International Journal of Cardiovascular Practice

No abstract available.

The current study aimed at conducting an educational survey on the mitral valve using advanced technologies eSie Valve® and Q-Lab in echocardiography machines and also those mitral valve geometrical parameter measurements that can be easily calculated with MATLAB software offline in a personal computer as an echocardiographic desk for further information and recommendation before mitral valve repairs or other treatments.

Introduction: Atrial septal defects (ASD) considered being one of the known congenital heart diseases. ASD causes increased volume overload of the right heart. The purpose of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) torsion deformation in ASD patients undergoing transcatheter device closure.

Methods: All adult patients who underwent transcatheter device closure with ostium secundum ASD were included in the study. We assessed LV torsion in ostium secundum ASD patient’s pre and post device closure by using speckle tracking echocardiography.

Results: A total of 37 patients (22 females and 15 males) were included in this study. The average age was 28 ± 19 years. LV peak basal rotation improved significantly (P = 0.028) in post transcatheter closure. LV torsion (2.88 ± 0.99˚/cm before vs. 3.40 ± 1.41˚/cm after closure, P = 0.009) and twisting (15.12 ± 4.69˚ before vs. 17.95 ± 6.21˚ after closure, P = 0.005) were statistically significant in post transcatheter closure. Volumetric assessment of LV including end-diastolic volume and systolic volume showed significant improvement (P = 0.02, P < 0.01) post device closure.

Conclusions: The increased peak LV twisting and torsion was mainly attributed to the improved peak systolic clockwise rotation after ASD device closure. The LV twisting at a younger age was improved after the closure of ASD.

Introduction: Pregnancy is a physiological process associated with increased cardiac output, blood volume, decreased systemic vascular resistance and other metabolic changes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate biventricular function between pregnant and non-pregnant women by conventional and newer echocardiographic indices.

Methods: Echocardiography was done at the beginning of the second and third trimester for 51 (18-24 GW) pregnant women and age-matched 50 non-pregnant women were included in this study. Patients were assesses based on their sex, age, detailed history, and anthropometric values. Moreover, cardiac investigations including echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging were performed.

Results: The mean age of pregnant women was 27 ± 3, and the non-pregnant woman was 24 ± 4 years. When compared with control during pregnancy left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume was increased, and LV ejection fraction was decreased for women in second to third trimester. Right ventricular (RV) function increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the third trimester when compared with control. RV tissue Doppler early diastolic filling wave E’ gradually decreased during pregnancy.

Conclusions: During pregnancy, left ventricular ejection fraction & contractility is reduced. The myocardial peak velocity changes occurred throughout pregnancy. Echocardiographic indices of ventricular function were used to detect the changes in cardiac function during both normal and high-risk pregnancy.

Splenic Artery Aneurysms (SAA) are one of the most frequent intraabdominal aneurysms. They are mostly asymptomatic unless they rupture with a mortality rate of 25%. Traditionally, surgery is used to treat SAA. However, non-surgical, endovascular techniques are also suitable alternatives. We present a 51-year-old woman with preumbilical abdominal pain diagnosed as splenic artery aneurysm which was managed by stent graft placement.