OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiac function of fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). METHODS: Peak velocity in early (E) and late (A) diastole were measured by pulsed-wave Doppler, and the peak annular velocities in systole (S'), early (E') and late (A') diastole were measured by TDI. Isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), ejection time (ET), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) were recorded. The ratios E/A, E'/A', E/E', E/(E'× S') and myocardial performance index (MPI) were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, E', A', S' and E'/A' were obviously lower (P<0.05) while E/E', E/(E'× S') and MPI were obviously higher (P<0.05) in the IUGR group; although E, A and E/A were slight lower in the IUGR group, the change was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Both diastolic and systolic heart function were jeopardized in IUGR fetuses.
Diastole ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Systole ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

The recently introduced real-time three-dimensional color Doppler flow imaging (RT-3D CDFI) technique provides a quick and accurate calculation of regurgitant jet volume (RJV) and fraction. In order to evaluate RT-3D CDFI in the noninvasive assessment of aortic RJV and regurgitant jet fraction (RJF) in patients with isolated aortic regurgitation, real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed on 23 patients with isolated aortic regurgitation to obtain LV end-diastolic volumes (LVEDV), end-systolic volumes (LVESV) and RJV, and then RJF could be calculated. The regurgitant volume (RV) and regurgitant fraction (RF) calculated by two-dimensional pulsed Doppler (2D-PD) method served as reference values. The results showed that aortic RJV measured by the RT-3D CDFI method showed a good correlation with the 2D-PD measurements (r = 0.93, Y = 0.89X + 3.9, SEE = 8.6 mL, P < 0.001); the mean (SD) difference between the two methods was--1.5 (9.8) mL. % RJF estimated by the RT-3D CDFI method was also correlated well with the values obtained by the 2D-PD method (r = 0.88, Y = 0.71X + 14.8, SEE = 6.4%, P < 0.001); the mean (SD) difference between the two methods was--1.2 (7.9) %. It was suggested that the newly developed RT-3D CDFI technique was feasible in the majority of patients. In patients with eccentric aortic regurgitation, this new modality provides additional information to that obtained from the two-dimensional examination, which overcomes the inherent limitations of two-dimensional echocardiography by depicting the full extent of the jet trajectory. In addition, the RT-3D CDFI method is quick and accurate in calculating RJV and RJF.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency/*ultrasonography ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional

Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography has been conceived as one of the most promising methods for the diagnosis of valvular heart disease, and recently has become an integral clinical tool thanks to the development of high quality real-time transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). In particular, for mitral valve diseases, this new approach has proven to be the most unique, powerful, and convincing method for understanding the complicated anatomy of the mitral valve and its dynamism. The method has been useful for surgical management, including robotic mitral valve repair. Moreover, this method has become indispensable for nonsurgical mitral procedures such as edge to edge mitral repair and transcatheter closure of paravaluvular leaks. In addition, color Doppler 3D echo has been valuable to identify the location of the regurgitant orifice and the severity of the mitral regurgitation. For aortic and tricuspid valve diseases, this method may not be quite as valuable as for the mitral valve. However, the necessity of 3D echo is recognized for certain situations even for these valves, such as for evaluating the aortic annulus for transcatheter aortic valve implantation. It is now clear that this method, especially with the continued development of real-time 3D TEE technology, will enhance the diagnosis and management of patients with these valvular heart diseases.
*Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; *Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; *Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Valve Diseases/physiopathology/therapy/*ultrasonography ; Heart Valves/physiopathology/*ultrasonography ; Humans ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Severity of Illness Index

