Calcinosis ; etiology ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; Heart Septum ; pathology ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; surgery

Cardiac rhabdomyoma is a rare type of benign tumor affecting the heart. There are a few previous reports of intracardiac rhabdomyomas causing ventricular arrythmia. We describe a 1-year-old female tuberous sclerosis patient who was presented with a ventricular tachycardia. Diagnostic echocardiography revealed two masses in the left ventricular outflow tract originating from the ventricular septum. The masses were surgically resected through aortotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass and the masses appeared benign. The pathology was that of a cardiac rhabdomyomas. Postoperative course was uneventful and the ventricular tachycardia was controlled.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Pathology ; Rhabdomyoma ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Tuberous Sclerosis* ; Ventricular Septum

To evaluate the morphology of atrial septum by the live three-dimensional echocardiography (L3DE) and its value of clinical application, L3DE was performed in 62 subjects to observe the morphological characteristics and dynamic change of the overall anatomic structure of atrial septum. The study examined 49 patients with atrial septal defect (ASD), including 3 patients with atrial septal aneurysm, and 10 healthy subjects. ASD in the 35 patients was surgically confirmed. The maximal diameters of ASD were measured and the percentages of area change were calculated. The parameters derived from L3DE were compared with intraoperative measurements. The results showed that L3DE could directly and clearly display the morphological features of overall anatomic structure of normal atrial septum, repaired and artificially-occluded atrial septum, atrial septal aneurysm. The defect area in ASD patients changed significantly during cardiac cycle, which reached a maximum at end-systole and a minimum at end-diastole, with a mean change percentage of 46.6%, ranging from 14.8% to 73.4%. The sizes obtained from L3DE bore an excellent correlation with intraoperative findings (r=0.90). It is concluded that L3DE can clearly display the overall morphological features and dynamic change of atrial septum and measure the size of ASD area accurately, which is important in the decision to choose therapeutic protocols.
Atrial Septum/*ultrasonography ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*pathology ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*ultrasonography ; Young Adult

This report describes an uncommon case of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) accompanying infundibular stenosis of the right ventricle treated by alcohol ablation therapy, in a 28-yr-old male patient presenting with dyspnea on exertion. HOCM with infundibular stenosis was detected by echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization and patient has dynamic obstructions of both ventricular outflow tracts. We performed alcohol ablation therapy to improve clinical symptoms and to relieve dynamic obstructions of both ventriclular outflow tracts. This is the first case in which HOCM with infundibular stenosis of the right ventricle was treated by alcohol ablation therapy.
Adult ; Alcohols/therapeutic use ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/*therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Constriction, Pathologic/*therapy ; Echocardiography ; Heart Catheterization ; Heart Septum/pathology ; Heart Ventricles/pathology ; Human ; Male ; Pressure ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction/therapy

OBJECTIVE: To determine the use of septal plication with Dor or Cooley procedure for post infarction anterior and anterior-septal aneurysm of the left ventricle. METHODS: A total of 23 patients with post infarction anterior and anterior-septal aneurysm of the left ventricle underwent septal plication and Dor or Cooley procedure along with coronary artery bypass grafting concomitantly. Data of NYHA grading, left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end systolic volume index (LVESVI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were recorded before the surgery, before discharge and 3 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Compared with the preoperative data, the NYHA grading before the discharge and 3 months after the surgery improved from 3.21 ± 0.62 to 1.72 ± 0.31 and 1.57 ± 0.23(P<0.05); LVEDVI decreased from (102.31 ± 18.71) mL/m² to (62.11 ± 6.21) mL/m² and (54.63 ± 4.54) mL/m² (P<0.05); LVESVI decreased from (69.32 ± 17.48) mL/m² to (30.23 ± 3.25)mL/m² and (28.34 ± 3.12) mL/m²; while LVEF increased from (32.92 ± 8.12)% to (48.78 ± 4.51)% and (50.52 ± 4.68)% (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION Ventricular septal plication combined with Dor or Cooley procedure can remarkably improve the left heart function in patients with post infarction ventricular aneurysm.
Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Female ; Heart Aneurysm ; etiology ; surgery ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology ; Ventricular Septum ; surgery

