[Electrocardiography and echocardiography aspects of hypertrophic myocardiopathy in pediatrics]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous disease, characterized by asymmetric hypertrophy of the left and/or right ventricle with disarray of myocardial fibers. In order to know its clinical and electrocardiographic manifestation in the pediatric age group, we made a retrospective study of 24 cases from 1986 to 1995. There were: 15 girls and 9 boys, with a mean age of 6 years (age range: 1 month to 17 years). Clinical manifestations were dyspnea (71%), syncope (42%) and palpitations (42%). Physical examination disclosed an aortic systolic murmur in all patients, a mitral regurgitation in 42% and physical signs of congestive heart failure in 54% of patients. Chest X rays showed cardiac enlargement in 71% and pulmonary capillary hypertension in 42%. The most frequent ECG abnormalities were: a prolonged time in the intrinsecoid deflection onset on leads corresponding to the affected region, more or less deep and clean Q waves on leads aVF, aVL, V5 and V6, as well as supraventricular and ventricular rhythm disturbances in 11 patients (46%) with and without congestive heart failure. Bidimensional echocardiography confirmed antero-septal hypertrophy in all patients. The mortality rate was 17%. HCM is rare disease in the pediatric age group. Mortality increases when congestive heart failure and arrhythmias are present. Treatment must be individualized in all cases.

The adult patient with Ebstein anomaly. Outcome in 72 unoperated patients

Knowledge of the long-term outcome in unoperated adult patients with Ebstein anomaly is limited, and the therapeutic approach is still controversial. We studied unoperated adult patients with Ebstein anomaly to define the patterns of presentation, anatomic characteristics, outcome, and predictive factors for survival. Seventy-two unoperated survivors of Ebstein anomaly aged over 25 years attended from 1972 to 1997 were reviewed and followed-up from 1.6 to 22.0 years. Patients were classified in 3 groups of severity according to the echocardiographic appearance of the septal leaflet attachment of tricuspid valve. The mean age at diagnosis was 23.9 +/- 10.4 years, and the most common clinical presentation was an arrhythmic event (51.4%). There were 30 (42%) deaths, including 6 from arrhythmia, 12 related to heart failure, 7 sudden, 2 unrelated, and 3 unascertained. According to Cox regression analysis, predictors of cardiac-related death included age at diagnosis (hazard ratio 0.89 for each year of age, 95% confidence intervals CI[ 0.84-0.94), male sex (3.93, 95% CI, 1.50-10.29), degree of echocardiographic severity (3.34, 95% CI, 1.78-6.24), and cardiothoracic ratio > or = 0.65 (3.57, 95% CI, 1.15-11.03). During follow-up, morbidity was mainly related to arrhythmia and refractory late hemodynamic deterioration. The magnitude of tricuspid regurgitation, cyanosis, and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class at time zero were significant risk factors according to the univariate analysis, but not after multivariable confrontation. The results of this study suggest that pattern of presentation, clinical course, and prognosis of unoperated adult patients with Ebstein anomaly are influenced by several factors. Although the initial symptoms are usually mild and commonly related to supraventricular arrhythmias, these are not associated with the long-term outcome. The severity of the morbid anatomy was the main determinant of survival only in extreme cases, but not in those with mild or moderate deformations, which are more common in adults. Other independent risk factors such as cardiothoracic ratio, sex, age at diagnosis, and the echocardiographic evaluation may help to determine the therapeutic approach. Adult patients with Ebstein anomaly should not be considered as a simple low-risk group.

Echocardiographic, catheterization, and nuclear medicine findings of an aneurysm of the muscular interventricular septum associated with aneurysm of the interatrial septum

The unusual case of a young woman with an aneurysm of the muscular interventricular septum associated with an aneurysm of the interatrial septum and a muscular interventricular septal defect is presented. The echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, catheterization, and nuclear medicine findings are described.

Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

It has been shown that congenital absence of the pulmonary valve rarely occurs by itself but tends to be associated with other heart defects, especially tetralogy of Fallot. Other malformations and other complex cardiac malformations also have been described in patients with absent pulmonary valve. In this report we describe the findings of a patient with this combination of cardiac defects who survived spontaneously to adulthood.

