Prognosis and clinical characteristics of patients with early ventricular fibrillation in the 6-week guideline-offered time period: is it safe to wait 6 weeks with the assessment? (results from the VMAJOR-MI Registry).

BACKGROUND: The most common, potentially fatal complication following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is early ventricular fibrillation (EVF). According to the guidelines, the assessment of implanting an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is sufficient 6 weeks after the event, in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), regardless of VF. The present study aimed to evaluate the 6-week prognosis of patients surviving an EVF. We divided the patients in two group based on their general condition at the time they left the hospital. We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients discharged in good general health but still dying within 6 weeks. METHODS: The present study comprised 12,270 patients with AMI following their primary revascularization in the first 12 h of symptom onset. Five hundred and forty-seven of them suffered EVF due to the AMI. Clinical and 6-week mortality data were examined. RESULTS: Poor general condition correlates with multiple comorbidities, higher troponin levels, more severe complications after the event. Patients leaving in good condition thought to be low risk, from dying. But low LVEF, high blood sugar, high cardiac biomarker level, poor renal function elevates the risk of dying within 6 weeks. However, there is no difference in clinical characteristics between EVF- cases and EVF+ cases in good condition who dies within 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: According to our study we can select patients who are safe in the critical 6-week period and those who need closer follow-up despite leaving in good general condition.

[Echocardiographic assessment of the left atrial appendage - transoesophageal, transthoracic and intracardiac approaches]. / A bal pitvari fülcse echokardiográfiás vizsgálata ­ transoesophagealis, transthoracalis és intracardialis lehetoségek.

Left atrial appendage is a cardiac chamber in variable shapes and sizes. Its condition is associated with atrial arrhytmias and the presence of a thrombus. Due to its difficult visualisation, the present review aimed to demonstrate the role of different echocardiographic methods in its assessment. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(9): 335-345.

Volumetric and functional assessment of the left atrium in young competitive athletes without left ventricular hypertrophy: the MAGYAR-Sport Study.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial (LA) remodeling may be regarded as a physiologic adaptation to exercise conditioning. Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) is a new promising tool for volumetric and functional characterization of the LA. The present study was undertaken to assess adaptive changes in LA volumes and functional properties respecting cardiac cycle in young competitive athletes without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by detailed 3DSTE assessment. METHODS: The study group consisted of 20 young elite basketball and handball players (mean age: 28.1±10.1 years, 8 men) without LVH, their results were compared to 23 age- and gender-matched non-sportive healthy controls (mean age: 31.7±8.5 years, 11 men. All subjects had undergone standard transthoracic two-dimensional Doppler echocardiographic study with 3DSTE. RESULTS: Increased systolic maximum (66.5±13.6 mL vs. 38.5±8.6 mL, P<0.0001) and diastolic minimum (36.7±8.1 mL vs. 17.5±5.8 mL, P<0.0001) and preatrial contraction (46.2±10.1 mL vs. 26.2±7.8 mL, P<0.0001) LA volumes could be demonstrated in athletes. Total (29.7±9.0 mL vs. 20.7±5.0 mL, P=0.0002) and passive LA stroke volumes (19.8±8.7 mL vs. 12.4±4.6 mL, P=0.0009) were increased, while total (44.2±9.1 mL vs. 54.2±9.4 mL, P=0.001) and active LA emptying fractions (20.6±11.8% vs. 31.9±8.7%, P=0.0008) proved to be decreased in athletes as compared to controls. Active LA stroke volume (9.9±5.8 mL vs. 8.3±3.3 mL, P=0.29) and passive LA emptying fraction (29.1±10.6 mL vs. 32.6±11.2 mL, P=0.31) did not differ between the groups. Only circumferential global (21.1±7.7% vs. 27.6±9.9%, P=0.02) and mean segmental (26.1±7.1% vs. 35.7±12.0%, P=0.003) peak LA strains proved to be significantly reduced in athletes as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: 3DSTE-derived increased cyclic LA volumes and specific alterations in LA functional properties could be demonstrated in young competing athletes which is most likely a physiologic consequence of a global cardiac adaptation to intensive and chronic training.

Volumetric and functional assessment of a left ventricular aneurysm from a single acquisition by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (from the MAGYAR-Path Study).

Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) is accepted as a reliable and feasible method in the quantification of left ventricular (LV) volumes, strains and rotational characteristics. This case aimed to demonstrate the diagnostic importance of 3DSTE in volumetric and functional assessment of an LV aneurysm.

