Roxann Rokey

Determination of regurgitant fraction in isolated mitral or aortic regurgitation by pulsed Doppler two-dimensional echocardiography

Measurements of mitral and aortic valve flows were obtained with two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography in 25 patients with isolated mitral (n = 19) or aortic (n = 6) regurgitation and regurgitant fraction was calculated as the difference between the two flows divided by the flow through the regurgitant valve. Results were compared with measurements of regurgitant fraction determined by combined left ventricular angiography and thermodilution. Regurgitant fraction averaged 56 +/- 18% (range 19 to 79) by Doppler echocardiography and 48 +/- 17% (range 13 to 72) by angiography. A significant correlation was observed between the two methods (r = 0.91; SEE = 7%). In contrast, no significant correlation was found between regurgitant fraction measured by either method and the angiographic 1+ to 4+ qualitative classification of regurgitation. Doppler echocardiography appears to be an accurate method for the non-invasive quantification of severity of regurgitation in isolated left-sided valve lesions.

Quantification of atrial contribution to left ventricular filling by pulsed Doppler echocardiography and the effect of age in normal and diseased hearts

Atrial filling fraction, or the fraction of stroke volume resulting from atrial contraction, was measured by Doppler echocardiography from the time-velocity integral of mitral anulus inflow with a method that allows separation of conduit or passive flow from flow resulting from the atrial contraction. The method was validated in 17 patients with externally programmable ventricular demand pacemakers by showing that the time-velocity integral of passive flow (excluding the A wave) during sinus or sequential atrioventricular pacing was almost identical to the time-velocity integral during ventricular pacing. Atrial filling fractions were then measured in 41 normal subjects, aged 20 to 80 years; 28 patients with echocardiographic evidence of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy; 24 with dilated cardiomyopathy (13 of whom had an ischemic origin); and 19 with acute myocardial infarction. Atrial filling fraction increased significantly with age in normal subjects (r = 0.77; p less than 0.001) and ranged from 12% in a 20-year-old man to 46% in a normal 80-year-old woman. In the hypertrophy group, atrial filling fraction had a weak relation with age (r = 0.47; p = 0.006), and the values were significantly higher than in normal subjects. In patients with cardiomyopathy or infarction, atrial filling fraction varied over a wide range and showed no relation to age. Thus, atrial filling fraction as determined by Doppler echocardiography is significantly altered by both age and left ventricular disease. Age-corrected nomograms are essential when assessing atrial filling fraction in individual patients.

Assessment of tissue iron overload by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE The ability of stored intracellular iron to enhance magnetic susceptibility forms the basis by which tissue iron can be detected by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging. We used this technique to assess myocardial, spleen, and liver iron content in patients with known or suspected iron overload disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS Spin echo NMR images were obtained in 30 patients; 20 had chronic anemias treated by multiple blood transfusions, five had idiopathic hemochromatosis, and five had non-hemochromatotic liver disease with elevated serum ferritin levels and no stainable iron on liver biopsy. The acquisition of oblique images through the short axis of the left ventricle permitted assessment of left ventricular function, while demonstrating the liver and spleen on the same image. Iron content was assessed using a signal intensity ratio of organ (spleen, liver, or myocardium) to skeletal muscle. RESULTS In patients with multiple blood transfusions, iron content was highest in liver, followed by the spleen. Significant iron overload was detected in the myocardium of only one patient. Left ventricular systolic wall thickening was normal in patients receiving multiple blood transfusions. Two patients with treated idiopathic hemochromatosis had normal signal intensity ratios, and three untreated patients had evidence of significant deposits of iron in the liver and spleen as indicated by a reduction in signal intensity ratios (0.2 +/- 0.01 and 0.9 +/- 0.01, respectively). Five patients with non-hemochromatotic liver disease and high serum ferritin levels had normal signal intensity ratios by NMR imaging. CONCLUSION NMR imaging is a useful method of detecting tissue iron and distinguishing disease due to iron overload. Myocardial iron deposition is a late event, occurring after accumulation of iron in the spleen and liver.