Ebstein's anomaly. Clinical profile in 174 patients

The study population consisted of 148 patients who did not undergo surgical treatment and 26 who were operated, most of them diagnosed after the age of 2, with a follow-up from 6 months to 25.3 years. Patients were divided in three groups of clinical deterioration according to their functional class and cardiothoracic index (CTR) long-term follow-up in 148 nonoperated patients showed significant differences for mortality between groups I and III (p < 0.001), and between groups II and III (p < 0.02). Predictors of death included the association among functional class III or IV CTR > or = 65% with either cyanosis or arrhythmias (p < 0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that clinical deterioration (p < 0.0001), CTR (p < 0.0002) and functional class (p < 0.001), were significant for mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a survival rate of 81% in the overall patients free from surgical treatment. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the rate of survival was lower in patients with CTR > or = 65% (63.5%), in patients who had functional class IV (52.5%) and in patients included in group III of clinical deterioration (38.2%). Despite the fact that the association of functional class III or IV plus CTR > or = 65% with either cyanosis or arrhythmias is a good predictor for death, the mortality in patients who had only one of these variables was lower. Patients included in group II of clinical deterioration in stable condition presented long survival with medical treatment. Due to the high mortality rate found in group III, surgical treatment of Ebstein's anomaly must be done before deteriorating into group III. Surgical indication must be done considering the surgical risk of each group according to the experience of the Institution and comparing the rate of surgical mortality with the rate of survival without surgery.

Congenitally corrected transposition with atrioventricular septal defect

We describe 4 cases of congenitally corrected transposition associated with atrioventricular septal defect, diagnosed by echocardiography and angiocardiography. Two had usual atrial arrangement and two had mirror imaged atrial arrangement . All cases were associated with subpulmonary valvar stenosis. All patients presented with cyanosis and were in sinus rhythm. Atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction was easily diagnosed on the basis of a common atrioventricular valve permitting interatrial and interventricular communications. All patients had balanced right and left ventricles. The echocardiographic recognition of the ventricles was based on the presence of the moderator band within the morphologically right ventricle, the characteristics of the apical septal trabeculations, and the shape of the ventricles. Angiocardiographic recognition of the ventricles was achieved on the basis of right and left ventriculography. In one case with usual atrial arrangement, we recorded two His bundle potentials, one anteriorly and another posteriorly. Atrial stimulation revealed blocked atrioventricular conduction at the level of the posterior bundle, and normal atrioventricular conduction through the anterior bundle. In both cases with atrial mirror-imagery, only a posterior His bundle potential was found, with normal atrioventricular conduction revealed by atrial stimulation The clinical course with this combination depends on the other lesions present in addition to the common atrioventricular valve. Our electrophysiological studies show that the conduction system in presence of a common atrioventricular valve is as expected for congenitally corrected transposition with two atrioventricular valves.

[Fenestrated Fontan surgery in high risk patients]

A retrospective analysis is presented of all patients who had fenestrated Fontan procedure between january 1990 and may 1996. Surgery was indicated in the presence of anyone of the following risk factors: mean pulmonary pressure higher than 20 mmHg; pulmonary vascular resistance higher than 2 UW; ejection fraction less than 60%; systemic ventricular end diastolic pressure higher than 8 mmHg; Nakata index less than 200 mm2/m2, McGoon index less than 2. The diagnosis were: Absent right atrio-ventricular connection with concordance ventriculo-arterial connection 10 patients; pulmonary atresia with intact septum, 1 patient; Ebstein's malformation, 1 patient and absent left A-V connection with discordance VA connection, 1 patient. The mean of age was 6.7 years (range 2.5-11 years). Overall mortality was 23%. No significant difference in risk factors was found between survivals and no survivals. Nonsurvivors had between two an four risks factors. Postoperative complications were 1 patient with protein losing enteropathy and stroke (1 patient). The mean duration of pleural effusion was 16 days (range 4-45 days). We consider fenestrated Fontan procedure useful for patients with congenital heart disease with a one hypoplastic ventricle and one o more risks factors.