The impact of geographical distances to coronary angiography laboratories on the patient evaluation pathways in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Results from a population-based study in Hungary.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary artery disease (CAD) has been a leading cause of death in the western world for the last few decades, despite significant improvements in treatment and management. Diagnostic algorithms for the evaluation of patients with suspected CAD are based on available guidelines. AIM: To evaluate the impact of geographical distances to coronary angiography laboratories on the patient evaluation pathways in patients with suspected CAD, from a population-based study in Hungary. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Depersonalised data of 29,202 patients identified by their pseudo-social security number were analysed. All patients underwent coronary angiography as an initial direct invasive investigation (DI) following an at least half-year-long stable period between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2008. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-five dominant primary cardiology centres (PCC) have been identified, from which 85 proved to have sample size more than 100 DIs in tertiary cardiology centres (TCC). The frequency of DIs showed a close correlation with PCC-TCC distances (r = -0.44, p < 0.001). A negative correlation could be demonstrated between the age of patients and PCC-TCC distances (r = -0.45, p < 0.001). Without significant change in the absolute mortality, the relative mortality increased with the increase in PCC-TCC distance (r = 0.25, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The PCC-TCC distance has an important effect on patient pathways in subjects with suspected CAD.

[Assessment of left atrial size and function -- from M-mode to 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography]. / A bal pitvari méretek és funkció vizsgálata -- az M-módtól a 3D speckle-tracking echokardiográfiáig.

Left atrium is not a passive heart chamber, because it has a dynamic motion respecting heart cycle and, in accordance with its stretching, it releases atrial natriuretic peptides. Since in the course of certain invasive procedures the size of left atrium may change substantially, its exact measurement and functional characterization are essential. The aim of the present review is to summarize echocardiographic methods for the assessment of left atrial size and functional parameters.

Functional assessment of a left coronary-pulmonary artery fistula by coronary flow reserve.

We report a 71-year-old man who presented with atypical chest pain. Coronary angiography did not reveal left main or proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis, but a fistulous communication with a stronger tube-like fistula was present originating from the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery and emptying into the main pulmonary artery. Fractional flow reserve and coronary flow reserve measurements were performed to gain more data on the potential functional aspects of this fistula. With the present case, the importance of functional evaluation of these fistulas is demonstrated.

Myocardium selective densitometric perfusion assessment after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion is an important prognostic factor after recanalisation in acute myocardial infarction patients. We present a computerized, densitometric measurement method to assess myocardial perfusion on phase-matched digitally subtracted coronary angiograms. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Quantitative myocardial perfusion was assessed by the G(max)/T(max) parameter of the time-density curves (TDCs) in infarct-related myocardial regions on X-ray coronary angiograms. Arteries were masked out from regions of measurement. This novel method has been compared with enzymatic infarct size, ST-segment resolution, and ejection fraction after successful revascularization of 62 patients with acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between G(max)/T(max) and enzymatic infarct size (R=-0.445, P<.001), ST-segment resolution (R=0.364, P=.004), and ejection fraction (R=0.278, P=.029). Bland and Altman plot of G(max)/T(max) reveals good interobserver agreement. CONCLUSIONS: G(max)/T(max) of the TDC measured in the infarct-related myocardial area is a reliable parameter to assess clinical indicators of myocardial reperfusion. Therefore, results suggest that it could be used to immediately assess the success of recanalisation at the tissue perfusion level during coronary intervention, and as an objective end point in clinical trials of new interventional devices and drugs.

Vessel masking improves densitometric myocardial perfusion assessment.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of treatment in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is reperfusion of the myocardium at risk. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of vessel masking on videodensitometric assessment of myocardial reperfusion. METHODS: Epicardial vessels were masked out from the densitometric region of interest, where average rise slope (G(max)/T(max)) of time-density curves (TDC) were measured. Measurements were tested to detect indicators of reperfusion as cumulative creatine-kinase (CK) release and ST-resolution by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: When vessel masking was applied before G(max)/T(max) measurement, an improvement has been observed in sensitivity and area under ROC curve to detect indicators of reperfusion as cumulative enzyme release (sensitivity (Se): 85% vs. 61%, area under the curve (AUC): 0.84 vs. 0.76) and ST-resolution (Se: 74% vs. 67%, AUC: 0.83 vs. 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: Selective myocardial perfusion measurement on coronary angiograms is feasible and serves as an informative method to detect myocardial viability after AMI and revascularization therapy. The present study demonstrated that vessel masking improves results compared to simple densitometric analysis.

