Background Left atrial (LA) strain as a marker for discrimination of risk for stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients with atrial fibrillation and low-risk CHADS 2 scores (≤1)…
Background Although left atrial volume (LAV) by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography provides prognostic information, the misalignment of the 2D cutting plane of the left atrium could make the measurements inaccurate. The…
Background It has been suggested that the assessment of left ventricular contractile reserve during dobutamine infusion can improve prognostic evaluation for patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the assessment…
Background Longitudinal strain (LS) imaging is an important tool for the quantification of left ventricular function and deformation, but its assessment is challenging in the presence of echocardiographic contrast agents…
Background Our objective was to explore the right ventricular (RV) dimensions and function and the effect of long-term intensive training in a large population of top level athletes using real-time…
Background Early transmitral flow velocity (E) divided by early diastolic velocity of the mitral valve annulus (e′) is referred to as the E/e′ ratio, a variable that strongly correlates with…
Background Heart failure (HF) complicating acute myocardial infarction (MI) is an ominous prognostic sign frequently caused by left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. However, many patients develop HF despite preserved LV…
Background Despite the common practice of indexing left ventricular dimensions to body surface area, there remains a lack of indexed normal right ventricular (RV) two-dimensional caliper measurements. Variations in ranges…
Background Published reference values for echocardiographic measurements of right-heart dimensions and function do not stratify for gender and body size. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the…
Although often referred to as “the forgotten chamber,” the right ventricle plays a critical role in the clinical expression and prognosis of patients with congenital heart disease, left ventricular (LV)…
