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Biomedical subjects

O Kamp

Publications and source records attributed to O Kamp.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Transesophageal echocardiographic predictors for maintenance of sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients with atrial fibrillation in predicting restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion. TEE was performed in 62 patients with atrial fibrillation before their first elective cardioversion. Clinical variables evaluated were: age, gender, duration, and etiology of atrial fibrillation. TEE variables included: left atrial (LA) length, width, and size, LA annulus size, as well as presence of LA spontaneous contrast, thrombus and mitral regurgitation, LA appendage size and flow, and left ventricular function. Based on initial outcome of cardioversion, patients were grouped into patients who remained in atrial fibrillation and in whom sinus rhythm was restored. The latter group of patients was followed for 1 year, and grouped into patients who reverted to atrial fibrillation and in whom sinus rhythm was maintained. Successful cardioversion was achieved in 50 of 62 patients (81%). None of the clinical or TEE variables were related to initial outcome. At 1-year follow-up, 29 of 50 patients (58%) who underwent successful cardioversion continued to have sinus rhythm. The following variables were related to maintenance of sinus rhythm: duration of atrial fibrillation (6.7 +/- 7.3 vs 2.0 +/- 2.4 months; p < 0.005); LA length (6.2 +/- 0.7 vs. 5.5 +/- 1.0 cm; p < 0.008); width (5.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.7 cm; p < 0.002); size (26.4 +/- 5.0 vs 19.8 +/- 6.5 cm2; p < 0.0005); annulus size (4.0 +/- 0.2 vs 3.7 +/- 0.3 cm; p < 0.0005); presence of LA spontaneous contrast (13 [62%] vs 4 [14%]; p < 0.002), and LA appendage flow (19 +/- 8 vs 36 +/- 15 cm/s; p < 0.0005). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, LA annulus size, but especially LA appendage flow, were significantly associated with maintenance of sinus rhythm. Thus, in TEE-guided electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation, variables often used to assess thromboembolic risk may also be used to predict 1-year outcome of cardioversion.

Aged↗

Prediction of restenosis after coronary balloon angioplasty. Results of PICTURE (Post-IntraCoronary Treatment Ultrasound Result Evaluation), a prospective multicenter intracoronary ultrasound imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) imaging is potentially suitable to identify lesions at high risk of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), but it has not been studied systematically. METHODS AND RESULTS: We recruited 200 patients in whom ICUS studies were performed after successful PTCA and related their ICUS parameters to 6-month follow-up quantitative coronary angiography. This was performed in 164 patients (82%), yielding 170 lesions for analysis. The overall incidence of a > or = 50% diameter stenosis at follow-up (categorical restenosis) was 29.4%. Quantitative ICUS parameters were weakly but significantly related to follow-up minimal luminal diameter on quantitative coronary angiography (lumen area: R2 = .36, P = .0001; vessel area: R2 = .29, P = .0002; plaque area: R2 = -.18, P = .021; percent obstruction: R2 = -.15, P = .05), but categorical restenosis was not significantly related to these parameters (P = .63, .77, .38, and .08, respectively). There were no significant predictors of restenosis in ICUS parameters of plaque morphology: eccentric versus concentric (P = 1.0), plaque type (hard, soft, or calcific, P = .98), or the number of calcified quadrants (P = .41). There were no significant predictors of restenosis in two predefined types of vessel-wall disruptions: (1) rupture: presence (P = .79), depth (partial versus complete, P = .85), or extent in quadrants (P = .6), and (2) dissection: presence (P = .31), depth (P = .82), or extent (P = .38). CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative ICUS parameters after PTCA did not predict restenosis. A larger lumen and vessel area and a smaller plaque area by ICUS were associated with a larger angiographic minimal lumen diameter at follow-up, but these parameters were not significantly related to categorical restenosis.

Aged↗

[Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors following a myocardial infarct: clinical abd echographic indications].

-Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can limit mortality and the occurrence of cardiac failure after myocardial infarction because they interfere with the ventricular remodelling process. ACE inhibitors also have anti-arrhythmic and possibly anti-ischaemic potency and therefore a primary cardioprotective effect. It is not advised to treat all patients with a myocardial infarction with an ACE inhibitor, but patients with a large anterior wall infarct, with heart failure or who had a previous infarct should be treated. After three months, the remodelling process can be reevaluated. The ACE inhibitor can be discontinued if the left ventricular function has strongly improved. There is no preference for a particular ACE inhibitor.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Long-term implications of reocclusion on left ventricular size and function after successful thrombolysis for first anterior myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Successful thrombolysis can prevent left ventricular dilatation after acute myocardial infarction. However, in almost 30% of patients, reocclusion occurs. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term implications of reocclusion on left ventricular size and function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were studied with two-dimensional echocardiography at baseline (2 +/- 1.6 days) and 5.0 +/- 1.4 years after first anterior myocardial infarction. All patients (a subset of those enrolled in the APRICOT trial) had a patent infarct-related artery when studied < 48 hours after thrombolysis and underwent repeat coronary angiography at 3 months. Baseline characteristics were comparable in patients with (n = 17) and without reocclusion (n = 39). Left ventricular volume indexes were stable in patients without reocclusion. Patients with reocclusion, however, showed a significant increase in end-diastolic volume index (EDVI; P = .008) and end-systolic volume index (ESVI; P = .039). Furthermore, patients without reocclusion demonstrated improvement in wall motion score index (WMSI; P = .0001) and ejection fraction (EF; P = .016), whereas patients with reocclusion did not. After 5 years, patients with reocclusion had significantly larger volume indexes (EDVI, 99 +/- 41 versus 76 +/- 22 mL/m2, P = .007; ESVI, 59 +/- 40 versus 39 +/- 20 mL/m2, P = .017) and more compromised left ventricular function (WMSI, 1.63 +/- 0.33 versus 1.39 +/- 0.32, P = .013; EF, 45 +/- 13% versus 51 +/- 11%, P = .077) than patients without reocclusion. Multivariate analysis identified baseline WMSI and reocclusion as significant independent predictors of left ventricular dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Reocclusion of the infarct-related artery within 3 months of successful thrombolysis is associated with left ventricular dilatation and is detrimental to functional recovery of left ventricular function 5 years after first anterior myocardial infarction.

Coronary Disease↗

Prediction of improvement of contractile function in patients with ischemic ventricular dysfunction after revascularization by fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose single-photon emission computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the use of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to predict improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after revascularization. BACKGROUND: FDG SPECT has recently been proposed for assessment of myocardial viability. However, FDG SPECT still awaits validation in terms of predicting improvement of contractile function after revascularization in patients with poor left ventricular (LV) function. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with contractile dysfunction (including 22 with LVEF < 30%) underwent FDG SPECT during hyperinsulinemic glucose clamping and early thallium-201 SPECT (to assess perfusion). Improvement of LV function was evaluated 3 months after revascularization with echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography. RESULTS: The 55 patients were arbitrarily classified into two groups: 19 with three or more viable, dysfunctional segments on FDG SPECT and 36 with less than three viable, dysfunctional segments. LVEF increased significantly in the first group, from 28 +/- 8% (mean +/- SD) before to 35 +/- 9% (p < 0.01) after revascularization. In the second group, LVEF remained unchanged after revascularization (45 +/- 14% vs. 44 +/- 14%, p = NS). The 22 patients with severely depressed LV function were similarly classified into two groups: 14 with three or more viable segments on FDG SPECT in whom LVEF improved significantly (25 +/- 6% vs. 32 +/- 6%) and 8 with less than three viable segments in whom LVEF remained unchanged (24 +/- 6% vs. 25 +/- 6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that FDG SPECT can identify patients in whom LV function improves after revascularization. Because SPECT is widely available, this technique may contribute to more routine use of FDG for determination of viability.