Assessment of left atrial volume and function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Determination of left atrial (LA) size and function is important in clinical decision-making. Calculation of LA volume (LAV) is the most accurate index of LA size. AIM: To compare real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) for calculation of LAV and function. METHODS: Fifty patients were studied using 2DE and RT3DE for calculating LAV including: Maximum (V max), minimum (V min) and pre-atrial contraction (V pre A) volumes. For 2DE, the formula: LAV=8(A1) (A2)/3pi (L) was used, while for RT3DE, offline analysis was performed using commercially available software. LA function indices including Total Atrial Stroke Volume (TASV), active ASV (AASV), Total Atrial Emptying Fraction (TAEF), active AEF (AAEF), passive AEF (PAEF), and Atrial Expansion Index (AEI) were calculated. RESULTS: Patients were classified into 2 equal groups: group I with normal V max (< 50 ml) and group II with V max (> or = 50 ml). Good correlation was obtained between RT3DE and 2DE for LAV (r=0.64, p=0.001) in group I and (r=0.83, p<0.0001) in group II. In group I, LAV and functions showed no significant difference by both techniques, while in group II, the V min and V pre A were significantly lower by RT3DE than 2DE (p=0.009, 0.006). TAEF, AEI, and PAEF indices were significantly higher by RT3DE than 2DE in group II. CONCLUSION: RT3DE provides a reproducible assessment of active and passive LA function by volumetric cyclic changes. It is comparable and may be superior to 2DE due to its higher sensitivity to volume changes.

Assessment of left atrial ejection force in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

The study included 30 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) (obstructive and nonobstructive) and 15 control subjects. End-diastolic mitral annulus area (MAA(3D)) and mitral valve area (MVA(3D)) were measured by real-time 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. MVA(2D) and peak mitral inflow A wave velocity (V) were measured by 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Left atrial ejection force (LA-EF) was calculated by 2D echocardiography and real-time 3D echocardiography using the formula: 0.5 x 1.06 x (MAA or MVA) x V2, where (1.06) is blood viscosity. LA-EF(2D-MVA), LA-EF(3D-MVA), LA-EF(3D-MAA), and V were significantly higher in patients with HCM than control subjects (P < .001). LA-EF(2D-MVA) and LA-EF(3D-MVA) were lower than LA-EF(3D-MAA) in HCM only (P < .001). In obstructive HCM, LA-EF(2D-MVA), LA-EF(3D-MVA), LA-EF(3D-MAA), and V were significantly higher than in nonobstructive HCM (P < .05). Left ventricular outflow tract gradient contributed independently to high LA-EF in obstructive HCM. We concluded that HCM is associated with higher LA-EF than normal, and higher in obstructive HCM than nonobstructive indicating a higher atrial workload that is reflected by LA-EF(3D-MAA).

Assessment of mitral annulus size and function by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography in cardiomyopathy: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess mitral annular (MA) size and function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using real-time 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (RT3DE). METHODS: The study included 30 patients with HCM, 20 patients with DCM, and 30 control subjects. RT3DE measurements included end-systolic and end-diastolic MA area (MAA) (MAA(3D)), MA diameter(3D), MA fractional area change (MAFAC), and MA fractional shortening. In subgroup of 50 patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used for MAA(MRI) and MA diameter(MRI) measurement. RESULTS: End-diastolic MAA(3D) was larger in HCM than in control group (P < .0001). Higher MAFAC and MA fractional shortening were present in HCM than in control group (P = .001 and P = .006, respectively). End-systolic and end-diastolic MAA(3D) in DCM were higher than in HCM and control groups (P < .0001). Lower MAFAC and MA fractional shortening were present in DCM than in HCM and control groups (P < .0001). MAFAC correlated well with left ventricular function in control subjects (r = 0.94, P < .0001), whereas correlation was less in DCM (r = 0.53, P = .02) and HCM (r = 0.42, P < .01). RT3DE and MRI measurements were comparable. CONCLUSION: RT3DE assessment of MA size and function in control subjects and patients with cardiomyopathy is accurate and well correlated with MRI.

