalis was 1.8 +/- 0.7 mm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Cardiac findings in the very elderly: analysis of echocardiography in fifty-eight nonagenarians.

Although the effects of aging on the heart have been reviewed, these reviews are primarily based on autopsy findings. We report the echocardiographic and Doppler findings in 58 patients over the age of 90. Half of the patients had enlarged left atria, but the large majority had normal-sized ventricles and aortic roots. Left ventricular wall motion was normal or increased in 71% and 52% had left ventricular hypertrophy. Aortic stenosis (all grades) was present in 31%. Other valve lesions are reviewed. None of our patients had a completely normal echocardiogram, even when mild valvular regurgitation is considered normal.

Aged↗

The contribution of magnetic resonance imaging to the evaluation of intracardiac tumors diagnosed by echocardiography.

MAgnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in 14 patients with intracavitary cardiac tumors diagnosed by echocardiography. Except in the patients whose echocardiograms were diagnostic of atrial myxomas, this modality contributed important additional anatomic information regarding the tumor's relationship to the normal intracardiac structures and/or its extension to the adjacent vascular and mediastinal structures. The MR findings correlated extremely well with the findings in all 12 patients who underwent surgical exploration or postmortem examination, and in the other two patients, MR guided the decision to obtain transvenous biopsy samples of their right heart masses.

Adult↗