No abstract available.
Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

No abstract available
Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

No abstract available.
Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

No abstract available.
Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

Transthoracic echocardiographic characteristics of 17 cases of cardiac amyloidosis (CA), a rare disease in China, were analyzed in order to improve the understanding of the disease. Seventeen cases of biopsy-proven CA, admitted to Wuhan Union Hospital from June 1994 to September 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty normal volunteers served as control group. Left atrial and ventricular functions and mitral inflow velocity were measured by two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived peak systolic wall motion velocities (Sv), peak early diastolic wall motion velocities (Ev), and peak late diastolic wall motion (Av) were measured at the septum, lateral, inferior and anterior corners of mitral annulus from the apical 4- and 2 chamber views. Compared with the control group, the interventricular septal thickness (IVSd), the left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWd), right ventricular transverse diameter (RVTDd) near the end of diastole and the interauricular septum thickness (IASs), left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAADs), right atrial transverse diameter (RATDs) near the end of systole were increased significantly (all P<0.05) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased (P<0.05) in the CA group. Compared with the control group, Sv, Ev at each wall and Av at almost all walls were significantly decreased in the CA group. In the CA group, Myocardial echoes of interventricular septum and free wall of left ventricle were enhanced evidently and distributed unevenly. The echoes presented as ground glass-like images, with some spotty hyper echoes. Both atria were enlarged, and LVEF decreased, with diastolic function impaired, and mild-moderate hydropericardium found in the CA group. It was concluded that echocardiography was a relatively sensitive and highly specific non-invasive method for the diagnosis of CA.
Amyloidosis/*ultrasonography ; Cardiomyopathies/*ultrasonography ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the value of fetal pulmonary venous Doppler flow patterns in hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). METHODS: Forty-six HLHS and 180 normal singleton fetuses at 24+0 to 37+6 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study. The blood flow of pulmonary vein (PV) was detected by color Doppler ultrasound. The systolic wave of ventricle (S-wave), diastolic wave of ventricle (D-wave), atrial contraction wave (A-wave) and S/D ratio of PV were measured. The statistical difference in the above parameters between HLHS and normal fetuses was compared. The diagnosis was also confirmed by autopsy in still birth or postnatal follow-up when the baby was alive. RESULTS: The PV blood flow in HLHS fetuses had a high possibility of reversed A wave, and the velocity of S wave and S/D ratio were higher than the matched normal controls (P<0.001). There were 3 types of PV blood flow patterns among all fetuses with HLHS. Both the cases with right to left shunt through foramen ovale (FO) and the cases with restricted left to right shunt at FO showed the triphasic patterns of PV with antegrade S wave, D wave and retrograde A wave. However, the latter had a higher velocity of retrograde A wave (P<0.001), lower D wave (P<0.001), and obviously elevated S wave and S/D ratio (P<0.001). The cases with intact interatrial septum showed short and apparent pulsatile back and forth blood flow in the PV, which displayed as absence of D wave. CONCLUSION The 3 types of PV blood flow patterns in the fetuses with HLHS reflect the severity of hypertension in the left atrium, which is extremely vital for the prognosis and the perinatal treatment plan.
Diastole ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Fetus ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Veins ; Systole ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

To evaluate the possibility and accuracy of Doppler tissue image (DTI) on assessment of normal and abnormal ventricular activation and contraction sequence, 9 open chest canine hearts were analyzed by acceleration mode, M-mode, and spectrum mode DTI. Our results showed that: (1) Acceleration mode DTI could show the origin of activation and conduction sequence on line; (2) M-mode DTI revealed that the activation in mid-interventricular septum was earlier than that in mid-left ventricular posterior wall at sinus activation; (3) Spectrum DTI showed the ventricular endocardium was activated earlier than the ventricular epicardium in all segments at sinus rhythm. The earliest site of activation of the normal ventricular wall was at middle interventricular septum; the latest site was at basal-posterior wall; the contraction sequence was different at the different walls; (4) During abnormal ventricular activation, mid-left ventricular posterior wall was activated earliest in accordance with the pacing sites. Abnormal ventricular activation was slower than sinus activation, and the contraction sequence varied at different sites of ventricular wall. It is concluded that DTI can be used to localize the origin of normal or abnormal myocardial activation and to assess the contraction sequence conveniently, accurately and non-invasively.
Echocardiography, Doppler/instrumentation ; Echocardiography, Doppler/*methods ; Heart Ventricles/*ultrasonography ; Myocardial Contraction/*physiology ; Sinoatrial Node/physiology ; Tachycardia/physiopathology ; Tachycardia/ultrasonography