No abstract available.
Humans ; Myocardial Infarction*

Dynamic left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction is a characteristic feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; however, it can also occur in association with hyperdynamic LV contraction and/or changes in the cardiac loading condition, even in a structurally normal or near-normal heart. Here, we report a case of anemia-induced systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve and the resultant intraventricular obstruction in a patient who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and suffered from anemia associated with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.
Anemia ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Dyspnea* ; Echocardiography ; Heart* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mitral Valve* ; Thoracic Surgery*

Triple antiplatelet therapy has been known to be superior to the conventional dual regimen for preventing stent thrombosis after coronary stenting, and the addition of oral anticoagulation to antiplatelet therapy is also considered an option. However, the risks and benefits of a triple antiplatelet regimen plus additional oral anticoagulation must be taken into account. Here, we report a case of fatal renal bleeding in a patient treated with triple antiplatelet plus oral anticoagulant therapy for the prevention of recurrent stent thrombosis.
Coronary Thrombosis ; Drug Combinations ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; Stents ; Thrombosis

Occurrence of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is not infrequent in critically ill patients, and it is associated with potential danger. Here, we report a case of transient heart failure with hemodynamic deterioration paradoxically induced by extreme dehydration. This article describes clinical features of the patient and echocardiographic findings of dynamic LVOT obstruction and significant mitral regurgitation caused by systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve in a volume-depleted heart.
Cardiac Volume ; Dehydration/*complications ; Echocardiography/methods ; Female ; Heart Failure/*etiology/therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency/complications/*etiology ; Pulmonary Edema/etiology ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction/*complications/etiology

0.9 between all observers). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the predictive power for CAD was improved when max-CIMT and plaque information (plaque≥2) was added [area under the curve (AUC): 0.838] to the traditional clinical CV risk factors (AUC: 0.769). The cutoff values for CAD prediction with the standard device and the WHUS device were 1.05 mm (AUC: 0.807, sensitivity: 0.78, specificity: 0.53) and 1.10 mm (AUC: 0.725, sensitivity: 0.98, specificity: 0.27), respectively.CONCLUSION: max-CIMT measured by a WHUS device showed excellent agreement and repeatability, compared with standard ultrasound. Combined max-CIMT and plaque information added predictive power to the traditional clinical CV risk factors in detecting high-risk CAD patients.]]>
Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; Wireless Technology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The prognostic role of the right atrium (RA) compared with that of the left atrium (LA) is unclear in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We assessed structural changes in both atria and determined their association with recurrence of AF after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All 111 patients with nonvalvular AF (87 men; mean age, 57+/-11 years; 68 with paroxysmal AF) who underwent RFCA were enrolled consecutively. Three-dimensional volumes of both atria measured from computed tomography images were compared between subjects with and without recurrence of AF during the follow-up. RESULTS: Early (<3 months), 6-month, and 1-year recurrence was documented in 26 (24%), 30 (27%), and 36 (32%) patients, respectively. Significantly larger RA and LA volume indices (RAVI and LAVI) were observed in the early, 6-month, and 1-year recurrence groups (p<0.05 for all). In multivariate analysis, Early recurrence was independently associated with RAVI (for each 10 mL/m2 increase; odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.66, p= 0.03), but not with LAVI. However, both RAVI and LAVI failed to predict 6-month outcomes independently. LAVI was the only independent predictor of 1-year recurrence (for each 10 mL/m2 increase; OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.08-1.71, p=0.009). CONCLUSION: RA enlargement was more closely related to early recurrence of AF after RFCA than LA size. However, LA size, rather than RA volume, was a determinant of long-term AF prognosis after RFCA. These findings suggest a temporal pattern in the prognostic implication of enlargement in each atrium that switches over time after RFCA for AF.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Catheter Ablation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

Pericardiectomy is the standard treatment in patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis who have persistent symptoms. However, myocardial atrophy with prolonged pericardial constriction and abrupt increase in venous return can lead to heart failure with volume overload after pericardial decompression, especially in the right ventricle (RV). We experienced a 44 year old male patient who developed transient RV failure after pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis. Echocardiography revealed a markedly dilated RV with decreased peak systolic velocity of the tricuspid annulus, suggesting severe RV dysfunction. After treatment with inotropics and diuretics, a follow-up echocardiography revealed an improved systolic function with decreased RV chamber size. This case demonstrates the importance of volume overload and RV dysfunction in patients with constrictive pericarditis undergoing pericardiectomy.
Atrophy ; Constriction ; Decompression ; Diuretics ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) patients with severe left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction (those with a gradient of > 100 mm Hg) are at the highest risk of hemodynamic deterioration during pregnancy. Complications of HOCM include sudden cardiac death, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Physiological changes during pregnancy may induce these complications, affecting maternal and fetal health conditions. Therefore, close monitoring with appropriate management is essential for the well-being of both mother and fetus. We report on the case of a 27-year-old female patient with severe LVOT obstruction HOCM, pressure gradient (PG) of 125 mm Hg at resting, and 152 mm Hg induced by the Valsalva maneuver at 34 weeks gestation. This case showed how close monitoring using echocardiography and proper management during the course of pregnancy resulted in successful delivery in the patient with extremely high PG HOCM.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fetus ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mothers ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Valsalva Maneuver ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction

PURPOSE: Elderly patients (pts) (EPs; > or = 65 years old) with newly diagnosed-acute decompensated heart failure (ND-ADHF) have not yet been studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate clinical characteristics, including echocardiographic findings and prognosis, for EPs with ND-ADHF and to compare those with non-elderly pts (NEPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 256 pts (144 males, 63.0 +/- 14.8 years old) who were admitted to our hospital between January 2005 and March 2009 with ND-ADHF. Clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters were analyzed in EPs (n = 135, 58 males) and NEPs (n = 121, 86 males). RESULTS: In intergroup comparison, female gender, diabetes mellitus, previous stroke and hypertension were more common in EPs. Body mass index (22.3 +/- 4.5 vs. 24.0 +/- 4.4 kg/m2), estimated glomerular filtration rate (54.8 +/- 24.3 vs. 69.2 +/- 30.7 mL/min/m2), C-reactive protein (28.5 +/- 46.9 vs. 7.6 +/- 11.6 mg/dL), hemoglobin (12.3 +/- 2.1 vs. 13.6 +/- 2.3 g/dL) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level (10,538.2 +/- 10,942.3 vs. 6,771.0 +/- 8,964.7 pg/mL) were significantly different (p < 0.05 for all). Early mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/E') was significantly higher in EPs than in NEPs (21.2 +/- 9.4 vs. 18.0 +/- 8.9, p < 0.05). During follow-up (44.7 +/- 14.5 months), there were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality, re-hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality between EPs and NEPs (p = NS for all). CONCLUSION: EPs with ND-ADHF have different clinical characteristics and higher LV filling pressure when compared with NEPs. However, the clinical outcomes for NEPs with ND-ADHF are not necessarily more favorable than those for EPs.
Aged ; Echocardiography/*methods ; Female ; Heart Failure/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

We report a case of newly developed aortic dissection after aorta cannulation during mitral valve surgery in a patient with Marfan syndrome. An unexpected fatal complication of cardiac surgery detected on postoperative imaging survey in Marfan syndrome patient and its surgical finding are described.
Aorta ; Catheterization ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Marfan Syndrome ; Mitral Valve ; Thoracic Surgery