Two-chamber Views Research Articles

Left atrial function in patients with mitral valve regurgitation.

The purpose of this study was to assess left atrial (LA) function and myocardial mechanics in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). Eighty patients with degenerative MR and twenty control subjects were included prospectively. LA volume (LAV) and right atrial (RA) volume (RAV) were measured with three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography at three phases of the cardiac cycle as maximal volume (LAVmax and RAVmax), minimal volume (LAVmin and RAVmin), and volume before atrial contraction (LAVpre-A and RAVpre-A). From these volumes, active stroke volume (SV), distensibility, and emptying fraction were calculated. LA strain and strain rate were measured with vector velocity imaging on four- and two-chamber views. Left ventricular (LV) filling pressures were increased in patients with severe MR (E/E': 16 ± 4 vs. 10 ± 3 in control subjects). LAVmax, LAVmin, and LAVpre-A all increased with increasing MR volume. As LAVpre-A increased, both LA total SV (r = 0.68, P < 0.001) and passive filling volume (r = 0.76, P < 0.001) increased. LA active SV increased with LAVpre-A up to a certain point, upon which it decreased despite further increased LAVpre-A (r = 0.53, P < 0.001). LA late negative strain decreased with increasing MR volume. A positive correlation existed between LA late negative strain and LA active emptying fraction (r = 0.55, P < 0.001). In contrast, RA function was comparable between groups. In conclusion, LA contractility (active SV) increased in response to an increase in LA preload (LAVpre-A) up to a point beyond which LA contractility (active SV) decreased. Whether this is due to working of the LA at the descending limb of the Frank-Starling curve or mainly due to changes in afterload still remains unclear.

Characterization and improved quantification of left ventricular inflow using streamline visualization with 4DFlow MRI in healthy controls and patients after atrioventricular septal defect correction.

To evaluate trans-left atrioventricular valve (LAVV) blood flow and optimize left ventricular inflow quantification in healthy controls and patients after atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) correction. Twenty-five patients after AVSD correction and 25 controls underwent 4DFlow MRI. Using streamline visualization in four- and two-chamber views, inflow direction at early and late filling was defined at the annulus level and at the peak inflow velocity (PIV) level. Trans-LAVV flow volume and velocity were assessed from a static 2D-multiplanar-reformat (MPR), a 4D-MPR tracking LAVV annulus and a 4D-MPR tracking the PIV-level, angulated perpendicular to the inflow. In patients, on average 9° more laterally directed inflow was found at the PIV-level compared to controls. In controls, 4DFlow velocity mapping with LAVV annulus tracking resulted in lower absolute error with aortic flow (3 (1-8) mL) than with static 2D-MPR (7 (4-16) mL, P = 0.001). In patients, 4D-MPR tracking the PIV-level, resulted in lower absolute error with aortic flow (2 (1-4) mL) than with 4D-MPR LAVV annulus tracking (6 (2-10) mL, P = 0.003). Streamline visualization of 4DFlow MRI data revealed dynamic trans-LAVV inflow and more lateral flow after AVSD correction. Streamline visualization improved trans-LAVV flow quantification as the positioning and angulation of the measurement plane was optimized, allowing an accurate assessment of left ventricular inflow.

Left ventricular mechanics in Behcet’s disease: A speckle tracking echocardiographic study

Although cardiac involvement is rarely seen in Behcet’s disease (BD), it is essential to detect subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction for prognostic purposes. Herein we aimed to show the role of two dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in determination of subclinical LV dysfunction in patients with BD. 30 patients diagnosed as BD due to International Study Group Behcet’s diagnostic criteria and 25 control subjects underwent Doppler echocardiography including pulsed tissue Doppler of the mitral annulus and speckle-tracking echocardiography. LV peak longitudinal strain and strain rate (SR) was calculated in four-chamber (4C), apical long-axis (LAX), and two-chamber (2C) views, and values of the three views were averaged LV global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and SR. LV torsion was determined as the net difference in the mean rotation between the apical and basal levels. There was not any significant difference in age and gender between groups. Patients with BD had significantly lower LV longitudinal strain and Sr measurements than the control group. Although LV basal rotation (LVR) basal values were similar in both groups, LVR-apical and LV torsion (LVTR) values were significantly higher in patient group. LVR-apical and LV-GLS were found to have a good positive corelation (r:0.44, p&lt;0.001) (r: -0.56, r: -0.65,respectively. p&lt;0.001). There was a weak positive correlation between LVTR and LV-GLS (r: 0.29, p&lt;0.05). We demonstrated that combined assessement of LV-GLS, LV-GLSR, LVTR and LVR-apical values detected by STE can be useful in determination of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in BD.

