Transthoracic Echocardiography Imaging Research Articles

979 ARRHYTHMOGENIC CARDIOMYOPATHY: LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTRE COHORT

Abstract Background Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited heart muscle disease characterized by fibro-fatty replacement of predominantly right, left or biventricular myocardium. The clinical course of ACM is characterized by high risk of abrupt arrhythmic ventricular events, potentially leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD), and by progressive impairment of biventricular systolic function, which may lead to heart failure (HF)-related death, with an estimated overall yearly mortality ranging from 0.08% to 3.6% among studies. Aim This study sought to assess the long-term follow-up of a cohort of ACM patients from the Piedmont region of Italy, specifically evaluating the cumulative incidence of SCD, HF-related death and heart transplantat. Methods Patients who received a definite ACM diagnosis according to the latest available International Task Force Criteria (ITFC) at three different institutions in Piedmont (“Cardinal Massaia” Hospital of Asti, “Azienda Ospedaliera Ordine Mauriziano” of Turin and “Città della Salute e della Scienza” Hospital of Turin) between 1982 and March 2022 were prospectively enrolled. Clinical, electrocardiographic and imaging data were collected at baseline and during follow-up. The occurrence of two coprimary composite endpoints was evaluated, namely the arrhythmic composite endpoint of SCD or aborted SCD and the HF-related composite endpoint, including heart transplant for end-stage HF or cardiac death due to pump failure. Independent predictors of the coprimary composite endpoints were also assessed by means of multivariable analysis. Results The overall population included 97 patients; mean age at diagnosis was 38.2 ± 14.3 years; 66 (68%) patients were male. Median follow-up was 12.9 years (interquartile range 0-38 years). The composite arrhythmic outcome occurred in 10 (10.3%) patients and the composite HF outcome occurred in 13 (13.5%) patients. Overall, 19 (19.6%) patients died: seven (37%) patients died from SCD, four (21%) patients died of end-stage HF and eight (42%) patients died from non-cardiac causes. The cumulative incidence of cardiac death was 1.65% per year. Aborted SCD occurred in 3 (3%) patients, sustained ventricular tachycardias in 51 (52%), HF in 17 (18%) and atrial fibrillation in 21 (22%); forty-seven (48%) underwent an implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation (ICD) and 8 (8%) patients underwent heart transplant. Mean interval between ACM diagnosis and heart transplant was 130.4 ± 75.3 months. At univariable analysis, the presence at baseline of terminal activation duration (TAD) ≥ 55 ms on surface electrocardiogram (p value 0.037), right atrium dilatation at transthoracic echocardiography (p value 0.021) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (p value 0.031) and palpitations as main clinical presentation (p value 0.017) were associated with the occurrence of the arrhythmic endpoint. At multivariable analysis, baseline TAD ≥ 55 msec was the only predictor of the composite arrhythmic endpoint (odds ratio 12.5, 95% confidence interval 1.29 to 121.26, p value 0.029). At univariable analysis, the presence of epsilon waves (p value 0.017), TAD ≥ 55 ms (p value 0.020) and T wave inversion in leads V1-V3 (p value 0.022) on surface electrocardiogram, HF (p value 0.018) or atrial arrhythmias (p value < 0.001) at presentation and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III to IV at diagnosis (p value 0.002) were significantly associated with the composite HF-related endpoint. At multivariable analysis, the presence of atrial arrhythmias at presentation was the only predictor of the HF-related composite endpoint (odds ratio 10.8, 95% confidence interval 1.29 to 90.32, p value 0.028). Conclusions In this multicenter cohort of 97 ACM patients, the cumulative incidence of cardiac death was 1.65% per year at long-term follow-up. Arrhythmic death accounted for the majority of cardiac fatal events (64%), confirming the peculiar predisposition to SCD of ACM patients. Evolution towards end-stage HF and cardiac death due to pump failure were common.

“Circumnavigation”: A Worthy Descriptor to Depict Torrential Mitral Regurgitation and a Reverence to Ferdinand Magellan

"Circumnavigation" is never used as a verb in cardiology. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is a complex entity that often involves the mitral valve leading to eccentric mitral regurgitation. Utilizing multimodality imaging, assessing the severity of mitral regurgitation, and phenotyping the type of myocardial hypertrophy are achievable with certainty. We describe a case of a 42-year-old male who presented with palpitations and was ultimately diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with a mitral regurgitation. The torrential mitral regurgitation jet was so severe that it was "circumnavigating" the left atrium. In addition, we also draw historical parallelism with Magellan's heroic "circumnavigation" of the globe as we celebrate 500 years of his journey. Furthermore, we also describe the multimodality assessment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy utilizing transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. We discuss the challenges in quantifying such severe mitral regurgitation with any individual imaging modality.