We report herein a case of benign cardiac schwannoma in the interatrial septum. A 42-year-old woman was transferred from a clinic because of cardiomegaly as determined by chest X-ray. A transthoracic echocardiography and chest computed tomography examination revealed a huge mass in the pericardium compressing the right atrium, superior vena cava (SVC), left atrium, and superior pulmonary vein. To confirm that the tumor originated from either heart or mediastinum, cine magnetic resonance imaging was performed, but the result was not conclusive. To facilitate surgical planning, we used 3D printing. Using a printed heart model, we decided that tumor resection under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) through sternotomy would be technically feasible. At surgery, a huge tumor in the interatrial septum was confirmed. By incision on the atrial roof between the aorta and SVC, tumor enucleation was performed successfully under CPB. Pathology revealed benign schwannoma. The patient was discharged without complication. 3D printing of the heart and tumor was found to be helpful when deciding optimal surgical approach.
Adult ; Atrial Septum/pathology/surgery ; Cardiomegaly/*etiology/radiography ; *Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Female ; Heart Atria/pathology ; Heart Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; Neurilemmoma/*pathology/surgery ; *Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Sternotomy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vena Cava, Superior/pathology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intracardiac pathology results in 15 - 20% of ischemic stroke, but transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has a number of limitations because of suboptimal precordial windows or ultrasound interference with prosthetic materials. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides superior resolution of basal structures such as the left atrium, left atrial appendage, mitral valvular apparatus, atrial septum, and aorta. The purpose of this study was to describe the various TEE findings which were sources of cerebral emboli. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study population was comprised of 122 patients (mean age:54.5, male 83, female 39) who were admitted to Severance Hospital because of ischemic stroke from 1991 to 1997. All patients underwent TEE with agitated saline contrast administration. Patients without a definitive cardiac source of embolism underwent Holtor monitoring, internal carotid and cerebral angiography, as well as transcranial Doppler. RESULTS: 1) The number of patients diagnosed as cardioembolic stroke was 55 (45.1%). Atrial fibrillation was noted in 31 patients of cardioembolic stroke and it was the most frequent finding. Among these patients, 16 did not have any other cardiac problem. 2) We were able to find the possible source of embolism in 49 (40.2%) patients with TEE. Among these patients, 12 did not have dysrhythmia or any known previous heart problem. We found spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium and left atrial appendage in 33 cases. There were 8 patients who had intracardiac thrombus. Among these patients, 6 patients had thrombi in the left atrial appendage, 1 in left atrium and 1 in left ventricular apex. We found patent foramen ovale in 3 cases and atrial aneurysm in 1 case. We found atheromatous plaque and/or thrombi of the aorta in 16 cases, while there were 4 cases where lesions located in the ascending aorta and aortic arch and which were considered as the source of embolism. Small thrombi in the left atrial appendage and left atrium were only detectable with TEE. CONCLUSIONS: We described TEE findings in ischemic stroke patients. And we assert TEE is a useful diagnostic tool in detecting the source of cardioembolic stroke and it may be used as a primary diagnostic tool in patients who are being evaluated for ischemic stroke.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Septum ; Cerebral Angiography ; Dihydroergotamine ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Embolism ; Female ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; Male ; Pathology ; Stroke* ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Intracardiac pathology resulting in embloic phenomena is a well-recognized cause of cerebral ischemia and infarction. Recently, the use of transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) has gained wide acceptance because of its superior resolution of basal structures such as the left atrium, left atrial appendage, mitral valvular apparatus, atrial septum, and aorta. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of TEE for detection of intracardiac source of cerebral emboli. METHOD: From 1991 to 1995, 215 patients were included in this study. All patients underwent both transthoracic and transesophageal imaging with saline contrast administration and Doppler color flow imaging. The study group consisted of 132 men and 83 women with a mean age of 51 years(range 15-74). We also reviewed TEE result of all patients according to two groups, which were divided by the presence of clinical cardiac abnormalities. RESULT: 1) TEE identified a potential cardiac source of embolism in 43.7%(94 to 215) of the overall study group compared with only 3.7%(8 to 215) by TTE. 2) Success rate of TEE was 93.5%(201 to 215). 3) Abnormalities noted by TEE included 23 patients with LA spontaneous echo contrast, 20 patients with patient foramen ovale, 16 patients with aortic atheroma, 16 patients with LA thrombi, 8 patients with atrial septal aneurysm, 5 patients with aortic valve prolapse, 4 patients with mitral valve prolapse, and 2 patients with LV thrombi. 4) In the 62 patients with cardiac disease, TEE identified 16 patients with LA spontaneous echo contrast, 12 patients with LA thrombi, 2 patients with patent foramen ovale, 1 patient with aortic atheroma, 1 patient with atrial septal aneurysm and 1 patients with aortic valve prolapse. In the 152 patients with no cardiac disease, TEE identified 18 patients with patent foramen ovale, 15 patients with aortic atheroma, 7 patients with artial septal aneurysm, 7 patients with spontaneous echo contrast, 4 patients with aortic valve prolapse, 1 patient with mitral valve prolapse and 1 patient LA thrombi. CONCLUSION: TEE was very useful method in investigating potential intracardiac source of cerebral emboli. Thus, the use TEE combined with TTE in patients with unexplained stroke should be recommended.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve Prolapse ; Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Septum ; Brain Ischemia ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Embolism ; Female ; Foramen Ovale ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intracranial Embolism ; Male ; Methods ; Mitral Valve Prolapse ; Pathology ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Stroke