Left ventricular mechanics in Behcet's disease: a speckle tracking echocardiographic study.

Although cardiac involvement is rarely seen in Behcet's disease (BD), it is essential to detect subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction for prognostic purposes. Herein we aimed to show the role of two dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in determination of subclinical LV dysfunction in patients with BD. 30 patients diagnosed as BD due to International Study Group Behcet's diagnostic criteria and 25 control subjects underwent Doppler echocardiography including pulsed tissue Doppler of the mitral annulus and speckle-tracking echocardiography. LV peak longitudinal strain and strain rate (SR) was calculated in four-chamber (4C), apical long-axis (LAX), and two-chamber (2C) views, and values of the three views were averaged LV global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and SR. LV torsion was determined as the net difference in the mean rotation between the apical and basal levels. There was not any significant difference in age and gender between groups. Patients with BD had significantly lower LV longitudinal strain and Sr measurements than the control group. Although LV basal rotation (LVR) basal values were similar in both groups, LVR-apical and LV torsion (LVTR) values were significantly higher in patient group. LVR-apical and LV-GLS were found to have a good positive corelation (r:0.44, p<0.001) (r: -0.56, r: -0.65,respectively. p<0.001). There was a weak positive correlation between LVTR and LV-GLS (r: 0.29, p<0.05). We demonstrated that combined assessment of LV-GLS, LV-GLSR, LVTR and LVR-apical values detected by STE can be useful in determination of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in BD.

Evaluation of left atrial function in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy using velocity vector imaging.

To study left atrial deformation characteristics using Velocity vector imaging (VVI) in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and to explore its value for detection of left atrial dysfunction in these patients. Sixty-four patients with essential hypertension were divided into normal left ventricular geometry (LVN, 37 cases) and LVH (27 cases) groups, according to their left ventricular mass index. Twenty-five age-matched healthy participants were included as control group. Two-dimensional dynamic images of the apical four- and two-chamber echocardiographic views were obtained, and strain/strain rate (SR) curves of eight atrial segments were derived by VVI software. Peak systolic strain (ε(sys)), systolic SR (SRs), early and late diastolic SR (SRe, SRa) were measured and calculated. Peak early diastolic mitral inflow and annulus velocities were also measured and their ratio (E/E') calculated. Compared with the control group, SRe decreased and SRa increased significantly in LVH group (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found between LVN and control groups with respect to SRe, SRa, SRs and ε(sys) (P > 0.05). Also, no significant difference was observed in SRe, SRa, SRs and ε(sys) between LVH and LVN groups (P > 0.05). SRe and SRa correlated significantly with E/E' (r = -0.634, r = 0.609; both P < 0.001). Strain/SR parameters derived from VVI may reflect decreased conduit, increased booster pump function of the left atrium in hypertensive patients with LVH and correlate with left ventricular diastolic function.

Morphological and volumetric analysis of left atrial appendage and left atrium: cardiac computed tomography-based reproducibility assessment.

ObjectivesLeft atrial appendage (LAA) dilatation and morphology may influence an individual's risk for intracardiac thrombi and ischemic stroke. LAA size and morphology can be evaluated using cardiac computed tomography (cCT). The present study evaluated the reproducibility of LAA volume and morphology assessments.MethodsA total of 149 patients (47 females; mean age 60.9±10.6 years) with suspected cardioembolic stroke/transient ischemic attack underwent cCT. Image quality was rated based on four categories. Ten patients were selected from each image quality category (N = 40) for volumetric reproducibility analysis by two individual readers. LAA and left atrium (LA) volume were measured in both two-chamber (2CV) and transversal view (TV) orientation. Intertechnique reproducibility was assessed between 2CV and TV (200 measurement pairs). LAA morphology (A = Cactus, B = ChickenWing, C = WindSock, D = CauliFlower), LAA opening height, number of LAA lobes, trabeculation, and orientation of the LAA tip was analysed in all study subjects by three individual readers (447 interobserver measurement pairs). The reproducibility of volume measurements was assessed by intra-class correlation (ICC) and the reproducibility of LAA morphology assessments by Cohen's kappa.ResultsThe intra-observer and interobserver reproducibility of LAA and LA volume measurements was excellent (ICCs>0.9). The LAA (ICC = 0.954) and LA (ICC = 0.945) volume measurements were comparable between 2CV and TV. Morphological classification (ĸ = 0.24) and assessments of LAA opening height (ĸ = 0.1), number of LAA lobes (ĸ = 0.16), trabeculation (ĸ = 0.15), and orientation of the LAA tip (ĸ = 0.37) was only slightly to fairly reproducible.ConclusionsLA and LAA volume measurements on cCT provide excellent reproducibility, whereas visual assessment of LAA morphological features is challenging and results in unsatisfactory agreement between readers.