Sustained ventricular arrhythmia and sinus node dysfunction revealing a cardiac amyloidosis: A case report

Amyloidosis is an infiltrative multisystem disease due to extracellular deposition of fibrils in tissues and organs. Cardiac involvement can result in progressive heart failure, conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias and is associated with a poor prognosis. Atrial arrhythmias and non-sustained ventricular arrhythmias are the most common arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis. However, the association of sinus node dysfunction and sustained ventricular arrhythmia is quite exceptional. A 59-year-old male patient was admitted with a gradually worsening dyspnea with a lipothymic discomfort. Upon emergency department, an initial electrocardiogram revealed a severe bradycardia related to a sinus node dysfunction. A transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed features suspicious for cardiac amyloidosis. The diagnosis of AL cardiac amyloidosis with multiple myeloma was confirmed based on histological evidence. During hospitalization, the patient presented a sustained unstable ventricular tachycardia which has been converted by electrical cardioversion. He was treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prevention with one episode of appropriate therapy. Unfortunately, the patient died few weeks later. The AL subtype of cardiac amyloidosis is associated with higher rates of arrhythmias, especially VT. The management of arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis is complex and remains challenging given the lack of evidence. ICD was not associated with longer survival; these findings underscore the importance of careful patient selection for ICD. As prognosis improves with the advances made in the medical treatment of cardiac amyloidosis, further studies are required to guide the management of all types of arrhythmias in cardiac amyloidosis.

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return in adults: Insight into pulmonary hypertension

BackgroundPartial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is a rare condition that may lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We sought to determine the prevalence of PAPVR, the follow-up rate of incidentally discovered PAPVR, the repercussions of volume and pressure overload on the right ventricle (RV), and the prevalence and predictors of PAH. Methods and resultsFifty PAPVR patients aged ≥18 years were included. All underwent transthoracic echocardiography and multislice imaging. PAPVR prevalence was 0.2% (23/13,606 chest computed tomography reports). Of the 26 incidentally diagnosed patients, 14 (54%) did not have a cardiac follow-up. Seven (14%) patients had PAH, of whom one third (28%) had Eisenmenger syndrome. The left-to-right shunt ratio (Qp/Qs) was the only predictor of PAH. PAPVR-induced volume overload led to increased right chamber volumes (RV basal diameter 45±8 mm, RV mid-diameter 38±9 mm, RV/left ventricle ratio 1.2 ± 0.2, indexed RV end-diastolic area 14±4 cm2/m2, indexed RV end-systolic area 8.6 ± 3.2 cm2/m2) and increased RV functional parameters (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion 27±5 mm, fractional area change [FAC] 42 ± 10%, global longitudinal strain [GLS] −22 ± 5). In contrast, PAH-induced pressure overload had no impact on right heart volumes, but on RV functional parameters, which were decreased compared to non-PAH patients (FAC 35 ± 13% vs. 43 ± 10%, p = 0.049; GLS -18 ± 5 vs. −23 ± 4%, p = 0.01). ConclusionsPAPVR prevalence was 0.2%. When incidentally diagnosed, its management was often neglected despite potentially serious consequences (14% PAH). Only the Qp/Qs ratio was predictive of PAH. PAPVR-induced volume overload was shown to increase right heart volumes, while PAH-induced pressure overload caused alterations of RV functional parameters.

Comparison of the Quality of Echocardiography Imaging Between the Left Lateral Decubitus and Supine Positions.

Introduction It is commonly taught that positioning the patient in the left lateral decubitus (LLD) position will improve transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) image quality. Despite this, no previous studies have been performed that study this practice. Our goal was to quantify the difference in image quality of TTE views between the supine and LLD positions. Methods This was a prospective study in a single academic Emergency Department (ED) of a convenience sample of 30 patients. Three separate ED physicians performed TTE views in both the supine and LLD position on each patient. The order of position was randomized. Images were then reviewed on a previously validated TTE image quality scale by two blinded ED physicians with specialized training in ultrasound. The scale used a 0 to 5 (highest quality) metric for quality assessment. Interpretability of right ventricular and left ventricular function was also assessed. Results The mean image quality for the supine position was 2.85 (standard deviation {SD} 1.1) and 3.05 (SD 1.2) for the LLD position (p=0.044). In the subset of parasternal and apical windows, the mean quality for the supine position was 2.87 (SD 1.1) and 3.23 (SD 1.1) for the LLD position (p=0.003). The number of studies in which right ventricular function was interpretable was significantly higher in the LLD position (62% versus 42%, p=0.044). Conclusions There was a statistically significant increase in image quality when TTE was performed in the LLD position as compared to supine. This was especially pronounced in the apical four and parasternal windows.

