UNLABELLED Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) can be challenging for clinicians to both diagnose and treat, given the multiple heart defects that are by definition associated with the illness. This study investigates the value of real-time three- dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) in evaluating the pre-and postoperative right ventricular systolic function of patients with tetralogy of Fallot. A total...

The assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function is often the most important information obtained during clinical echocardiography. Although LV systolic function may be visually estimated in many patients with or without contrast opacification, technically difficult patients may require alternative methods for evaluating LV systolic function. In this review, the authors describe severa...

We read with great interest the article by Zhong et al1 entitled ‘Effects of age and gender on left atrial ejection force and volume from real-time three-dimensional echocardiography’. The authors determined the normal reference values for left atrial (LA) volumes and LA ejection force (LAEF) assessed by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). The study was interesting, but we hav...

It is well accepted that strain and strain rate deformation parameters are not only a measure of intrinsic myocardial contractility but are also influenced by changes in cardiac load and structure. To date, no information is available on the relative importance of these confounders. This study was designed to investigate how strain and strain rate, measured by Doppler echocardiography, relate t...

Many studies have shown that acromegaly has relevant effects on cardiovascular system, but few data are available regarding the effects of short-term acromegaly on heart morphology and function. These data would help to clarify the natural history of acromegalic disease and could provide new insight into the mechanisms of GH action on the human heart. Therefore, we studied by Doppler echocardio...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate cardiac findings in 31 Noonan syndrome patients. METHODS Thirty-one (18 males and 13 females)patients from 26 families affected with Noonan's syndrome were evaluated from the cardiac point of view with electrocardiography and Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS Twenty patients had some type of cardiac abnormality. The most frequent was pulmonary valve stenosis followed b...

Purpose of Review Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (3DE) and 4-dimensional echocardiography (4DE), also known as real-time (RT) 3DE (RT3DE), are rapidly emerging technologies which have made significant impact in the clinical arena over the years. This review will discuss the recent applications of 3DE in diagnosing and treating different types of cardiovascular disease. Recent Finding...

OBJECTIVE The present study was performed to compare coronary flow reserve by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography and intracoronary Doppler flow wire measurements in patients with LAD disease. METHODS 17 patients with various degree of LAD stenosis were studied. Intracoronary LAD Doppler measurements were performed at baseline and after intracoronary injection of 18 micrograms adenosine....

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and acid-base status of dogs subjected to acute normovolemic anemia. The dogs (n = 10) were evaluated 15 minutes and 24 hours after induction of anemia (hematocrit below 18%) with blood withdrawal and simultaneously replacement of same volume of Ringer's lactate solution and hydroxyethyl starch-based solution in a 2 : 1 ratio. The cardiac ou...

W e describe a case of post-operative displacement of an aortic coarctation (CoA) stent, which was determined 6 months after deployment. A 21-year-old woman with history of surgery for CoA in early childhood presented with fatigue and shortness of breath. Cardiac catheterization and aortography showed a recurrence of CoA. An 18 42-mm Sinus-XL (Optimed XL, Ettlingen, Germany) self-expandable ste...