[The echocardiographic aspects of infectious endocarditis]

Infective endocarditis is a severe disease observed frequently in cardiologic centers. The importance of echocardiography in the diagnosis, the morphological criteria of vegetations, abscesses and periaortic complications were analyzed. The use of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with surgical indication is assessed. The significance of clinical symptoms of infective endocarditis in the echocardiographic interpretation must be always taken into consideration.

[Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the study of adults with congenital cardiopathy and infectious endocarditis]

Twenty-four adults (average age 28 years) patients with congenital heart disease were examined; infective endocarditis was diagnosed in all of them by Duke criteria and was confirmed in 18 by surgery and/or pathology. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A was made up of 13 patients with left ventricular outflow obstruction, including ten with bicuspid aorta. Group B was made up of 11 patients with shunts (PDA or VSD), either isolated or associated with other abnormalities. The principal alterations associated with the infectious processes were trauma to the endocardium or vascular endothelium from accelerated turbulent flow (jet lesion) and valvular deformities. The principally transesophageal echocardiographic recordings showed infective vegetations on the four cardiac valves, mural endocarditis in both ventricles and right atrium, perivalvular abscesses and fistulae. The echocardiographic information aided in selecting the type of treatment in this group of patients with high intrahospital mortality (25%).

[Endocarditis due to an alga of the genus Prototheca sp. A saprophyte of water and of tree sap?]

We report a case of a preterm neonate with very low birth weight (775 grs), He stayed 77 days in a neonatal care unit due to respiratory distress syndrome, with respiratory support for 27 days, and complications in gastrointestinal and nervous systems. In a structural normal heart, he developed infective endocarditis that was treated with good bacteriologic results. An echocardiogram showed the persistence of a mass in the right atrium, the mass was a thrombus and it was resected. Histopathological analysis and cultures of the thrombus reported Prototheca sp. that is an algae. The patient received medical treatment with amphothericin B with satisfactory clinical evolution. He is doing well 6 months later. This is the first report of literature of an algae causing endocarditis.

[Tetralogy of Fallot in adults]

We present the clinical and hemodynamic profile of 33 patients, older than the 18 year with tetralogy of Fallot. Cardiac catheterization and selective angiocardiography were performed in all cases. We excluded patients with valvular pulmonary atresia associated with tetralogy of Fallot. Most of the patients were in functional class II or IV of the New York Heart Association and all presented with cyanosis. In the electrocardiogram of 23 patients we found right bundle branch block. None had significant cardiomegaly, 19 of 20 cases had reduced pulmonary blood flow and reticular pattern in the lung fields as observed in the chest X-ray. We did not find correlation between the age and the degree of cyanosis, but the level of arterial desaturation correlated with the functional class. The right ventricular systolic pressure was elevated in all patients. In all cases but one the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure were normal of slightly increased. One case with mild pulmonary infundibular stenosis had pulmonary systolic pressure similar to the systemic pressure. Multivariate analysis for functional class showed significant value for cyanosis. Systemic-pulmonary shunt was performed in 10 patients with hypoplastic pulmonary arteries plus reduced pulmonary blood flow, with one postoperative death. We did not find postoperative mortality in patients who underwent corrective surgery. The anatomic and functional behavior of patients who underwent surgery, allowed better tolerance to their heart defects.

[Fontan surgery in tricuspid atresia. Experience at the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chávez"]

A retrospective analysis is presented of all patients under 18 years of age with tricuspid atresia and concordant ventriculo-arterial connection who underwent a Fontan procedure in the National Cardiology Institute "Ignacio Chávez", México-City, between January 1989 and December 1995. In this period Fontan procedure was performed in 22 patients with a mean age of 6.52 +/- 1.4 years. 14 of them were females. Thirteen patients had previous palliative procedure. Age of palliation was 10 +/- 12 months with period of 5 +/- 2 years between palliative and Fontan procedure. Overall mortality was 31% (7 patients); with a mortality of 42% between 1989 and 1992, of 22% between 1992 and 1995 and of 17% since 1994 with all 5 patients operated in 1995 surviving. Mean pulmonary pressure was 13.9 +/- 4.15 mmHg, mean pulmonary vascular resistance 1.66 +/- 0.57 U.W/m2, left ventricular end diastolic pressure 7.5 +/- 2.46 mmHg, ejection fraction 58 +/- 11% and Nakata and McGoon indexes 219 +/- 56 mm2/m2 and 2 +/- 0.1 respectively. No significant differences were found survivors and non-survivors, with exception of the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (p < 0.05). Causes of death were multiple organ failure in 2, ventricular fibrillation in 3 and septic shock in 2.

