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Biomedical subjects

S Beppu

Publications and source records attributed to S Beppu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

The gap between mitral leaflets as a cause of mitral regurgitation: relationship to mitral valve prolapse.

The gap between the tips of the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets was studied to assess the significance of this gap in the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse. The subjects were 39 patients in whom the gap was seen and the mitral valve did not exceed the mitral annular line in systole on two-dimensional echocardiography. Forty eight healthy subjects, in whom phonocardiography disclosed no abnormalities, served as controls. The site of the gap as well as the site and severity of mitral regurgitation were assessed with two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler flow imaging. The incidence of mitral regurgitation was 82%, which was comparable to that in the controls (67%). The site of the gap was consistent with that of regurgitation. The gap was also seen in a low percentage of healthy subjects, but clinically significant mitral regurgitation did not accompany the gap in healthy subjects including the gap-carrying controls. On the other hand, many of the gap-carrying patients showed clinically significant mitral regurgitation. Also the fact that a gap between the tip of the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets was found to be frequently accompanied by phonocardiographical features corresponding to mitral valve prolapse indicates that the presence of a gap is a significant finding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Serial changes of mitral flow pattern after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy--assessment of Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography.

To evaluate the acute change in the mitral flow pattern, especially pressure half-time after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) and to investigate the factors influencing the mitral flow pattern, Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed in 15 patients before and two, six, 10 and 24 hours and seven days after PTMC. Mitral valve area increased and the mean mitral pressure gradient decreased after PTMC (1.0 +/- 0.4 cm2 to 1.8 +/- 0.4 cm2; 11 +/- 6 mmHg, to 3 +/- 2 mmHg, p < 0.01). Pressure half-time also decreased two hours after surgery, from 292 +/- 70 msec to 176 +/- 48 msec (p < 0.01) and then gradually decreased to 140 +/- 47 msec within seven days of the procedure without remarkable changes in mitral valve area and the mean transmitral pressure gradient. Left atrial dimensions decreased and left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions gradually increased after PTMC (51 +/- 6 mm to 46 +/- 5 mm; 47 +/- 4 mm to 50 +/- 3 mm). The time course of this was similar to that of the pressure half-time. Further study, in which the changes in pressure half-time were evaluated within 30 minutes of PTMC in 17 patients, indicated that pressure half-time significantly decreased from 248 +/- 69 msec to 139 +/- 28 msec five minutes after balloon inflation, slightly increasing again after 30 minutes to 153 +/- 31 msec.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Catheterization↗
PubMed1992

[High incidence of left ventricular thrombosis and systemic embolism in patients with left ventricular assist system].

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of left ventricular (LV) thrombosis and systemic embolism in 14 patients with LV assist systems. Echocardiography was used to detect LV wall motion abnormalities, intracavitary smoke-like echoes and thrombosis, and the effect of anticoagulant therapy was serially examined. During full assist of the circulation, the aortic valve did not open in any patient. Smoke-like echoes were observed in 9 patients (64%) and thrombi in 8 (57%). The thrombus developed within the first 3 assist days. Systemic anticoagulant therapy decreased the thrombus size in only 3 patients, but there was a possibility of intracranial or mediastinal bleeding in other 3 patients. Systemic embolism was noted in 7 of 11 autopsy patients (64%). The characteristic finding was that there were multiple embolized organs, such as the brain, kidneys, spleen and liver, in all patients. Development of a thrombus is a serious complication in all patients with LV assist systems. However, the problem does not lie in the assist system but in the left ventricle of the patient's own heart. It is also noteworthy that systemic anticoagulation is not effective for an LV thrombus. A new method of assisting the failing heart, or a new anticoagulant delivery technique for the LV cavity to prevent LV thrombus development is needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Practical application of meridian acupuncture treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.