Balloon dilation of unoperated coarctation of the aorta: short- and intermediate-term results.

Balloon dilation is effective in the immediate relief of obstruction due to unoperated coarctation of the aorta. However, the long-term benefits and complications of this procedure have not been established. Thirty-three patients underwent balloon dilation of unoperated coarctation using a percutaneous technique from November 1983 to December 1985. High quality biplane angiography was performed before and after dilation. Follow-up was obtained in 20 patients from 6 to 31 months following dilation. Angiography was performed at follow-up in 10, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging in 10 and both NMR imaging and angiography in 3. Balloon dilation was successful in 31 of the 33 patients with a decrease in average systolic pressure gradient from 46 to 8 mm Hg. There was no significant change in gradient on follow-up physical examination and at recatheterization in 10 patients. In addition, there was no evidence of restenosis on follow-up angiography and NMR imaging. In two patients, a small aneurysm formed at the site of balloon dilation. Balloon dilation of unoperated coarctation is effective, providing lasting relief of coarctation gradient and no evidence of restenosis. However, because of the uncertain natural history of aneurysms after dilation, this procedure should be considered investigational until further follow-up on patients with and without an aneurysm is available.

Assessment of myocardial systolic wall thickening using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

A quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging method of evaluating regional left ventricular function was compared with histochemical evidence of infarction in dogs and functional measurements in patients. Short-axis images of the heart were obtained at end-diastole and at 100 ms intervals thereafter. Regional diastolic left ventricular wall thickness and maximal percent systolic wall thickening were measured at the level of the papillary muscles in each of six segments. In six normal dogs, the mean end-diastolic wall thickness was 9 +/- 1.6 mm, and the mean maximal percent thickening was 61 +/- 11%. In eight dogs with a 4 day old infarct, maximal percent thickening was 5 +/- 8% (p less than 0.001) in the infarcted segments. In 10 normal human volunteers, the mean end-diastolic wall thickness was 10.1 +/- 1 mm, and the mean maximal percent systolic wall thickening was 60 +/- 18%. Reduced maximal percent systolic wall thickening was defined as a value greater than or equal to 2 SD below the mean value obtained in normal volunteers. Seven patients with regional wall motion abnormalities were independently assessed by NMR imaging and biplane ventriculography. With a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 80%, NMR imaging demonstrated reduced maximal percent systolic wall thickening in the same segments identified as akinetic or dyskinetic by biplane ventriculography. Thus, abnormalities of regional systolic wall thickening are accurately identified with this quantitative imaging technique.

Electrocardiographic gating and monitoring in NMR imaging

ECG gating and monitoring during NMR imaging may be achieved reliably by applying the principles in this tutorial. In order to use the ECG signal both for triggering and for patient monitoring it must have a prominent R-wave, while at the same time must have little artifact from gradient switches or the Lorentz voltage across the aorta, and not be significantly distorted by gradient switching artifacts. The twin goals of no image artifacts and minimal ECG artifacts may be achieved by the following means: (1) using ECG electrodes with minimal metal, (2) selecting electrodes and cables with no ferrous metals, (3) placing the limb electrodes close together, (4) placing the line between the limb electrodes and the leg electrode parallel to the magnetic flux lines and, if possible, parallel to the transverse component of the gradient flux lines, (5) keeping the area between the limb electrodes and the leg electrode small, (6) placing that area in the center of the imager and (7) twisting or braiding the cables. Following these principles allows artifact-free images and reliable ECG monitoring during ECG-gated NMR imaging examinations.

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the pulmonary arteries, subpulmonary region, and aorticopulmonary shunts: A comparative study with two-dimensional echocardiography and angiography

Twelve patients more than 8 years of age with complex congenital heart disease were evaluated prospectively with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and with echocardiographic and angiographic imaging techniques. The subpulmonary region, main pulmonary artery, right and left pulmonary arteries, and aorticopulmonary shunts were clearly visualized by means of NMR imaging in all patients. Angiography defined the subpulmonary region and main pulmonary artery in all patients, the right and left pulmonary arteries along their length in 11 of 12 patients, and aorticopulmonary shunts in seven of eight patients. Except for the right pulmonary artery, echocardiography defined the remaining structures in less than or equal to 50% of patients. Measurement of the pulmonary artery diameters on NMR images correlated well with the angiographic measurements of both the left (r = 0.96) and right (r = 0.94) pulmonary arteries. These results suggest that NMR imaging may be the preferable noninvasive imaging technique for defining the anatomy of the subpulmonary region, main and left pulmonary arteries, and aorticopulmonary shunts in older patients with congenital cardiovascular disease and that it compares well with the angiographic standard.