Abstract 197: Location, Location, Location! Association Of Success In Transthoracic Echocardiography Image Acquisition With Location During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Introduction: Currently, no consensus exists regarding the ideal location for obtaining a transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) image during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Of the three common locations, sub-xiphoid (SX), parasternal (PS) and apical (AP), the SX is most frequently used in cardiac arrest (CA) to avoid interfering with CPR. The recent adoption of mechanical chest compression devices may have led to increased use of alternate locations. We aim to assess the association between successful TTE image acquisition and the locations, also to compare the duration of CPR interruptions at each location. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that PS location will have a higher success rate compared to SX, but not a longer CPR interruption time. Methods: This is a retrospective study of all video-recorded non-traumatic, CA patients ≥18 years old in a quaternary care Emergency Department (ED) from 08/07/2019 to 05/18/2022 where an intra-arrest TTE was performed. Video recordings of cardiac arrest patients were reviewed by 2 physicians with years of experience and a well-established process. Successful image acquisition was defined as 1) visualization of the heart on the ultrasound machine or 2) clinicians verbalizing visualization in the video recording. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to compare the success rates and duration of CPR interruptions based on TTE locations. Our health system’s Institutional Review Board approved the conduct of this study. Results: A total of 59 patients yielded a combined 154 video recorded TTE attempts 90 (58.4%) SX, 56 (36.4%) PS, and 8 (5.2%) AP. Median age was 81 years, 50.8% female, 81.4% non-shockable initial rhythm, and 89.8% were receiving mechanical CPR. Because there were only 8 AP attempts, PS and SX were the only locations analyzed. PS was successful in 89.3% (68 of 90) compared to 75.6% (50 of 56) for the SX (p=0.04). The median duration of interruptions for PS was 17.5 seconds (IQR: 12.0, 22.0) compared to 15 seconds (IQR: 11.0, 24.0) for SX (p=0.5). Conclusion: During CPR, PS location for TTE image acquisition is associated with higher success when compared to SX. However, the median CPR interruption times are not significantly different.

Abstract 9375: Role of Cardiac MRI in the Evaluation of T Wave Inversion in a Large Pre-Participation Cohort of Young Asian Males

Introduction: Abnormal T wave inversion (ATWI) in the pre-participation screening (PPS) electrocardiogram (ECG) may signify underlying myocardial disorders (e.g. cardiomyopathy, myocarditis) associated with sudden cardiac death. Current guidelines for competitive athletes recommend evaluation of ATWI with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and follow-on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) if TTE is normal (i.e. echo-negative). However, data on evaluation of ATWI detected on PPS outside of competitive athletes (e.g. recreational athletes or military enlistees) is lacking. Methods: We studied the yield of ATWI evaluation in a large unselected cohort of 48115 young Asian male military enlistees who underwent PPS between 2019-2021. Individuals with ATWI meeting the International Criteria 2017 definition underwent TTE. Echo-negative individuals with persistent ATWI on repeat ECG further underwent CMR and were followed up for 12 ± 8 months. Routine demographic, anthropometric and ECG parameters were collected. Individuals with known heart disease or conduction abnormalities (e.g. RBBB) were excluded. Results: 133 (0.3%) individuals had ATWI, amongst whom TTE detected 3 (2.3%) individuals with cardiomyopathy. 105 echo-negative individuals had persistent ATWI and underwent CMR, which detected a further 5 (4.8%) cases of cardiomyopathy and 2 (1.9%) cases of prior myocarditis with residual scar. Echo-negative individuals with myocardial disorders on CMR had deeper ATWI of ≥ 2mm (p=0.047), ATWI in lateral (p=0.046) or all 3 territories (p=0.006), and concomitant ST segment depressions (p=0.030). ATWI depth of < 2mm demonstrated 100% negative predictive value for myocardial disorders on TTE or CMR. Conclusions: Evaluation of ATWI in our unselected cohort of young Asian males identified myocardial disorders in 7.5%, with follow-on CMR increasing the diagnostic yield by 3-fold compared to TTE alone. Our findings confirm that CMR has utility in the evaluation of ATWI detected by PPS even in unselected individuals outside the competitive athletic setting. ATWI depth of ≥2mm was present in all individuals with myocardial disorders, and may serve as a cut-off value for further CMR evaluation in settings with resource limitations.

