ObjectiveTo explore the value of inferior vena cava inspiratory collapsibility (ΔIVC) in guiding septic shock resuscitation with early goal-directed therapy (EGDT).MethodsA single center, randomized controlled trial was conducted at an 812-bed hospital in Mianyang, Sichuan. Adult patients with early septic shock in the intensive care unit were assessed and treated at defined intervals over 6 h using an ΔIVC-guided resuscitation protocol or an EGDT protocol. Feasibility outcomes were fluid balance and norepinephrine administration. The primary clinical outcomes were in-hospital mortality rate, 90-day survival rate. Secondary outcomes included incidence of acute kidney injury and consumption of health resources.ResultsSixty-eight patients with septic shock were enrolled in this study. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The ΔIVC-guided septic shock resuscitation group was lower than the EGDT group in the ICU 24 h fluid replacement (L): 3.8 (4.0, 5.3) vs. 4.7 (4.0, 6.6), 72 h liquid positive balance (L): 0.2 (–0.65, 1.2) vs. 2.5 (0.0, 4.1), intensive care unit length of stay (d): 7.5 (5.0, 14.0) vs. 15.0 (7.0, 21.5), mechanical ventilation cumulative time (d): 3.0 (0.0, 7.0) vs. 7.5 (2.2, 12.0), ICU costs (ten thousand yuan): 3.4 (2.1, 5.9) vs. 8.6 (4.2, 16.5), bedside blood purification treatment costs (ten thousand yuan): 2.3 (1.1, 3.3) vs. 6.8 (2.1, 10.0) (P<0.05). No difference was observed in the incidence of acute kidney injury (P > 0.05), in-hospital mortality and 90-day survival between the two groups (log-rank χ2=0.35, P>0.05).ConclusionsAmong patients with septic shock, a ΔIVC-guided septic shock resuscitation, compared with EGDT, did not reduce in-hospital mortality. It might prevent the risk of over resuscitation, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation, and lead to a better utilization of intensive care unit resources.
Objective To investigate the correlation between the left atrial hydrodynamic change and atrial fibrillation (AF) in the patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Methods According to cardiac rhythm before operation, 49 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis accompanying chronic AF were divided into two groups,group A: AF, 25 cases; group B: sinus rhythm, 24 cases. Control group : 29 healthy volunteers were examined. By using echocardiography, left atrial hydrodynamics were tested, and repeated 6-8 months after the operation. Results Left atrial stress (LAS), left atriala area (LAA) and left atrial volume(LAV) in group A after operation was much lower than before operation, LAS after operation in group B was also lower than before operation(Plt;0.01). Before operation, LAS in group A was significantly lower than that in group B, LAA and LAVwere larger. After operation, LAA and LAV in group A were significantly larger than those in group B(Plt;0.01). LAS, LAA and LAV in group A and group B before and after operation were higher than those in control group. Conclusion Left atrial hydrodynamic enviroment in patients with mitral stenosis has not reached normal even after valve replacement, LAS may be an important factor of causing AF.
Abstract： Right ventricular dysfunction or right heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome and often leads to a poor prognosis and high mortality. In order to detect right ventricular dysfunction at an early stage, provide a therapy guidance and evaluate treatment outcomes， right ventricular function evaluation has aroused more and more concern in clinical physicians. With the advantages of being non-invasive， accuracy and repetitiveness， echocardiography is used extensively in the assessment of heart function. In this review， we focus on how to use echocardiography to evaluate right ventricular function easily, efficiently， accurately and sensitively， and provide a good foundation for its further clinical application.
Objective
To evaluate the relationship between pattern of left ventricular dilation and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) by echocardiography.
Methods
A single-center retrospective observational study was conducted on 117 patients with age of 31-77 years and left ventricular end diastolic dimension≥60 mm treated in our hospital from January 2013 through May 2016. These patients were divided into four groups by FMR degree: FMR-None/Trace (FMR-N/T group,n=33), FMR-Minor (FMR-Mi group,n=37), FMR-Moderate (FMR-Mo group,n=34) and FMR-Severe (FMR-Se group,n=13). We analyzed their basic information and echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular dimension, volume, systolic function, spherical index, regional wall motion score index, tenting height and area of mitral vavle as well as anterior/posterior angle.
Results
The incidences of inferior/posterior/lateral myocardial infarction and basal myocardial dyskinesia/aneurysm increased with the increase of FMR degree (FMR-N/T vs. FMR-Mi vs. FMR-Mo vs. FMR-Se: 12.1% vs. 18.9% vs. 44.1% vs. 46.2%,P=0.001 and 12.1% vs. 27.0% vs.47.1% vs. 53.8%,P=0.005, respectively). The tenting height and area of mitral valve, anterior/posterior angle, regional wall score index of the left ventricle where the papillary muscle was attached to had a positive correlation with FMR degree (P＜0.05).
Conclusion
There is a relationship between regional left ventricular dilation and FMR. Evaluating and improving those parameters is very important when we choose the treatment strategy of functional mitral regurgitaion.