Echocardiography↗

Prognostic implications of restrictive left ventricular filling in acute myocardial infarction: a serial Doppler echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the relative prognostic significance of restrictive left ventricular (LV) filling after acute myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND: Data regarding the contribution of diastolic dysfunction to prognosis after myocardial infarction are limited, and the additional value over the assessment of systolic dysfunction is not known. METHODS: Serial Doppler echocardiography was performed in 95 patients on days 1, 3 and 7 and 3 months after acute myocardial infarction. Patients were classified into two groups: a restrictive group (n = 12) with a peak velocity of early diastolic filling wave (E)/peak velocity of late filling wave (A) ratio > or = 2 or between 1 and 2 and a deceleration time (DT) < or = 140 ms during at least one echocardiographic study; and a nonrestrictive group (n = 83) with an E/A ratio < or = 1 or between 1 and 2 and a DT > 140 ms at all examinations. RESULTS: Cardiac death occurred in 10 patients during a mean follow-up interval of 32 +/- 17 months. The survival rate at 1 year was 100% in the nonrestrictive group and only 50% in the restrictive group. After 1 year there was a continuing divergence of mortality, resulting in a 3-year survival rate of 100% and 22%, respectively. Univariate Cox analysis revealed that restrictive LV filling, wall motion score index, ejection fraction and end-systolic and end-diastolic volume indexes, as well as peak creatine kinase, peak MB fraction and heart failure during the hospital course were significant predictors of cardiac death, although restrictive filling was the single best predictor (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that restrictive filling adds prognostic information to clinical and echocardiographic variables of systolic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Restrictive LV filling after acute myocardial infarction is the single best predictor of cardiac death and adds significantly to clinical and echocardiographic markers of systolic dysfunction.

Case-Control Studies↗

Left ventricular wall motion score as an early predictor of left ventricular dilation and mortality after first anterior infarction treated with thrombolysis. The CATS Investigators Group.

To recognize patients prone to subsequent left ventricular dilation after the acute phase of a myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis, we studied 233 patients with a first anterior infarction, treated with thrombolysis, with 2-dimensional echocardiography within 12 hours after admission and 3 months later. A wall motion score index (WMSI) and left ventricular volumes were assessed, and enzymatic infarct size was expressed as cumulative alphahydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase determined in the first 72 hours after infarction. Patients who died (17 of 233, 7%) after a mean follow-up of 517 days had a significantly higher acute WMSI (2.1 +/- 0.3, mean +/- SD) than those who survived (1.9 +/- 0.4)(p=0.006). With use of this cutoff value for 2 WMSI, ventricles with an acute WMSI < or = 2 (62%) showed no increase in end-diastolic volume index (EDVI) or end-systolic volume index (ESVI), whereas ventricles with an acute WMSI >2 (38%) showed a significant increase in ESVI (6.1 +/- 12.2 ml/m2) and in EDVI (10.3 +/- 16.6 ml/m2) in the first 3 months. Using a cutoff value of 1,000 U/L for cumulative alphahydroxybutytrate dehydrogenase, only infarcts with a value of >1,000 U/L (52%) caused a significant increase in EDVI (10.8 +/- 14.3 ml/m2) and ESVI (6.5 +/- 10.0 ml/m2) in the first 3 months. Thus, acutely assessed WMSI of >2 can readily predict subsequent dilation in patients with a first anterior infarction treated with streptokinase and is a good predictor of mortality. Enzymatic infarct size also is a predictor of dilation, although not available until 3 days after infarction.

Dilatation, Pathologic↗

Usefulness of combined two-dimensional echocardiography and transesophageal atrial stimulation early after acute myocardial infarction.