Abstract 13069: Left Atrial Mechanics in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) frequently have diastolic dysfunction (DD) characterized by elevated filling pressures. Speckle-tracking analysis of the left atrium (LA) is an imaging tool for quantifying DD, however, its value in HCM is not well established. Methods. Transthoracic echocardiographic images of consecutive HCM patients with a septal thickness ≥15 mm and no aberrant loading conditions at an academic tertiary care center were evaluated. Peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) was determined by averaging the atrial strain over all segments in the 4- and 2-chamber views ( Figure ). Results. Among 205 HCM patients, 108 patients (52 years, 40% female) had sinus rhythm and sufficient image quality to be included. The median interventricular wall thickness was 20 mm (IQR 17-23), the relative wall thickness ratio was 0.65 mm (IQR 0.46-0.87), and the LV mass index was 164.0 g/m 2 (IQR 131.5-188.5). The mean PALS was 18.5% (± 8.8%) and did not differ between men and women. PALS significantly (all p <0.05) correlated with septal thickness (r=-0.31), LA volume index (r=-0.60), E/A ratio (r=-0.25), E/E’ (r=-0.63), systolic pulmonary pressure (r=-0.31), and high sensitivity troponin-T levels (r=-0.43). Moreover, PALS correlated with resting gradients in patients with relevant LV outflow tract obstruction (n=53 [49%]; r=-0.29). Among patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (81%), PALS was significantly correlated with LA ejection fraction (r=0.59) and late gadolinium enhancement of the total LV mass (r=-0.42). In addition, PALS was the only echocardiographic parameter reflecting DD that was significantly associated with the presence of LGE (Odds Ratio 0.93, 95%CI 0.88-0.99). Conclusion. PALS is a useful tool for quantifying DD in HCM patients and is associated with the presence of LGE. Future research will need to evaluate its significance in early identification of HCM patients at risk of sudden cardiac death.

Does Hypoxia and Stress Erythropoiesis Compromise Cardiac Function in Healthy Adults? A Randomized Trial

ObjectivesTo investigate whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) injections during an altitude training camp impact heart function.MethodsThirty (12 women) moderately trained subjects stayed at 2320 m altitude for 4 weeks while training. Subjects were randomized to placebo (isotonic saline) or rHuEPO (20 IU/kg body weight) i.v. injections. Transthoracic echocardiography imaging was acquired 3 days after arrival to altitude and prior to the first placebo or rHuEPO injection as well as one day after the last rHuEPO injection three weeks later.ResultsrHuEPO did not alter cardiovascular morphology parameters, systolic or diastolic function. In the placebo group, altitude exposure improved left ventricle (LV) systolic function due to an increased twist angle but rHuEPO had no additional effects. Pulmonary arterial systolic pressure was unaffected in either group. Notably, rHuEPO hampered LV untwist rate without affecting LV early filling.ConclusionrHuEPO provided during mild altitude exposure does not cause any major effects on heart function. The observed alteration in LV untwist induced by rHuEPO is unlikely to have a meaningful clinical effect.Trial Registration Registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04227665).

Intelligent diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy using transthoracic echocardiography videos

