The Influence of Food Intake and Preload Augmentation on Cardiac Functional Parameters: A Study Using Both Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Echocardiography.

(1) Background: To investigate how food intake and preload augmentation affect the cardiac output (CO) and volumes of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE). (2) Methods: Eighty-two subjects with (n = 40) and without (n = 42) cardiac disease were assessed using both CMR and TTE immediately before and after a fast infusion of 2 L isotonic saline. Half of the population had a meal during saline infusion (food/fluid), and the other half were kept fasting (fasting/fluid). We analyzed end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic (ESV) volumes and feature tracking (FT) using CMR, LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), and RV longitudinal strain (LS) using TTE. (3) Results: CO assessed using CMR increased significantly in both groups, and the increase was significantly higher in the food/fluid group: LV-CO (ΔLV-CO: +2.6 ± 1.3 vs. +0.7 ± 1.0 p < 0.001), followed by increased heart rate (HR) (ΔHR: +12 ± 8 vs. +1 ± 6 p < 0.001). LV and RV achieved increased stroke volume (SV) through different mechanisms. For the LV, through increased contractility, increased LV-EDV, decreased LV-ESV, increased LV-FT, and GLS were observed. For the RV, increased volumes, increased RV-EDV, increased RV-ESV, and at least for the fasting/fluid group, unchanged RV-FT and RV-LS were reported. (4) Conclusions: Preload augmentation and food intake have a significant impact on hemodynamic and cardiac functional parameters. This advocates for standardized recommendations regarding oral intake of fluid and food before cardiac assessment, for example, TTE, CMR, and right heart catheterization. We also demonstrate different approaches for the LV and RV to increase SV: for the LV by increased contractility, and for the RV by volume expansion.

Psychological predictors of acute postoperative pain after total knee and hip arthroplasty: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Identifying patients at high risk of acute postoperative pain after total knee or hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA) will facilitate individualized pain management and research on the efficacy of treatment options. Numerous studies have reported that psychological patient factors may influence acute postoperative pain, but most reviews have focused on chronic pain and functional outcomes. This systematic review aims to evaluate which psychological metrics are associated with acute postoperative pain after TKA and THA. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using the databases PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library until June 2022. Full-text articles reporting associations of preoperative psychological factors with acute pain within 48 h of TKA or THA surgery were identified. Quality was assessed using the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. RESULTS: Eighteen studies containing 16 unique study populations were included. TKA was the most common procedure, and anxiety and depression were the most evaluated psychological metrics. Several different anesthetic techniques and analgesic regimens were used. The studies were generally rated as having a low to moderate risk of bias. Catastrophizing was associated with acute pain in six studies (of nine), mainly after TKA. In contrast, three studies (of 13) and two studies (of 13) found anxiety and depression, respectively, to be associated with acute postoperative pain. CONCLUSION: Pain catastrophizing seemed to be the most consistent psychological predictor of acute postoperative pain after TKA. The results for other psychological factors and THA were inconsistent. However, the interpretation of results was limited by considerable methodological heterogeneity.

Impact of surgical aortic valve replacement on global and regional longitudinal strain across four flow gradient patterns of severe aortic stenosis.

To evaluate the impact of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) on global (GLS) and regional longitudinal strain (RLS) across four flow-gradient patterns of severe aortic stenosis (AS) 3 months after surgery. A total of 103 patients with severe AS (aortic valve area < 1.0 cm2) were examined by speckle tracking echocardiography the day before SAVR and at 3-months follow-up. Patients were stratified into four flow-gradient patterns by stroke volume index (>35 mL/m2 vs. ≤35 mL/m2) and mean transaortic gradients (>40 mmhg vs. ≤40 mmhg): normal-flow, high gradient (NF/HG); low-flow, high gradient (LF/HG); normal-flow, low gradient (NF/LG); low-flow, low gradient (LF/LG). Strain analysis comprised GLS and RLS at a basal (BLS), mid-ventricular (MLS) and apical level (ALS). Patients with high gradients improved GLS (NF/HG: 16.1 ± 3.5 % vs. 17.3 ± 3.4 %, p = 0.03 and LF/HG: 15.4 ± 3.6 % vs. 16.9 ± 3.1 %, p = 0.03), BLS (NF/HG: 12.7 ± 3.1 % vs. 14.2 ± 3.1 %, p = 0.003 and LF/HG: 11.4 ± 3.2 % vs. 13.8 ± 2.7 %, p = 0.005) and MLS (NF/HG: 15.4 ± 3.3 % vs. 16.5 ± 3.3 %, p = 0.04 and LF/HG: 14.5 ± 3.1 % vs. 16.2 ± 2.7 %, p = 0.01) whereas patients with low gradients showed no improvements three months after SAVR. ALS did not change significantly in any group. Patients with high gradients demonstrated a reduction in left ventricular (LV) mass index (p < 0.001) and N-terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide levels (p < 0.001) following SAVR in contrast to patients with low gradients. Patients with high gradient severe AS improve GLS and RLS three months after SAVR with concomitant reduction of LV mass and neurohormonal activation whereas patients with low gradients do not improve longitudinal strain, LV mass or neurohormonal activation.

