Objective: To explore the application value and safety of low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiogram (LDDSE) in patients of low-flow/low-gradient aortic stenosis combining left ventricular dysfunction with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods: A total of 5 eligible consecutive patients with contradiction of routine surgical valve replacement and going to receive TAVR in our hospital from 2013-10 to 2016-07 were enrolled. The mean aortic valvegradient, maximum flow velocity, each stroke volume and ejection fraction were recorded before and during LDDSE examination. The patients having confirmed diagnosis of true severe aortic stenosis with left ventricular contractile reserve received TAVR, for those without left ventricular contractile reserve received drug therapy or TAVR conditionally. The changes of cardiac function and NT-proBNP level were observed after TAVR. Results: All 5 patients showed positive finding in LDDSE; the mean aortic valve gradient ≥40mmHg and stroke volume≥20% implied that the patients had true severe aortic stenosis with left ventricular contractile reserve. No adverse reaction occurred during and after LDDSE. TAVR was performed in 4 patients and 1 was waiting for TAVR or balloon dilatation since temporary lacking of valve. The post-operative cardiac function was improved in all patients and NT-proBNP level was declined continuously. Conclusion: LDDSE examination could be considered in patients of aortic stenosis combining left ventricular dysfunction, low-flow and low-gradient to clarify ventricular contractile reserve and the severity of aortic stenosis. If the patients with ventricular contractile reserve, TAVR was recommended which was the effective treatment for relevant patients.

Objective: To evaluate the efifcacy of modiifed extended Morrow procedure on hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) in adolescent patients. Methods: We retrospectively studied 29 consecutive HOCM patients at the age≤21 years who received modiifed extended Morrow procedure in our hospital from 2011 to 2015 for their clinical conditions to assess surgical efifcacy. Echocardiography was performed to compare left atrial size, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular outlfow tract peak pressure, ventricular septal thickness, mitral systolic anterior motion and mitral regurgitation grade before and after operation. Moreover, pre-operative and post-operative plasma NT-proBNP levels were determined. Cardiac function was evaluated by New York Heart Association functional class. Results: There were 17 (58.6%) patients received isolated modiifed extended Morrow procedure and 12 patients had concomitant operation including 8 (27.6%) with coronary artery bypass grafting. Compared with pre-operation, the post-operative thickness of ventricular septum decreased from (24.6 ± 6.8) mm to (16.9 ± 7.1) mm, left ventricular outlfow tract gradient decreased from (68.8 ± 15.7) mmHg to (10.7 ± 4.2) mmHg, bothP<0.001; mitral regurgitation degree reduced from (1.7 ± 1.3) to (0.2 ± 0.4),P<0.01; NYHA classification improved from (3.4 ± 0.8) to (1.4 ± 0.5),P<0.01; plasma level of NT-proBNP reduced from (1957.6 ± 392.5) ng/ml to (458.7 ± 161.0) ng/ml,P<0.01. There was no peri-operative death, the survival rates at 12, 24 and 36 months post-operation were 100%, 86.7% and 86.7% respectively. Conclusion: Modiifed extended Morrow procedure has been a safe and effective method for treating adolescent HOCM patients, adequate exposure is the key point to assure surgical efifcacy.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of echocardiography for occluding the multiple seconded atria1 septal defects ( MASD) in relevant patients.
Methods: A total of 42 MASD patients were selected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The transcatheter closure was monitored by TTE and X-ray, the effect of treatment was evaluated by TTE, ECG and chest X-ray at 24 hours and 1, 3, 6 months after the procedure. There were 38 patients with 2 defects, 3 with many central small defects and 1 with 3 defects. The patients included 17 male and 25 female with the mean age of (32.6 ± 13.4) years.
Results: The size and distance of the defects were measured with 4 cardiac chambers cross sectional study. The mean diameter of bigger defect from up to down was (9-27) mm, with the mean of (20.7 ± 6.1) mm, from front to back was (8-23) mm, with the mean of (16.9 ± 5.7) mm;the mean diameter of small defect from up to down was (3-12) mm, with the mean of (6.8 ± 3.6) mm. The length of the defect interva1 was (4-18) mm, with the mean of (7.9 ± 2.6) mm. There were 4 patients with 2 defect interval at 8.7 mm who received 2 occluders without post-operative lfow shunt. The rest 38 patients received 1 Amplatzer occluder which was (14-36) mm with the mean of (25.1 ± 6.4) mm which was (6.9 ± 1.7) mm larger than echocardiographic prediction. The success rate of implantation was 100%. There were 17 (40.5%) patients with post-operative lfow shunt. The patients were followed-up for (6-36) months, with the mean of 18.7 months, there were 11 (26.2%) patients with small amount of lfow shunt at 3 months after the operation.
Conclusion: Echocardiography is important for choosing the type and size of occluder devices, in-operative monitoring and post-operative effect evaluation for treating the ASD patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the predictor and risk factor of left ventricular (LV) free wall reverse remodeling in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) after modiifed Morrow procedure by three-layer speckle tracking of echocardiography.
Methods: Our investigation included 2 groups: HCM group, n=60 patients who had successful modified Morrow procedure in our hospital from 2014-06 to 2014-12, there were 41 (68.3%) male with the average age of (39.1 ± 15.2) years. Control group, n=40 healthy subjects. Three-layer speckle tracking echocardiography was conducted to analyze pre-and post-operative LV free wall three-layer myocardium (endocardial, mid, and epicardial layers) changes at longitudinal strain (LS) and circumferential strain (CS). Clinical and echocardiography information were collected at pre-and (6-24) months post-operation. The impact factors for LV free wall reverse remodeling was identiifed by liner regression analysis and the segment’s thickness≥15mm was deifned as the hypertrophic LV free segment.
Results: In HCM group, compared with pre-operative condition, the post-operative thickness of LV free wall including anterior, anterolateral and inferolateral were reduced;while both post-operative LS and CS elevated (-13.8 ± 4.8)%vs (-17.0 ± 5.2)%and (-23.7 ± 3.8)%vs (-25.4 ± 3.7)%, P<0.05. LV mass index by echocardiography was larger than LV mass index by surgical resection (13.5 ± 30.9) g/m2 vs (3.4 ± 2.0) g/m2, P<0.05. Liner regression analysis indicated that the number of pre-operative hypertrophic segments (r=-0.680, P<0.001) and age (r=0.638, P<0.001) were the independent impact factors for post-operative LS;△left ventricular outlfow tract (LVOT) gradient (r=0.386, P=0.005) was the independent impact factor for post-operative CS.
Conclusion:①After modiifed Morrow procedure, LVOT obstruction disappeared which leaded LV free wall reverse remodeling in HCM patients, ②three-layer myocardium of LV free wall all had reverse remodeling, ③better improved LVOT gradient were with less number of hypertrophic segments;the elder patients usually had the better post-operative reverse remodeling.

