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Giuseppe Oreto

Publications and source records attributed to Giuseppe Oreto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Imaging of left main coronary artery dissection with multislice computed tomography.

We occurred in a left main (LM) dissection during primary coronary intervention in a 45-year-old man with anterior acute myocardial infarction. Successful, multiple direct stenting was performed from the ostial to the mid left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Nonetheless, an LM dissection involving the proximal circumflex artery (Cx) was still evident at the end of the intervention. Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography images showed that LM dissection was definitely long and close to the ostium; moreover, the proximal stent had both excluded the false lumen in the LAD and stabilized the dissection towards the Cx. Two months later, at MSCT coronary angiography the LM dissection was still evident and the patient had remained totally asymptomatic. MSCT coronary angiography can be recommended as a complementary diagnostic tool for the assessment of LM anatomy because of the possibility of three-dimensional reconstructions and consequent clear evaluation of its take-off, course and bifurcation.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed2005

An unusual bundle-branch block.

We report a case of right bundle-branch block (RBBB) showing a QRS configuration typical for left bundle-branch block (LBBB) in leads V(5) and V(6). The QRS axis was at +90 degrees, and the QRS duration was 0.14 second. There were wide S waves in leads I and aVL, suggesting at first glance an RBBB, but the QRS morphology in the inferior leads (monophasic R wave with secondary ST-T changes) was more consistent with an LBBB. Lead V(1) suggested an RBBB, whereas leads V(5) and V(6) showed a monophasic R wave as in LBBB; moreover, a negative T wave, typical of LBBB, was present in lead V(5). Placement of the electrodes of leads V(4), V(5), and V(6) 2 intercostal spaces above restored in these leads a QRS configuration suggestive of RBBB. The diagnostic problem was mainly caused by the inferior direction of the QRS axis. Because the electrode of V(6) is normally placed below the electrical center of the heart, namely, on a plane that is not orthogonal to the sagittal plane, a vector directed mainly inferiorly and slightly to the right does not project on the negative part but on the positive of the lead line. For this reason, the S waves normally observed in the left precordial leads with RBBB disappear. The superior displacement of the electrodes "normalizes" the plane upon which the lead lines lie, thereby restoring the expected QRS configuration.

Bundle-Branch Block↗
PubMed2005

Bundle branch block in alternate beats during 2:1 atrial flutter.

This presentation deals with a case of atrial flutter. During 2:1 A/V conduction, the QRS complexes showed a regular alternation of narrow beats and wide beats with a typical configuration of left bundle branch block. In contrast, pauses resulting from 4:1 A/V conduction ratio always resulted in narrow beats. Disappearance of left bundle branch block with long R-R intervals demonstrated that the block was tachycardia-dependent or phase 3. Analysis of the tracing suggested that narrowing of QRS complexes in alternate beats was due to supernormal left bundle branch conduction associated with retrograde concealed conduction into the anterogradely blocked bundle branch.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[Atrial septal aneurysm: a true embolic source?].

Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is a well-recognized cardiac abnormality of uncertain clinical significance. It has early been reported as an unexpected finding during autopsy, but it may also be diagnosed in living patients by echocardiographic techniques. An association between ASA and focal cerebral ischemic events has been suggested. Nevertheless, the role of ASA as a risk factor for cerebral ischemia is poorly defined. Several studies have demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of ASA in the patients referred for transesophageal echocardiography after a cerebral ischemic event of unknown cause. However, ASA is often associated with other cardiac abnormalities such as patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defects, as well as mitral valve prolapse or atrial arrhythmias. Due to the fact that these abnormalities are also possible sources of cardiac emboli it is even more difficult to assess the embolic potential of an ASA, independently. In this review, we have examined most of the papers on this topic to try to define the prevalence of ASA in the stroke patients and how this abnormality could be a risk factor for recurrences of cerebrovascular events.

Brain Ischemia↗
PubMed2004

Noninvasive recognition of asymptomatic left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy by conventional transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.

