BACKGROUND The relationship between changes in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and echocardiographic or clinical definitions of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has not been evaluated. The aims of the present evaluation were to assess: (1) the relationship between changes in NT-proBNP after 6 months of CRT and clinical and echocardiographic responses; (2)...

BACKGROUND As survival and outcomes continue to improve in neonates born prematurely, there is an increasing need to promptly identify and treat pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in this population. Several echocardiographic indices have been used to evaluate for PHT. There is no clear consensus on how to utilize these parameters specifically for the evaluation of PHT in infants with chronic lung di...

OBJECTIVE To determine the indication and necessity of echocardiographic assessment and therapeutic interventions in critically ill children. METHODS A total of 140 children, including 75 mechanically ventilated (MV) and 65 spontaneously breathing (SB) children, who were admitted consecutively from March to August 2013 were evaluated prospectively. Data regarding the indication for echocardio...

T uberculous pericarditis continues to have a high incidence in developing countries. Despite effective antimicrobial treatment and improved public health in developed countries, there has been a recent surge in the incidence of both atypical and classical tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients, especially those infected with HIV. Only a few studies have been published describing the echoca...

To compare two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiographic estimates of right ventricular size and performance to similar determinations from equilibrium radionuclide angiography (RNA) before and after isosorbide dinitrate, we evaluated 19 patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes estimated from subcostal 2-D echocardiographic views of the ri...

BACKGROUND The ultrasonic industry has recently produced echocardiographic Hand Held Devices (miniaturized, compact and battery-equipped echocardiographic systems). Their potential usefulness has been successfully assessed in a wide range of clinical conditions. The aim of the study was to verify if the routine use of a basic model of echocardiographic Hand Held Device (HHD) could be an importa...

Previously unreported echocardiographic findings are described of two cases with anterior mitral valve leaflet fenestration associated with infective endocarditis. M-mode echocardiograms demonstrated a periodic interruption in the echo tracing of the mitral valve ring area. Long axis real time two dimensional echocardiograms showed an echo defect in the body portion of the anterior mitral valve...