Background Transthoracic echocardiographic estimates of peak systolic pulmonary artery pressure are conventionally calculated from the maximal velocity of the tricuspid regurgitation (TR) jet. Unfortunately, there is insufficient TR to determine…
Background The aims of this study were to evaluate the three-dimensional features and geometric determinants of the vena contracta (VC) in functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and to identify optimal width…
Background Left atrial (LA) enlargement has been acknowledged as a significant predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Methods To evaluate the accuracy of two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography for determining LA…
Background Substantial variability in sequential echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) quantification may exist. Interobserver and intraobserver values are well known, but acquisition (test-retest) variability has been rarely assessed. The objective of…
Background The authors hypothesized that in patients with heart failure with normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (HFNEF), the same fibrotic processes that affect the subendocardial layer of the left…
Background Cardiac fibrosis is an important complication of intestinal carcinoid disease, with resulting valvular and ventricular dysfunction due to endocardial fibrosis. Evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function in these patients…
Background Catheter-based mitral valve clip repair (CBMCR) is feasible for selected patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). Two-dimensional (2D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the standard modality for evaluating MR and procedural…
Background The influence of regional right ventricular (RV) dysfunction on the accuracy of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) assessment of global RV function is unknown. The objective of this study was…
Background The accurate evaluation of intrinsic myocardial contractility in children with or without congenital heart disease (CHD) has turned out to be a challenge. Two-dimensional strain echocardiographic (2DSTE) imaging or…
Extraordinary advances in technology have made possible percutaneous catheter-based treatment of a wide spectrum of specific pediatric and adult “structural” heart diseases. Many of these percutaneous interventional procedures require access…