The noninvasive determination of the blood flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) at color Doppler echocardiography may provide useful clinical information. In this report, the authors describe the case of a patient with left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to hypertension in whom a critical but asymptomatic LAD stenosis was diagnosed at conventional echocardiography without resorting to pharmacological stress.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Usefulness of invasive electrophysiologic testing to stratify the risk of arrhythmic events in asymptomatic patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern: results from a large prospective long-term follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess in a large cohort of asymptomatic subjects with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern the usefulness of invasive electrophysiologic testing (EPT) in predicting the occurrence of arrhythmic events over a five-year follow-up. BACKGROUND: Sudden death may be the first clinical manifestation of the WPW syndrome in previously asymptomatic patients. Serial EPTs have been proposed to identify patients at risk. METHODS: A total of 212 consecutive asymptomatic WPW patients were enrolled after a baseline EPT; patients were followed for five years, and 162 patients (115 noninducible and 47 inducible) patients underwent a second EPT. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 37.7 months, 33 patients became symptomatic. Of the 115 noninducible patients, 18.2% lost anterograde accessory pathway (AP) conduction, 30% retrograde AP conduction, and only 4 (3.4%) developed symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Of the 47 inducible patients, 25 with sustained atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT) and atrial fibrillation (AF), and 4 with nonsustained AVRT and AF became symptomatic for SVT (n = 21) and AF (n = 8). They were younger, had shorter AP anterograde refractory periods, and multiple APs compared to patients who remained asymptomatic (for all comparisons, p < 0.0001). Of the eight patients with symptomatic episodes of AF and inducible sustained AF, two had a resuscitated cardiac arrest and one died suddenly; all three patients were inducible for AVRT and AF and had multiple APs. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic WPW subjects, EPT may be a valuable tool to stratify the risk of symptomatic and fatal arrhythmic events.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Anatomical M-mode: an old-new technique.

The M-mode (motion mode) technique has improved the diagnostic possibilities of echocardiography due to its high temporal resolution. The use of a two-dimensional (2D) image as a basis for M-mode analysis at a defined line, independent of the transducer orientation, namely the anatomic M-mode (AMM), has been proposed from the beginning of 2D echocardiography. For several years, however, this could not be accomplished due to several reasons including the limited digital memory, the relatively rough pixels of 2D images, and the low temporal resolution of the screen. The AMM has been improved by the "fully digital" machines. These are able to provide a series of digital data (direction, position, and timing) relative to any single echo received from any point of the tissue. AMM analysis, thus, can be performed in any direction, as a "normal" monodimensional echocardiogram. With respect to traditional M-mode, AMM permits a more detailed analysis of cardiac chambers diameters obtained by linear measurements, regional wall motion of the left ventricle (both at rest and during stress), and location of accessory pathways. In particular, the assessment of left ventricular regional wall motion represents the most important goal of this new technique, which results in marked reduction or even elimination of the limitations due to the subjective character of wall motion evaluation with 2D echocardiography.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed2002

Comparison between transesophageal echocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography with harmonic tissue imaging for left atrial appendage assessment.

BACKGROUND: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the method of choice for evaluating both anatomy and function of left atrial appendage (LAA). In contrast, conventional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) does not result in images of sufficient quality to explore LAA. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of TTE with harmonic frequency imaging (HFI) for assessing LAA normal anatomy and function. METHODS: The study group comprised 25 patients, (9 men, 16 women, mean age 51 years, range 20-82). The TTE as sessment of LAA both in fundamental frequency imaging (FFI) and HFI was performed using the apical two-chamber view, the longitudinal two-chamber view was used for TEE assessment of LAA. According to image quality, images were categorized into three classes: A: good quality, B: sufficient quality, C: poor quality. RESULTS: Transthoracic echocardiography conventional imaging allowed sufficient LAA visualization (class B) in only 5 of 25 patients (20%); the HFI resulted in adequate LAA visualization in 23 of 25 patients (92%). Images were of good quality (class A) in 18 of 23 patients and of sufficient quality (class B) in 5 of 23 patients. Transesophageal echocardiography achieved good quality images in 24 of 25 patients (96%). Average LAA maximum area determined by HFI and TEE was 3.46 +/-1.17 and 3.59 +/- 1.16 cm2, respectively; LAA minimum area was 1.81 +/- 0.98 and 1.77 +/- 0.97 cm2, respectively. Percent LAA area change was 51 +/- 16.5 and 50.9 +/- 16% with HFI and TEE, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no difference between the data obtained with the two methods. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that HFI TNE may be a useful tool for the exploration of LAA.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Coronary microembolization in acute coronary syndrome: indicative hypothesis or still unknown phenomenon? Description of a clinical case].

Acute myocardial infarction may result from rupture or fissuring of atherosclerotic plaque in a coronary artery. Sometimes a different pathogenesis occurs like microembolization following lysis from ulcerated plaque or during pharmacological or interventional procedures. We describe a patient with anterior myocardial infarction treated with alteplase + abciximab (TIMI 14). At the end of thrombolytic therapy administration, we observed a marked reduction of anterior ST elevation associated with a simultaneous occurrence of ST elevation in the inferior leads, later followed by inferior Q waves. The coronary angiogram demonstrated an isolated 60% stenosis on the left anterior descending artery. This case raises the question on whether the very effective and aggressive thrombolytic treatment was paradoxically responsible for microembolization resulting in myocardial infarction extension.

Acute Disease↗