Early detection and prompt treatment are important factors that limit morbidity and mortality secondary to venous air embolism (VAE) (1). The precordial Doppler ultrasonic sensor and transesophageal echocardiograph are the two most sensitive monitors currently available to detect VAE (2,3). The Aloka SSD-870 transesophageal echocardiograph is equipped with a Doppler sensor at the distal end of ...

AIM Our objective was to evaluate regional systolic myocardial contraction properties along the long and short axes of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with isolated LV non-compaction (IVNC). METHODS AND RESULTS Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) was used to record myocardial velocities along these axes in 25 patients with IVNC (10 asymptomatic-LV ejection fraction [LVEF] > or = 50%; 15 s...

OBJECTIVE To assess the ability of Army National Guard combat medics to perform a limited bedside echocardiography (BE) to determine cardiac activity after a brief training module. METHODS Twelve Army National Guard health care specialists trained to the level of emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B) underwent an educational session consisting of a 5-minute lecture on BE followed by hand...

D e s c r i p t i o n o f t e s t s a n d d i a g n o s t i c s t a n d a r d Blood for BNP levels was taken using the Triage BNP test (Biosite Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA), a point-of-care method based on fluorescence immunoassay. The BNP measurements were done on frozen plasma approximately 1 to 2 months after blood collection. Doppler echocardiography was done within 60 minutes of enroll...

Coronary flow reserve was assessed in a patient with Anderson-Fabry disease complicated by symmetric left ventricular hypertrophy. Coronary flow reserve was measurable in all three major coronary arteries providing an opportunity to compare regional coronary flow reserve from different vascular beds. In this patient all the three vascular beds supplied diffusely hypertrophied myocardium. Corona...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine if AV delay optimization with continuous-wave Doppler aortic velocity-time integral (VTI) is clinically superior to an empiric program in patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for severe heart failure. BACKGROUND The impact of AV delay programming on clinical outcomes associated with CRT is unknown. METHODS A rand...

The peculiar shape of the right ventricle (RV), its position within the chest, and the thinness of its free wall have always represented a formidable challenge for the assessment of RV size and function by conventional 2-dimensional echocardiography. Over time, a large number of 2D echocardiography and Doppler parameters have been proposed to describe RV geometry and function. However, most of ...

BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of the majority of myocardial infarctions and ischemic strokes. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a surrogate measure of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Left ventricular (LV) function can be accurately assessed by 2D speckle-tracking strain echocardiography (2D-STE). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between car...

Aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, patent foramen ovale, interatrial septal defect, atrial fibrillation and perivalvular leak, are now amenable to percutaneous treatment. These percutaneous procedures require the use of Transthoracic (TTE), Transesophageal (TEE) and/or Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). This paper provides an overview of the different percutaneous interventions, trying...