PurposeLeft ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality. Pathological LVH can be caused by various diseases. In this study, we explored the possibility of using time and frequency domain analysis of myocardial radiomics features for patients with LVH in differentiating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and uremic cardiomyopathy (UCM) based on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). This was the first study to explore TTE myocardial time and frequency domain analyses for multiple LVH etiology differentiation. Materials and methodsWe proposed an artificially intelligent diagnosis system based on radiomics techniques for differentiating HCM, HHD and UCM on TTE videos of the apical four-chamber view, which mainly included interventricular septum (IVS) segmentation, feature extraction and classification. We used two independent cohorts, one with 150 patients, including 50 HHD, 50 HCM and 50 UCM, for segmentation training and testing, and another with 149 patients (namely the main cohort), including 50 HHD, 46 HCM and 53 UCM, for classification training and testing after segmentation and feature extraction. Firstly, the U-Net, Residual U-Net (ResUNet) and nnU-Net were trained and tested to segment the IVS on TTE still images in the first cohort. Then the trained model with the best segmentation performance was further used for IVS prediction of ordered TTE images in video sequences in the main cohort. The post-processing was used to eliminate the noisy debris by selecting the maximum connected region and smoothing the edges of the predicted IVS region. Secondly, static radiomics features were extracted from the IVS of ordered TTE images in each video sequence, and subsequently the time and frequency domain features were further extracted from each time series of a static radiomics feature in the video sequence. Finally, the point-wise gated Boltzmann machine (PGBM) was used to learn and fuse the time and frequency domain features, and the support vector machine was used to classify the learned features for LVH diagnosis. The classification was performed with five-fold cross validation. ResultsThe ResUNet showed the best segmentation performance, with Dice coefficient, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 0.817, 76.3%, 99.6% and 98.6%, respectively. With post-processing, the Dice coefficient, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ResUNet were further improved to 0.839, 77.0%, 99.8%, and 98.8%, respectively. The classification areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were 0.838 ± 0.049 for HHD vs. HCM, 0.868 ± 0.042 for HCM vs. UCM and 0.701 ± 0.140 for HHD vs. UCM. ConclusionIn this work, we proposed an intelligent identification system for LVH etiology classification based on routine TTE video images with good diagnostic performance. This deep learning method is feasible in automatic TTE images interpretation and expected to assist clinicians in detecting the primary cause of LVH.

Impact of weight loss on cardiac function: improvement in left ventricular global longitudinal strain following metabolic surgery

Abstract Introduction Obesity leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality and is associated with the metabolic risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia [1]. Metabolic surgery has been proven to be the most effective long term weight management tool and has known benefits in CVD prevention [2]. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is an effective quantitative measurement of left ventricular (LV) function that is also a powerful predictor of future CVD events and mortality [3]. The impact of metabolic surgery on LV structure and function is unknown. Purpose This study investigated the changes in cardiac structure and function after metabolic surgery, including GLS. To our knowledge there has not been a study investigating this relationship previously reported. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing metabolic surgery at our center between March 2005 and February 2019 were recruited. Patients with transthoracic echocardiographic imaging (TTE) pre and post metabolic surgery (May 2005 to January 2019) were included. Electronic medical records were searched to obtain demographic, surgical and clinical data. GLS was calculated with Velocity Vector Imaging (VVI, Siemens, v2.0, Pennsylvania, USA). Averaged GLS values were derived from 4 chamber, 2 chamber and 3 chamber calculations. Results 398 patients with pre- and post-operative cardiac imaging were included. Please see Table 1 for the baseline demographics of our study population. The mean age was 60.0 years with 70% being female. There were significant rates of CVD risk factors such as: hypertension (76.4%), diabetes mellitus (58.8%) and hyperlipidemia (76.4%). The clinical and echocardiographic changes noted post metabolic surgery are detailed in Table 2. Along with decreases in weight post operatively, there were significant improvements in the markers of CVD risk factors such as mean blood pressure (134/75 to 129/72 mmHg, p value <0.001), mean gylcated hemoglobin levels (7.0 to 6.1%, p value <0.001) and mean low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (97.7 to 88.2 mg/dl, p value <0.001). There were a number of statistically significant positive changes in the left ventricular structure and function. The mean LV ejection fraction increased from 56.3% to 57.4% (p=0.008); left ventricular mass decreased from 238.2 g to 179.3 g (p value <0.001), and both septal and posterior wall thicknesses decreased significantly (p value <0.001). The LV mass indexed to body surface area (BSA) also decreased from 93.5 g/m2 to 83.1 g/m2. The average global LV GLS was −15.7% pre-operatively, improving significantly to −17.9% post-operatively (p<0.001). Conclusion Our study has shown for the first time the impact of metabolic surgery on ventricular structure and function, with reduction in LV mass and improvement in LV GLS. These novel findings lends further support to the cardiovascular benefits of metabolic surgery. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Echocardiographic assessment alone is inadequate for determining elevated left sided filling pressures in patients with cardiogenic shock

