[Feasibility of transesophageal echocardiography during balloon mitral valvulotomy]. / Echographie transoesophagienne multiplan durant la dilatation mitrale percutanée.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the utility and feasibility of transesophageal echocardiography during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV). 40 patients were included with symptomatic rheumatic mitral valve stenosis with mean age of 31 years. Transoesophageal echocardiographic monitoring allowed an immediate detection of mitral insufficiency in 10 patients. This latter was moderate in eight cases and severe in two cases indicating to stop the procedure. The addition of on-line TEE during PBMV facilitate and confirm the success of the procedure and detect complications.

[Cardiopericardial echinococcosis]. / Echinococcose cardiopéricardique.

UNLABELLED: Cardiac hydatid cysts are rare and represent 0.5 to 2% off all hydatid cyst in human. We describe clinical and echographic features in 12 patients with cardiac echinococcosis, admitted between 1992 and 2001. Average age was 40 years (16-60 years). The cysts were located in the left ventricle wall (3 patients), right ventricle wall (3 patients) right atrium (3 patients) and pericardial cavity (3 patients). Cardiac Hydatid cyst diagnosis was established by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in all cases. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed echographic finding. All patients were operated. The operation finding confirmed the imaging data. Only one patient died in the post operative period. No recurrence or associated complication were reported in the late follow up. CONCLUSION: In presence of atypical symptomatology in a patient coming from an endemic area of hydatid cyst the diagnosis of cardiac echinococcosis is possible. TTE and TEE are the imaging procedure of choice and sufficient for the diagnosis of cardiac hydatid cyst. CT and/or MRI provide more information about the extension of echinococcosis diseases in other intra or extrathoracic location.

[Cardiovascular manifestations of Kawasaki syndrome. Value of echocardiography in diagnosis and progression]. / Manifestations cardiovasculaires du syndrome de Kawasaki. Apport de l'échocardiographie dans le diagnostic et l'évolution.

Seven children with suspected Kawasaki disease were studied by echocardiogram. Coronary abnormalities occurred in all patients, associated with: thrombosis (2 patients) small pericardial effusion (2 patients) poor ventricular function (2 patients), moderate mitral regurgitation (2 patients). Patients received treatment with intravenous gamma globulin, aspirin, and anticoagulant. Echocardiogram abnormalities disappeared between 1 and 26 months after the onset of the disease; only persist coronary hyperechogenecity in 6 patients.

[Value of early systematic transoesophageal ultrasonography after mitral valve replacement by Saint-Jude prosthesis]. / L'apport de l'échographie transoesophagienne précoce systématique après remplacement valvulaire mitral par une prothese Saint-Jude-Médical.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of the routine multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the early postoperative period after mitral valve replacement with a Saint Jude Médical (SJM) mechanical prosthesis. This prospective work enrolled 56 patients who have been operated between September 1999 and September 2001, all these patients had a multiplan TEE after 14.7 days (8-29 days) of post-operative. The effect of peri-prosthetic leaks was 59%. They were always minimal and asymptomatic. 68% of them disappeared at the late exam. An asymptomatic intermittent blockage of an leaflet had been noted in one patient. It appears to us today indispensable to achieve a systematic TEE in the early post operative period after mitral valve replacement. This exam remains little aggressive and comfortably supportable by the patient in look of information brought.