Coronary artery disease is a rare entity in young patients and accurate assessment of its prevalence is difficult. Although coronary artery disease is frequently a silent process, it may also acutely present with myocardial infarction (MI). One of the most feared complications of MI is left ventricular thrombus formation. Transthoracic echocardiography is recommended for all patients with MI, and cardiac magnetic resonance should be considered because of its higher sensitivity if thrombus cannot clearly be demonstrated. The optimal treatment is based on anticoagulant therapy that should be started early and maintained for 3-4 months after the index event. We report the case of a 35-year-old male patient with anterior MI, complicated by left ventricular thrombus formation, extensive edema, microvascular obstruction and hemorrhagic core of the apical septum on cardiac magnetic resonance assessment.
Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with intra-ventricular dyssynchrony at systolic phase during exercise in hypertensive patients. However, dypsnea on exertion is much more correlated with diastolic phase. We investigated whether LVH is associated with diastolic dyssynchrony during exercise in patients with hypertension. Methods: Ninety hypertensive patients with exertional dyspnea and 30 control individuals were enrolled. Exercise stress echocardiography was performed using a symptom limited, multistage supine bicycle test. To evaluate the diastolic dyssynchrony of LV, we calculated the standard deviation (SD) of the averaged time from Q wave to myocardial early diastolic velocity in 12 segments. (TPe-SD, ms). Therefore, diastolic dyssynchrony index was SD of TPe. And also, we applied modified SD (SD/heart rate). Results: There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate between the two groups. TPe-SD was significantly higher in patients with LVH at rest (27 ± 11.0 vs. 18.7 ± 7.4 ms, p<0.005) with exaggeration of the degree at peak exercise (42.0 ± 10.6 vs. 30.6 ± 12.4 ms, p<0.001). When applying modified SD, the difference is much more increased (80.0 ± 17.6 vs. 49.0 ± 21.3 ms, p <0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed LV mass index (β=0.515, P=0.001) and E/E' at peak exercise (β= -0.253, P=0.025) were independently associated with LV dyssynchrony during diastolic phase when controlled for age, sex, and systolic BP at peak exercise. Conclusion: Intra-ventricular diastolic dyssynchrony during exercise is significantly associated with exercise duration in hypertensive patients with LVH. And this result could explain that the patients with exertional dyspnea are more common in LVH group. Univariate and multivariate analysis for LVMI, left ventricular mass index; LAVI, left atrium volume index; E, early diastolic mitral inflow velocity; E', early diastolic longitudinal tissue velocity; S', early systolic longitudinal tissue velocity. Univariate and multivariate analysis for LVMI, left ventricular mass index; LAVI, left atrium volume index; E, early diastolic mitral inflow velocity; E', early diastolic longitudinal tissue velocity; S', early systolic longitudinal tissue velocity.
Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming cardiovascular imaging by offering advancements across multiple modalities, including echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CCT), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), interventional cardiology, nuclear medicine, and electrophysiology. This review explores the clinical applications of AI within each of these areas, highlighting its ability to improve patient selection, reduce image acquisition time, enhance image optimization, facilitate the integration of data from different imaging modality and clinical sources, improve diagnosis and risk stratification. Moreover, we illustrate both the advantages and the limitations of AI across these modalities, acknowledging that while AI can significantly aid in diagnosis, risk stratification, and workflow efficiency, it cannot replace the expertise of cardiologists. Instead, AI serves as a powerful tool to streamline routine tasks, allowing clinicians to focus on complex cases where human judgement remains essential. By accelerating image interpretation and improving diagnostic accuracy, AI holds great potential to improve patient care and clinical decision-making in cardiovascular imaging.
Objectives: Despite substantial progress in surgery and perioperative management, the treatment and long-term follow-up of type A dissection still remain a major challenge. The objective of this retrospective, multicentre study is to report the early and long-term results (up to 33 years), and incidence of reoperations, in a large series of patients.
Fibrosis is a common end point of many pathological processes affecting the myocardium and may alter myocardial relaxation properties. By measuring myocardial fibrosis with cardiac magnetic resonance and diastolic function with Doppler echocardiography, we sought to define the influence of fibrosis on left ventricular diastolic function.Two hundred four eligible subjects from 252 consecutive subjects undergoing late postgadolinium myocardial enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance and Doppler echocardiography were investigated. Subjects with normal diastolic function exhibited no or minimal fibrosis (median LGE score, 0; interquartile range, 0 to 0). In contrast, the majority of patients with cardiomyopathy (regardless of underlying cause) had abnormal diastolic function indices and substantial fibrosis (median LGE score, 3; interquartile range, 0 to 6.25). Prevalence of LGE positivity by diastolic filling pattern was 13% in normal, 48% in impaired relaxation, 78% in pseudonormal, and 87% in restrictive filling (P<0.0001). Similarly, LGE score was significantly higher in patients with deceleration time <150 ms (P<0.012), and it progressively increased with increasing left ventricular filling pressure estimated by tissue Doppler imaging-derived E/E' (P<0.0001). After multivariate analysis, LGE remained significantly correlated with degree of diastolic dysfunction (P=0.0001).Severity of myocardial fibrosis by LGE significantly correlates with the degree of diastolic dysfunction in a broad range of cardiac conditions. Noninvasive assessment of myocardial fibrosis may provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of left ventricular diastolic function and therapeutic response.