Abstract Background Left atrial (LA) filling pressure assessment is of paramount importance in tailoring treatments for patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). ESC guidelines advocate for the use of mitral inflow Doppler and mitral annulus tissue Doppler measurements to predict elevated left atrial pressure in clinical practice. Echocardiographic measurement of LA pressures could reduce the need for invasive monitoring in CS patients, but its utility remains unproven in this population. Purpose We assessed the validity of mitral inflow velocity and mitral annulus velocity indices to determine LA pressures, correlating them with invasive measurement of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in CS patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). Methods We prospectively evaluated consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary artery catheter insertion in the CICU, measuring their haemodynamic parameters, including PCWP. This was immediately followed by a transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) performed by a critical care cardiologist, blinded to the invasive measurements. The early (E) and late (A) mitral inflow velocities were measured using mitral inflow Doppler and septal and lateral mitral annulus velocities (e') were measured using tissue Doppler, all in the apical 4-chamber view. TTE images were later reported by a second cardiologist, blinded to the invasive measurements and the patient. Correlations between E; E/A ratio; E/e' ratio and PCWP were evaluated using Pearson's correlation. Results Sixty patients were recruited into the study, aged 58±14 years, 27% female, with 96 assessments undertaken. The majority (55%) of patients were SCAI stage C, with 14% having had a cardiac arrest prior to CICU admission and 27% required mechanical ventilation at the time of assessment. Mean PCWP was 16.0±6.5 mmHg. Full mitral valve Doppler and tissue Doppler profiles were measured in 67 (70%) assessments, limited due to E/A fusion, atrial fibrillation and limited acoustic windows. There was only weak correlation between PCWP and E/A ratio (R=0.33, p=0.01), with no correlation between PCWP and the other measured values (Table 1), including E/e'. The AUC for identifying patients with elevated PCWP (≥15 mmHg) using E/A ratio was 0.67 (p=0.02), although there was no suitable value to use as a cut off with adequate sensitivity and specificity (Figure 1). Conclusion Echocardiographic non-invasive assessment of left sided cardiac filling pressures is technically challenging in patients with CS. Even when possible, there is weak correlation between echocardiographic and invasive measurements, suggesting limited value in this technique. Alternative non-invasive modalities, such as lung ultrasound, should be investigated in this population to assist clinical assessment. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Non-invasive assessment of right ventricular function and pulmonary pressures in cardiogenic shock remains challenging: don't pack away the PAC just yet

Abstract Background Cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality despite advances in treatment. Patients with right ventricle (RV) dysfunction have been shown to have poorer outcomes. It is suggested that invasive monitoring through pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) placement can assist in guiding management to improve survival, though they are associated with adverse events. Purpose This study assessed the utility of non-invasive, echocardiographic assessment of RV performance and pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) in patients with CS. Methods Consecutive patients admitted to a North American quaternary cardiac intensive care unit who had PAC placement were recruited into this study. Invasive haemodynamic assessment was followed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) performed by a critical care cardiologist, blinded to the invasive measurements. TTE images were later reported by a second cardiologist, blinded to the invasive measurements and the patient. Correlations between RV and pulmonary invasive and non-invasive parameters were evaluated using Pearson's correlation. Results Overall, 96 assessments of 60 patients were compared. Patients were predominantly male (73%), aged 58±14 years and SCAI stage C (55%) and D (22%) at the time of assessment. Invasive measurements of right heart and pulmonary function was possible in all patients. Mean RAP was 8.5±4.7 mmHg, systolic PAP 37.5±9.9 mmHg, diastolic PAP 18.1±6.5 mmHg, mean PAP 25.1±7.2 mmHg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) 16.0±16.4 mmHg, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) 157±99dyn s cm–5, RV stroke work index (RVSWI) 7.0±3.9 g min/m2 and PAP index (PAPi) 2.9±4.2. When compared to non-invasive echocardiographic parameters, there was little correlation with invasive values (Table). RVSWI moderately correlated with peak tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and estimated systolic PAP; while peak TR velocity was mild-moderately correlated with PAP and PCWP. No single non-invasive parameter demonstrated strong prediction of invasive values. Conclusion Non-invasive assessment of right heart and pulmonary haemodynamic parameters is of limited validity when compared with invasive monitoring through PAC in patients with CS. PAC remains the most reliable method of assessing the RV haemodynamic profile in CS. Future studies should evaluate the clinical benefit of invasive haemodynamic monitoring in this population. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Predictors of Acute Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Cardiomyopathy Patients