[Oral enalapril in patients with symptomatic ventricular septal defects]

Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that the inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme may reduce the left-to-right shunt over a ventricular septal defect (VSD). The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of enalapril on short and medium follow-up in patients with symptomatic VSD and Qp/Qs ratio > 1.5 and compare the results with conventional anti-congestive treatment in children. Twenty-four patients with ages from 3 months to 8 years were studied, dividing them in 3 groups of 8 patients each. Group I received treatment with enalapril, group II with furosemide an digoxin, and group III was treated with a combination of the three medicaments. Patients were evaluated after one, three and six months. Evaluation considered clinical signs of congestive failure, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, cardiothoracic index, and with echocardiography the dimensions of the cardiac chambers, size of the VSD and hemodynamic parameters as Qp/Qs, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), systolic pressure gradient over the VSD, EF and SF. Statistic analysis was done for each group and was compared the three groups. The results demonstrated significant weight gain (p > 0.05) in the three groups. A decrease in heart rate, Qp/Qs and PAP was observed in group III, however without statistic significance. No side effects were observed. The use of enalapril in combination with furosemide and digoxin may have beneficial effects in patients with symptomatic VSD, awaiting surgery.

[Transthoracic and transesophageal echo Doppler in the detection of mitral prosthesis dysfunction due to insufficiency]

Severe mitral regurgitation is accompanied by increment of left atrial pressure. The objective of this work was to compare Doppler parameters related to transvalvular peak-pressure gradient in patients with normally functioning and patients with malfunctioning mitral prosthetic valve, secondary to insufficiency, in order to analyze if the presence of high protodiastolic pressure gradient and normal prosthetic valve area could correlate with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Fourty-two patients were studied. Group I: twenty-two normally functioning prosthesis (15 mechanical, 7 biological). Group II: twenty malfunctioning mitral prosthetic valves secondary to severe insufficiency (11 mechanical and 9 biological), 12 patients with acute MR and 8 with chronic MR. All of the patients were evaluated though transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) Doppler-echocardiography. Diastolic peak velocity prosthetic flow (DVP), protodiastolic gradient (PDG), mean gradient (MG) and prosthetic area (PA) by pressure halftime (PHT) were measured. DVP in Group I was 1.56 +/- 0.29 m/s and 2.49 +/- 0.30 m/s in Group II (p = 0.001). PGD measured 10.36 +/- 3.79 mmHg in Group I and 15.95 +/- 7.48 mmHg in Group II (p = 0.001). MG 4.86 +/- 1.90 mmHg in Group I and 10.38 +/- 4.8 mmHg in Group II (p = 0.001). PA was 2.01 +/- 0.54 cm2 in Group I and 2.10 +/- 0.43 cm2 in Group II (NS). PHT was 115.59 +/- 31.99 mseg in Group I and 108.3 +/- 19.1 mseg in Group II (NS).

CONCLUSION

In patients with high PDG (greater than 20 mmHg) and normal prosthetic mitral area assessed by TTE could be suspicious of malfunctioning prosthesis secondary to severe insufficiency. Due to the higher sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of malfunctioning mitral prosthesis and the ability to determine the magnitude and severity of prosthetic regurgitation assessment should be completed with TTE.

Utility of transesophageal echocardiography in the examination of adult patients with patent ductus arteriosus

Thirteen patients with clinical suspicion of patent ductus arteriosus were evaluated by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic studies. Findings were corroborated during corrective surgery in 8 patients and by cardiac catheterization in 5. Transthoracic echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis in 7 patients; in 2 of the patients endarteritis of the pulmonary artery was demonstrated, and in one infective vegetations in aortic and mitral valves. With transesophageal echocardiography, patent ductus arteriosus was established in all 8 patients and endarteritis of the pulmonary artery was shown in 3, including 1 not discovered by transthoracic technique. In 1 of these patients, vegetations were also found on the pulmonic valve. Both techniques demonstrated significant pulmonary hypertension in 5 cases; contrast studies showed the venoarterial shunt between the pulmonary artery and the aorta with particular clarity in transesophageal images. On the basis of these findings it may be concluded that transesophageal echocardiography complements the information provided by transthoracic recordings in adult patients with patent ductus arteriosus, especially when it is associated with pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary endarteritis.

