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- Popescu, Bogdan A, et al.
(author)
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European Association of Echocardiography recommendations for training, competence, and quality improvement in echocardiography
- 2009
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In: European Journal of Echocardiography. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1525-2167 .- 1532-2114. ; 10:8, s. 893-905
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The main mission statement of the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE) is 'to promote excellence in clinical diagnosis, research, technical development, and education in cardiovascular ultrasound in Europe'. As competence and quality control issues are increasingly recognized by patients, physicians, and payers, the EAE has established recommendations for training, competence, and quality improvement in echocardiography. The purpose of this document is to provide the requirements for training and competence in echocardiography, to outline the principles of quality measurement, and to recommend a set of measures for improvement, with the ultimate goal of raising the standards of echocardiographic practice in Europe.
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- Voigt, Jens-Uwe, et al.
(author)
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Apical transverse motion as surrogate parameter to determine regional left ventricular function inhomogeneities : a new, integrative approach to left ventricular asynchrony assessment
- 2009
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In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 30:8, s. 959-968
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AimsLeft ventricular (LV) asynchrony assessment is mostly based on delays between regional myocardial velocity peaks. Regional function is barely considered. We propose apical transverse motion (ATM) as a new parameter integrating both temporal and functional information, which was tested in different conduction delays.Methods and resultsWe examined 67 patients, 11 patients with post-infarct ischaemic left bundle branch blocks (iLBBB) and 25 patients with non-ischaemic left bundle branch block (nLBBB), 12 patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB), and 19 normal healthy volunteers (NORM). Longitudinal colour tissue Doppler data were used to calculate the total transverse apex motion (ATM), the transverse motion in the four-chamber view plane alone (ATM4CV) as well as regional myocardial deformation and conventional LV asynchrony parameters. Median ATM was 1.8 mm in NORM, 1.5 mm in RBBB (P = 0.999), 2.4 mm in iLBBB (P = 0.183), and 4.3 mm in nLBBB (P < 0.001 vs. NORM and RSB). ATM4CV behaved similarly, showed a good correlation with regional deformation data, and distinguished well between NORM and LBBB (AUC = 0.87).ConclusionApical transverse motion is a new and simple parameter integrating information on both regional and temporal function inhomogeneities of the LV. It has a potential role in assessing LV asynchrony in the clinical context.
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- Ropers, Dieter, et al.
(author)
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Comparison of dual-source computed tomography for the quantification of the aortic valve area in patients with aortic stenosis versus transthoracic echocardiography and invasive hemodynamic assessment
- 2009
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In: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 104:11, s. 1561-1567
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We compared the measurements of the aortic valve area (AVA) using dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in patients with mid to severe aortic stenosis to measurements using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and invasive hemodynamic assessment. A total of 50 patients (mean age 73 ± 10 years) with suspected aortic stenosis were included. The computed tomographic data were acquired using DSCT with standardized scan parameters (2 × 64 × 0.6 mm collimation, 330-ms rotation, 120-kV tube voltage, 560 mA/rot tube current). After injection of 35 ml contrast agent (flow rate 5 ml/s), a targeted volume data set, ranging from the top of the leaflets to the infundibulum, was acquired. Ten cross-sectional data sets (slice thickness 1 mm, no overlap, increment 0.6 mm) were reconstructed during systole in 5% increments of the R-R interval. The AVA determined in systole by planimetry was compared to the calculated AVA values using the continuity equation on TTE and the Gorlin formula on catheterization. DSCT allowed the planimetry of the AVA in all patients. The mean AVA using DSCT was 1.16 ± 0.47 cm2 compared to a mean AVA of 1.04 ± 0.45 cm2 using TTE and 1.06 ± 0.45 cm2 using catheterization, with a significant correlation between DSCT/TTE (r = 0.93, p <0.001) and DSCT/cardiac catheterization (r = 0.97, p <0.001). However, DSCT demonstrated a slight, but significant, overestimation of the AVA compared to TTE (+0.12 ± 0.17 cm) and catheterization (+0.10 ± 0.12 cm2). In conclusion, DSCT permits one to assess the AVA with a high-image quality and diagnostic accuracy compared to TTE and invasive determination.