Objective To investigate long-term echocardiography characteristics and their clinical significance of patients after mitral valve replacement （MVR）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 204 patients who underwent prosthetic MVR and finished echocardiography examination at least 5 years after surgery in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. There were 44 male patients and 160 female patients with their age of 23 to 73 （50.9±10.6）years. Postoperatively， all the patients were followed up for 5-15 （7.9±2.3）years and regularly received echocardiography examination at the outpatient department. Analysis variables included left atrium （LA） dimension， left ventricle （LV） dimension，right atrium （RA） dimension， right ventricle （RV） dimension， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） and effective orificearea （EOA） of the mitral valve. Results Long-term echocardiography showed that LA and LV dimensions were signifi-cantly smaller than preoperative dimensions （P＜0.05）， while RA and RV dimensions were not statistically different from preoperative dimensions （P＞0.05）. Long-term LVEF was significantly higher than preoperative value （P＜0.05）. Long-term EOA was 1.1-4.8 （2.3±0.5）cm2， including EOA of 1.1-1.4 cm2 in 7 patients （3.4%，7/204），and 1.6-1.9 cm2in 42 patients （20.6%，42/204）. During long-term follow-up， 7 patients underwent their second heart surgery， including2 patients with prosthetic valve dysfunction， 1 patient with prosthetic perivalvular leak and severe hemolytic anemia，3 patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation which were not improved after medication treatment， and 1 patient with moderateaortic valve stenosis and regurgitation. Two patients had left atrial thrombosis during follow-up， including 1 patient who died of endocarditis 7 years after surgery， and another patient who was still receiving conservative therapy and further follow-up. Conclusion Concomitant tricuspid or aortic valve disease should be actively treated during MVR， and postoperative patients need better follow-up. Many patients after MVR need long-term cardiovascular medication treatment during follow-up in order to improve their heart function and long-term survival rate.
ObjectiveTo investigate the natural outcome of spontaneous closure of iatrogenic atrial septal defect (IASD) in patients with atrial fibrillation after transseptal catheterization and the influencing factors affecting its healing.MethodsA total of 122 patients who underwent percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from September 2014 to February 2018 were selected for observation and follow-up. General information of the patients was collected. Each patient underwent transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography before the surgery or 45 days, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the surgery, observing the atrioventricular size, cardiac function and atrial septal defect size. The natural outcome of IASD and influencing factors and prognosis of IASD were analyzed.ResultsThe healing rate increased gradually with the follow-up time; the median healing time was 180 days [95% confidence interval (169.5, 190.5) days]. The difference in the effect on IASD healing rate between the gender and atrial fibrillation type was not significant (P>0.05); being older than 70 years old was the influence factor for the IASD healing rate (P<0.05). There was no statistically difference in right heart size and systolic and diastolic function between the unhealed group (n=18) and the healed group (n=63) after a 1-year follow-up (P>0.05), but the left ventricular size was bigger in the unhealed group than that in the healed group (P<0.05). The follow-up time points had a significant effect on the size of the left atrium, and the left atrium in the healing group after 1 year follow-up was significantly smaller than before. There was no significant difference among the different follow-up time points and no interaction between grouping and follow-up time (P>0.05). ConclusionsWith the extension of follow-up time, the healing rate increases gradually. Larger left atrium and ventricular size and the age over 70 may be related to the healing of IASD.
ObjectiveTo investigate long-term echocardiographic outcomes of patients after mitral and aortic valve replacement and their clinical significance.
MethodsA total of 204 patients who underwent mitral and aortic valve replacement from January 1999 to June 2008 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and had been followed up with echocardiography for longer than 5 years were enrolled in this study. There were 60 male and 144 female patients with their age ranging from 15 to 74 (48.42±11.00)years. Postoperative follow-up time was 5 to 13 (6.34±2.05)years. Preoperative and follow-up echocardiographic results were compared.
ResultsCompared with preoperative results, postoperative left atrial diameter (LA)and left ventricular diameter (LV)significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while right ventricular diameter (RV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS)significantly increased (P < 0.05). Right atrial diameter (RA)did not change significantly (P > 0.05). In the patients mainly with mitral stenosis preoperatively, postoperative LA, LV, left atrial area (LAA), left atrial volume (LAV), mitral mean pressure gradient (MPGmv), velocity time integral (VTImv)and pressure half time (PHTmv)significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while mitral effective orifice area (EOAmv)and effective orifice area index (EOAImv)increased significantly (P < 0.05), but peak E velocity (Emv)did not change significantly (P > 0.05). In the patients mainly with mitral regurgitation preoperatively, postoperative LA and LV decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while LAA, LAV, MPGmv, VTImv, PHTmv, EOAmv and EOAImv did not change significantly (P > 0.05). In the patients mainly with aortic stenosis preoperatively, postoperative LV, interventricular septal thickness (IVS), left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), aortic peak forward flow velocity(Vav)and mean pressure gradient (MPGav)significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while aortic effective orifice area (EOAav)and effective orifice area index (EOAIav)significantly increased (P < 0.05), but left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPW)did not change significantly (P > 0.05). In the patients mainly with aortic regurgitation preoperatively, postoperative LV, LVM, LVMI, EOAav and EOAIav decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while Vav and MPGav increased significantly (P < 0.05), but IVS and LVPW did not change significantly (P > 0.05). In mitral position, compared with patients with 25 mm prosthesis, Emv, MPGmv and VTImv of patients with 27 mm prosthesis were significantly smaller (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference in PHTmv, EOAmv or EOAImv between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). In aortic position, compared with patients with 21mm prosthesis, Vav, MPGav and VTIav of patients with 23 mm prosthesis were significantly smaller (P < 0.05), while EOAav and EOAIav were significantly larger (P < 0.05). In mitral position, 38 patients (21.3%)had moderate prothesis-patient mismatch (PPM)and 4 patients (2.3%)had severe PPM. In aortic position, 50 patients (24.5%)had moderate PPM and 43 patients (21.1%)had severe PPM. Consti-tuent ratio of long-term tricuspid regurgitation (TR)degree of patients after tricuspid valvuloplasty (TVP)significantly improved (P < 0.05), but constituent ratio of long-term TR degree of patients without TVP significantly deteriorated (P < 0.05).