[Usefulness of the measurement of the left-ventricular isometric relaxation time by echo-Doppler during the administration of dipyridamole or dobutamine as a method of inducing myocardial ischemia]

Myocardial isquemia prolongs ventricular relaxation. The purpose of this study was to assess the isovolumetric relaxation time of the left ventricle (IVRT) as a parameter of global ventricular relaxation, during the administration of Dipyridamol or Dobutamine intravenously. We studied 58 patients with ischemic heart disease uncovered by the administration of pharmacological agents. They were divided in two groups: 22 patients in the group of Dipyridamole, which was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.84 mg/kg during 10 minutes and 36 patients in the group of Dobutamine administered at a dose of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mcg/kg/min in stepping fashion every three minutes. Coronariography was performed in all patients. The measurements of the maximal velocities of the E and A waves, as well as the deceleration time of the E wave and the pressure half time of the mitral flow did not show significant changes in both groups. If the study was positive by criterion of alteration of the wall motion, the IVRT corrected from the heart rate (IVRT/C) had an increase in 54% (p < 0.01) with respect to baseline values in the same patient in the Dipyridamole group and in the Dobutamine group the increment of the IVRT/C was 26% (p < 0.20). The sensibility (Sen), specificity (Sp) and positive predictive value (PPV) of the IVRT/C increments in detecting proximal significant obstruction of the left anterior descending coronary artery of trivascular disease in the Dipyridamole group was of 50%, 100% and 100% respectively. In the Dobutamine group the Sen was of 74%, the Sp of 60% and the PPV of 89%. Nor Dipyridamol neither Dobutamine produced a significant prolongation of IVRT/C when alterations of wall motion were absent or when the existing alterations were not exacerbated. On the basis of these results we concluded that the measurement of the IVRT/C in studies of myocardial ischemia with pharmacological provocative maneuvers is an additional useful parameter together with segmental alterations of wall motion to differentiate positive from negative studies.

[Adenosine for suppression of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in a newborn infant. First case in Mexico]

We present the case of a 20-day old baby who was admitted with orthodromic supraventricular reentry tachycardia with a heart-rate of 300/minute. Suppression of the arrhythmia was tried with vagal maneuvers and digoxin. On failure to control the heart rate, a 0.05 mg/kg intravenous bolus of adenosine was given, with immediate response and subsequent normal heart rate and rhythm. In the following year he has been adequately controlled with oral digoxin. This is the first pediatric patient treated with adenosine in Mexico. Even though experience elsewhere in this age group is also limited, the properties of adenosine make it a valuable first-choice drug for the control of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

[Interatrial aneurysm as a cause of supraventricular arrhythmia in a newborn infant]

Atrial septal aneurysm is a rare malformation that may occur as an isolated abnormality or in association with various cardiac defects or with connective tissue disease. The reported incidence in adults is 0.2% and in children 4.9% which suggests spontaneous regression with advancing age. Atrial septal aneurysm may be complicated by thromboembolism, valvular obstruction or arrhythmias. Supraventricular arrhythmias have been reported in as much as 16% of the cases, most commonly paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, supraventricular extrasystoles and atrial flutter. The relationship between the arrhythmias and the atrial septal aneurysm is still controversial. Two cases of atrial septal aneurysm in neonates are described, who presented with arrhythmias: supraventricular extrasystoles with aberrant conduction and atrial flutter with variable conduction, respectively. One of them required treatment with various anti-arrhythmia agents. During follow-up the arrhythmias remitted with spontaneous involution of the aneurysm. In the presence of the supraventricular arrhythmias in neonates, atrial septal aneurysm needs to be ruled out as a potential cause.