Thromboembolic events due to left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombosis are the main complication of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Although anticoagulants are effective in patients with NVAF, a minimal residual thromboembolic risk persists. Little is known about the prevalence of LAA thrombus and the rate of resolution after the recommended period of anticoagulation therapy, including vitamin K antagonists (VKA), heparin, and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs).We aimed to study the prevalence of LAA thrombus in an unselected cohort of patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), and the determinants of LAA thrombus resolution. We retrospectively analyzed 8888 consecutive TEEs performed over five years in two high-volume centers and included all patients with LAA thrombus. A total of 265 patients (3%) had an LAA thrombus. Among these, 97% presented with AF. Fifty-eight percent of patients were on anticoagulants at least three weeks before the diagnosis. After the LAA thrombus diagnosis, VKAs were prescribed in 52%, heparin in 18.5%, and NOAC in 27% of patients. Among the 183 patients with repeat TEE, performed at (25-75th) 39 days (21-84), 67% showed resolution of the LAA thrombus. Although the rate of thrombus resolution was higher in patients treated with NOACs (NOACs 71%, VKA 66%, Heparin 60%) the difference between anticoagulants was statistically non-significant (VKA, OR 0.9, p = 0.83; NOAC, OR 1.23, p = 0.42; heparin, OR 0.69, p = 0.35). Thus, NOACs were demonstrated to be at least as effective as other anticoagulants in the rate of LAA thrombus resolution. Upon multivariate-adjusted analysis, higher LAA emptying velocities were the only predictor of thrombus resolution. In conclusion, the majority of patients were already on anticoagulants. NOACs could be at least as effective as other anticoagulants, yielding an LAA thrombus resolution in two-thirds of patients. This may have clinical relevance, especially in patients undergoing cardioversion or catheter ablation.
Despite substantial progress in surgical techniques and perioperative management, the treatment and long-term follow-up of type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) still remain a major challenge. The objective of this retrospective, multicentre study was to assess in a large series of patients the early and long-term results after surgery for type A AAD. We analysed the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative conditions of 1.148 consecutive patients surgically treated in seven large referral centres from 1981 to 2013. We applied to each patient three different multi-parameter risk profiles (preadmission risk, admission risk and post-surgery risk) in order to compare risk factors and outcome. Long-term Kaplan–Meier survival was evaluated. The median age was 64 years and the male population was predominant (66%). Identified diagnosis of collagen disease was present in 9%, and Marfan syndrome in 5%. Bicuspid aortic valve was present in 69 patients (6%). Previous cardiac surgery was identified in 10% of the patients. During surgery, the native aortic valve was preserved in 72% of the cases, including leaflet resuspension in 23% and David operation in 1.2%. Considering aortic valve replacement (AVR: 28%), bioprosthesis implantation was performed in 14.7% of the subjects. Neurological impairment at discharge was shown in 23% of the cases among which 21% of patients had new neurological impairment versus preoperative conditions. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 25.7%. All risk profiles remained independently associated with in-hospital mortality. During the available follow-up of hospital survivors (median: 70 months, interquartile range: 34–113, maximum: 396), cardiac-related death occurred in 7.9% of the subjects. The cumulative survival rate for cardiac death was 95.3% at 5 years, 92.8% at 10 years and 52.8% at 20 years. Severe aortic regurgitation (AR) (grade 3–4) at the time of surgery showed to be a significant risk factor for reintervention during the follow-up ( P < 0.001). Among risk profiles, only the preadmission risk was independently associated with late mortality after multivariate analysis. Unexpectedly, there was no difference in freedom from cardiac death between patients with and without AVR. Although surgery for type A has remained challenging over more than three decades, there is a positive trend in terms of hospital mortality and long-term follow-up. About 90% of patients were free from reoperation in the long term, although late AR remains a critical issue, suggesting that a thorough debate on surgical options, assessment and results of a conservative approach should be considered.
The role of the right ventricle has often been underestimated in heart failure. It has been thought that the right cavity has a less prominent impact on symptoms, therapeutic approach, and prognosis. Right ventricular dysfunction is a complex issue and its diagnosis has acquired a relevant role, in particular with the improvement of new therapeutic options such as ventricular assist devices. The complex geometry of the right ventricle and its interaction with the left ventricle are still a matter of debate, leaving several open questions about the best therapeutic approach to manage right ventricular dysfunction. Echocardiography remains the first-line imaging technique, but an integrated multimodality evaluation with clinical, biochemical and hemodynamic parameters, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging can provide a more comprehensive way to choose the most appropriate treatment for patients with heart failure associated with right ventricular dysfunction.
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