Cardiologia (Rome, Italy)
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Oct 1995
[Atrial filling fraction predicts left ventricular systolic function after myocardial infarction: pre-discharge echocardiographic evaluation].
Aim of the study was to examine the relation between Doppler-derived indices of left ventricular diastolic and systolic function early after myocardial infarction. Fifty-three patients (31 males, 22 females) recovering from acute myocardial infarction underwent predischarge Doppler echocardiographic examination. Patients with age > 70 years, previous myocardial infarction, more than mild mitral and aortic regurgitation, mitral and aortic stenosis were excluded. ⋯ After adjusting for age, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and both end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, atrial filling fraction was an independent predictor of stroke volume, with a direct relation (beta coefficient = 0.53, p < 0.001), in myocardial infarction patients but not in health subjects. In conclusion, our study confirms the pseudonormalization of diastolic pattern after myocardial infarction. The direct relation between atrial filling fraction and stroke volume indicates the importance of atrial contribution to maintain an adequate systolic performance in patients with myocardial infarction.
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Apr 1995
Case ReportsDiagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography.
Persistent left superior vena cava occurs in 2-4% of all congenital cardiac defects. The diagnosis is often missed if the lesion is not accurately looked for. ⋯ This paper describes for the first time the diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava by transesophageal contrast echocardiography. Echocardiography is the method of choice in the diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava, because it can be used at the patient's bedside and allows easy detection of the drainage site.
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Mar 1995
Comparative Study[Measurement of dead space/tidal volume ratio during exercise in patients with heart failure].
Dead space (VD)/tidal volume (VT) ratio is an indirect index of ventilation/perfusion matching. Therefore, it is currently evaluated in patients with congestive heart failure to detect the organ system limiting the exercise tolerance. The VD/VT calculation requires measurement of arterial CO2 partial pressure (PaCO2). ⋯ We found a strong correlation, but not an identity, between PaCo2 and PETCO2 (PaCO2 = 7.25 +/- 0.80 PETCO2, r = 0.84; p < 0.0001); similarly for PaCO2 and PETCO2. Several observations were out of 95% confidence interval, and some measurements exceeded mean +/- 2 SD when the differences between PaCo2 and PETCO2 or PJCO2 were plotted against the averages from the two (Bland and Altman method). Measured VD/VTs also strongly correlated with the estimated ones (VD/VT measured = -0.03 +/- 1.11 VD/VT estimated 1 r = 0.90; p < 0.0001 e VD/VT measured = 0.03 +/- 0.92 VD/VT estimated 2 r = 0.90; p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Cardiologia (Rome, Italy) · Feb 1995
Case ReportsLeft ventricular-coronary sinus fistula after mitral valve replacement: diagnosis by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.
Repeated mitral valve replacement, particularly in case of heavily calcified mitral annulus, may lead to iatrogenic injury to the posterior atrioventricular groove leading to hematoma, myocardial rupture and/or intracardiac shunt. In this report, the echocardiographic features of left ventricular to coronary sinus fistula developed after repeated mitral valve replacement, are described for the first time. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography allow the early detection of this extremely rare form of iatrogenic injury.