[Valve prostheses and transesophageal echocardiography]

The aim of this paper is to inform about the experience of the Echocardiography Department of the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, in the assessment of prosthetic valves dysfunction by transesophageal echocardiography. Sixty patients with a total of 75 prosthetic valves: 19 bioprostheses and 56 mechanical valves were studied. Forty four were in mitral position, 27 in aortic position and 4 in tricuspid position. All patients were evaluated using 5 MHz monoplane or biplane transesophageal transducers. The 52% (39) of the studied prosthetic valves were found normally functioning. However, 48% (36) of these showed signs of dysfunction. The causes of dysfunction in the mechanical valves were: obstruction, pannus, infectious endocarditis and periprosthetic leak, and in relation with bioprostheses rupture of the leaflets, stenosis and calcification, partial dehiscence, infectious endocarditis and periprosthetic leak were identified. The obtained percentage and type of prosthetic valves dysfunction in our results agree with those reported in the literature and confirm the great utility of transesophageal research in the detection of the valvular prosthetic dysfunction.

[Corrected transposition of the great arteries in patients over 65]

Three cases with corrected transposition of the great arteries in patients older than 65 years are described. Two had atrial situs solitus and one atrial situs inversus. One had pulmonary valvular stenosis with valvular calcification and a small ventricular septal defect in association with ischemic heart disease. This patient died due to cardiac failure at the age of 80 years. The second case was associated with ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension. The third patient presented with mild tricuspid regurgitation. Although this congenital heart malformation is theoretically compatible with normal life, few patients have long survival because of associated congenital defects or the subsequent development of tricuspid regurgitation or atrioventricular block.

Transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of an aneurysm and thrombosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery

An aneurysm of the left anterior descending coronary artery with thrombosis in its lumen in a 36-year-old woman who had an acute myocardial infarction is described. Although the aneurysm was detected by angiography, a transesophageal study provided new specific details of the exact site of origin of the aneurysm, as well as vascular thrombosis.

Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic study of pulmonary autograft valve in aortic position

Eleven patients who underwent pulmonary valve autograft to aortic position with placement of bovine pericardial prosthesis in pulmonary position were studied with echocardiography. The etiology of aortic valvuloplasty as determined by anatomopathological examination was rheumatic in five, degenerative in four, and congenital in two. Important mitral stenosis coexisted in two patients, and during the same operation as the Ross surgery, a mitral valvuloplasty with Carpentier ring was practiced on one and an open mitral commissurotomy on the other. Transthoracic echocardiography, which helped to confirm the viability of the surgery by determining the diameters of the semilunar valve rings and quantifying the severity of the aortic valve lesions, was performed on all patients before surgery and repeated 3 months later. Transesophageal echocardiograms were practiced on nine patients during the surgical procedure and repeated after 6 months on seven. The latter technique aided in immediate postoperative evaluation, and repetition at 6 months served to explore the ventricular infundibuli and evaluate pulmonary valve performance in aortic position. In conclusion, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography provide a practical and valuable means of investigating the pre-, trans-, and postoperative conditions of patients undergoing Ross surgery.

[Usefulness of Doppler echocardiography in the analysis of left ventricular isometric relaxation time in an experimental model of myocardial reperfusion]

Modifications of left ventricular isometric relaxation time (LVIRT) were analyzed in an experimental model of myocardial reperfusion (MR). In a prospective study, 19 mongrel dogs were studied with open chest, mechanical ventilation and hemodynamic monitoring. A catheter was inserted in the middle third of the anterior descending artery (ADA) for registry of its pressure. The ADA was ligated distal to the first diagonal branch for 15 min and subsequently untied. Epicardial Echo/Doppler registries were obtained in basal conditions, at 5 and 15 min of ischemia and at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after MR. Mobility and changes in thickness of the interventricular septum (IVS) were analyzed, and LVIRT was measured in all of the periods mentioned. There were no significant changes in the thickness of IVS. LVIRT increased in comparison to the basal registry at 5 and 15 min of ischemia (p < 0.0001) and returned to basal values with MR (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Acute myocardial ischemia prolongs LVIRT, in this model, during MRLVIRT returned to normal. In the experimental model, measurement of LVIRT may be used as criterion for reperfusion.