Transesophageal atrial stimulation (TRAS) was combined with 2-dimensional echocardiography in 69 consecutive patients on days 3 to 5 (mean 3.3) of their first, uncomplicated myocardial infarction, to determine if inducible remote asynergy (i.e., not directly adjacent to the infarcted area and supposedly related to another vascular territory) provides information regarding (1) extent of coronary artery disease, and (2) future ischemic events. Uncomplicated, adequate stress studies were performed in 59 of 69 patients (86%); all these patients had regional asynergy at rest. Remote asynergy at rest was present in 7 patients and during TRAS in 26 patients. Coronary angiography was performed within 2 to 3 weeks after the acute phase. Multivessel disease was present in 23 of these patients and absent in 3. Of the 33 patients without remote asynergy during TRAS, 5 had multivessel disease. Sensitivity of remote asynergy during TRAS for detecting multivessel CAD was 82%, specificity 90%, and predictive accuracy 86%. New ischemic events, defined as recurrent infarction, cardiac death, or revascularization within 12 to 18 months (mean 12.6) occurred in 24 patients (41%); remote asynergy during TRAS was present in 16 of these patients (67%). It is concluded that TRAS combined with 2-dimensional echocardiography can safely be performed in the early days of acute myocardial infarction; remote asynergy during TRAS reliably identifies patients with multivessel disease and future ischemic events.

Adult↗

[Trans-esophageal contrast echocardiography in suspicion of paradoxal embolism].

In two patients, women of 35 and 74 years old, paradoxical embolism was diagnosed. Patient A presented with multiple pulmonary embolism. Transoesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a thrombus mass which protruded from the right atrium through a patent foramen ovale into the left atrium: explicit proof of the possibility of paradoxical embolism. Patient B presented with systemic arterial embolism. During hospitalisation multiple pulmonary embolism occurred. With the use of transoesophageal contrast echocardiography a patent foramen ovale was observed, the probable cause of paradoxical embolism. Both patients were treated with intravenous heparin and oral anticoagulants.

Adult↗

Magnetic resonance imaging of the pulmonary venous flow pattern in mitral regurgitation. Independence of the investigated vein.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was two-fold: first, to quantify characteristic parameters of the pulmonary venous flow pattern in patients with mitral regurgitation by using magnetic resonance phase velocity mapping; second, to determine whether this pattern is dependent on the vein being investigated and the direction of the regurgitant jet. BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic findings threw doubt on whether the pulmonary venous flow pattern is independent of the vein being investigated and whether the flow velocities in the pulmonary veins have a linear relationship with the volume flow. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Flow patterns were assessed in all four pulmonary veins by magnetic resonance velocity mapping in healthy volunteers and in 17 patients with echocardiographically mild and 13 patients with severe regurgitation. RESULTS: No differences were found between the use of velocity or volume flow for characterizing individual curves. The pulmonary venous flow pattern in controls was characterized by six points, a biphasic systolic wave (maximum systolic volume flow: 29 +/- 18 ml.s-1), and end-systolic descent (24 +/- 18 ml.s-1), a biphasic diastolic wave (maximum diastolic volume flow: 69 +/- 22 ml.s-1) and an end-diastolic reversed flow. Reversed end-systolic flow was a characteristic sign of severe regurgitation (-10 +/- 18 ml.s-1). The systolic-to-diastolic flow ratio was lower in severe regurgitation (0.5 +/- 0.6) than in mild regurgitation (1.4 +/- 0.9), P < 0.0001). In severe regurgitation, the normalized time intervals from Q wave to the highest systolic peak and end-systolic descent were of less prolonged duration than in mild regurgitation and controls (P < 0.01). Flow patterns between veins were similar and the median of the correlation coefficients between the curves was the same in patients with or without an eccentric jet, 0.80 and 0.81, respectively. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance velocity mapping is helpful in determining and understanding pulmonary venous flow characteristics. It is demonstrated that the pulmonary venous flow pattern is independent of the vein being investigated irrespective of the regurgitant jet direction, and that it is useful in grading mitral regurgitation.

Adult↗

Improved detection of wall motion by transesophageal stress echocardiography using a biplane transducer.

