Objective To evaluate right ventricular (RV) global and regional systolic function using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).Methods Thirty patients with PH and 27 controls were studied.RT-3DE images were acquired on a Philipa iE33 system with an X3-1 probe,then analyzed with a new software(TomTec) to determine RV global and regional (inflow, body, outflow) end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF).The difference of RT-3DE parameters between the two groups,as well as the correlation between RT-3DE and routine echoeardiography parameters was analyzed.Results In patients with PH ,RV global and regional EDV and ESV were significantly higher than those in normal controls (all P ＜0.05); RV global and regional EF were significantly lower than those in normal controls (all P ＜0.05).In the PH group, RV inflow EDV,SV and EF were higher than that of RV body and outflow part (P ＜ 0.05) ;RV global EF was lower than that of RV inflow part and higher than that of RV body and outflow part.In the PH group, RV global and inflow EF correlated with pulmonary artery systolic pressure negatively (r = - 0.611, P ＜0.001 and r = - 0.576, P = 0.001 ,respectively) ,and with the ratio of peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitation over outflow time-velocity integral negatively (r = -0.772, P = 0.002and r = -0.721, P ＜0.001, respectively)Conclusions RV global and regional volume was enlarged and systolic function was impaired in patients with pulmonary hypertension.RV global and regional systolic function was changed in liner relationship with RV after-load.

Objective To quantitatively evaluate left ventricular layer-specific strain using speckle tracking imaging,and their relationship with age and gender in nornal subj ects.Methods GE Vivid E9 equipment with EchoPAC BT1 2 workstation were used.One hundred and nineteen healthy subj ects were enrolled in this study.Results Left ventricular global longitudinal and circumferential strain was highest in the endocardium and lowest in the epicardium.Longitudinal and circumferential 3-layer strain was highest in the apex and lowest in the base.Age and gender had little influence on the left ventricular layer-specific strain.Conclusions Speckle tracking imaging can quantitatively assess left ventricular layer-specific strain, providing another useful modality for evaluating cardiac function.

The prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in adults is up to 20％-25％.PFO is associated with cryptogenic stroke in young patients,transient ischemic attack and several other diseases.Echocardiography plays a critically important role in screening of PFO,guidance during percutaneous intervention and follow up.The diagnosis of PFO by echocardiography were reviewed in this article.

Objective To investigate the value of two-dimensional and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods Eleven patients with severe aortic stenosis and one patient with moderate to severe prosthetic valve regurgitation underwent TAVI in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from May 2010 to December 2015. All patients received two-dimensional and three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examination before surgery, during and after surgery.Results Procedural success was achieved in eleven patients, but one patient died in pericardial tamponade and aortic dissection three days after TAVI. The maximum and minimum diameter of aortic annule, the area of aortic annule and aortic valve were measured by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and 3DTEE before surgery. All parameters had strong correlations between MDCT and 3DTEE (r=0.98,P<0.01 for maximum diameter;r=0.97,P<0.01 for minimum diameter;r=0.97,P<0.01 for the area of aortic annule;r=0.99, P<0.01 for the area of aortic valve). There were good correlations for the area of aortic valve among MDCT, 3DTEE and equation of continuity (allr=0.99,P<0.01).ConclusionTwo-dimensional and three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography can quantify the size of aortic annular and comprehensively evaluate the anatomical structure of aorta rapidly and accurately, which can be used in guiding TAVI and monitoring its complications in real time.

Objective To investigate the alternation of right ventricular volume and systolic function in patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation under percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation(PPVI) by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE).Methods Ten patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation were enrolled.The 2D echocardiography images and real-time 3D full volume images on apical four-chamber view on a Philips IE33 system were acquired before PPVI and at 3 days,1 month,3months and 6 months after PPVI.Right ventricular end diastolic volume (EDV),end systolic volume(ESV),stroke volume (SV),ejection fraction(EF),fractional area change(FAC),tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE),right ventricular longitudinal strain-free wall(RVLSf) and right ventricular longitudinal strainseptum(RVLSs) were analysed using off-line TomTec software,the differences among the five groups were compared,and correlation analysis was made between the CMR and RT-3DE measurements.Results The level of pulmonary regurgitation had decreased or disappeared after PPVI.Compared with the preoperation,EDV,ESV at 3 days,1 month,3months and 6 months after operation had decreased significantly.EF,FAC,TAPSE,RVLS had increased significantly(all P ＜0.05).There were close correlation in EDV,ESV,EF between RT-3DE and CMR(pre-operation r =0.811,0.817,0.807,post-operation r =0.735,0.834,0.800,all P ＜0.055).Conclusions RV volume notably decreases while RV systolic function remarkably improves.The RT-3DE is a helpful technology in the evaluation of right ventricular volume and systolic function in patients after PPVI.