Background: Usefulness of echocardiogram-associated markers for prediction of the response of the patients with cardiomyopathy to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) is under debate. Method: In a cross sectional retrospective design, we analyzed data from 69 cardiomyopathy patients (mean age = 57.59 ± 11.17 years, 69.6% male) with New-York-Heart-Association class ≥ III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35%, and QRS duration > 120 ms who underwent CRT. Transthoracic echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging were performed before CRT and transthoracic echocardiography was repeated after CRT. More than 5% increase in the LVEF within 48 hours post CRT was considered as acute response. Results: After CRT, 36 (52.2%) patients were acute responders. Before CRT, responders had a remarkably higher frequency of diabetes mellitus (36.1% vs.15.2%, p = 0.048), lower left ventricular end systolic volume (125.82 ± 179.73 vs. 179.73 ± 77.51 ml, p = 0.002) and end diastolic volume (165.03 ± 67.09 vs. 236.06 ± 93.24 ml, p < 0.001) compared to none responders. Other echocardiography characteristics were not significantly different. In multivariable analysis, left ventricular end systolic volume remained the sole independent predictor of acute response. A cut-off of 135 ml for left ventricular end systolic volume had a good sensitivity (67.65%) and specificity (72.73%) to distinguish responders from non-responders. Conclusion: More than half of the cardiomyopathy patients had improvement ≥ 5% in LVEF within 48 hours after CRT. No relationship was found between formerly defined pre-CRT echocardiographic dyssynchrony markers and acute response. Left ventricular end systolic volume was the sole independent predictor of acute response and a threshold of 135 ml could discriminate acute responders to CRT.

Comparison of cine cardiac magnetic resonance and echocardiography derived diameters of the aortic root in a large population-based cohort

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cine cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) are established imaging methods of the aortic root. We aimed to evaluate the comparability of measurements in TTE and standard cine CMR sequences of the aortic root. Our study included 741 subjects (mean age 63.5 ± 8 years, 43.7% female) from the Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS). Subjects underwent CMR and TTE. Aortic root measurements were performed at the level of the aortic annulus (AoAn), sinus of Valsalva (SoV), and sinotubular junction (STJ) by standard cine CMR in left ventricular long axis and left ventricular outflow tract view. Measurements were performed applying the leading-edge to leading-edge (LL) convention and inner-edge to inner-edge (II) convention in TTE and the II convention in CMR. Inter correlation coefficients (ICCs) demonstrated high inter- and intraobserver reproducibility for CMR and TTE measurements of SoV and STJ (ICCs 0.9–0.98) and moderate reproducibility for AoAn (ICCs 0.68–0.91). CMR measurements of SoV and STJ showed strong agreement with TTE: while correlations were comparable (r = 0.75–0.85) bias was lower with TTE II (bias − 0.1 to − 0.74) versus TTE LL measurements (mean bias − 1.49 to − 2.58 mm). The agreement for AoAn was fair (r = 0.51–0.57) with variable bias (mean bias 0.39–3.9). Standard cine CMR and TTE derived aortic root measurements are reproducible and comparable with higher agreement for TTE II instead of LL measurements. These results support an interchangeable application of TTE and standard CMR for screening of aortic root diseases thereby possibly reducing redundant multimodality imaging.

Feasibility of prehospital identification of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction by ECG, troponin and echocardiography

BackgroundPrehospital identification and selection of treatment strategy in patients with suspected non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy...

Reasonable requests: echocardiography referral forms as a measure of coherent clinical communication

BackgroundWell performed clinical communication is a cornerstone of collaborative care in medicine but may be confounded by inconsistent intentions of the messenger and biased interpretation by the recipient. A comparison of the findings of electronic echocardiography reports with clinician-completed standardised request forms provided an opportunity to assess communication quality.AimThe study aimed to determine clinician aptitude to complete written echocardiography referral forms by assessing the completeness, appropriateness, accuracy, and coherency of the reported clinical findings, conclusions and requests made on the referral forms. The study explored factors that may influence the quality of communication through this referral medium.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent trans-thoracic echocardiography imaging at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in East London over 26 months. Paper echocardiography request forms that recorded the requesting clinician’s findings on examination, the provisional clinical diagnosis, and the specific echocardiographic information sought, were compared with the actual findings on echocardiography.ResultsOf 613 request forms reviewed, 97 cases were excluded due to illegibility or because they lacked analysable information or requester details, leaving 516 forms suitable for study. No pathology was found on echocardiography in 31%. Of the murmurs expected from the echocardiography findings, only half were recorded on the request form (sensitivity and positive predictive value both 52%.). Only 35% of request forms that mentioned a mitral systolic murmur gave a working diagnosis of mitral regurgitation and only 38% of request forms that mentioned an aortic systolic murmur considered aortic stenosis. Clinically suspected cardiomyopathy (CMO) had a PPV of 43% and echocardiographic CMO was missed clinically in 41%. Apex beat displacement reported clinically was not associated with echocardiographic LV dilatation in 65% of cases. One-third (34%) of forms reporting murmurs did not request valve function assessment and 17% considering cardiomyopathy did not request left ventricular function assessment.ConclusionEchocardiography request forms highlight vulnerabilities in clinical communication. Specifically, important clinical features were missing and more concerningly, included when unlikely to be present. There was a lack of concordance between recorded clinical findings and postulated diagnoses. Clinicians sometimes appeared unclear about the value or appropriateness of the requested assistance. Greater emphasis on teaching examination and communication skills may foster safer and more efficient use of scarce resources.

