• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.72-79
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and impaired diastolic function may occur early in systemic hypertension. Diastolic dysfunction is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived tissue velocity and strain rate are new parameters for assessing diastolic dysfunction. The aim of this study is to determine whether TDI and strain rate imaging (SRI) would improve the ability to recognize early impaired diastolic and systolic functions compared with conventional echocardiography in hypertensive adolescents. Methods: We included 38 hypertensive patients with systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg. Ejection fraction and myocardial performance index (MPI) were estimated by conventional echocardiography. Peak systolic myocardial velocity, early diastolic myocardial velocity (Em), and peak late diastolic myocardial velocity (Am) were obtained by using TDI and SRI. Results: In the hypertensive group, interventricular septal thickness was significantly increased on M-mode echocardiography. Em/Am was significantly decreased at the mitral valve annulus. Among hypertensive subjects, the E strain rate at basal, mid, and apex was significantly decreased. Systolic strain was significantly decreased at the septum in the hypertensive group. Conclusion: Strain rate might be a useful new parameter for the quantification of both regional and global LV functions and could be used in long-term follow up in hypertensive patients. Early identification by SRI of subjects at risk for hypertensive and ventricular dysfunction may help to stratify risk and guide therapy. Further studies, including serial assessment of LV structure and function in a larger number of adolescents with hypertension, is necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.11
• /
• pp.1031-1035
• /
• 1999

Background: ATS mechanical valve is a recently introduced pyrolytic carbon bileaflet prosthesis. This report is to evaluate the results of hemodynamic and anticoagulant therapy after ATS valve replacement. Material and Method: From May 1995 to October 1998, 53 patients received 65 ATS prosthesis; 38 Mitral(27-33 mm), 27 Aortic(19-25 mm). 2 CABGs and 5 Tricuspid annuloplasty were taken concomitantly. The follow up period was 769 patient-months(mean 16.2$\pm$10.0), varied from 1 month to 39 months with 92.5% follow up rate. All patients were evaluated with Doppler echocardiography, 7-14 days after operation. Result: NYHA functional class was improved significantly, from 2.6$\pm$0.8 preoperatively to 1.3$\pm$0.4 postoperatively. The average value of peak and mean transvalvular pressure gradients were 25.7$\pm$13.5 mmHg, 12.7$\pm$8.3 mmHg in aortic position. In the mitral position, the average values of peak and mean transvalvular pressure gradient and valve area were 5.9$\pm$2.5 mmHg, 3.1$\pm$0.8 mmHg and 2.9$\pm$0.5 $\textrm{cm}^2$, respectively. In the anticoagulant therapy, mean INR was 2.5$\pm$0.6 in mitral valve replacement and 1.9$\pm$0.5 in aortic valve replacement. There was no anticoagulant related complication. During that period, there were 3 hospital death(5.9%) and 1 late death(1.9%). Conclusion: The early clinical results of the ATS heart valve replacement is quite satisfactory, and low target INR reginmen is safe. And long term follow of hemodynamic characteristics is also necessary.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.99-108
• /
• 2022

BACKGROUND: Adding pulsation to the Fontan circulation might change the fate of patients palliated by this procedure. Our aim was to compare the pulsatility index (PI) of the pulmonary artery (PA) between the various modifications of Fontan palliation. METHODS: Doppler-derived PI was measured in PA branches of a cohort of 28 patients palliated by 6 modifications of Fontan procedure. A group of normal individuals was included for comparison. RESULTS: Atriopulmonary connection (APC) group had the highest PA branches PI and statistically was close to the PI of the normal individuals (right pulmonary artery [RPA] PI of 1.58 vs. 1.63; p = 0.99 and left pulmonary artery [LPA] PI of 1.54 vs. 1.68; p = 0.46, respectively). The lowest PA branches PI was seen in the group of extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection (RPA PI of 0.62 and LPA PI of 0.65). Other 4 modifications including the extracardiac conduit with oversewn pulmonary valve, extracardiac conduit with preserved adjusted antegrade flow, extracardiac conduit from inferior vena cava onto the rudimentary right ventricle and lateral tunnel had a mean "RPA and LPA" PI of "1.19 and 1.17", "1.16 and 1.11", "1.13 and 1.11", "0.82 and 0.84", respectively. The modified Dunnett's post hoc test has shown a significant statistical decline in PI of all modifications compared to the normal individuals except for the APC group. CONCLUSIONS: Fontan palliated patients in different groups of surgical modification showed a spectrum of Doppler-derived PI with the highest amounts belong to the groups of pulsatile Fontan.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.12
• /
• pp.1234-1237
• /
• 1998