[Diagnosis of thoracic aorta dissection using transesophageal echocardiography]

During a 36 month period there were 20 patients in our hospital with aortic dissection suspected clinically. All of them were examined with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE); 17 were examined with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE); six with computed tomography (CT) and seven with aortography. Twelve patients required surgery: eight with proximal aortic dissection (Type-A), two with distal dissection (Type-B) and two with aortic aneurysm without dissection. With the goal of investigating the utility of TEE for the diagnosis of aortic dissection in our hospital, we compared this and other available methods to the surgery findings. The sensitivity to TEE was 100% and the specificity 92%, with test accuracy at 92%. The sensitivity of the other tests was low: 66% with TTE; 50% with TAC; 57%, with aortography. The specificity was 90% with TTE, and higher with CT and aortography (100%). The ultrasound tests reveal additional information about complications like aortic regurgitation. Transesophageal echocardiography is the best test to examine patients with aortic dissection in our hospital. Computed tomography, aortography and magnetic resonance imaging have indication only to answer specific doubts.

[The usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of intracardiac and extracardiac tumors]

We studied 18 patients with suspected intrathoracic mass from january 1990 to august 1993. In all patients electrocardiogram, X-ray, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were performed. Accordingly, the patients were divided into two groups: I) 8 patients with intracardiac myxoma, and II) 10 patients with no myxomatous tumor. The histopathologic identification of the intracardiac or extracardiac tumor was corroborated in all patients of group I and in only 8 patients of group II. In group I the mean age was 39 years and the female sex was more frequently (75%); with transthoracic and transesophageal approaches the myxoma was found in right atrium in four patients, in left atrium in three, and in the last patient the four chambers were occupied. In group II the mean age was 36 years, and the male sex was predominant (60%). In three patients cardiac tumors were detected by echocardiography, two of them were found in the right cavities (leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma), in the rest the histologic lineage of the left atrial tumors was not possible to recognize. In the other seven patients with mediastinal tumor the heart was not infiltrated. On the basis of the obtained results we conclude that transthoracic echocardiography permits the identification of the intracardiac tumor; in these patients transesophageal studies give us an additional valuable information about the valves, the site of tumoral implantation and the wall infiltration. Transesophageal approach provides more information about its potential cardiac compression.

[The transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus. The initial experience]

Percutaneous closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has been recently reported to be an effective alternative in the treatment of patients with ductal shunting. We report the initial experience and results during follow-up of percutaneous ductal occlusion with the Rashkind occluder (USCI) in six patients with isolated PDA. Ages ranged from 3 to 23 years. Diagnosis was corroborated with two dimensional and Doppler echocardiography in all patients. During cardiac catheterization systolic pulmonary artery pressure oscillated between 22 and 64 mmHg and Qp/Qs ratio between 1.3 and 4.1. In two patients prosthesis of 12 mm were used and in the remaining prosthesis of 17 mm. Only one patient demonstrated total occlusion during immediate control aortography, the other patients presented central residual shunting over the occluder. In the three patients occlusion with balloon-catheter was added to the procedure, resulting in total occlusion in two and significant reduction of the shunt magnitude in one. Two technical problems were resolved satisfactorily. None of the cases presented device embolization. Mean follow-up was 23.8 months with control echocardiograms at 24 hours, 1, 4, 12 and 24 months. In all patients immediate reduction of the left atrial dimension was demonstrated. Three patients presented residual shunts in the first 24 hours. In two of them total occlusion had occurred after one month and the other patient persisted with a small residual shunt until one year after the procedure. In conclusion, in this small study group good results were obtained with percutaneous ductal closure.

Transesophageal echocardiography and right atrial infarction

Transesophageal echocardiographic findings in right atrial infarction are described. In three patients with myocardial infarction of one or both ventricles, the association of right atrial myocardial infarction was suspected because of anatomic (two-dimensional) and hemodynamic (Doppler) alterations obtained from transesophageal images. Transesophageal interrogation may prove widely applicable in the evaluation of patients with suspected right atrial infarction.