Objective To evaluate right ventricular (RV) global and regional volume and systolic function in patients with secondum atrial septal defect (ASD) using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE),and to explore the relationship between parameters derived from RT3DE and parameters measured by conventional echocardiography.Methods RT3DE images were acquired from 22 patients with secundum ASD and 22 normal controls for evaluation and analysis to obtain RV global and regional end-diastolic volume (EDV),end systolic volume (ESV),systolic volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) in three compartments (inflow,body and outflow).RV dyssynehrony parameters were calculated as the standard deviation (SD) and maximum difference (dif) of time to minimum systolic volume (Tmsv) and Tmsv corrected by heart rate (Tmsv％) in three RV compartments.Conventional echocardiographic parameters including pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP),pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRe) and maximum diameter of ASD (ASD-D) were calculated and recorded.Results RV global and regional EDV,ESV and SV were larger (all P ＜0.001) and EF was lower (all P ＜0.05) in the ASD group than in the controls.RV regional volume and systolic function were changed to various degrees in different compartment in the patients group.There were no significant differences in Tmsv,Tmsv％ and RV dyssynchrony parameters between the two groups.In patients with ASD,RV global and regional EDV,ESV and SV in the inflow compartment were positively correlated with ASD-D and PASP (r =0.463-0.704,all P ＜ 0.05) ; RV global EF was negatively correlated with PVRe (r =-0.477,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions In patients with ASD,RV global and regional volume was enlarged and systolic function was impaired with distinct characteristics; RV global volume and regional volume in the inflow compartment were positively correlated with RV pre-load while RV global EF was negatively correlated with RV afterload.

Objective To investigate the value of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) timing-excursion parametric index and 17 segment time-volume curves index in patients with leftventricular noncompaction(LVNC). Methods Ten patients with LVNC (proven by MRI) ,twenty subjects with normal LV function were examined by Philips iE33 with X3-1 probe. Results Parameter index (including Tmsv 16-SD,Tmsv 12-SD,Tmsv 6-SD,Tmsv 16-Dif,Tmsv 12-Dif,Tmsv 6-Dif,Tmsv 16-SD%,Tmsv 12-SD%, Tmsv 6-SD%, Tmsv 16-Dif%, Tmsv 12-Dif%, Tmsv 6-Dif%) of 17 segment time to minimal systolic volume was significantly higher in patients with LVNC than that in subjects with normal LV function( all P＜0.05). Average and minimum value of excursion was significantly lower in patients with LVNC than that in subjects with normal LV function ( P＜0.05). Conclusions RT-3DE with timeexcursion parameters and 17 segment of time- volume curve parameters can rapidly and accurately evaluate left ventricular systolic synchrony in patients with LVNC.