Patients with aortic root disease, frequently seen in Marfan syndrome have progressive dilatation of the aortic sinuses and dilatation and distortion of the aortic annulus, leading to aortic incompetence. They are currently treated with composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve and reimplantation of the coronary arteries. Recently, we experienced an aortic root replacement with aortic valve preservation in a patient with annuloaortic ectasia. The ascending aorta and sinus was excised except the aortic annulus and aortic valve. The aortic valve was reimplanted inside of a collagen-impregnated tubular Dacron graft. The coronary arteries were also reimplanted. The patient was followed up for six months and reevaluated with the echocardiography. Postoperative Doppler echocardiography revealed normal aortic valve function. With this technique, it is possible to preserve the native aortic valve if the aortic leaflets are anatomically normal.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.141-149
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to find out any difference and correlation between the cardiac structure and its function according to the level of obesity as evaluated by waist measurement and BMI (body mass index) in healthy adults. For research subjects, the study selected a final 519 subjects excluding 198 subjects aged 55 or over out of 717 subjects who received echocardiography through a medical checkup at J General Hospital. For the criteria for obesity, men were defined as being obese in case their waist measurement was over 90 cm, whereas women were defined as being obese in case their waist measurement was over 80 cm. Also, regarding the BMI criteria, in case a person's BMI was 30 kg/$m^2$, the subject was classified as belonging to an obese group, and in case a person's BMI was between 25 kg/$m^2$ and 30 kg/$m^2$, the subject was classified as belonging to an overweight group. Concerning the evaluation of cardiac structure and function, they were evaluated using two-dimensional, M-mode, doppler echocardiography. According to the stage of obesity in accordance with waist measurement and BMI, the cardiac structure showed both eccentric and centripetal changes, and the cardiac function was also discovered to show differences according to the stage of obesity. In addition, also in the overweight group, which is a prior stage to obesity, out of the criteria for obesity classification according to BMI, there were differences in the cardiac structure and function. Also, both the waist measurement and BMI were found to have a correlation with cardiac structure and diastolic function. Consequently, cardiac structure and function are correlated with BMI and waist measurement, which are anthropometrical variables, and obesity is assumed to induce not only structural change but also functional change of the heart.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.1107-1112
• /
• 1995

Between December 1993 and December 1994, fifty-eight percent of the mitral valve patients[33/57 had undergone mitral valve repair. Their mean age was 49[SD-16 years[range 11 - 75 and they were consisted with 15 males and 18 females. The causes of mitral disease in 33 patients were classified as follows: 19 cases[58% were degenerative, 9[27% were rheumatic, 3[9% were congenital and 2[6% were infectious. Carpentier`s functional classification was consisted with Class I 4 cases[12% , II 25 [76% and III 4 [12% . Surgical techniques included prosthetic annuloplasty in 32 cases[97% , leaflet resection in 16[48% , chorda shortening in 13[39% , chorda transfer in 9[27% , new chorda formation in 7[21% , commissurotomy in 7[21% , leaflet mobilization in 4[12% , chorda resection in 3[9% , papillary muscle splitting in 2[6% , cleft repair in 2[6% , leaflet patching in 1[3% and vegetation removal in 1[3% . Average number of mitral anatomical lesions per patient was 3.3 and We used average 3.0 procedures upon mitral valve apparatus per patient. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was carried out in 27 patients[82% for providing an immediate and accurate assessment of the adequacy of the reconstruction before closure of the chest. Operative mortality was absent. The mean functional class[NYHA was 2.87 preoperative and improved to 1.03 postoperatively. Postoperative Doppler echocardiography showed much improvement from grade II MR[5 , grade III[5 , grade IV[21 to no MR[26 , only trace MR[3 , grade III MR[2 . Postoperative mean mitral valve area was 2.4$\pm$0.6cm2[range 1.5 - 4.0 . We conclude that cautiously evaluated mitral valve reconstruction is stable and predictable operation with minimal postoperative left ventricular dysfunction.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.61 no.12
• /
• pp.392-396
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) that causes upper airway obstruction might lead to chronic hypoxemic pulmonary vasoconstriction and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate whether adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to severe ATH could improve RV function. Methods: Thirty-seven children (boy:girl=21:16; mean age, $9.52{\pm}2.20years$), who underwent T&A forsleep apnea due to ATH, were included. We analyzedthe mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), the presence and the maximal velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and the right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) with tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) by transthoracic echocardiography pre- and post-T&A. The follow-up period was $1.78{\pm}0.27years$. Results: Only the RVMPI using TDE improved after T&A ($42.18{\pm}2.03$ vs. $40{\pm}1.86$, P=0.001). The absolute value of TAPSE increased ($21.45{\pm}0.90mm$ vs. $22.30{\pm}1.10mm$, P=0.001) but there was no change in the z score of TAPSE pre- and post-T&A ($1.19{\pm}0.34$ vs. $1.24{\pm}0.30$, P=0.194). The mPAP was within normal range in children with ATH, and there was no significant difference between pre- and post-T&A ($19.6{\pm}3.40$ vs. $18.7{\pm}2.68$, P=0.052). There was no difference in the presence and the maximal velocity of TR (P=0.058). Conclusion: RVMPI using TDE could be an early parameter of RV function in children with OSA due to ATH.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.162-167
• /
• 2015

