Morris N. Kotler

Penetrating atherosclerotic aortic ulcers

Penetrating atherosclerotic aortic ulceration is a unique disease with distinct management and prognostic implications. It is an important clinical entity that must be distinguished from classic aortic dissection and rapid expansion or contained rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm. Although symptoms of penetrating aortic ulceration may mimic dissection, the characteristic signs of dissection are absent. New imaging modalities have made it possible to establish the diagnosis of penetrating aortic ulceration with a high degree of accuracy and to tailor management according to the presence of complications. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of atherosclerotic aortic ulceration, particularly in elderly patients with systemic atherosclerosis and hypertension who have sudden onset of chest or back pain.

Right atrial compression in postoperative cardiac patients: Detection by transesophageal echocardiography

Four patients developed hypotension after heart surgery. Hemodynamic measurements revealed elevated right atrial pressure with normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Conventional transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography was technically suboptimal for detection of pericardial effusion. In each patient transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated significant compression of the right atrium by a localized mass. At reoperation atrial compression by an organized hematoma was found and in each instance successfully drained. Thus, transesophageal echocardiography is superior to transthoracic echocardiography in evaluating critically ill postoperative hypotensive patients and can differentiate isolated right atrial tamponade from other causes of hemodynamic deterioration such as prosthetic valve dysfunction or left ventricular systolic dysfunction, or both.

Patent foramen ovale: a nonfunctional embryological remnant or a potential cause of significant pathology?

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is an embryological remnant found in 27% of adults. It is a potential right-to-left intracardiac shunt. Shunting may be the result of reversal in the interatrial pressure gradient or abnormal streaming of blood in the right atrium. The pathologic consequences of right-to-left shunting include hypoxemia and paradoxical embolism. PFO may exacerbate preexisting hypoxemia or be its primary cause. Paradoxical embolism through a PFO is well documented. Its role in cryptogenic stroke remains controversial. A PFO may be detected by both invasive and noninvasive techniques. Contrast transesophageal echocardiography with provocative maneuvers is the diagnostic method of choice allowing visualization of the shunt. Patients with cryptogenic stroke should be screened for a PFO. If detected, noninvasive studies for deep vein thrombosis are recommended. Treatment must be tailored to the presentation. Surgical or transcatheter closure is recommended for hypoxemia. Prevention of venous embolism (air or thrombus) with or without closure of the PFO is recommended for paradoxical embolism.

Flow Patterns in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Pulsed-wave and Color Flow Doppler Study

In 48 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, pulsed-wave and color Doppler examination were performed. In addition, 14 normal patients served as control subjects. Peak inflow velocity at the level of the mitral valve, middle left ventricle, and apex and outflow velocity at the level of the apex, middle left ventricle, and subaortic area were measured. In normal patients there was brisk propagation of inflow velocity to the apex. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy demonstrated delayed propagation and prolongation of the duration of inflow compared with control subjects (p less than 0.04). Continuous apical flow was visualized in 25% of dilated cardiomyopathies and in no normal patients. Apical velocities were significantly increased in cardiomyopathies with significant mitral regurgitation. Outflow velocities were decreased in dilated cardiomyopathy. In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and apical dyskinesis, flow directed toward the base was measured in the middle left ventricle during isovolumic relaxation secondary to dyskinetic rebound. Patterns of abnormal flow in dilated cardiomyopathies are readily apparent by color M-mode and two-dimensional color Doppler.

The complementary role of magnetic resonance imaging, Doppler echocardiography, and computed tomography in the diagnosis of dissecting thoracic aneurysms.

Non-ECG gated MRI was compared with 2DE and/or CT scans in 10 patients with dissecting aneurysms proven by angiography and/or surgery. Patient ages ranged from 48 to 85 years (mean 69.6). Six had DeBakey type I dissections and four had DeBakey type III dissections. MRI was diagnostic for aortic dissection in nine cases and suggestive in the tenth. 2DE was diagnostic in six out of nine patients, suggestive in two patients, and nondiagnostic in one patient. CT was diagnostic in the three cases in which it was employed. MRI demonstrated a dilated ascending aorta with thickened walls in all type I dissections as well as an intimal flap and slow flow in the false channel in four patients. In the other two patients with type I dissection, MRI detected the intimal flap in the descending aorta but not in the ascending aorta, whereas 2DE revealed the ascending aortic intimal flap in both of these patients and CT showed it in one of them. In the type III dissections, MRI demonstrated a thickened wall and thrombus in the lumen in all four cases, and the intimal flap in three out of the four. 2DE excluded ascending aortic involvement in all three type III dissections. Six other patients with fusiform dilated ascending aortas had no evidence of dissection by MRI, 2DE, and aortography. Thus, non-ECG gated MRI alone or in combination with 2DE and/or CT is useful in the diagnosis of dissecting thoracic aneurysm and in assessing the extent of the dissection. In addition, the differentiation of dissecting aneurysms of the aorta from fusiform dilatation of the aorta is made possible by these noninvasive techniques.