This report evaluates the effect of meridian acupuncture treatment on trigeminal neuralgia. Ten patients aged 26 to 67 years (mean 55.4 years) who visited the outpatient Dental Anesthesiology Clinic at Tsurumi University Dental Hospital from 1985 to 1990 were studied. Five of the patients suffered from idiopathic and five from symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia. The patients underwent meridian treatment by acupuncture alone or acupuncture combined with moxibustion. The acupuncture method used was primarily basic treatment employing only needles without electrical stimulation. Meridian acupuncture treatments were repeated from two to four times a month. Five patients were restored to a pain-free state. The other five patients noted a decrease in pain, but with some level of pain remaining (significant pain in one patient). It is concluded that meridian acupuncture treatment is useful and can be one therapeutic approach in the management of trigeminal neuralgia.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1991

Acute reduction of mitral valve area after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty: assessment with Doppler continuity equation method.

Mitral valve areas before and after balloon mitral valvuloplasty were serially determined by the Doppler continuity equation method in 16 patients. Ultrasound examinations were performed before and immediately after balloon inflation and 24 hours, 1 week, and 1 month after valvuloplasty. Mitral valve area determined by the Doppler continuity equation method correlated well with that determined at catheterization by the Gorlin formula, not only before but also immediately after balloon inflation (y = 0.87 x + 0.05, standard error of estimate = 0.22 cm2, r = 0.90). Serial calculation of mitral valve area by the Doppler continuity equation method showed a slight but significant decrease in the valve area at 24 hours after balloon mitral valvuloplasty but no change after that. We conclude that the Doppler continuity equation method provides an accurate estimation of mitral valve area before and even after balloon valvuloplasty. Mitral valve area dilated by balloon inflation is decreased slightly within 24 hours after the procedure, which corroborates valve stretch as one mechanism for increasing mitral valve area with balloon valvuloplasty. Estimation of mitral valve area immediately after balloon mitral valvuloplasty may overestimate the long-term efficacy of the procedure.

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed1991

Pulmonary venous atrial systolic flow reversal detected by transthoracic Doppler as a sign of congestive heart failure: a case report.

Reversal of flow in the pulmonary veins during atrial contraction was detected by transthoracic pulsed Doppler echocardiography in a patient with bicuspid aortic valve and heart failure. The flow reversal disappeared after his recovery from heart failure. Flow reversal during atrial contraction detected by transthoracic Doppler may be a sign of congestive heart failure.

Echocardiography, Doppler↗
PubMed1991

Application of Doppler color flow imaging to determine valve area in mitral stenosis.

This study was undertaken to examine whether Doppler color flow imaging could accurately estimate the valve area in mitral stenosis. Doppler color flow assessments were performed in both an in vitro model and in 30 patients with mitral stenosis undergoing cardiac catheterization. In the experimental Doppler study using a circuit model, color jet width correlated well with actual orifice diameter (r = 0.99). In the clinical Doppler study, the mitral valve orifice was assumed to be elliptic and the mitral valve area was calculated from the following equation: (pi/4) (a x b), where a = color jet width at the mitral valve orifice in the apical long-axis view (short diameter) and b = the width in the 90 degrees rotated view (long diameter). Mitral valve area was also determined by two-dimensional echocardiography and the pressure half-time method, and the results for all three noninvasive methods were compared with those obtained at cardiac catheterization. By Doppler color flow imaging, mitral valve area could be determined in all patients and there was a significant correlation between the Doppler jet and catheterization estimates of mitral valve area (r = 0.93). Valve area determined by two-dimensional echocardiography correlated well with catheterization measurements in 26 patients (r = 0.84). However, the area could not be determined in 4 (13%) of the 30 patients because of technical problems. Although there was a fair correlation between the valve area determined by the pressure half-time method and catheterization (r = 0.79), this method tended to overestimate valve area in patients with aortic regurgitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1991

