Reminiscing…Success and Challenge in 2013–2014
Benjamin F. Byrd, III, MD, FASE It goes without saying that I have enjoyed serving as your ASE President tremendously over the past year—hard work, but truly exhilarating at many…
Mechanisms of QT Prolongation during Hypothermia
We thank Drs Rai, Cronin, Kluger, and LaSala for their interest in our study and for their thorough discussion of the possible mechanisms for prolonged systolic duration during therapeutic hypothermia….
Hypothermia and Left Ventricular Dysfunction: The Role of Electric Changes
We enjoyed reading the well-done and timely article by Espinoza et al . regarding the effect of therapeutic hypothermia on left ventricular function in an open-chest, anesthetized, and intubated porcine model….
Comprehensive Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension with Global Longitudinal Peak Systolic Strain Derived from Multiple Right Ventricular Views
Background Right ventricular (RV) function is a strong predictor of mortality in pulmonary hypertension (PH), but two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography–derived assessments of RV function that could aid in risk assessment and…
Association of Exercise Tolerance with Effective Arterial Elastance Obtained Noninvasively in Patients with Exertional Dyspnea
Background Ventricular-arterial stiffening is a part of the aging process that is amplified by various comorbidities. It affects normal cardiovascular reserve and limits exercise capacity. The aim of this study…
Atrial and Ventricular Mechanics in Patients after Fontan-Type Procedures: Atriopulmonary Connection versus Extracardiac Conduit
Background Differences in systemic venous flow dynamics and energy losses exist in various Fontan-type procedures, which may affect atrial and ventricular filling. The aim of this study was to test…
The Association of Left Ventricular Lead Position Related to Regional Scar by Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography with Clinical Outcomes in Patients Receiving Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Background Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy is variable. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that left ventricular (LV) lead position in proximity to myocardial scar is…
Effects of Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty on Left Ventricular Deformation in Patients with Isolated Severe Mitral Stenosis: A Speckle-Tracking Strain Echocardiographic Study
Background Previous studies have reported abnormal left ventricular (LV) contraction in patients with mitral stenosis (MS). The aim of this study was to explore the serial changes in LV mechanics…
Assessment of Longitudinal Myocardial Mechanics in Patients with Degenerative Mitral Valve Regurgitation Predicts Postoperative Worsening of Left Ventricular Systolic Function
Background The optimal timing of mitral valve repair (MVr) in patients with chronic severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) remains controversial and is broadly based on either measurable loss of systolic…
Diagnostic Errors in Congenital Echocardiography: Importance of Study Conditions
Background Diagnostic errors are unwanted clinical events that place patients at risk for injury. The authors have previously reported that a majority of congenital echocardiography errors have clinical impacts and,…