Stimulation of coronary collateral growth: current developments in angiogenesis and future clinical applications.

Over recent years evidence has accumulated favoring a significant functional role of coronary collateral vessels in humans with coronary artery disease.ieg As a result, efforts to identify factors involved in initiating and controlling the growth of these vessels have intensified. An understanding of these evolving mechanisms has opened up some exciting new areas of research with far-reaching potential applications in clinical cardiology.

Penetrating atherosclerotic aortic ulcers: The role of transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosis and clinical management

Penetrating aortic ulceration is a disease of the descending thoracic aorta characterized by ulceration of an atheromatous plaque disrupting the internal elastic lamina. The ulcerated atheroma may extend into the media, resulting in intramural hematoma; it may penetrate the media; resulting in pseudoaneurysm formation; or it may perforate through the adventitia, resulting in transmural aortic rupture.l Penetrating aortic ulceration has similar chnical features to aortic dissection and rapid expansion or contained rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm.1-3 However, it represents a unique pathology with distinct radiographic and echocardiographic features. While aortography has been regarded as the gold standard in the diagnosis of penetrating aortic ulcers, computed tomography2 and mag-

Long-term Follow-up of Mitral Paraprosthetic Regurgitation by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) is an uncommon complication of mitral valve replacement (MVR). Although severe PVR is almost always repaired immediately when recognized during surgery, there are little data available on the management of patients with mild and moderate PVR. This study includes eight patients with mild (n = 6) and moderate (n = 2) PVR identified by transesophageal echocardiography at the time of MVR who were treated conservatively. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was obtained at a mean of 16.3 months. Two of six patients with mild PVR at the time of MVR and two of two patients with moderate PVR at the time of MVR deteriorated clinically and echocardiographically over time. We suggest that moderate PVR should be corrected at the time of valve-replacement surgery, if this can be performed without high operative risk. Mild PVR should probably also be repaired, if this can be performed at low risk, because some will progress. Patients left with mild PVR after surgery, or patients in whom PVR is recognized only after surgery, should be followed up carefully with serial clinical and echocardiographic examinations.

Role of echocardiography in perioperative management of patients undergoing open heart surgery

TEE has assumed a pivotal role in the perioperative management of patients undergoing open-heart surgery. The information obtained influences important therapeutic decisions in thoracic aortic surgery, valvular surgery, and coronary artery bypass surgery. TEE also assists in determining the reason for failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass and allows rapid detection of the etiology of hypotension in the patient after surgery. Advances in technology have resulted in three-dimensional images of cardiac structures, and this will further enhance the usefulness of echocardiography for the surgeon. TEE should no longer be regarded as an imaging tool available only in academic centers, but should be routinely used by qualified operators in centers performing open-heart surgery.

Saddle pulmonary embolism: is it as bad as it looks? A community hospital experience.

Background:Saddle pulmonary embolism represents a large clot and a risk for sudden hemodynamic collapse. However, the clinical presentation and outcomes vary widely. On the basis of the findings of right heart dysfunction on echocardiograms, computed tomography angiography, or cardiac enzyme elevation, some argue for the use of thrombolytics or catheter thrombectomy even for hemodynamically stable patients. Objective:To investigate the outcomes and management of patients with saddle pulmonary embolism, including radiographic appearance (estimate of clot burden) and echocardiographic features. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:This study is a retrospective evaluation of all patients with computed tomography angiography positive for pulmonary embolism from June 1, 2004, to February 28, 2009. Two radiologists selected those with saddle pulmonary embolism and evaluated the clot burden score. The clinical information, echocardiography, treatments, and outcomes of these patients were extracted via chart review. Saddle pulmonary embolism was found in 37 of 680 patients (5.4%, 95% confidence interval 4% to 7%) with documented pulmonary embolism on computed tomography angiography. For patients with saddle pulmonary embolism, the median age was 60 yrs and 41% were males. Major comorbidities were neurologic (24%), recent surgery (24%), and malignancy (22%). Transient hypotension occurred in 14% and persistent shock in 8%. One patient required mechanical ventilation. Echocardiography was performed in 27 patients (73%). Right ventricle enlargement and dysfunction were found in 78% and elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure in 67%. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated a high median pulmonary artery clot burden score of 31 points. The median right ventricle to left ventricle diameter ratio was 1.39. Inferior vena cava filters were placed in 46%. Unfractionated heparin was administered in 33 (87%) and thrombolytics in four (11%). The median hospital length of stay was 9 days. Two of 37 saddle pulmonary embolism patients (5.4%) died in the hospital (95% confidence interval 0.7% to 18%). Conclusions:Most patients with saddle pulmonary embolism found on computed tomography angiography responded to the standard management for pulmonary embolism with unfractionated heparin. Although ominous in appearance, most patients with saddle pulmonary embolism are hemodynamically stable and do not require thrombolytic therapy or other interventions.