Intracardiac mobile thrombus and D-dimer fragment of fibrin in patients with mitral stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between intracardiac thrombus and blood coagulability in patients with mitral stenosis. DESIGN: Prospective study. Cross sectional echocardiography and plasma concentrations of the D-dimer fragment of fibrin were used concurrently to detect intracardiac thrombus in patients with mitral stenosis. SETTING: Department of Medicine, National Cardiovascular Centre, Osaka, Japan. PATIENTS: 63 patients with mitral stenosis. None of them had been receiving any anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma concentrations of D-dimer in patients with a mobile intracardiac thrombus, those in patients with a non-mobile intracardiac thrombus, and those in patients without an intracardiac thrombus. RESULTS: A mobile intracardiac thrombus was found in 10 patients and a non-mobile thrombus in eight. The remaining 45 patients had no intracardiac thrombi. Plasma concentrations of D-dimer in the 10 patients with a mobile thrombus were all greater than 300 ng/ml (mean 983.3, 95% confidence interval 498.9 to 1467.7 ng/ml) and they were significantly higher than those in the patients with a non-mobile thrombus (226.2, 33.6 to 418.8 ng/ml) and the patients without an intracardiac thrombus (147.2, 110.4 to 184 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: A high plasma concentration of D-dimer seemed to reflect a hypercoagulable intracardiac state and may be a helpful indicator of the possible presence of mobile intracardiac thrombus in patients with mitral stenosis.

Antifibrinolytic Agents↗
PubMed1991

[Coagula tamponade as a complication of open heart surgery: the clinical significance and diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography].

The pathogenesis of low cardiac output failure (LOF) immediately after open heart surgery was studied in 41 patients with LOF and 15 control patients without LOF using echocardiography. In 35 patients, transesophageal echocardiography was also performed. Left ventricular (LV) contraction was impaired in 28 of the 41 LOF patients, in whom LV fractional shortening was less than 25%. In the other 13 LOF patients, however, it was greater than 25%. In 12 of these 13 patients, transesophageal echocardiography revealed that accumulating pericardial coagula were localized in the right side of the heart, deforming the right atrial and ventricular chambers. The LV end-diastolic diameter was significantly less than the control, indicating that the pericardial coagula disrupted the distension of the heart. Emergent coagulotomy was performed in 5 patients, and hemodynamic conditions were improved. In spite of "cardiac tamponade", the wall motion and pressure tracings of the right atrium and right ventricle in these patients differed from those in fluid tamponade. Therefore, this condition should be designated "coagula tamponade." In the other 22 patients in whom transesophageal echocardiography was employed, no coagula were observed. Since pericardial coagula can hardly be detected by transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography is indispensable for diagnosing pericardial coagula noted immediately after open heart surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Human heart recovery during weaning from a left ventricular assist system: time course and outcome prediction].

To investigate the time course of recovery of a failing heart using the left ventricular assist system (LVAS) and to predict the outcome of weaning from the LVAS, 14 patients with a failing heart were studied. Among them, 5 had recovered and survived for more than 2 weeks after weaning from the LVAS (recovered group), while 9 could not be weaned or died within 2 weeks after weaning (unrecovered group). All patients were gradually weaned from the LVAS with adequate support for systemic circulation for 3 days. In the recovered group, indices of systolic time intervals (STIs) showed improvement within a week. However, improvement of STIs was slow reaching a plateau around the 10th day in the unrecovered group. On weaning from the LVAS, aortic systolic pressure and ejection time were regulated by the patients' own hearts and were nearly the same between the 2 groups. However, left atrial pressure was significantly higher in the unrecovered group than in the recovered group. These hemodynamic features were first present on the 7th day. Therefore, hemodynamic data on the 7th assistant day can be a reliable factor in predicting the possibility of successful weaning from the LVAS and recovery in patients with a failing heart.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Efficacy of transesophageal echocardiography immediately after open heart surgery: diagnosis of coagula tamponade].

Massive pericardial coagula were detected by transesophageal echocardiography in some patients with low cardiac output failure immediately after open heart surgery. Characteristically, the coagula were localized anterior to the right atrium and right ventricle in all patients. The coagula could not be detected by transthoracic echocardiography. Despite of low output, absence of wall motion abnormality of the left ventricle, tachycardia, elevated atrial pressure and small left ventricular cavity lead to diagnose cardiac tamponade by pericardial coagula. Neither the right atrial nor the right ventricular wall showed collapsing motion except the area with pericardial effusion. Massive coagula in the anterior mediastinum produced similar clinical manifestation, but could be differentiated from pericardial coagula by echographic identification of the anterior pericardium. Pericardial coagula were also observed in patients with superior vena cava syndrome, but low right atrial pressure differentiated it from coagula tamponade. In all of the present patients, usual transthoracic echocardiography did not offer any sufficient images for diagnosing pericardial coagula. Transesophageal echocardiography was indispensable for detecting pericardial coagula soon after open heart surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The effects of lying position on ventricular volume in congenital absence of the pericardium.