Assessment of left ventricular outflow tract and aortic root: comparison of 2D and 3D transthoracic echocardiography with multidetector computed tomography.

AIMS: Accurate echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and the aortic root is necessary for risk stratification and choice of appropriate treatment in patients with pathologies of the aortic valve and aortic root. Conventional 2D transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) assessment is based on the assumption of a circular shaped LVOT and aortic root, although previous studies have indicated a more ellipsoid shape. 3D TTE and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) applies planimetry and are not dependent on geometrical assumptions. The aim was to test accuracy, feasibility, and reproducibility of 3D TTE compared to 2D TTE assessment of LVOT and aortic root areas, with MDCT as reference. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined 51 patients with 2D/3D TTE and MDCT at the same day. All patients were re-examined with 2D/3D TTE on a different day to evaluate 2D and 3D re-test variability. Areas of LVOT, aortic annulus, and sinus were assessed using 2D, 3D TTE, and MDCT. Both 2D/3D TTE underestimated the areas compared to MDCT; however, 3D TTE areas were significantly closer to MDCT-areas. 2D vs. 3D mean MDCT-differences: LVOT 1.61 vs. 1.15 cm2, P = 0.019; aortic annulus 1.96 vs. 1.06 cm2, P < 0.001; aortic sinus 1.66 vs. 1.08 cm2, P = 0.015. Feasibility was 3D 76-79% and 2D 88-90%. LVOT and aortic annulus areas by 3D TTE had lowest variabilities; intraobserver coefficient of variation (CV) 9%, re-test variation CV 18-20%. CONCLUSION: Estimation of LVOT and aortic root areas using 3D TTE is feasible, more precise and more accurate than 2D TTE.

Semi-automated estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction by two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography is feasible, time-efficient, and reproducible.

PURPOSE: To compare two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) methods to estimate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with respect to feasibility, time consumption, and retest reproducibility. METHODS: A total of 100 patients planned to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting and/or aortic valve replacement were included consecutively. 2D and 3D echocardiography was performed on all patients. Acquisition and analysis time as well as intra- and inter-examiner variability were assessed in 50 consecutive patients with 3 repeated echocardiographic examinations and analyses. LVEF was estimated by five different methods: uniplane, biplane, and single-beat triplane (SB3P), as well as semi-automated biplane (AutoEF) and 3D volumetric tracings (4D Auto LVQ). All methods were compared to Simpson's biplane method and feasibility was determined. RESULTS: Feasibility of Simpson's uniplane method, Simpson's biplane method, AutoEF, SB3P, and 4D Auto LVQ was 97%, 92%, 86%, 70%, and 89%, respectively. All methods evaluated were 18%-33% faster (P < 0.001) than Simpson's biplane method (115 seconds, standard deviation 15 seconds). Compared to Simpson's biplane method mean LVEF was slightly underestimated by 4D Auto LVQ (-2 ± 8%, P = 0.02), but not significantly different when assessed by the other methods. AutoEF and 4D Auto LVQ showed the lowest test variability (intra-examiner coefficient of variation (CV) 10%-11%; inter-examiner CV 10%-12% vs intra-examiner CV 12%-18%; inter-examiner CV 12%-20%). CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of LVEF by modern semi-automated 2D and 3D echocardiographic modalities is feasible, time-efficient, and reproducible.