Objective To evaluate the value of suprasternal long axis view in echocardiography for right pulmonary artery (RPA) lesions.Methods Echocardiography was performed in 31 patients with clinical suspicion of pulmonary vascular disease.Through suprasternal long axis view,RPA,right superior pulmonary artery and right inferior pulmonary artery were identified,and the vessel wall,intraluminal echoes,and location of the lesion were obtained.Blood flow in pulmonary artery was detected with color Doppler flow imaging.The results of echocardiography were compared with those of computer tomography of pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and clinical diagnosis.Results With suprasternal notch echocardiography,RPA lesions were identified in 27 patients.H owever,RPA could not be clearly identified in four patients.There were 22 patients with moderate or low echo mass in RPA,and five patients with intimal thickening and artery stenosis/obliteration.In the 27 patients with detected lesions,20 lesions were located in RPA,seven lesions were located in distal RPA or its branches.Among the results obtained with echocardiography,25 were in accordance with CT results,6 were not in accordance with CT results.Conclusions The suprasternal long axis view of RPA can be an important alternative imaging modality in identification of pulmonary vascular diseases.

Objective To assess the accuracy of three-dimensional color Doppler echocardiography (3DCDE) for measuring left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV). Methods A total of 45 patients were studied to measure LVSV by 3DCDE and two-dimensional Doppler echocardiograph(2DDE). Full-volume three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) was also performed to measure left ventricular end systolic (LVESV) ,end diastolic(LVEDV) ,and LVSV (LVEDV-LVESV), which served as a reference standard for comparison. Results Mean values of LVSV by 3DE,2DDE,3DCDE were (79. 3 ± 22. 6)ml, (74. 0 ± 20. 6) ml,(78. 7 ±22. 6)ml. respectively. Compared with LVSV by 3DE,the correlation was excellent for 3DCDE (r = 0.96), good for 2DDE ( r =0.89). Conclusions LVSV measurement by 3DCDE is reasonably accurate. This new technology may be a valuable clinical tool for assessing cardiac function.

Objective To identify the suitable echocardiographic predictor,the standard 2-demensional echocardiography and speckle tracking imaging (STI) techniques were applied for the late referred children with transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum (TGA-IVS) after neonatal period.Methods 22 children with TGA-IVS after neonatal period were enrolled.According to the intraoperative left ventricular (LV)/right ventricular systolic pressure ratio,they received pulmonary artery banding (PAB group,n =10) or arterial switch operation (ASO group,n =12).15 body surface area matched healthy children were served as control group,Echocardiography was performed before the operation.The dynamic images in basal and apical short axis view were collected respectively.Meanwhile,using the STI technique,the rotation curves at apex and base was analyzed.Results All the patients discharged eventually.A right to left bulging of the ventricular septum was observed in all the patients by the 2D short-axis view.There were no differences in wall thickness and ejection fraction between control,PAB and ASO group.Compared with the control group,the end diastolic diameter,end diastolic volume and indexed LV mass in PAB and ASO group were significantly reduced,however,no difference in the end diastolic diameter and volume and LV mass was observed between the PAB and ASO group.The hypoplasia of LV in PAB and ASO group was associated with an extended time to peak basal rotation and reduced basal rotation and global torsion.Furthermore,the shorter time to peak apical rotation and reduced apical rotation and global torsion were only observed in PAB group.Conclusions The standard echocardiography could be useful for the initial evaluation for regressed LV of the children with TGA-IVS.However,STI allows a much more precious approach to the assessment of LV regressing after neonatal period.The apical rotation and global torsion might be the better predictor to identify the borderline or regressed LV for the surgical management for the children with TGA-IVS.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistula (CAF) by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and the role of TTE in this therapy. Methods CAF were occluded with transcatheter closure techniques in 17 patients. TTE was performed before and after the treatments. The key points were retrospectively analyzed including: the sites of CAF, the position and diameter of CAF,the shape and position of the devices after the intervention,the residual shunt,and cardiac chamber size. Results Before the therapy,TTE made definite diagnosis of CAF. All patients had lesions in single coronary artery, and the diameter of CAF was 2-14 (6.4 ± 3.5)mm. All patients underwent transcatheter closure successfully. TTE revealed the shunts disappear 1-4 days after the occlusion. During a follow-up period of 1- 29 (11.7± 7.9)months,no residual shunts, no complications, and normal size of thecardiac chambers were recognized by TTE. Conclusions The transcatheter closure of CAF has emerged as a less invasive, safe and effective strategy. Echocardiography has important role in primary screening of patients and the follow-up after the treatments.

Objective To discuss the morphological features and diagnosis of congenial double orifice mitral valve (DOMV) deformity by echocardiography.Methods Twenty consecutive patients were examined.The changes of the morphology and flow dynamics of DOMV were studied,and other congenital cardiac abnormalities were also observed.These results were compared with those of surgery.Results Thirteen cases of adult patients were all with significant hemodynamic abnormalities,and underwent mitral replacement.One case of school child with muscular ventricular septal defect underwent mitral replacement because of obvious hemodynamic changes.Six cases were under 2 years old,2 cases with complete endocardial cushion defect accompanied with pulmonary hypertension,1 case with partial endocardial cushion defect accompanied with coarctation of the aorta underwent corrective operation.No significant hemodynamic abnormalities in 2 cases,1 case was associated with coarctation of the aorta and patent ductus arteriosus,the other patient with membranous ventricular septal defect.Severe stenosis in 1 case with papillary muscle dysplasia,because there was no suitable operation and take conservative therapy.Seventeen cases were confirmed by the results of open-heart surgery.Conclusions Echocardiography can provide an accurate method to diagnose DOMV and evaluate the hemodynamic changes.