In patients with congenital absence of the left pericardium, the heart is supported by the existing right pericardium in the right lateral position, while it is not in the left lateral position. To investigate the change in ventricular size resulting from postural change, seven patients with this malformation were examined. Ventricular volumes were calculated by computed tomography, integrating areas of computed tomographic cross sections measured at 1 cm intervals from the cardiac apex to the aortic arch. In the right lateral position, right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) volumes were no different from those of five control subjects. With a change in the lying position to the left, the increase in the ventricular volume was significantly greater than that in the control subjects (35 +/- 11 versus 3 +/- 3 ml in the right ventricle and 15 +/- 13 versus 3 +/- 8 ml in the left ventricle). The increases in RV and LV end-diastolic pressure, however, were almost the same as those in the 11 control subjects. It is concluded that the cardiac ventricle, especially the right ventricle, dilates significantly with a small increase in preload in patients with congenital absence of the pericardium. It may be a clue for clarifying the ventricular distensibility being freed from physiologic restraint of the pericardium for a long period.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Doppler echocardiographic features of the atrial and ventricular filling modes and their significance in restrictive myocardial diseases].

The filling modes into the right atrium and both ventricles were observed using pulsed Doppler echocardiography in six cases of restrictive myocardial diseases, and these were compared with those of 13 cases of constrictive pericarditis, six cases of lone atrial fibrillation and 16 healthy subjects. Special attention was paid to the mechanical properties of the cardiac walls which might be reflected in the filling modes. 1. In the restrictive cases, right atrial filling from the superior caval vein during ventricular systole was reduced in velocity and duration, but the atrial filling during ventricular diastole was not appreciably changed. This flow pattern was similar to that of lone atrial fibrillation, indicating reduced distensibility or impaired contraction and ejection fraction of the right atrium. In constrictive pericarditis, the right atrial filling time was shortened both in ventricular systole and diastole, reflecting stiffening of the pericardium. 2. In the restrictive cases, the first half of the left ventricular rapid filling wave was steep and the skirt of the descending limb was prolonged, while there was no such tendency in the right ventricle. In constrictive pericarditis, the rapid filling time was shortened in the right ventricle, and was not significantly changed in the left ventricle. 3. The differences in the atrial and ventricular filling patterns between restrictive myocardial disease and constrictive pericarditis may serve to distinguish these two disease entities.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Functional abnormality due to a deformation of the left ventricle: dynamic anatomy revealed using echocardiography].

A deformation of the left ventricular cavity is commonly observed in myocardial infarction, which directly influences the ventricular function. Even in cases without ischemia, a deformation of the left ventricle during systole or diastole is presumed to affect its function. Inward bending of the left ventricular posterobasal wall in giant left atrium is an example of the unfavourable effects of such a deformation. Systolic flattening of the left ventricle is atrial septal defect complicated by pulmonary hypertension is an example of the favourable influences by such a deformation. A regional wall motion abnormality observed in these cases is explained by the deformation attributed to the relationship between the left ventricle and left atrium or between the left and right ventricles. The relationship between the deformation and the function of the left ventricle in ventricular aneurysm can be explained well by the mode of blood turnover within the left ventricle. Contrast studies via the left atrium revealed that blood flow into the left ventricle did not reach the cardiac apex with an aneurysm, but immediately turned upwards towards the outflow tract. These results indicate that, although the left ventricle is anatomically a single cavity, it consists of functioning and non-functioning portions for blood turnover. A morphological abnormality of the left ventricle influences its function even without myocardial ischemia. It is necessary to relate all morphological changes of the left ventricle to cardiac function, regardless of the causes of a deformation.

