ObjectiveTo determine the dispersion of atrial contraction time(A) and electromechanical time (P A) in different parts of atria among paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients by Doppler tissue imaging (DTI). MethodsDTI data were acquired in 58 PAF patients and 31 normal subjects. The DTI images of various parts were obtained by using apical 4 chamber view and sample volume was placed at the interventricular septum atrioventricular annulus, left lateral mitral annulus and right lateral tricuspid annulus, then P A and A were detected. The difference of P A and A between various parts of atria were calculated. ResultsThe dimension of left atria, right atria,systolic blood pressure and age in PAF group were much greater than those in controls. The difference of P A and A between left lateral mitral annulus and right lateral tricuspid annulus (T3,TT3) were significantly larger in PAF patients than in normal subjects[T3:( 24.27 ? 18.29 )ms vs ( 16.76 ? 10.96 )ms, P

Objective To investigate the effect of left ventricular geometric patterns on left atrial performance in patients with hypertension by acoustic quantification (AQ) technique. Methods Sixty eight hypertensive patients and 20 control subjects were studied. According to left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness, normal left ventricular geometry, concentric remolding, concentric hypertrophy and eccentric hypertrophy were grouped in patients with hypertension. Left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF), conduit volume (CV) and reservoir volume (RV) were measured with AQ technique. Results Compared with control subjects, RV was increased more significantly in patients with normal left ventricular geometry and concentric remolding; RV and LAEF were increased, and CV was decreased significantly in patients with concentric hypertrophy; LAEF and CV were decreased, and RV was increased significantly in patients with eccentric hypertrophy. Conclusions The redistribution of left atrial reservoir function, booster pump function and conduit function is an important compensatory mechanism that facilitates left ventricular filling in hypertensive patients with different left ventricular geometric patterns. Left atrial dysfunction occurs in patients with eccentric hypertrophy.

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.