Objective To evaluate the left ventricular segmental and global systolic myocardial function of the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) before and after transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH).Methods Twenty-six consecutive patients with HOCM were analysed by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (STI) before and after TASH.The left ventricular global and segmental systolic longitudinal strains and circumferential strain were measured.Results In the HOCM patients,the global and segmental longitudinal strains were lower than the healthy population before TASH.One week after TASH,a significant reduction of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradients occurred (P ＜ 0.001).The global and the alcohol-treated septal segmental longitudinal strains also decreased significantly[(-12.5±1.7)％ vs (-13.6± 1.6)％,P＜0.01;(-11.2±2.8)％ vs (-12.6±3.1)％,P ＜ 0.001].During 1 year follow-up after TASH,the mean NYHA function class improved after TASH (P ＜ 0.001) and the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradients and septal thickness decreased (P ＜0.001).The left ventricular global longitudinal systolic strain was increased [(-14.7 ± 2.0) ％ vs (-13.6 ±1.6) ％,P ＜0.01],and this was correlated with the decrease of the LVOT gradients (r =0.579,P ＜0.01).The alcohol-treated septal segments showed unchanged average longitudinal strain over time,while in the anterolateral and the anterior segments,the average longitudinal systolic strain increased (P ＜0.05).The basal and medial segments also showed increased average longitudinal systolic stain.However,the left ventricular circumferential strain had no changes after TASH.Conclusions TASH can significantly decrease the LVOT gradients and improve NYHA functional class with the increase of the left ventricular global and segmental longitudinal systolic function.

ObjectiveTo identify the suitable echocardiographic predictor of speckle tracking imaging (STI) for evaluation of development of left ventricle(LV) after pulmonary artery banding (PAB).Methods Seven children older than 3 months with transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum (TGA) were enrolled,they received pulmonary artery banding (PAB group).Eight body surface area matched healthy children were severed as control group.Using the STI technique,the rotation curves at apex and base were analyzed.ResultsAll the patients discharged eventually.The intraoperative LV/RV systolic pressure ratio in PAB group was (0.32 ± 0.04):1.There were no differences in ejection fraction and wall thickness between control and PAB group.However,the end diastolic diameter and end diastolic volume in PAB group was significantly reduced.Compared with the control group,the hypoplasia of LV in PAB group was associated with an extended time to peak basal rotation,and furthermore,the basal and global torsion was significantly reduced by 3 times.ConclusionsSTI showed local rotation and global torsion might be thevaluable predictor to evaluate the regressed and the development of LV peri-PAB procedure for the older children with TGA.

Objective To evaluate the value of echocardiography in transcatheter closure of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm(TC-RSVA).Methods TC-RSVA was attempted in 11 patients.The location,shape,size of defects and its relationship with the neighbor structures were revealed before the procedure.Then the deployment of occluder was monitored during the procedure,and the effectiveness was observed in the follow-up.Results Eleven patients were diagnosed as the isolated RSVA by echocardiography.The size of defects was 2 - 13 mm estimated by echo.The procedures were successful in all patients.Usually the Amplatzer duct occluders were chosen to be 1 to 5 mm larger than the size of defects.Three patients had mild residual shunt during the procedure,which all dispeared in the first month of follow-up,but one of them demonstrated recurrent mild residual shunt in the 32nd month of follow-up.There was no aggravating aortic regurgitation in the follow-up.Conclusions TC-RSVA is relatively safe and effective.Observation of long-term effectiveness is still necessary.Echocardiagraphy plays an important role in TC-RSVA.

Objective To evaluate the effect of the percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation(PTSMA)on the left ventricular function in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM).Methods All HOCM patients underwent echocardiogram measurements before and after the PTSMA procedure.The peak velocity of mitral annulus was measured at Doppler tissue pulsed wave mode.Doppler tissue imaging(DTI)was obtained at the 4- and 2-chamber apical view,and the peak systolic(Sa),early diastolic(Ea),and late diastolic(Aa)myocardial velocities of mitral annulus was measured at the long apical view.Results Compared with the velocity parameters before the PTSMA procedure,the peak Sa and Ea after the PTSMA were significantly lower while Aa was un-significantly lower.Conclusions In patients with HOCM,the diastolic and systolic function of the left ventricle decreased after the PTSMA procedure.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical application of real-time threedimensional transesophageal echocardiography(RT3D-TEE). Methods Fifty-nine patients with various heart diseases were examined or monitored by RT3D-TEE.Among them,20 patients with different kinds of arrhythmias,24 patients with valvular heart diseases, 12 patients with congenital heart diseases,2 patients with aortic dissection, 1 with unexplained pulmonary hypertension. Results RT3D-TEE was performed successfully in all the patients with good image quality and the normal tissues as well as diseased cardiac structures were distinctly displayed.Conclusions RT3D-TEE is a safe and reliable new technique which can be applied in the patients with poor acoustic window and may be a powerful tool in the intraoperative monitoring.RT3D-TEE is also an important supplement to real time three dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and makes it possible for the first time to monitor the cardiac operation with RT3D-TEE without interrupting the operation procedure.