ObjectiveBy comparing the difference between different stenosed degree of aortic valve in flow field uniformity and turbulent shear stress (TSS), to explore the relation between flow field uniformity and different stenosed degree of aortic valve, and probe the clinical value for deciding the operation timing, and analyze the possible role of TSS in the progress of the disease.MethodsThe flow field uniformity values and TSS in parasternal long axis plane and apical five cavity plane on each point were measured and calculated by pulse wave Doppler echocardiography technique for 33 patients with different stenosed degree of aortic valve.ResultsThere were significant difference between the different stenosed degree of aortic valve in maximal velocity difference(ΔV max )and TSS( P lt;0.05, 0.01). The more severe the aortic stenosis was, the worse the flow field uniformity was, the lower the TSS was.ConclusionsThere are significant difference between the patients of different stenosed degree of aortic valve in flow field uniformity. Flow field uniformity has important value in classifying the degree of aortic stenosis and deciding the timing of operation. The more severe the aortic stenosis is ,the lower TSS is. It can be thought that low TSS distribution has important role in pathological process of constriction in cardiovascular system diseases.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to monitor and evaluate aortic insufficiency (AI) within one year after the implantation of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD).MethodsWe retrospectively collected and analyzed the TTE data of 12 patients who received LVAD implantation from 2018 to 2020 in our hospital. All patients were males, with an average age of 43.3±8.6 years. We analyzed temporal changes in the aortic annulus (AA), aortic sinus (AoS), ascending aorta (AAo), the severity of AI and the opening of aortic valve before operation and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after LVAD implantation.ResultsAll 12 patients survived within 1 year after LVAD implantation. One patient was bridged to heart transplantation 6 months after implantation, and two patients did not receive TTE after 3 and 6 months. Compared to pre-implantation, AoS increased at 1 month after implantation (31.58±5.09 mm vs. 33.83±4.69 mm). The inner diameters of AA, AoS and AAo increased at 3, 6 and 12 months after LVAD implantation compared to pre-implantation (P<0.05), but all were within the normal range except for one patient whose AoS slightly increased before operation. After LVAD pump speed was adjusted, the opening of aortic valve improved. The severity of AI increased at 6 and 12 months after LVAD implantation compared to pre-implantation, and increased at 12 months compared to 6 months after LVAD implantation (P<0.05).ConclusionTTE can evaluate aortic regurgitation before and after LVAD implantation and monitor the optimization and adjustment of LVAD pump function, which has a positive impact on the prognosis after LVAD implantation.
Objective To investigate the effect of applying intraoperative epicardial echocardiography (IEE) on preoperative monitoring and evaluating the clinical result of cardiac surgery.
Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 248 patients treated in the Affiliated 105 Hospital of People’s Liberation Army and the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2008 to May 2015. There were 108 males and 140 females. The age ranged from 7 months to 71 years. There were 113 patients diagnosed with the congenital heart disease (CHD) at the mean age of 11.89±14.74 years. There were 135 patients diagnosed with valvular heart disease at the mean age of 47.20±14.57 years. All patients underwent IEE during operation.
Results In 113 patients with CHD, we found new deformities and corrected preoperative diagnosis before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and we identified surgical complications after CPB by IEE. Other deformities and left atrial thrombus were found in 135 patients with valvular heart disease by IEE before CPB. After CPB, paravalvular leak and mitral regurgitation were found, therefore we took action immediately.
Conclusions IEE can improve the preoperative diagnosis and reduce perioperative complications, which has value of application during cardiac surgery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes of left ventricular structure and function by echocardiography and its grading of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with mitral valve prolapse treated by minimally invasive mitral valve repair.MethodsBy retrospective analysis, 37 patients including 25 males and 12 females aged 53.49±11.02 years with mitral valve prolapse who underwent minimally invasive mitral valve repair were as an operation group, and 34 healthy persons including 19 males and 15 females aged 54.26±8.33 years matched by age and sex were selected as a control group. Ultrasound parameters of every participant were routinely collected before operation, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after operation, and left ventricular diastolic function was graded. The ultrasound parameters between the two groups were compared.ResultsThe diameters of left ventricular end systolic and diastolic phase, left atrial diameter and left ventricular volume in the operation group were significantly smaller than those before operation. The diameters of left ventricle and left atrium after operation were significantly shorter than those before operation, but they were still larger than those of the control group. The ejection fraction value decreased significantly at one month after the operation and then returned to normal level. The incidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction at 6 months and 1 year after operation was significantly lower than that before operation (P<0.05).ConclusionMinimally invasive repair for patients with mitral valve prolapse can significantly improve systolic and diastolic functions of left ventricle while reconstructing left atrial and left ventricular structures.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experiences of minimally invasive occlusion of ventricular septal defect (VSD) via small chest incision.
MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 131 infants with VSD in Hebei children's Hospital between March 2013 and September 2014, including 83 patients with perimembranous VSD, 24 patients with membranous aneurysm and 24 patients with intracristal VSD. There were 63 males and 68 females with a mean age of 35.28±29.22 months and a mean body weight of 14.56±7.47 kg. Before surgery, a multiple-section transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was employed to evaluate various parameters of the VSD. Under general anesthesia, a small incision was made to expose the right ventricle. Under TEE guidance, proper device was delivered and deployed to close the defect. Patients also received postoperative following-up by transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) at regular intervals.