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- Zimmermann, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Outcomes of contemporary interventional therapy of ST elevation infarction in patients older than 75 years
- 2009
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In: Clinical Cardiology. - : Wiley. - 0160-9289 .- 1932-8737. ; 32:2, s. 87-93
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Data on contemporary real-world outcomes of interventional revascularization in patients > or = 75 y of age with ST elevation infarction (STEMI) are limited.METHODS:We analyzed all 504 consecutive patients who underwent angiography for acute STEMI between 1999 and 2005 at our center, and followed them up over one year. Outcomes in patients > or = 75 y of age were compared with younger patients.RESULTS:Patients > or = 75 y of age (n = 115) were majority females (55% versus 21%, p < 0.001), more cases of diabetes (42% versus 27%, p = 0.004), hypertension (78% versus 65%, p = 0.03) and a history of coronary events (25% versus 15%, p = 0.002). Younger patients were more often smokers (63% versus 30%, p < 0.001). After coronary angiography patients > or = 75 y of age underwent less frequent intervention (PCI; 84% versus 93%, p = 0.01). However, if PCI was performed, technical success rates were similar to younger patients (84% versus 86%). The 30-d mortality was 13% versus 6.4% (p = 0.03), but after successful PCI, the 30-d mortality rate was not significantly higher in old patients (7.4% versus 3.9%, p = 0.23). Bleeding complications were very low in both age groups if the radial access route was chosen. Multivariate predictors of 30-d mortality were cardiogenic shock/survived cardiac arrest, ejection fraction < 30%, conservative treatment or unsuccessful PCI (OR 3.01), renal insufficiency, diabetes, and age. One-y mortality was higher in the elderly (24.3% versus 9.9%, p < 0.001). Among 30-d-survivors, only multivessel disease and age were multivariate predictors of 1-y mortality.CONCLUSION:Patients > or = 75 y of age benefit from PCI in STEMI, and failed or unattempted PCI worsens prognosis in the old as well as in younger patients.
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- Zimmermann, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Short-term prognosis of contemporary interventional therapy of ST-elevation myocardial infarction : does gender matter?
- 2009
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In: Clinical Research in Cardiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1861-0684 .- 1861-0692. ; 98:11, s. 709-715
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND:A higher mortality risk for women with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been a common finding in the past, even after acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We set out to analyze whether there are gender differences in real-world contemporary treatment and outcomes of STEMI.PATIENTS AND METHODS:A retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with STEMI and acute coronary angiography with the intention of performing a PCI at our center 6/1999-6/2006 was carried out (n = 566). Data were examined for gender-specific differences regarding patients' characteristics, referral patterns, timing of acute symptoms, angiographic findings, procedural details, and adverse events at 30 days after PCI.RESULTS:Women (n = 161) were on average 8 years older than men (n = 405), had higher co-morbidity, were more often transported to the hospital by ambulance and presented less often to the emergency room on their own (4.2% vs. 12.6% in men, P = 0.02). The pre-hospital delay from symptom onset to admission was significantly longer for women (median 185 vs. 135 min, P < 0.02). There was no gender difference in time from admission to PCI (median 46 min vs. 48 min, P = 0.42). Both genders received PCI with similar frequency (88.8% vs. 92.4%, P = 0.19), with similar success rates (83.2% vs. 85.3%, P = 0.68). Thirty-day overall mortality for women was not significantly higher than for men (8.7% vs. 7.2%, P = 0.6). Re-infarction or stroke within 30 days were rare for both genders without gender-specific differences whereas bleeding necessitating blood replacement was significantly more frequent in women (16.8% vs. 5.9%, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, female gender was not independently associated with a higher risk of 30-day mortality (OR 0.964, P = 0.93).CONCLUSIONS:Women underwent PCI therapy for STEMI with the same frequency and the same angiographic success as men. Despite their more advanced age and the higher prevalence of co-morbidities, they did not have a significantly higher 30-day mortality rate than men. Female gender was not an independent risk factor of 30-day mortality. Longer pre-hospital delays before hospital admission in women indicate that awareness of risk from coronary artery disease should be further raised in women.
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