AIMS We sought to examine the feasibility and reproducibility of a new video densitometric (VD) quantification of aortic regurgitation (AR) on aortography, and its long-term clinical impact. METHODS AND RESULTS Using dedicated video densitometry software, AR after TAVI was quantified, and inter- and intra-observer reproducibility was investigated in 182 aortograms of the Brazilian TAVI regist...

PURPOSE To assess the geometry and area of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) in non-stenotic and stenotic aortic valves and to determine the aortic valve area (AVA) in non-stenotic valves by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a modified continuity equation. METHODS Twenty patients (10 male, mean age 54.8 +/- 15 years) without known aortic valve disease and 10 patients (7 male, mea...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether the dynamic cause for mitral systolic anterior motion (SAM) is a Venturi or a flow drag (pushing) mechanism. BACKGROUND In obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), if SAM were caused by the Venturi mechanism, high flow velocity in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) should be found at the time of SAM onset. However, if ...

Background. Because cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is becoming increasingly available in clinical practice, there is a need to establish normal values for left atrial dimensions as determined by this method to allow accurate assessment of cardiac dimensions and to provide standardization for follow up studies. For clinical purpose measurements of the left atrial end diastolic d...

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiovascular disease characterized by a thickened non-dilated ventricle in the absence of another cardiac or systemic condition. Its most important hemodynamic consequence is left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. The primary management strategy of this condition is surgical septal myectomy, but an acceptable alternative...

BACKGROUND Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) occurs from not only obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but also other conditions such as sigmoid septum or post mitral valve repair. However, the changes of the LVOT pressure gradient (LVOT PG) in LVOTO with various conditions remain unclear. METHODS The clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters of 73 patients...

INTRODUCTION A left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction assessment with a provoking test should be a routine part of the evaluation of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The aim of this study was to compare the utility of the Valsalva maneuver (VM) and sublingual spray application of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) for detection of an obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS We pr...

Dynamic (latent or/and labile) obstruction of left ventricular outflow (LVOT) was recognized from the earliest clinical descriptions of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and has proved to be a complex phenomenon, as well as arguably the most audible ("visible") pathophysiological hallmark of this heterogeneous disease. The aim of the current review is focused on two novel issues in a subgroup o...

BACKGROUND Dynamic left ventricular (LV) outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction (DLVOTO) is not infrequently observed in older individuals without overt hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We sought to investigate associated geometric changes and then evaluate their clinical characteristics. METHODS A total of 168 patients with DLVOTO, which was defined as a trans-LVOT peak pressure gradient (PG) hi...

BACKGROUND 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) may provide more accurate aortic annular and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) dimensions and geometries compared with 2D TEE. We assessed agreements between 2D and 3D TEE measurements with multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and changes in annular/LVOT areas and geometries after transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVI). METHOD...