Transesophageal echocardiography in adults with congenital cardiopathies

Eighty-seven adult patients with congenital cardiopathy were studied by using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) over a period of 30 months. Transthoracic echocardiography was practiced on all patients, after which TEE with monoplanar and biplanar probes (74 and 15 patients, respectively) was used to confirm principal diagnoses and determine specific information. TEE findings were compared with those of cardiac catheterization in all 87 cases and with those of surgery in 15 cases. Dextrocardia was found in 11 cases and mesocardia in 2. Situs inversus was demonstrated in 6 and levoisomerism in 4. Intracardiac and extracardiac shunts were diagnosed in 20 cases, Ebstein's anomaly in 27, corrected transposition of great vessels in 15, univentricular atrioventricular connection in 7, cor triatriatum in 1, parachute mitral valve in 1, crisscross heart in 1, and double-outlet left atrium in 1. TEE was of particular value in evaluating total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, common atrioventricular canal, Ebstein's anomaly, corrected transposition of great vessels, and univentricular atrioventricular connection and in diagnosis of the rarer congenital cardiopathies.

Assessment of anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous connections by transoesophageal echocardiography in infants and children

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of transoesophageal echocardiography in the preoperative definition of systemic and pulmonary venous connections.

DESIGN

Transoesophageal echocardiographic studies were performed prospectively under general anaesthesia in 76 consecutive unoperated children. Results were compared with those obtained by earlier transthoracic ultrasound studies (n = 76), cardiac catheterisation (n = 62), and subsequent surgical inspection (n = 58).

SETTING

Two tertiary referral centres.

PATIENTS

76 unoperated infants and children (age 0.2-14.8 years, mean age 4.1 years) with congenital heart disease.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Identification of anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous connections.

RESULTS

Transoesophageal studies showed anomalous venous connections in 14 patients. Two had both anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous connections. Transoesophageal studies showed 12 anomalous systemic venous connections in nine patients. In eight patients these were confirmed at operation or catheterisation: one patient is awaiting operation. Six anomalous systemic venous connections were missed during earlier transthoracic studies. Anomalous pulmonary venous connections (one mixed total, six partial) were shown in seven patients. These were confirmed at operation in six and by cardiac catheterisation in one. Four of these patients were missed during earlier transthoracic ultrasound studies. No patient defined as having normal venous connections by the transoesophageal study was subsequently shown to have anomalous venous connections at operation or angiography.

CONCLUSIONS

Transoesophageal echocardiography is a highly sensitive tool for the preoperative definition of systemic and pulmonary venous connections. In this series it was better than transthoracic ultrasound and complemented cardiac catheterisation and angiocardiography.

[Obstruction of the outflow tract of the left ventricle by accessory mitral valve tissue]

Among the causes of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, accessory mitral valve tissue is one of the last described and least studied. At present echocardiography permits a complete exploration of the atrioventricular valves as well as left ventricular outflow tract. In this study we evaluate the information obtained in four patients with two-dimensional echocardiography and color-coded Doppler by both transthoracic and transesophageal approaches. The information was compared with catheterization results. In none of the three cases in which hemodynamic study was performed, diagnostic angiographic images of the anomaly were obtained. Transesophageal echocardiography gave additional information about the mitral valve and subvalvular apparatus, the site of accessory tissue implantation and associated lesions.

The assessment of juxtaposed atrial appendages by transoesophageal echocardiography

As part of a prospective study into the diagnostic role of transoesophageal echocardiography in children with complex congenital heart disease, the atrial morphology was assessed in 62 children. Using the direct visualization of atrial appendage morphology, 58 were shown to have usual atrial arrangement, two were documented to have isomerism of the right and two isomerism of the left appendages. Of those with usual arrangement, four children were demonstrated to have left juxtaposition of the atrial appendages. Only two of these patients were identified during praecordial echocardiographic re-evaluation, and three on angiocardiographic examination. Surgical confirmation was obtained in three, and juxtaposition was excluded in the remaining cases. The transoesophageal cross-sectional imaging features of left juxtaposition of the atrial appendages are unique and readily diagnostic of this entity. They include, first, a lateral deviation of the acid-portion of the atrial septum and, second, a frontal orientation of the antero-superior portion forming the floor and the posterior wall of the junction of the right-sided atrial appendage with the venous component of the atrial cavity. The knowledge of these morphologic characteristics is important, as, otherwise, this malformation may be misinterpreted as representing an atrial septal defect. The results suggest that transoesophageal echocardiography will be the most sensitive preoperative diagnostic technique in detecting or excluding juxtaposed atrial appendages.