Quantitative evaluation of hemodynamic parameters by echocardiography in patients with post-cardiotomy cardiac shock supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: When drugs fail to reverse post-cardiotomy cardiac shock (PCS), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is considered the most effective adjuvant strategy. Transthoracic echocardiography is a useful imaging modality for monitoring of cardiac hemodynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of echocardiography for monitoring the left and right heart hemodynamics in PCS patients before, during, and after weaning from ECMO. METHODS: Fifty-two patients were divided into successful weaning group (group A, n = 23) and non-successful weaning group (group B, n = 29). Hemodynamic parameters measured by echocardiography were collected before, during, and after ECMO. The intra-group changes and inter-group differences were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: In group A, the central venous pressure (CVP), proximal right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), velocity of tricuspid valve (TVDV), and systolic velocity of tricuspid annulus ([Formula: see text]) during ECMO were significantly lower than those before ECMO. After ECMO, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), systolic velocity of mitral annulus ([Formula: see text]), and velocity-time integral of LV outflow tract (LVOT-VTI) were higher than pre-ECMO levels, and CVP, LVEF, [Formula: see text], LVOT-VTI, RVOT, TAPSE, TVDV and [Formula: see text] were higher than those during ECMO (all P < 0.05). In group B, compared to pre-ECMO, subjects exhibited decreased CVP, RVOT, TAPSE, TVDV and [Formula: see text] during ECMO. TAPSE, TVDV, and [Formula: see text] were continuously lower after ECMO, while CVP and RVOT increased after ECMO (all P < 0.05). After ECMO, LVEF, [Formula: see text], LVOT-VTI, TAPSE, TVDV and [Formula: see text] in group A were higher than those in group B (all P < 0.05). Inter-group comparison showed the LVEF and RV Tei indices of group A were significantly different than those of group B before, during, and after ECMO. CONCLUSION: Quantitative assessment of both LV and RV by echocardiography is important for ECMO weaning. Patients with better LVEF and lower RV Tei index may have a better chance of successful weaning from ECMO.

Comparison of High-Frequency Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound With Conventional High-Frequency Ultrasound in Guiding Pleural Lesion Biopsy.

The goal of the work described here was to compare high-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasound (HF-CEUS) and conventional high-frequency ultrasound (HFU) with respect to performance and safety during ultrasound-guided biopsy of pleural lesions. We performed a retrospective study on patients with pleural lesions who received the puncture biopsy under the guidance of conventional HFU or HF-CEUS between August 2018 and August 2021. These patients received either a conventional HF-U (HF-U group) or HF-CEUS (HF-CEUS group) examination. Clinical characteristics, pathological results, ultrasonic images and complications were compared between these two groups. A total of 144 patients were enrolled, with 70 in the HFU group and 74 in the HF-ECUS group. Except for the time required for ultrasonic localization (p < 0.05), there were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. The success rate of biopsy in the HF-CEUS group was higher than that in the HFU group (93.2% vs. 81.4%, p < 0.05). There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of measurements of pleural thickness, necrotic areas, large blood vessels and lesion boundaries (p < 0.05). The complication rates were 2.7% and 12.9% in the HF-CEUS and HFU groups, respectively, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). Compared with conventional HFU, the HF-CEUS-guided pleural biopsy had a better success rate and fewer complications. HF-CEUS could facilitate the biopsy in patients with pleural lesions.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking to image ventricular-arterial coupling in uremia.

OBJECTIVE: To study ventricular-arterial coupling(VAC) in uremic patients by application of two-dimensional speckle tracing imaging (2DSTI). METHODS: One hundred uremic patients were divided into two groups based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): group 1 with LVEF ≥ 5%, and group 2 with LVEF < 55%. Forty healthy subjects were recruited as a control group. Conventional echocardiography was performed; VAC components and myocardial performance index were calculated. Longitudinal strain (LS) of 17 segments was measured using 2DSTI. Mean base (LSBA ), papillary muscle (LSPM ), and apex values (LSAP ) were calculated. RESULTS: Compared to subjects in the control group and group 1, subjects in group 2 exhibited decreased LV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), LV mass index (LVMI), and VAC (P < 0.05). EF, fractional shortening (FS), end-systolic elastance (Ees) were significantly higher in group 2 (P < 0.05). SLBA , SLPM , and SLAP differed significantly among the groups (all P < 0.05). SLBA , SLPM , and SLAP correlated positively with Ees, EF, and FS (all P < 0.05) but negatively with arterial elastance (Ea), VAC, systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and rate-pressure product (RPP) (all P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that relative wall thickness (RWT), LVMI, LSAP , and stroke works (SW) were independent predictors of VAC (b' = -0.443, 0.537, -0.470, and -0.491, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with uremia, LV myocardial LS gradually decreased as LV systolic dysfunction decreased. VAC correlated negatively with left ventricular LS, and LSAP was an independent predictor for VAC.