Assessment of intravascular and extravascular mechanisms of myocardial perfusion abnormalities in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by myocardial contrast echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: To assess mechanisms of myocardial perfusion impairment in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS: Fourteen patients with obstructive HCM (mean (SD) age 53 (10) years, 11 men) underwent intravenous adenosine myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE), positron emission tomography (PET) and cardiac catheterisation. Fourteen healthy volunteers (mean age 31 (4) years, 11 men) served as controls. Relative myocardial blood volume (rBV), exchange flow velocity (beta), myocardial blood flow (MBF), MBF reserve (MFR) and endocardial-to-subepicardial (endo-to-epi) MBF ratio were measured from the steady state and contrast replenishment time-intensity curves. RESULTS: Patients with HCM had lower rest MBF (for LVRPP-corrected)--mean (SD) (0.92 (0.12) vs 1.13 (0.25) ml/min/g, p<0.01)--and hyperaemic MBF--(2.56 (0.49) vs 4.34 (0.78) ml/min/g, p<0.01) than controls. Resting rBV was lower in patients with HCM (0.094 (0.016) vs 0.138 (0.014) ml/ml), and during hyperaemia (0.104 (0.018) ml/ml vs 0.185 (0.024) ml/ml) (all p<0.001) than in controls. beta tended to be higher in HCM at rest (9.4 (4.6) vs 7.7 (4.2) ml/min) and during hyperaemia (25.8 (6.4) vs 23.1 (6.2) ml/min) than in controls. Septal endo-to-epi MBF decreased during hyperaemia (0.86 (0.15) to 0.64 (0.18), p<0.01). rBV was inversely correlated with left ventricular (LV) mass index (p<0.05). Both hyperaemic and endo-to-epi MBF were inversely correlated with LV end-diastolic pressure, LV mass index, and LV outflow tract pressure gradient (all p<0.05). MCE-derived MBF correlated well with PET at rest (r = 0.84) and hyperaemia (r = 0.87) (all p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HCM, LV end-diastolic pressure, LV outflow tract pressure gradient, and LV mass index are independent predictors of rBV and hyperaemic MBF.

Assessment of normal tricuspid valve anatomy in adults by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: The tricuspid valve (TV) is a complex structure. Unlike the aortic and mitral valve it is not possible to visualize all TV leaflets simultaneously in one cross-sectional view by standard two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) either transthoracic or transesophageal due to the position of TV in the far field. AIM: Quantitative and qualitative assessment of the normal TV using real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). METHODS: RT3DE was performed for 100 normal adults (mean age 30 +/- 9 years, 65% males). RT3DE visualization was evaluated by 4-point score (1: not visualized, 2: inadequate, 3: sufficient, and 4: excellent). Measurements included TV annulus diameters (TAD), TV area (TVA), and commissural width. RESULTS: In 90% of patients with good 2DE image quality, it was possible to analyse TV anatomy by RT3DE. A detailed anatomical structure including unique description and measurement of tricuspid annulus shape and size, TV leaflets shape, and mobility, and TV commissural width were obtained in majority of patients. Identification of each TV leaflet as seen in the routine 2DE views was obtained. CONCLUSION: RT3DE of the TV is feasible in a large number of patients. RT3DE may add to functional 2DE data in description of TV anatomy and providing highly reproducible and actual reality (anatomical and functional) measurements.

Value of assessment of tricuspid annulus: real-time three-dimensional echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging.

AIM: To detect the accuracy of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) for tricuspid annulus (TA) assessment compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Thirty patients (mean age 34 +/- 13 years, 60% males) in sinus rhythm were examined by MRI, RT3DE, and 2DE for TA assessment. End-diastolic and end-systolic TA diameter (TAD) and TA fractional shortening (TAFS) were measured by RT3DE, 2DE, and MRI. End-diastolic and end-systolic TA area (TAA) and TA fractional area changes (TAFAC) were measured by RT3DE and MRI. End-diastolic and end-systolic right ventricular (RV) volumes and ejection fraction (RV-EF) were measured by MRI. RESULTS: The TA was clearly delineated in all patients and visualized as an oval-shaped by RT3DE and MRI. There was a good correlation between TAD(MRI) and TAD(3D) (r = 0.75, P = 0.001), while TAD(2D) was fairly correlated with TAD(3D) and TAD(MRI) (r = 0.5, P = 0.01 for both). There were no significant differences between RT3DE and MRI in TAD, TAA, TAFS, and TAFAC measurements, while TAD(2D) and TAFS(2D) were significantly underestimated (P < 0.001). TAFS(2D) was not correlated with RV-EF, while TAFS(3D) and TAFAC(3D) were fairly correlated with RV-EF (r = 0.49, P = 0.01, and r = 0.47, P = 0.02 respectively). CONCLUSION: RT3DE helps in accurate assessment of TA comparable to MRI and may have an important implication in the TV surgical decision-making processes. RT3DE analysis of TA function could be used as a marker of RV function.