ConclusionsLeft ventricular function and hemodynamic outcomes in the long term are significantly better than preoperative results after double valve replacement, but they are still far from normal. PPM in aortic position is more severe than that in mitral position. Since residual or aggravated TR is very common in the long term, concomitant TVP should be considered more positively for patients undergoing surgery for left-sided valvular disease.
ObjectiveTo analyze the efficacy and safety of percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV) for pulmonary valve stenosis guided by ultrasound.MethodsFrom March 2016 to July 2019, 32 patients with pulmonary valve stenosis were treated in our hospital. There were 19 males and 13 females with an average age of 1-12 (6.2±3.1) years and weight of 7-45 (22.7±9.2) kg. The clinical efficacy of PBPV guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was evaluated.ResultsThe transvalvular pressure gradient (PG) of the patients before PBPV was 65.4±11.9 mm Hg. All patients successfully received PBPV under TTE guidance. The PG was 19.7±4.0 mm Hg immediately after operation, which was significantly decreased (P<0.001). All patients survived without any serious complications. The PG values at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after operation were 18.4±4.0 mm Hg, 16.4±3.9 mm Hg, 15.2±3.3 mm Hg, respectively, which were significantly lower than that before the operation (P<0.001).ConclusionPBPV guided by echocardiography is safe and effective in the treatment of pulmonary valve stenosis with low complications rate.
ObjectiveTo explore the echocardiography characteristics of aortic valve disease (AVD) among different ethnic groups in Xinjiang.MethodsThe data of a large sample (n=130 358) of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang based on the results of echocardiography were analyzed between January 2011 and December 2016, and the echocardiography characteristics of AVD among the Han nationality and different ethnic minorities in Xinjiang were summarized.ResultsThe study recruited 130 358 patients, involving Han nationality (58.49%) and 33 ethnic minorities. The ethnic minorities included the Uygur (27.42%), Kazak (7.47%), Hui nationality (3.48%) and other minorities (3.13%). Apart from Uygur, Kazak and Hui nationality, no description was given due to the small sample sizes of other minorities (3.13%). In the total study population, the prevalence of aortic valve stenosis (AS) was 0.44%, and the prevalence of severe AS was 0.10%; the prevalence of aortic valve regurgitation (AR) was 0.37%, and the prevalence of severe AR was 0.02%; the prevalence of aortic valve calcification (AVC) was 6.51%, and the highest AVC prevalence existed in ≥75 years old age group (24.45%); the prevalence of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) was 0.54%, and the highest BAV prevalence existed in 18-44 years old age group (0.86%). Among different ethnic groups, the Uygur had the highest prevalence in terms of AS (0.60%), AR (0.63%) and BAV (0.88%), while the Han had the lowest prevalence in terms of AS (0.37%) and AR (0.24%), but the highest AVC prevalence existed in the Han nationality (7.83%). The etiology of AVD showed that the degenerative valve changes was the main cause of AS with the largest proportion of 61.97%. While the aorta root diseases (35.97%) and BAV (22.87%) were the main etiology of AR.ConclusionsIn Xinjiang the overall prevalence of AVD is low. In the elderly population, the Uygur, Kazak and Hui nationality have the higher AS prevalence than the Han nationality does. Different ethnic groups have different AVD characteristics based on the echocardiography. In the Uygur group, AVD presents the younger age of onset; the prevalence of BAV is the highest in the Uygur population, while the lowest in the Hui nationality.
Before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), echocardiography is the first choice for preoperative screening of suitable patients, which can be used to observe the morphology of aortic valve, determine the cause of aortic stenosis, and evaluate the severity of aortic stenosis and other cardiac structure and function. During TAVR procedure, echocardiography is mainly used for real-time monitoring of complications and immediate postoperative evaluation. After TAVR, echocardiography can be used to evaluate the shape and function of the prosthesis valve and monitor long-term complications. This article reviews the research progress of echocardiography in TAVR for guiding clinical practice.