Rapid echocardiographic assessment of left and right heart hemodynamics in critically ill obstetric patients

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to compare noninvasive two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography and right heart catheterization with a pulmonary artery catheter in the estimation of stroke volume, cardiac output, cardiac index, left ventricular filling pressure, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and right atrial pressure in a heterogeneous group of critically ill obstetric patients. STUDY DESIGN Eleven critically ill obstetric patients requiring invasive monitoring for clinical management were prospectively studied. Simultaneous Doppler and pulmonary artery catheter readings of stroke volume, cardiac output, cardiac index, left ventricular filling pressure, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and right atrial pressure were acquired. Mean +/- SD or median and range, as appropriate, of each parameter were compared, and data for all parameters were subjected to regression analysis. A two-tailed p value < 0.05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two techniques in the estimation of cardiac index, intracardiac pressures, or pulmonary artery systolic pressure. There was a good correlation between the two methods for stroke volume (R2 = 0.98), cardiac output (R2 = 0.98), cardiac index (R2 = 0.96), left ventricular filling pressure (R2 = 0.79), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (R2 = 0.85), and right atrial pressure (R2 = 0.86). CONCLUSION Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography allow rapid, reliable, noninvasive assessment of hemodynamic parameters in critically ill obstetric patients and may give the clinician valuable information that may influence therapeutic and clinical management.

Usefulness of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of pericardial effusions, and comparison with two-dimensional echocardiography.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging clearly delineates cardiovascular structures without interference from overlying bone and lung tissue. The techniques of NMR imaging and echocardiography were compared in 26 patients with pericardial effusions, 10 of whom had associated pleural effusions. In those patients with fluid detected by both techniques, estimated size of the effusion tended to be somewhat larger by NMR. NMR imaging detected several small pericardial effusions that were not visualized by echocardiography. Both techniques demonstrated loculation well, although NMR imaging was better for detecting fluid located superiorly at the aortic pericardial reflection site, medially at the border of the right atrium and posteriorly at the left ventricular apex. In the 14 patients with documented exudative effusions (10 pericardial, 4 pleural) NMR signals of varying intensity were present in the effusion. One patient had a documented transudative effusion and no NMR signal was observed in the fluid. NMR imaging clearly distinguished pericardial from pleural effusions. NMR imaging is indicated when a suspected pericardial effusions is not detected by echocardiography or when specific localization or fluid characterization is desired.

Return of atrial mechanical function following electrical conversion of atrial dysrhythmias

The return of atrial mechanical function and its relationship to embolic events following cardioversion of atrial arrhythmias is controversial. Fourteen patients with atrial arrhythmias were evaluated with pulsed Doppler echocardiography before and after direct current (DC) cardioversion. The atrial filling fraction increased significantly: 1.14 +/- 4.3% at baseline versus 14.9 +/- 13.3%, 13.4 +/- 11.4%, and 21.9 +/- 13.5% at 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 24 hours, respectively, following cardioversion. Absent atrial mechanical activity was noted in four patients immediately after cardioversion. Mechanical activity resumed by 30 minutes in one patient and at 24 hours in two others. Those with delayed atrial function had lower stroke volumes and atrial filling fractions following cardioversion. An embolic event occurred in one patient who had immediate return of atrial mechanical activity. This patient also had the largest atrial filling fraction of any patient at 24 hours (41%). These data suggest that the degree of atrial mechanical activity following cardioversion is variable and that embolic episodes are not necessarily related to delayed return of atrial mechanical activity following cardioversion.