Diastole↗
PubMed1990

[Effects of intra-aortic balloon pumping on mitral flow dynamics after aortocoronary bypass surgery].

Improvement in left ventricular function following intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) in 15 patients (aged 51 to 86 years) after coronary artery bypass grafting was evaluated. Using transesophageal atrial echocardiography, the mitral flow velocity integrals in the rapid filling phase (IntR) and in the contraction phase (IntA) were measured from transmitral flow patterns, and the sum of IntR and IntA (IntR + IntA), and the ratios of IntA to IntR (IntA/IntR) were calculated for ON and OFF states of balloon pumping (IABP OFF test). The same parameters were determined during 1:2 assist balloon pumping (IABP 1:2 test); the cardiac cycle with balloon assist was defined as "ON", and that without balloon assist as "OFF". 1. IABP OFF test: IABP increased IntR from 6.4 +/- 1.6 cm to 7.6 +/- 1.9 cm (p less than 0.01), suggesting that a decreased afterload improves left ventricular relaxation. IntA did not change with balloon assist (ON 3.5 +/- 1.2 cm, OFF 3.7 +/- 1.2 cm). IntR + IntA increased from 10.0 +/- 2.0 cm to 11.1 +/- 2.4 cm during IABP (p less than 0.01). IABP reduced the IntA/IntR from 0.62 +/- 0.25 to 0.50 +/- 0.20 (p less than 0.01). The increment in the IntA/IntR without IABP suggests that impaired diastolic filling of the left ventricle due to an increased afterload may be compensated for by enhanced left atrial contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Venous return and collapse of the right heart in cardiac tamponade].

To elucidate the characteristics of venous inflow into the heart in cardiac tamponade, transmitral (TMF), transtricuspid (TTF) and superior vena cava (SVC) flows were examined using pulsed Doppler echocardiography in nine mongrel open-chest dogs. Cardiac tamponade was produced by the slow infusion of warmed normal saline into the pericardial sac. With increment of pericardial infusion, right atrial collapse (RAC) developed followed by right ventricular collapse (RVC). The systemic blood pressure became depressed and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased, even in the RAC state, indicating that RVC is not of the primary significance for cardiac tamponade. Characteristically, peak velocities of TMF and TTF in early diastole decreased concomitantly with RAC and RVC. Neither early diastolic filling time nor its acceleration time was altered during tamponade. These changes in blood flow were accompanied by decrements of transmural filling pressure and abnormal motion of the right ventricle. In SVC flow, the diastolic wave characteristically disappeared. This change seemed to be a reflection of the decrease in peak velocity of early diastolic filling flow into the right ventricle. That is, impairment of cardiac relaxation during cardiac tamponade is represented as decreased filling flow velocity in early diastole.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Progression of idiopathic mitral valve prolapse estimated by echocardiography].

To evaluate the progression of idiopathic mitral valve prolapse (MVP), a long time follow-up study (mean 7.1 years) was performed using echocardiography in 27 cases (11 males, 16 females, mean age: 50.4 years). Morphological changes, the degree of prolapse of the mitral valve, left atrial dimension (LAD) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) were estimated at the first and last examinations. The degree of prolapse was assessed by measuring the distance of the dislocation between the anterior and posterior leaflets at the area of coaptation (degree I:5 mm or less, degree II: 6 to 10 mm, degree III: 11 mm or greater). The results were as follows: 1. The degree of prolapse did not progress in all 27 cases. 2. LAD increased with an advance of age. A remarkable increase of LAD was recorded in cases older than 45 years with atrial fibrillation or prolapse of degree II and III or with ruptured chordae tendineae. 3. The mitral ring was enlarged over 5 mm in six of 15 cases with prolapse of degree II and III. 4. Mitral regurgitation evaluated by Doppler echocardiography in patients with posterior leaflet prolapse was more severe than that in patients with anterior leaflet prolapse in the last examination. 5. LVDd increased gradually. In the present study, LAD was increased in most cases of MVP and it seemed to depend on complications (atrial fibrillation and ruptured chordae tendineae) or severity of regurgitation rather than the degree of prolapse.

Adult↗