Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography measurements of ASD sizing parameters in comparison to balloon sizing method in percutaneous ASD closure.

BACKGROUND: Balloon sizing (BS) has been used for device size selection in percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. Due to its limitations, alternative imaging techniques like three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) are valuable for guiding ASD device size selection during ASD closure procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare ASD sizing using measurements obtained from 3D-TEE to those utilizing the standard balloon sizing method. METHODS: We identified 53 patients with single secundum type ASD without PFO who underwent percutaneous closure at the Tehran Heart Center between 2019 and 2022. Balloon sizing was performed in all patients with the stop-flow technique, and the choice of device size was determined based on the sizing derived from BS. 3D-TEE imaging was performed before the intervention, and the ASD shape and quality of ASD rims were assessed. RESULTS: Among the 53 patients who underwent single ASD device closure, multiple 3D TEE measurements significantly correlated with balloon sizing results. This included defect area, perimeter, and diameter obtained from 3D-TEE images multi-planar reconstruction. ASD perimeter detected by 3D TEE had the best correlation with BS results. When divided by the shape of ASD, there was no significant difference between our 3D-images data and BS in round or oval-shaped ASDs. CONCLUSION: The 3D-TEE study is reliable for assessing ASD configurational characteristics in percutaneous device closure candidates. 3D-TEE has the potential to accurately determine the appropriate device size and reduce complications, costs, and procedural duration. Further research is needed to validate these findings and establish the role of 3D-TEE measurements in guiding the best treatment decisions for ASD closure.

Dual antiplatelet therapy in a patient with simultaneous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiography (ECG) changes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are well described. However, concurrent myocardial infarction (MI) and SAH are rarely reported, and its management remains a dilemma. We report a patient with traumatic SAH concurrent with acute MI that managed successfully by endovascular intervention and dual antiplatelet therapy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 47-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with a complaint of severe headache. Diffuse SAH, with a Hunt and Hess score of 5, was noticed. ECG showed ST elevation in anterior leads, and cardiac troponin became positive. On brain computed tomography angiogram, a 6 mm anterior communicating artery aneurysm was seen. Considering the possibility of MI and SAH simultaneously, endovascular obliteration of the aneurysm was done, and then, the patient received dual antiplatelet medications until coronary angiography was done. Coronary angiography revealed normal epicardial coronary arteries. The patient was discharged with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 and was visited 2 months after discharge without any new episodes of intracranial hemorrhage with a modified Rankin scale score of 2. CONCLUSION: Cerebral aneurysm coiling could be considered as the first choice of treatment in the case of acute MI with hemodynamic stability, before carrying out cardiac endovascular intervention or antiplatelet medication to reduce the risk of rebleeding from a brain aneurysm.

Is Left Atrial Function Affected by Coronary Slow Flow? A Two-dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiographic Study.

BACKGROUND: The coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is the slow passage of the angiographic contrast agent to the distal portion of the coronary artery in the absence of significant stenosis. We evaluated the left atrial (LA) function in patients with the CSFP using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). METHODS: The LA function was compared through 2DSTE between 36 patients with the CSFP and 36 participants with a normal coronary flow. The two groups were matched for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the left ventricular function. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the CSFP group and the control group regarding longitudinal systolic strain, early and late diastolic strains, and the strain rate of the LA myocardium. CONCLUSIONS: The LA function as evaluated with 2DSTE was not different between the CSFP group and the normal coronary flow group when they were matched for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and the left ventricular function.

Right ventricular function in coronary slow flow: A two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) is described as protracted passage of angiographic contrast agent to the distal portion of the epicardial coronary arteries in the absence of stenosis. Few studies have addressed the effects of this condition on right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. The present objective was to assess RV function in CSFP via 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). METHODS: A total of 29 patients with CSFP and 29 participants with normal coronary flow were compared regarding RV systolic and diastolic functions. Participants were matched for age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. RV systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated with pulsed-wave tissue Doppler echocardiography and 2DSTE. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the CSFP group and the control group regarding tissue Doppler echocardiographic and 2DSTE-derived indices. CONCLUSION: CSFP was not associated with tissue Doppler echocardiographic and 2DSTE-derived indices of RV systolic and diastolic function.

Effect of Coronary Slow Flow on the Longitudinal Left Ventricular Function Assessed by 2-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: The coronary slow flow phenomenon is defined as the slow progression of an angiographic contrast agent to the distal part of the coronary arteries on selective coronary angiography in the absence of stenosis. There are some studies with different results about the effect of this phenomenon on left ventricular (LV) function. The aim of our study was to evaluate the longitudinal LV function in the coronary slow flow phenomenon using 2-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography. METHODS: In a study with a patient-to-patient matched design, 36 patients with the coronary slow flow phenomenon and 36 individuals with normal coronary flow matched for age (±5 years), sex, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were compared in terms of the longitudinal LV systolic and diastolic functions by pulsed wave tissue Doppler echocardiography and 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived indices. RESULTS: Lateral s' and e' waves were lower in the patients with the coronary slow flow phenomenon, but there were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the other tissue Doppler echocardiographic indices and longitudinal systolic strain and systolic and diastolic strain rates derived by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the coronary slow flow phenomenon could not impair the longitudinal LV systolic and diastolic functions.