Objective To evaluate the global and segmental (inflow,body and outflow) systolic functions of right ventricle in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) and four-dimensional right ventricle quantitative analysis (4D-RVQ) and to reveal the long-term impact of renal insufficiency on right ventricular systolic function.Methods RT-3DE was performed in 48 ESRF patients and 26 healthy individuals (control group).Images were acquired and analysed off-line in TomTec 4D-RVQ station.The parameters of RV global and segmental systolic functions,including RV global and segmental end-diastolic volume (EDV),end-systolic volume(ESV),stroke volume(SV),ejection fraction(EF),the time to minimum systolic volume(T-msv) were obtained.All the variables were standardized by body surface area (BSA) or heart rate (HR).Results ① In the ESRF group,EDV,SV and EF of body compartment were significantly higher than those of the controls[EDV:(8.5±3.4)ml/m2 vs (6.4± 1.7)ml/m2,P =0.002;SV:(4.5 ± 1.7)ml/m2 vs (2.7±0.9)ml/m2,P =0.0037;EF:(45.4 ± 11.5)％ vs (41.1 ± 7.1)％,P =0.0489],and so were EDV,SV of inflow compartment [EDV:(19.6± 1.0)ml/m2 vs (16.5±0.9)ml/m2,P =0.0438;SV:(12.3±4.6)ml/m2 vs (10.1±3.2) ml/m2,P =0.0433].②Compared with the control group,the global and segmental T-msv were all delayed obviously in the ESRF group (P ＜ 0.001).③The percentage of SV of body compartment accounting for the global SV significantly increased in the ESRF group [(19.5 ± 7.3)％ vs (15.5 ± 5.5)％,P =0.0222],while that of outflow compartment reduced significantly [(20.3 ± 7.0)％ vs (26.8 ± 8.2)％,P =0.0005].Conclusions The global and segmental systolic functions of right ventricle were impaired in ESRF patients,especially in the body compartment.The RT-3DE and 4D-RVQ are helpful technologies in the evaluation and follow-up of right ventricular systolic function in patients with renal failure.

Objective To investigate the difference between three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography ( 3DTEE) and CT in measuring the size of aortic ring and the height of coronary ostium . Methods Fifteen patients were recruited and were treated with the transcatheter aortic valve implantation ( TAVI) . Routine transthoracic echocardiography ,two-dimensional echocardiography ( 2DTEE) ,3DTEE and CT examinations were taken preoperatively . Results The minimal diameter ,maximum diameter , perimeter ,area of the aortic ring measured by 3DTTE showed a close correlation and a strong consistency with those measured by CT [ r = 0 .88 , P < 0 .0001 ,ICC = 0 .928 (0 .788 - 0 .976) ; r = 0 .81 , P = 0 .0003 , ICC = 0 .890 ( 0 .673 - 0 .963) , r = 0 .85 , P = 0 .0001 ,ICC = 0 .914 ( 0 .744 - 0 .971) ; r = 0 .88 , P <0 .0001 ,ICC = 0 .932 (0 .799 - 0 .977) ] .The ostium height of the left and right coronary arteries measured by 3DTEE also showed a close correlation and a strong consistency with those measured by MDCT [ r =0 .87 , P < 0 .0001 ,ICC = 0 .923 ( 0 .777 - 0 .975) ; r = 0 .82 , P < 0 .0002 ,ICC = 0 .897 ( 0 .693 - 0 .965) ] . Besides ,inter-observer and intra-observer reproducibility for 3DTEE measurement data were very good . Conclusions 3DTEE has a high repeatability in evaluating minimal diameter , maximum diameter , perimeter ,area of the aortic ring and the height of coronary ostium ,which also shows good correlation with those measured by CT .

Objective To evaluate the left ventricle systolic function in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI) by speckle tracking imaging and to observe the indicators in bicuspid aortic valves(BAV) and tricuspid aortic valves(TAV) groups.Methods Twenty nine patients with AS were enrolled,all of them underwent TAVI successfully.The regular echocardiography and 3D full-volume images were acquired on before and 3 days,1 month after TAVI.Longitudinal strain,circumferential strain,and three-dimensional left ventricle ejection fraction(3D-LVEF) were analyzed using Qlab software.Results Compared with the baseline,aortic valve blood flow velocity (AV),maximum aortic valve pressure gradient (AVPG-max),mean aortic valve pressure gradient (AVPG-mean),aortic valve area(AVA) after TAVI were improved significantly.Global longitudinal strain(GLS) had a improvement on 3 days after TAVI(all P ＜0.001),and further increased during 1 month after TAVI (all P ＜0.001).Global circumferential strain(GCS) were increased during 1 month after TAVI(all P ＜ 0.001).The 3D-LVEF after 1 month were improved significantly(all P ＜0.001).The BAV patients and TAV patients had similar changes in all of indicators observed.Conclusions The left ventricle systolic function has early improvement after TAVI,and further recovery during follow-up.The BAV patients can obtain a benefit from TAVI equally to the TAV patients.