A novel semiquantitative assessment of right ventricular systolic function with a modified subcostal echocardiographic view.

OBJECTIVES: The tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a validated measure of right ventricular function; however, the apical echocardiographic window varies and has limitations in intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving mechanical ventilation or those with underlying disease and air entrapment. We aimed to evaluate the subcostal echocardiographic assessment of tricuspid annular kick (SEATAK) as an alternative to TAPSE in critically ill patients. METHODS: To measure SEATAK, we obtained the subcostal inferior vena cava view and used M-mode to measure excursion of the tricuspid annulus (kick). Analysis was performed with JMP for Bland-Altman and Spearman correlations. RESULTS: We evaluated 45 patients, 26 (57.8%) of whom were women, with a mean age of 60.8 years. We were not able to obtain the apical view to measure TAPSE in 8.9% of the patients. In contrast, SEATAK was measured in all patients. The mean SEATAK and TAPSE were 1.62 cm and 1.93 cm, respectively, with a mean pairwise difference of -0.26 cm (95% CI: -0.19 to -0.35), with the SEATAK value being lower than TAPSE. The overall correlation was strong and significant (ρ = .86, P=.03). The graphical correlation was maintained between TAPSE and SEATAK and the degree of RVF. CONCLUSION: In patients presenting with RVF in the ICU (or in situations where the apical echocardiographic view is suboptimal for tricuspid annular assessment), SEATAK can be an alternative to TAPSE. Further research is needed to validate and determine the sensitivity and specificity of SEATAK for RVF prognostication.

Etiologies of consecutive series of non-necrotizing granulomas.

Background: Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic granulomatous disease characterized by variable organ involvement and non-necrotizing granulomas. Objectives: To determine how often non-necrotizing granulomas are not secondary to sarcoidosis. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted to evaluate all biopsies performed at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2013, showing non-necrotizing granulomas. Results: Three hundred and eight biopsies showing non-necrotizing granulomas met inclusion criteria. The average age was 58.2 years, 60.7% were female, and 85% were Caucasian. The most common symptoms were pulmonary (74.6% of cases), and the most common objective finding was lymphadenopathy (33.8%). The organs biopsied included lung parenchyma (65.3%), intrathoracic lymph nodes (25%), other lymph nodes (1.6%), liver (1.3%), airway (1.3%), skin (1.3%), kidney (0.7%), bone marrow (0.7%), gastrointestinal (0.7%), and one each from the brain, heart, bone, bladder, spleen, tendon, and eye. The suspected diagnosis was confirmed in 224 cases (72.7%). From the remaining 84 cases (27.3%), suspected sarcoidosis was refuted in 9, the initial diagnosis was changed to sarcoidosis in 37 (44%), and in 38, it was changed to a different diagnosis. Sarcoidosis was the final diagnosis in 173 (56%). Conclusion: Sarcoidosis was the leading cause of non-necrotizing granulomas, but in 44% of cases, there was an alternate diagnosis. We estimate that more than a quarter of the initial diagnoses will be changed based on biopsy results and clinical course. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2017; 34: 115-121).