Edgar Sucher

Reversible catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy presenting as acute pulmonary edema in a patient with pheochromocytoma

Cardiac injury caused by elevated levels of circulating catecholamines is a well-known phenomenon. We report a patient who, secondary to transient regional left ventricular dysfunction (despite normal coronary arteries), developed acute pulmonary edema. Echocardiography showed marked anteroapical hypokinesia and an apical thrombus. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was made by plasma catecholamine levels, abdominal ultrasound and finally at operation. The patient recovered completely long before surgical intervention was undertaken.

Non-invasive measurement of cardiac output by whole-body bio-impedance during dobutamine stress echocardiography: Clinical implications in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and ischaemia

To compare non‐invasive determination of cardiac index (CI) by whole body electrical bioimpedance using the NICaS apparatus and Doppler echocardiography, and the role of cardiac power index (Cpi) and total peripheral resistance index (TPRi) calculation during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).

Quantitative Myocardial Ultrasonic Integrated Backscatter Measurements During Contrast Injections

We and others have shown that normal myocardium exhibits 4 to 5 dB diastolic-to-systolic cyclic variation (CV) of integrated backscatter. To investigate the effect of intramyocardial contrast on integrated backscatter, we injected 5% sonicated albumin, containing microbubbles in the range of 5 microns in diameter, into the left atrium in nine open-chest dogs. The dogs were anesthetized and placed in the right lateral decubitus position on a specially designed table with a cutout allowing ultrasound imaging from below. Ultrasonic data was obtained from the right precordium by use of a prototype M-mode integrated backscatter system implemented in a commercially available two-dimensional system. Usable data were obtained in eight of nine dogs. Integrated backscatter increased up to 13 dB after contrast injections. There was a significantly decreased CV of integrated backscatter during myocardial contrast in all eight dogs. The mean level of CV of integrated backscatter for the eight dogs decreased from 4.7 dB (530 beats analyzed) without contrast to 2.8 dB during contrast (436 beats analyzed). There was a trend to greater CV at higher levels of contrast. Septal excursion, as measured by M-mode echocardiography simultaneously with integrated backscatter by the same ultrasound beam, was similar with and without contrast (mean 8.2 vs 8.3 mm). Thus left atrium contrast injection produces quantitatively measurable integrated backscatter effects. Cyclic variation of integrated backscatter decreases with contrast. However, at higher contrast levels the decrease tends to be smaller. These effects should be considered during quantitative tissue characterization and myocardial contrast studies.