Segmentation of B-mode cardiac ultrasound data by Bayesian Probability Maps.

In this paper we present a model for describing the position distribution of the endocardium in the two-chamber apical long-axis view of the heart in clinical B-mode ultrasound cycles. We propose a novel Bayesian formulation, including priors for spatial and temporal smoothness, and preferred shapes and position. The shape model takes into account both endocardium, atrial region and apex. The likelihood is built using a statistical signal model, which attempts to closely model a censored signal. In addition, the use of a censored Gamma mixture model with unknown censoring point, to handle artefacts resulting from left-censoring of the in US clinical B-mode, is to our knowledge novel. The posterior density is sampled by the Gibbs method to estimate the expected latent variable representation of the endocardium, which we call the Bayesian Probability Map; the map describes the probability of pixels being classified as being within the endocardium. The regularization parameters of the model are estimated by cross-validation, and the results are compared against the two-chamber apical model of Chen et al.

Mitral annulus displacement measured by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging to assess the left ventricular longitudinal systolic function in coronary heart disease.

To assess the clinical utility of measuring mitral annulus displacement (MAD) by two-dimensional speckle tracking for the rapid evaluation of left ventricular longitudinal systolic function in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Left ventricular longitudinal systolic function was evaluated by MAD using speckle tracking echocardiography in 30 healthy volunteers (controls) as well as in 30 patients with mild, 30 patients with moderate, and 30 patients with severe CHD. All participants had their apical four-chamber and two-chamber view echocardiographic images recorded. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic volume, and left ventricular ejection fraction were calculated by the biplane Simpson method. MAD of interventricular septum (MADsep), left ventricular lateral wall (MADlat), and the middle point of the mitral annulus (MADmid) were measured offline with speckle-tracking echocardiography. MADmid% was defined as MADmid divided by left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. MADmid% was 16.9 ± 1.9, 11.8 ± 3.2, 11.8 ± 2.9, and 10.3 ± 3.6, respectively, in controls and in patients with mild, moderate, and severe CHD. All MAD indexes were lower in patients with moderate or severe CHD than in controls or patients with mild CHD. MAD is an early and rapid index for the assessment of left ventricular longitudinal systolic function in patients with different degrees of coronary artery disease.

His or para-His pacing preserves left ventricular function in atrioventricular block: a double-blind, randomized, crossover study

To compare left ventricular function after a long-term His or para-His pacing (HP) and right ventricular septal pacing (RVSP) in patients with atrioventricular block (AVB). We included consecutive patients with AVB, a narrow QRS < 120 ms, and a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >0.40, in a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, crossover design. All patients were treated with 12 months HP and 12 months RVSP. A total of 38 patients [mean age, 67 ± 10 years; 30 (79%) men] were included. The primary endpoint was LVEF, which was significantly lower after a 12 months RVSP (0.50 ± 0.11) than after 12 months of HP (0.55 ± 0.10), P = 0.005. We measured the difference in time-to-peak systolic velocity between opposite basal segments in the apical views by using tissue Doppler imaging. In the four-chamber view, the difference was 58 (±7) ms after RVSP and 49 (±7) ms after HP, P = 0.27; in the two-chamber view, the difference was 45 (±5) ms after RVSP and 31 ±(4) ms after HP, P = 0.02, and in the apical long-axis view, the difference was 63 (±6) after RVSP and 44 (±7) after HP, P = 0.03. There was no difference in New York Heart Association class, 6-min hall walk test, quality-of-life assessments, or device-related complications. The mean threshold was significantly higher in HP leads than in RVSP leads. His or para-His pacing preserves LVEF and mechanical synchrony as compared with RVSP after 12 months pacing in patients with AVB, narrow QRS, and LVEF > 0.40.

