Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex, yet relatively common genetic cardiac disease and has been the subject of intensive investigation since its first description in 1958. HCM is defined by the presence of an increased left ventricular wall thickness that is not solely explained by abnormal loading conditions. Histologically, HCM is characterised as left ventricular hypertrophy due t...

BACKGROUND The pathophysiology of paradoxical low-gradient (LG) severe aortic stenosis (SAS) remains controversial. As low transvalvular flow has been implicated, we sought to investigate the impact of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) ellipticity on the estimation of the LV stroke volume, the calculation of the aortic valve area (AVA) by use of the continuity equation and on AS severity gr...

Objective Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is a complication in 15-25% of patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and sometimes leads to catastrophic outcomes, such as cardiogenic shock or cardiac rupture. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been clarified. Methods and Results We experienced 22 cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy during 3 years, and 4 of these 22 cases wer...

There is no recognized standard methodology to assess neo-LVOT area predict the morbid complication of LVOT obstruction after trans-catheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). The objective this project investigate and compare different approaches Neo-LVOT area. Thirty two patients who underwent TMVR using a heart (THV) into failed surgical MVR (SMVR) in our facility between August 2016 May 2022 ...

A 52-year-old man underwent surgical mitral repair for P2 flail. A conventional Carpentier technique was used (quadrangular resection+sliding plasty and annuloplasty with a 35-mm flexible band). Predischarge echocardiography showed no residual MR and no systolic anterior motion (SAM). One year after surgery, the patient came to our attention complaining dyspnoea on effort (New York Heart Associ...

BACKGROUND Percutaneous septal ablation by alcohol-induced septal branch occlusion was introduced as a new treatment option in symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Our aim was to evaluate procedural and long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in patients with HOCM treated by alcohol septal ablation (ASA) at our center. METHODS This single-center ...

AIMS The left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) peak pressure gradient is an important haemodynamic descriptor in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); however, secondary alterations in aortic blood flow have not been well described in these patients. Aortic flow derangement is not easily assessed by traditional imaging methods, but may provide unique characterization of this disease....

BACKGROUND Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is used for treatment of medically refractory hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients with severe left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. The current recommendations restrict the procedure to adults with favorable anatomy and no other coexisting surgically amenable disease. Some patients remain symptomatic with residual LVOT obstructi...

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant inherited genetic disease characterized by compensatory pathological left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy due to sarcomere dysfunction. In an important proportion of patients with HCM, the site and extent of cardiac hypertrophy results in severe obstruction to LV outflow tract (LVOT), contributing to disabling symptoms and increasing the ris...

AIMS Rest echocardiography plays a role in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) diagnosis and risk stratification because left atrial enlargement, severe left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy, and rest LV outflow tract (LVOT) gradients ≥50 mmHg are sudden cardiac death risk factors that have been highlighted in recent guidelines. Conversely, the lack of evidence makes that exercise-echocardiography find...