BACKGROUNDThe connexin43 knockout (Cx43 KO) mouse dies at birth with an enlarged conotruncal region, which leads to the obstruction of the right outflow tract (OFT). Since myocardialization of the proximal OFT septum is one of the key events during heart development, we investigated the process in the Cx43 KO embryo hearts. Rho associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1 (ROCK1), is a recently found key molecule to regulate the myocardialization of OFT, but its spatiotemporal expression pattern during myocardialization remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the differentially expressed pattern of ROCK1 between Cx43 KO and wild type embryo hearts, and its relationship with the delayed myocardialization in Cx43 KO embryo hearts.

METHODSUsing immunohistochemistry, the processes of myocardiolization were investigated both in Cx43 KO and wild type embryo hearts. The differentially expressed pattern of ROCK1 between Cx43 KO and wildtype embryo hearts was evaluated both at the mRNA and protein level by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression of α-sarcomeric actin (α-SCA) in the proximal OFT septum of Cx43 KO embryos was delayed. Meanwhile, it was shown that the downregulation of ROCK1 coincided with delayed myocardialization. The expression of ROCK1 protein was mainly limited to the proximal outflow tract septum from embryo day (E) E11.5 to E15.5. Its expression pattern was similar with that of α-SCA. Real-time RT-PCR found that the expression level of Rock-1 mRNA began at a low level on E11.5 and reached peak at E13.5 and E14.5.

CONCLUSIONSROCK1 may have an important role in the process of myocardialization of the proximal OFT septum. Downregulation of ROCK1 is likely to contribute to the aberrant myocardialization in Cx43 KO embryo hearts.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heart ; embryology ; physiopathology ; Heart Septum ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; rho-Associated Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

No abstract available.
Adolescent ; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic, Familial/complications/genetics/*pathology/physiopathology/therapy ; Electric Countershock ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Heart Failure/etiology/therapy ; Heart Septum/drug effects/*pathology/physiopathology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Tachycardia, Ventricular/etiology/therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction/etiology