Preliminary Observations of Prognostic Value of Left Atrial Functional Reserve during Dobutamine Infusion in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

The importance of left atrial (LA) functional reserve in patients with depressed left ventricular function remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that diminished augmentation of LA function during dobutamine stress might be associated with cardiovascular events in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Eighty-four patients with dilated cardiomyopathy with a mean ejection fraction of 34 ± 9% were retrospectively recruited, and LA strain was determined as the averaged global speckle-tracking longitudinal strain from apical four-chamber and two-chamber views during dobutamine stress (20 μg/kg/min). The systolic component of LA strain was considered to reflect reservoir function, whereas the passive and active emptying components were considered to reflect passive and active emptying function, respectively. Event-free survival was tracked for 17 months. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis identified LA volume index (hazard ratio [HR], 1.060; P < .001) and β-blocker use (HR, 0.048; P < .05) as the independent variables associated with cardiovascular events among the baseline parameters and changes in systolic LA strain (HR, 0.971; P = .02), in passive emptying LA strain (HR, 0.942; P < .001), and in left ventricular early diastolic strain rate (HR, 0.986; P = .03) under dobutamine as the variables among the functional reserve parameters. In sequential Cox models, a model based on clinical variables (χ(2) = 9.3) was improved by conventional echocardiographic parameters (χ(2) = 19.2, P = .012) and LA strain parameters at rest (χ(2) = 40.1, P = .005) and further improved by the addition of changes in LA strain parameters under dobutamine (χ(2) = 61.6, P < .001). The assessment of LA reservoir and passive emptying function during dobutamine stress provides important incremental prognostic value in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Evaluation of right ventricular function by Doppler tissue imaging of the tricuspid annulus in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Chronic heart disease contributes to the mortality of patients with AIDS. Although studies of left ventricular function in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been conducted, studies of right ventricular function are rare. The present study aimed to characterize the tricuspid annulus movement and evaluate the right ventricular function of patients with AIDS by tissue Doppler imaging. Tissue Doppler echocardiography was performed on 106 patients with AIDS and 64 controls. Tricuspid annulus movements were detected from the apical four-chamber view and the apical right heart two-chamber view. The peak diastolic early period velocity (Ve), peak diastolic later period velocity (Va) and peak systolic velocity (Vs) were measured at the anterior, posterior and lateral walls and also at the interventricular septum. Mean values were calculated, as well as the Tei index of the lateral site. Compared with the values in the control group, the Vs and Va of the AIDS group decreased at all sites with the exception of the lateral wall, whereas the Ve decreased at all sites of the tricuspid annulus (P<0.05). The Tei index was higher in the AIDS group than in the control (P<0.05). The results obtained in the present study show that the function of the right ventricle decreases in patients with AIDS, which is indicative of susceptibility to right ventricular dysfunction.

Effects of isolated obesity on left ventricular function: a longitudinal strain imaging study

BackgroundObesity is associated with heart failure, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality. A direct effect of weight on left ventricular (LV) structure and myocardial function is not well established.AimThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of isolated obesity on LV morphology and systolic function using LV standard ECG indices and strain imaging indices.Patients and methodsSixty-five individuals were enrolled into this study: 45 with isolated obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 kg/m 2 or higher with no other cardiovascular comorbidities, and 20 nonobese age-adjusted and sex-adjusted controls. All participants underwent standard two-dimensional ECG and myocardial strain imaging.ResultsThere was no significant difference between patients and controls as regards height (P > 0.05). In contrast, weight, BMI, and waist circumference were significantly higher in the patient group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Obese participants had significantly increased left atrial diameter, aortic diameter, septal wall thickness, LV posterior wall thickness, and LV mass (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between patients and controls as regards LV diastolic diameter, LV systolic diameter, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, LV mass index, E velocity, A velocity, and the E/A ratio (P > 0.05). Comparative analysis of LV two-dimensional longitudinal strain parameters between patients and controls shows a significant decrease in longitudinal strain in obese patients in the apical long-axis, apical four-chamber, and apical two-chamber views (P < 0.001).ConclusionObesity is associated with morphologic alterations in the LV, in the form of increased LV mass, interventricular septum thickness, and LV posterior wall thickness, as well as subclinical changes in LV systolic function, which can be detected by strain imaging even without overt heart disease.

Extra cardiac tumor misdiagnosed as a left atrial myxoma.

Extra cardiac tumor misdiagnosed as a left atrial myxoma.