Tei-index has been reported as one of reliable echocardiographic factors for evaluating cardiac function in human and small animals. In this study, Tei-index were measured and evaluated with other echocardiographic parameters in normal thirteen beagle dogs and thirty-one dogs with mitral valve degeneration. Normal range of Tei index with tissue Doppler obtained at septum and left ventricular free wall was $0.58{\pm}0.07$ and $0.60{\pm}0.07$, respectively. The values between septum and left ventricular free wall did not show significant difference. Tissue Doppler derived tei index showed better reproducibility and significantly lower values than the results obtained by pulsed wave Doppler. Tei index obtained in either method increased with the progression of clinical signs. Therefore, the increase of Tei index in dogs with mitral regurgitation is thought to be an useful factor reflecting left ventricular dysfunction.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.417-423
• /
• 2006

Purpose : The objectives of this study were to assess ventricular function by tissue Doppler imaging in children who were receiving chemotherapy or who had received chemotherapy, and to apply repeated tissue Doppler imaging to make an early assessment in cardiac toxicity studies. Methods : This study was conducted on 23 oncology patients on-treatment or off-treatment from April 2005 to July 2005 at Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University. All patients(group 1) were divided into two groups, fractional shortening(FS) over 29 percent(group 2) and FS under 28 percent (group 3) in the first category. These same patients were also divided into the following groups : group treated with anthracyclin(group 4) and group treated without anthracyclin(group 5). Deceleration time(DT), isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT), FS, peak early diastolic(E), and peak late diastolic (A) velocity of transmitral flow were measured by M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler. Systolic(Sm), peak early diastolic(Em), and peak late diastolic(Am) velocity in apical 4-chamber and 2-chamber views were measured by tissue Doppler imaging. The author calculated a modified Tei index, E/A, E/Em ratio by using measured values. Results : Twenty three patients were enrolled : 12 boys and 11 girls. The average age of patients was 8 years and 4 months. Thirteen out of 23 patients were in the group treated with anthracyclin (group 4) and 6 had FS under 28 percent(group 3). E/Em ratio showed a significant difference between group 1 and control group($6.46{\pm}1.85$ vs $7.06{\pm}1.64$, P<0.05). Other parameters had no difference statistically. Conclusion : This study showed that the change of cardiac function developed earlier in diastolic function than in systolic function, as E/Em ratio reflecting the mean LV diastolic pressure showed a significant difference between the control group and chemotherapy groups. Echocardiography using tissue Doppler imaging is a non-invasive, comfortable and reliable method for post-chemotherapy follow up.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.57 no.5
• /
• pp.232-239
• /
• 2014

Purpose: Mitochondrial disease (MD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are often associated with cardiomyopathy, but the myocardial variability has not been isolated to a specific characteristic. We evaluated the left ventricular (LV) mass by echocardiography to identify the general distribution and functional changes of the myocardium in patients with MD or DMD. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the echocardiographic data of 90 children with MD and 42 with DMD. Using two-dimensional echocardiography, including time-motion (M) mode and Doppler measurements, we estimated the LV mass, ratio of early to late mitral filling velocities (E/A), ratio of early mitral filling velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/Ea), stroke volume, and cardiac output. A "z score" was generated using the lambda-mu-sigma method to standardize the LV mass with respect to body size. Results: The LV mass-for-height z scores were significantly below normal in children with MD ($-1.02{\pm}1.52$, P<0.001) or DMD ($-0.82{\pm}1.61$, P =0.002), as were the LV mass-for-lean body-mass z scores. The body mass index (BMI)-for-age z scores were far below normal and were directly proportional to the LV mass-for-height z scores in both patients with MD (R =0.377, P<0.001) and those with DMD (R =0.330, P=0.033). The LV mass-for-height z score correlated positively with the stroke volume index (R =0.462, P<0.001) and cardiac index (R =0.358, P<0.001). Conclusion: LV myocardial atrophy is present in patients with MD and those with DMD and may be closely associated with low BMI. The insufficient LV mass for body size might indicate deterioration of systolic function in these patients.