Perioperative echocardiographic assessment of mitral valve regurgitation: a comprehensive review.

Cardiac ultrasound allows comprehensive analysis of the complex structure of the mitral valve. Transoesophageal echocardiography is the preferred diagnostic and monitoring technique both in the intraoperative phase and in the immediate postoperative phase. Besides two-dimensional imaging, the 3D approach offers clear advantages in visualizing different aspects of pathology and facilitating interpretation of pathophysiological features. This review comprehensively summarizes anatomical and physiological characteristics, the value of 2D imaging in diagnosis and follow-up and the supplementary significance of 3D echocardiography.

Echocardiographic assessment of aortic elastic properties with automated border detection in an ICU: in vivo application of the arctangent Langewouters model.

We studied whether combined pressure and transesophageal ultrasound monitoring is feasible in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting for global cardiovascular hemodynamic monitoring [systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and total arterial compliance (C(PPM))] and direct estimation of local ascending and descending aortic mechanical properties, i.e., distensibility and compliance coefficients (DC and CC). Pressure-area data were fitted to the arctangent Langewouters model, with aortic cross-sectional area obtained via automated border detection. Data were measured in 19 subjects at baseline, during infusion of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and after washout. SNP infusion lowered SVR from 1.15 +/- 0.40 to 0.80 +/- 0.32 mmHg.ml(-1).s (P < 0.05), whereas C(PPM) increased from 0.87 +/- 0.46 to 1.02 +/- 0.42 ml/mmHg (P < 0.05). DC and CC increased from 0.0018 +/- 0.0007 to 0.0025 +/- 0.0009 l/mmHg (P < 0.05) and from 0.0066 +/- 0.0028 to 0.0083 +/- 0.0026 cm2/mmHg (P < 0.05), respectively, at the descending, but not ascending, aorta. The Langewouters model fitted the descending aorta data reasonably well. Assessment of local mechanical properties of the human ascending aorta in a clinical setting by automated border detection remains technically challenging.

Effects of off-pump coronary surgery on the mechanics of the respiratory system, lung, and chest wall: Comparison with extracorporeal circulation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of cardiac surgery with and without extracorporeal circulation on the mechanics of the respiratory system, lung, and chest wall. We also determined the time course of those effects. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled study. SETTING: An eight-bed, cardiac-surgical intensive care unit at a university hospital. PATIENTS: Two groups of patients scheduled for elective coronary bypass surgery were studied: ten patients with extracorporeal circulation and 13 patients without extracorporeal circulation. INTERVENTIONS: Measurement of esophageal pressure after insertion of an esophageal balloon catheter to separate respiratory system mechanics into lung and chest wall components. Measurements were performed preoperatively after induction of anesthesia (control), immediately postoperatively at arrival in the intensive care unit (time 1), and after 3 hrs (time 2). In 12 of the 23 patients, measurements were also performed 6 hrs postoperatively (time 3). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No significant differences concerning demographics or surgical procedure were noticed between the two groups. Respiratory system, chest wall, and lung mechanics were obtained using the technique of rapid airway occlusion during constant-flow inflation. In both the group with and without extracorporeal circulation there was a significant increase in static and dynamic elastance of the respiratory system and lung at times 1 and 2, which tended to decrease again at time 3; chest wall elastance significantly increased at times 2 and 3 in the group without extracorporeal circulation, whereas the increase in chest wall elastance in the group with extracorporeal circulation occurred earlier (also at time 1). Additional resistance of the respiratory system and lung remained unchanged; chest wall resistance, however, significantly increased in both groups. Work of breathing significantly increased in both groups at times 1 and 2. There was a significant reduction in the Pao2/Fio2 ratio in both groups at times 2 and 3. No significant differences between the groups at any moment were noticed. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary bypass surgery with and without extracorporeal circulation results in dramatic impairment of respiratory system mechanics. Based on respiratory system mechanics, early extubation after coronary artery bypass grafting should be performed with caution, no matter whether the off-pump or cardiopulmonary bypass technique is used.