Left Ventricular Endocardial Dysfunction in Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction after Receiving Anthracycline

Anthracycline chemotherapy generates progressive dose-dependent left ventricular (LV) dysfunction associated with a poor prognosis. Early detection of minor LV myocardial dysfunction caused by the cardiotoxicity of anthracycline is thus important for predicting global LV dysfunction. Fifty patients with preserved ejection fraction (all ≥55%) after receiving anthracycline chemotherapy were recruited for this study. Two-dimensional speckle tracking was used to assess global radial and circumferential strains from mid-LV short-axis views and global longitudinal strain from the apical four- and two-chamber view as peak global strain curves. Three-dimensional (3D) radial, circumferential, and longitudinal myocardial function was quantified as a peak global strain curve using 3D speckle tracking from all 16 LV segments. 3D speckle tracking imaging was used to evaluate LV endocardial area change ratio (area strain) quantified as peak global area strain curve (3D-GAS) to determine LV endocardial function. Twenty age-, gender-, and EF-matched normal volunteers were studied for comparisons. Only 3D-GAS and peak 3D global circumferential strains of the anthracycline group were significantly worse than those of the control group (-43.3 ± 3.1 vs. -45.8 ± 4.3% and -31.6 ± 3.5% vs. -34.4 ± 4.2%, respectively; P = 0.008, P = 0.004) even though global LV systolic and diastolic functions were similar. 3D-GAS correlated significantly with the cumulative doxorubicin dose (r = 0.316, P = 0.026). It was noteworthy that multivariate analysis showed only 3D-GAS (β = 0.323, P = 0.025) was independently associated with cumulative doxorubicin dose. Three-dimensional speckle tracking area strain was found useful for early detection of minor LV endocardial dysfunction associated with the use of anthracycline, and may thus prove to be clinically useful for predicting global LV dysfunction.

Left atrial booster-pump function as a predictive parameter for new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients with severe aortic stenosis

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with increased risk of embolic events and heart failure, but its associated factors remains unknown. Left atrial (LA) subclinical mechanical dysfunction caused by the acute stress of surgery may be clinically manifested as POAF. The purpose of our study was therefore to test the hypothesis that preoperative LA subclinical myocardial dysfunction is a potential predictor of development of POAF in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We studied 27 patients with severe AS undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of 63 ± 11 %. All patients were in sinus rhythm and had no history of atrial fibrillation (AF). LA reservoir (SR-LAs), conduit (SR-LAe), and booster-pump (SR-LAa) functions were determined as the averaged global LA speckle-tracking longitudinal strain rates from apical four- and two-chamber views. POAF, defined as any episode of AF within 30-day after AVR, was observed in 15 patients (56 %). There were no differences in clinical characteristics, LA and LV volumes, and global LV function between patients with and without POAF. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified SR-LAa as the only independent predictor of POAF. Furthermore, SR-LAa >0.79 s(-1) predicted POAF with 60 % sensitivity, 92 % specificity, and area under the curve of 0.828 (p < 0.0001). Of the 15 patients with POAF, one developed paroxysmal AF during long-term follow-up. In conclusions, SR-LAa helped to detect subtle LA booster-pump dysfunction and was associated with new-onset POAF in patients with severe AS. These findings may be useful for risk stratification and management of such patients.

Left Atrial Enlargement and Reduced Atrial Compliance Occurs Early in Fabry Cardiomyopathy

Fabry disease is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and myocardial fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate left atrial (LA) size and function using tissue Doppler-derived strain in patients with Fabry disease. Echocardiography was performed in 33 Fabry patients (14 without LVH, 19 with LVH) before commencement of enzyme replacement therapy, and results were compared with those from age-matched and gender-matched controls (n=28 and n=38, respectively). Atrial strain and strain rate were measured from four segments in the apical four-chamber and two-chamber views of the LA, and global values were calculated. Systolic strain, systolic strain rate, early diastolic strain rate, and late diastolic strain rate were measured. Phasic LA volumes and fractions were calculated. Mitral inflow and tissue Doppler E' velocities were used to estimate left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. LA volume was increased in Fabry patients, even in the absence of LVH. Importantly, diastolic function was normal in this subgroup without LVH, with E' velocities similar to those in controls. LA systolic strain and early diastolic strain rate were selectively reduced in Fabry patients with LVH and reflect reductions in LA and LV relaxation, respectively, consequent to increased LV mass. However, independent of LVH, both Fabry groups had significant reductions in systolic strain rate and increased LA stiffness index. Fabry disease is associated with LA enlargement and reduced atrial compliance that occurs before the development of LVH. This suggests that Fabry cardiomyopathy may not only cause ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis but also alters atrial myocardial properties early in the disease process. Consequently, measurements of LA size and function may be useful in the early diagnosis of Fabry disease, before the development of LVH.

