Two- and three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the assessment of aortic arch vasum vasi to pulmonary artery fistula.

We report an elderly patient presenting with a stroke and also hemolytic anemia secondary to mitral and tricuspid valve repair 3 years earlier, in whom two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) suspected a fistula into the pulmonary artery (APAF) from the posterior wall of the aortic arch. For further assessment, two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DTTE) and live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) were performed. 2DTTE showed findings similar to 2DTEE. Color Doppler guided continuous-wave Doppler showed continuous flow throughout the cardiac cycle with systolic preponderance across the fistula with a small peak pressure gradient of 22 mmHg. Sequential systematic cropping of the 3D datasets obtained from 3DTTE confirmed that the flow signals originated from the posterior wall of the aortic arch and not the lumen. Thus, 3DTTE served to increase the confidence level that the fistula most likely originated from a vasum vasi in the wall of the aortic arch. To our knowledge, this type of fistula has not been reported previously. Fistulas from the aortic lumen to the pulmonary artery are also rare and so far only 24 cases have been reported in the literature. These are also reviewed by us.

Live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic assessment of ventricular septal volume and mass before and after myectomy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetically transmitted cardiomyopathy. In patients resistant to medical management, myectomy is the surgical procedure of choice to reduce the symptoms of left ventricular outflow obstruction. Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) has become part of the operative procedure by decreasing the incidence of postoperative complications. However, because of the three-dimensional geometry of left ventricular outflow tract, it is unable to comprehensively assess the location and severity of the obstruction and to provide accurate guidance during myectomy. In this study, 10 patients with HCM underwent live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) intra-operatively to measure the volume of the resected septum. This volume correlated well with the volume of the resected septal muscle directly obtained using a graduating cylinder containing water (r = 0.9, P < 0.000). 3DTEE may be potentially used as an adjunct to guide the surgeon in performing an adequate myectomy with a lower incidence of residual obstruction and complications such as an iatrogenic ventricular septal defect.

Cardiac device-related invasive aspergilloma assessed by live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.

Cardiac device-related infection caused by Aspergillus species is a rare finding associated with high mortality. Prompt recognition and treatment is imperative, but difficult as blood cultures are often negative and diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. Live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) provides incremental knowledge in the characterization of valvular vegetations. Here, we provide a detailed description of an invasive cardiac device-related infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus using 3DTTE. Findings described here highlight the role for 3DTTE in the prompt diagnosis of invasive cardiac Aspergillus infections as well as surgical planning in such cases.