ResultsOne hundred twenty-nine patients were successfully performed operation. Two patients were converted to perform traditional surgical closure with cardiopulmonary bypass (cPB). concentric devices were used in 52 patients and eccentric devices were used in 77 patients. During the following-up (1-12 months) period, complications occurred in three patients. Massive pericardial effusion appeared and disappeared after pericardicentesis in one patient. The occlusion device was dislocated in the next day after operation and took out by cPB operation in one patient. There was an asymptomatic residual shunt at 1 mm in one patient.
ConclusionThe minimally invasive occlusion of VSD via small chest incision is a safe and effective treatment. It should be encouraged to use in the clinical practice.
Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is at present a well established interventional procedure for the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). Echocardiography is an essential imaging modality for peri-interventional assessment of TEER. Pre-procedural echocardiographic assessments, which include grading of MR severity, determining MR etiology and mechanisms, and analyzing mitral valve morphology, helps to determine patient eligibility and plan the procedure. Echocardiography is also indispensable in intra-procedural guidance, such as atrial septum puncture, advancing the device to the target position, and leaflets capture. In addition, echocardiography is important in immediate result evaluation, complication detection and patient follow up after the procedure.
We reported a 65-year-old female who was admitted to our institute with "recurrent subxiphoid pain accompanied by dyspnea for more than 10 days". Electrocardiogram examination suggested acute extensive anterior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography suggested ventricular septal rupture. The patient was planned for the repair of ventricular septal rupture with cardiopulmonary bypass. The formation of left ventricular aneurysm was diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The surgeon decided to abdopt the modified incision of left ventricular approach guided by TEE, which greatly improved the prognosis of the patient. The surgery duration was 197 min, aortic cross-clamping time was 56 min, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 69 min, and the patient was safely admitted to ICU after the surgery. Extubation was performed on the first day postoperatively, and the intra-aortic balloon pump support was retreated on the second day postoperatively. Postoperative echocardiography showed that no obvious residual shunt was observed after ventricular septal repairment and ventricular aneurysm resection. The patient was discharged on the 12th day after the surgery. Additionally, the mental condition was good and daily activities were not limited within 6 months postoperatively.
ObjectiveTo investigate clinical outcomes and safety of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided occlusion of infundibular ventricular septal defect (VSD) via minithoracotomy.
MethodsClinical data of 21 pediatric patients with infundibular VSD who underwent TEE-guided occlusion via minithoracotomy in Children's Hospital of Hebei Province from January to June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 10 male and 11 female patients with their age of 8-24 (16±8) months and body weight of 9±3 kg. The size of VSD was 4.5±2.5 mm. TEE was used to evaluate the position of the occluder, its influence on the atrioventricular valves and aortic valve, and the presence of residual shunt.
ResultsThere was no perioperative death or complication. VSD occlusion was successfully performed in 20 out of 21 patients (95.2%). One patient received conversion to open VSD repair under extracorporeal circulation because VSD size was too big. Mean time of delivery of occluders was 32±16 minutes, the size of the occluders was 5±3 mm, and length of hospital stay was 6-8 days. All the patients were followed up for 3-6 months after discharge. During follow-up, echocardiography showed clear echo and normal position of the occluders, and there was no mild or more severe residual shunt or valvular regurgitation.
ConclusionTEE-guided occlusion of infundibular VSD via minithoracotomy is easy to perform and safe with satisfactory clinical outcomes.
Objective To investigate the effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance for patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis during pregnancy. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted to include pregnant women who were diagnosed with moderate to severe mitral stenosis and underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance in Fuwai Hospital from August 2018 to June 2022, and their baseline characteristics, surgical outcomes, echocardiographic results, and follow-up results were analyzed. Results A total of 3 pregnant women aged 30-35 years, with gestational age of 19-26 weeks, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class Ⅲ were included. All the procedures were successfully performed. The mitral valve orifice area increased from 0.9 cm2 preoperatively to 2.1 cm2 postoperatively. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient decreased from 15.0 mm Hg preoperatively to 6.7 mm Hg postoperatively. No perioperative adverse events occurred. The follow-up time ranged from 3 to 48 months. All patients delivered uneventfully and returned to normal life, with maternal-fetal safety. Conclusion Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance is a feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis in pregnancy, with satisfactory maternal-fetal outcomes.
Abstract: Objective To investigate changes of left ventricularregional systolic function after surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) by realtime threedimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). Methods From February 2009 to February 2010, 14 consecutive patients who were diagnosed to have coronary artery diseases with LVA underwent surgical repair and coronary artery bypass grafting (LVA group) in our hospital. All patients of the LVA group were followed up for a mean period of 4 months. Twodimensional echocardiography (2DE) and RT-3DE were performed before operation and during the follow-up. Left ventricular regional ejection fraction (EF) was acquired by Qlab software analysis. At the same time, 12 healthy persons were included as controls (control group). Statistical analyses were carried out to compare left ventricular regional EF between the LVA group (before operation and 4 months after operation) and the control group. Results Contrary to the control group, preoperative regional EF of the LVA group increased from apex to base. In addition to the inferior basal segment, lateralinferior basal segment and anteriorinferior basal segment, regional EF in the remaining 14 segments were significantly lower than that of the control group (P＜0.05). At postoperative followup, regional EF recovered the increase from base to apex, and there was no significant difference between anteriorinferior segment and lateral segment regional EF of the LVA group and those of the control group (P＞0.05), while regional EF of other segments in the LVA group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion RT-3DE is an effective method to assess left ventricular regional systolic function in patients with LVA. After LVA repair and coronary artery bypass grafting, regional systolic function will restore to the normal direction of progressive increase, and some nonaneurysm segments systolic function will go back to normal.