Simplified Single Plane Echocardiography Is Comparable to Conventional Biplane Two‐Dimensional Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Left Atrial Volume: A Study Validated by Three‐Dimensional Echocardiography in 143 Individuals

The left atrial volume index (LAVI) is a biomarker of diastolic dysfunction and a predictor of cardiovascular events. Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is highly accurate for LAVI measurements but is not widely available. Furthermore, biplane two-dimensional echocardiography (B2DE) may occasionally not be feasible due to a suboptimal two-chamber apical view. Simplified single plane two-dimensional echocardiography (S2DE) could overcome these limitations. We aimed to compare the reliability of S2DE with other validated echocardiographic methods in the measurement of the LAVI. We examined 143 individuals (54 ± 13 years old; 112 with heart disease and 31 healthy volunteers; all with sinus rhythm, with a wide range of LAVI). The results for all the individuals were compared with B2DE-derived LAVIs and validated using 3DE. The LAVIs, as determined using S2DE (32.7 ± 13.1 mL/m(2)), B2DE (31.9 ± 12.7 mL/m(2)), and 3DE (33.1 ± 13.4 mL/m(2)), were not significantly different from each other (P = 0.85). The S2DE-derived LAVIs correlated significantly with those obtained using both B2DE (r = 0.98; P < 0.001) and 3DE (r = 0.93; P < 0.001). The mean difference between the S2DE and B2DE measurements was <1.0 mL/m(2). Using the American Society of Echocardiography criteria for grading LAVI enlargement (normal, mild, moderate, severe), we observed an excellent agreement between the S2DE- and B2DE-derived classifications (κ = 0.89; P < 0.001). S2DE is a simple, rapid, and reliable method for LAVI measurement that may expand the use of this important biomarker in routine echocardiographic practice.

A New Method for Evaluating Tricuspid Valve Displacement in Children With Ebstein’s Anomaly: Using the Annulus and Coronary Sinus as a Reference Point

This study aimed to investigate the reference point for the downward displacement of the posterior and anterior leaflets of the tricuspid valve using echocardiography in children with Ebstein's anomaly. This study enrolled 25 patients with Ebstein's anomaly. The extent of downward displacement of the posterior and anterior leaflets of the tricuspid valve was evaluated by echocardiography using the tricuspid annulus and the coronary sinus as reference points. These results were compared with the surgical findings. The findings showed displacement of the simple septal leaflet in 1 patient, displacement of both the septal and posterior leaflets in 22 patients, displacement of both the anterior and posterior leaflets in 1 patient, and displacement of all the leaflets in 1 patient. Because the septal and posterior leaflets were close to the apex or because the posterior leaflet was nearly absent, the displacement distance of the septal and posterior leaflets could not be measured accurately in two patients. The displacement distance of the septal and posterior leaflets in the remaining 22 patients were 2.08±1.15 and 2.58±1.06cm, respectively. The displacement distances of the anterior leaflet in two patients were respectively 1.0 and 2.2cm. These results were similar to those measured during surgery. The direction of the valvular regurgitation flow was anterolateral in the apical four-chamber and apical right heart two-chamber views in patients with the downward displacement of the anterior leaflet. The tricuspid valve annulus and the coronary sinus are ideal reference points for evaluating the downward displacement of the posterior and anterior leaflets of the tricuspid valve. It is critical to evaluate the downward displacement of the anterior leaflet thatthe direction of the tricuspid regurgitation flow is changed.

GW24-e0045 Assessment of Left Ventricular Regional Rotation in Early Phase of Acute Coronary Occlusion by Speckle Tracking Imaging

ObjectivesTo assess the left ventricular regional rotation of rabbit in early phase of acute coronary occlusion by speckle tracking imaging (STI), in order to investigate the sensibility of this method...

GW24-e2126 Study of left atrial function in patients with essential hypertension using velocity vector imaging

ObjectivesVelocity vector imaging (VVI) was used to study the characteristics of strain and strain rate (SR) of the left atrium in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy, in...