Objective: To explore the cardiac function and outcomes in patients of aortic stenosis (AS) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) within 6 months in order to provide the guidance for clinical treatment. Methods: A total of 49 consecutive severe AS patients with surgical contradiction or STS high risk score and received successful TAVR in our hospital from 2013-12 to 2015-12 were studied. Echocardiography and blood levels of NT-proBNP were examined at pre- and 1 month, 6 months after TAVR. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), aortic valve mean gradient (MG), peak gradient (PG) and peak velocity (PV) were recorded. Based on pre-operative LVEF, the patients were divided into 2 groups: Cardiac dysfunction group, LVEF<50%,n=15 (30.6%) and Normal cardiac function group, LVEF≥50%, n=34 (69.4%). Post-operative cardiac function and blood levels of NT-proBNP were compared between 2 groups. Results: In all 49 patients, the following parameters were significantly improved within 7 days after TAVR: LVEF (56.0±14.6) % vs (52.5±13.8)%, MG (11±5) mmHg vs (58±18) mmHg, PG (21.7±9.5) mmHg vs (93.0±28.6) mmHg, PV (2.3±0.5) m/s vs (4.8±0.7) m/s, blood NT-proBNP level [1831 (1098-3363)] pg/ml vs [3842 (1763-8664)] pg/ml and aortic valve area (1.57±0.43) cm2 vs (0.58±0.23) cm2 allP<0.05. Within 6 months after TAVR, LVEF was continuously increasing especially in Cardiac dysfunction group; MG, PV and NT-proBNP level were continuously decreasing, NYHA grade was continuously improving, allP<0.05. Conclusion: TAVR was an effective treatment in AS patients with surgical contradiction or STS high risk score; it may continuously improve cardiac function, especially in patients with left heart dysfunction.

Objective:To evaluate the early effects of combined transaortic and transapical approach to septal myectomy in patients with complex hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM).Methods:We consecutively enrolled 20 complex HOCM patients who received transaortic and transapical myectomy in fuwai hospital from January 2019 to October 2019. Echocardiography was performed to compare left atrial size, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, peak left ventricular outflow gradient, ventricular septal thickness, mitral systolic anterior motion and mitral regurgitation grade before and after operation. Furthermore, pre-operative and post-operative electrocardiogram were also analyzed to determine the incidence of bundle branch block. Functional status was evaluated by New York Heart Association functional class.Results:Of the 20 complex hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients, 7(35%) HOCM patients with long-segment septal hypertrophy more than 7cm, 4(20%) patients had both mid-ventricular obstruction and left ventricular outflow obstruction. Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with LOVT obstruction was observed in 5 patients(25%) and aneurysm was found in 4(20%) HOCM patients. Postoperative thickness of ventricular septum was significantly decreased compared with that of preoperation[(21.1±3.6)mm vs.(13.4±3.1)mm]. Peak LOVT gradient or mid-ventricular gradient also significantly reduced after operation[(77.0±21.0) mmHg vs.(9.2±3.4) mmHg] or [(71.0±23.0) mmHg vs. 0 mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa]; After surgery, mitral systolic anterior motion disappeared, mitral regurgitation degree reduced from (1.9±1.5) to (0.2±0.4); NYHA class improved from(2.1±0.2) to(1.3±0.5). New incidence of left bundle branch block occurred in 9 patients, and 1 patient developed complete bundle branch block and implanted permanent pacemaker. The 30-day survival was 100%.Conclusion:Combined transaortic and transapical septal myectomy is an effective and reasonably safe procedure for patients with complex hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.