The Palma Echo Platform: Rationale and Design of an Echocardiography Core Lab.

BackgroundThe metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Characterization of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities due to the MetS can help recognize individuals who would benefit the most from preventive interventions. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) provides an opportunity to identify those abnormalities in a reproducible and cost-efficient manner. In research settings, implementation of protocols for the acquisition and analysis of TTE images are key to ensure validity and reproducibility, thus facilitating answering relevant questions about the association of the MetS with cardiac alterations.Methods and ResultsThe Palma Echo Platform (PEP) is a coordinated network that is built up to evaluate the underlying structural and functional cardiac substrate of participants with MetS. Repeated TTE will be used to evaluate 5-year changes in the cardiac structure and function in a group of 565 individuals participating in a randomized trial of a lifestyle intervention for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The echocardiographic studies will be performed at three study sites, and will be centrally evaluated at the PEP core laboratory. Planned analyses will involve evaluating the effect of the lifestyle intervention on cardiac structure and function, and the association of the MetS and its components with changes in cardiac structure and function. Particular emphasis will be placed on evaluating parameters of left atrial structure and function, which have received more limited attention in past investigations. This PEP will be available for future studies addressing comparable questions.ConclusionIn this article we describe the protocol of a central echocardiography laboratory for the study of functional and structural alterations of the MetS.

A Review of the Role of Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Cardioembolic Stroke.

Stroke is a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for the second largest cause of mortality and the third greatest cause of disability. Stroke is frequently preceded by a transient ischemic attack (TIA). The etiologies of 20–30% of ischemic strokes are unknown, and thus are termed “cryptogenic strokes”. About 25% of ischemic strokes are cardioembolic. Strokes occur at a rate of around 2% per year in individuals with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), with a strong correlation between stroke risk and the degree of ventricular impairment. Furthermore, stroke risk is augmented in the absence of anticoagulation therapy. Cardioembolic strokes, when treated inadequately, have a greater predilection for recurrences than atherothrombotic strokes, both early and late in life. The role of a patent foramen ovale in strokes, specifically in “cryptogenic strokes”, is a matter of concern that deserves due attention. The use of tissue-engineered heart valves and aspirin for minimizing the risk of stroke is recommended.Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is advantageous for assessing heart function in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is considered the criterion standard procedure for detecting LAA thrombi. Computed tomography (CT) scans are good imaging modalities for identifying and excluding bleeding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images are by far the most effective imaging technique available for assessing the brain parenchymal state.We conducted a thorough review of the literature on the use of imaging modalities, highlighting the important contribution of TTE, TEE, CT, and MRI in the evaluation of cardioembolic stroke.

Contemporary family screening in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

AimsGenetic testing in relatives of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients leads to early identification of pathogenic DNA variant carriers (G+), before the onset of left ventricular hypertrophy. Routine phenotyping consists of electrocardiography (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has become valuable in the work-up of HCM. In this study, we investigated the value of CMR in phenotyping of G+ family members.Methods and resultsThis study included 91 G+ subjects who underwent ECG, TTE and CMR, with a maximal wall thickness (MWT) <15 mm on TTE. The relative performance of TTE and CMR regarding wall thickness measurements and HCM diagnoses was assessed. HCM was defined as MWT of ≥13 mm. Logistic regression was performed to assess whether ECG and TTE parameters can predict CMR results. Most subjects (75%) had an MWT <13 mm on TTE, of which 23 (34%) were diagnosed with HCM based on CMR. MWT differences (range 1–10 mm) were often caused by an anterobasal hook-shaped thickening of the myocardium not visible on TTE. Two of 23 (9%) subjects with HCM on TTE were reclassified as no HCM on CMR. Normal ECG and TTE results almost excluded reclassifications by CMR. The prevalence of other HCM-related abnormalities on CMR was low.ConclusionCMR reclassified 27% of subjects. Subjects with normal ECG/TTE results were reclassified in a low number of cases, justifying screening with ECG and TTE in G+ relatives. In subjects with abnormal ECGs and/or poor TTE image quality, CMR is indicated.