Transesophageal stress echocardiography using simultaneous transesophageal atrial pacing or pharmacological agents, eg, dobutamine, is a valuable addendum to conventional stress echocardiography. Initial experiences with combined transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and atrial pacing or during pharmacological infusion are reported with monoplane techniques. Potential advantages of biplane application can be expected in detection or exclusion wall motion abnormalities (WMA). Twenty-one consecutive patients underwent transesophageal stress echocardiography with a biplane transducer. WMA were observed in 19 patients. In 9 of 19 patients (47%) the transverse plane was the only diagnostic section for WMA; the longitudinal plane was the only diagnostic section in 3 of 19 patients (additional yield: 16%). In 7 patients (37%), both planes were diagnostic. Thus, advantages include a higher diagnostic yield compared with monoplane TEE because of better visualization of basal and apical segments. An important limitation of the biplane probe during transesophageal atrial pacing is its restricted mobility. Using pharmacological agents, the ventricle can be monitored from the transgastric as well as from the transesophageal position. Transesophageal stress echocardiography using a biplane transducer is feasible, and allows more successful imaging of the regional basal and apical segments compared with the monoplane technique and increases its diagnostic yield. In conjunction with transesophageal atrial pacing, the biplane technique is limited to one single position only because of restricted mobility during the entire stress procedure.

Adult↗

Influence of pacing-induced myocardial ischemia on left atrial regurgitant jet: a transesophageal echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the influence of pacing-induced myocardial ischemia on systolic regurgitant jet in the left atrium, using simultaneous transesophageal echocardiography and transesophageal atrial pacing. BACKGROUND: In vitro studies have shown that ischemia-induced mitral regurgitation may occur as a result of mitral leaflet malcoaptation or (global) left ventricular dysfunction. However, no transesophageal echocardiographic study has thus far been performed to demonstrate the mechanism and extent of mitral regurgitation during myocardial ischemia in patients. METHODS: In 24 patients (mean [+/- SD] age 57 +/- 10 years) with (15 patients) and without (9 control subjects) coronary artery disease, heart rate, blood pressure and systolic regurgitant jet were assessed before and immediately after pacing. Pacing was increased stepwise up to 160 beats/min to provoke wall motion abnormalities while the left ventricular short axis was monitored at the midpapillary muscle level. Other variables obtained before and at peak pacing included left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic areas and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic endocardial segmental lengths. RESULTS: Heart rate and blood pressure before and after pacing were not significantly different in control subjects or in patients. At baseline, a jet was present in all but three control subjects. New or increased anterior or posterior wall motion abnormalities were observed during pacing in seven and eight patients, respectively. End-systolic left ventricular areas and segment lengths were significantly reduced in control subjects compared with patients with coronary artery disease at peak pacing (p < 0.05). The increase in systolic regurgitant jet was significantly greater in patients (2.0 +/- 1.1 to 3.1 +/- 1.8 cm2 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.7 to 0.9 +/- 0.9 cm2 [after pacing], p < 0.01). This effect was greater in patients with posterior than with anterior wall motion abnormalities (3.5 +/- 1.6 vs. 2.1 +/- 1.2 cm2 [after pacing], p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative changes in geometry and function of the left ventricle caused by pacing-induced myocardial ischemia augments systolic regurgitant jet size. An increase in the jet during atrial pacing is associated with new or increased wall motion abnormalities, especially of the posterior wall. Pacing-induced anterior wall motion abnormalities appear not to be related directly to an increase in the jet.

Blood Pressure↗

Left atrial appendage blood flow determined by transesophageal echocardiography in healthy subjects.

Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 46 healthy subjects to define characteristics of normal left atrial appendage blood flow. Three different flow wave patterns were observed that were heart rate dependent (p < 0.01). A quadriphasic pattern, consisting of 2 diastolic forward (emptying) flow waves each followed by a backward (filling) flow wave, was present in 36 subjects (78%). Triphasic appendage flow was observed in 6 subjects (13%) and biphasic flow in 4 (9%). Mean heart rates among subjects with quadri-, tri- and biphasic flows were 75 +/- 11, 95 +/- 6 and 112 +/- 7 beats/min, respectively. Analysis of pulsed Doppler recordings of subjects with quadriphasic or triphasic appendage flow patterns showed that the onset of transmitral early diastolic peak flow wave was followed at 17 +/- 15 ms by the onset of pulmonary venous diastolic flow and at 43 +/- 17 ms by the onset of the first diastolic forward flow in the appendage. This sequence was constant and independent of heart rate (p < 0.01), suggesting a causal relation between left ventricular relaxation and the first diastolic forward flow wave in the appendage. The second diastolic forward flow followed the P wave on the electrocardiogram at 79 +/- 23 ms. Thus, left atrial appendage blood flow pattern in normal subjects is heart rate dependent, and ventricular relaxation appears to initiate early diastolic emptying of the appendage.

Adult↗

Left atrial appendage flow velocity assessment using transesophageal echocardiography in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and systemic embolism.

Fifty-four patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation (AF) were studied: 16 patients with (group I) and 38 patients without (group II) documented systemic embolism. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed to evaluate the presence of left atrial (LA) appendage thrombus and LA spontaneous contrast, LA size, systolic and diastolic peak velocity of the left pulmonary vein, and forward and backward peak velocity of the LA appendage. No difference was observed in the presence of LA thrombus between the 2 groups. The occurrence of LA spontaneous contrast was significantly (p = 0.01) higher in the group with embolism. LA size, measured by atrial length (4.96 +/- 0.84 vs 4.79 +/- 1.38 cm; p = NS) and atrial width (4.50 +/- 0.96 vs 4.31 +/- 1.24 cm; p = NS), was the same for both groups and thus not associated with embolism. There was no difference in systolic peak velocity (0.39 +/- 0.22 vs 0.44 +/- 0.22 m/s; p = NS), and a trend toward a higher diastolic peak velocity (0.50 +/- 0.17 vs 0.42 +/- 0.15 m/s; p = 0.08) was seen in the left pulmonary vein in the group with embolism. Forward (0.25 +/- 0.19 vs 0.39 +/- 0.23 m/s; p < 0.05) and backward (0.23 +/- 0.15 vs 0.33 +/- 0.16 m/s; p < 0.05) peak velocities of the LA appendage were significantly lower in the embolism group. Assessment of LA appendage flow velocity may potentially identify patients with nonrheumatic AF at high risk for systemic embolism.

Aged↗

Feasibility of assessing regional myocardial uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose using single photon emission computed tomography.

Differentiation between viable myocardium and scar tissue in segments with abnormal contraction has important consequences in the clinical management of patients with coronary artery disease. Positron emission tomography (PET) can identify viable tissue using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). However, application of PET for daily routine is limited. In this study, FDG uptake was visualized with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and compared with regional perfusion assessed with thallium-201 (201Tl) SPECT. The scintigraphic findings were related to regional wall motion determined with two-dimensional echocardiography. Patients (n = 9) with wall motion abnormalities underwent FDG SPECT and resting 201Tl SPECT. To control the metabolic status patients were studied with a hyperinsulinaemic euglycemic clamp during FDG SPECT. Analysis of reconstructed data was performed visually and semiquantitatively using circumferential profiles. High-quality images were obtained. Eight 201Tl defects showed concordantly decreased FDG uptake (metabolism-perfusion matches) indicating scarred tissue, whereas six regions of hypoperfusion demonstrated a relatively increased FDG uptake (mismatches), suggesting viable myocardium. Semiquantitative analysis confirmed visual findings. Mean 201Tl and FDG activities were not significantly different in matching defects. In mismatches the mean FDG activity was 81 +/- 11% vs 64 +/- 9% mean 201Tl activity (P < 0.0001). In four of six segments with increased FDG uptake, two-dimensional echo revealed hypokinesia. Seven of eight regions with a matching defect in contrast were akinetic. Thus, in the areas with a mismatch contractility was preserved. We conclude that FDG uptake can be visualized with SPECT. Furthermore, our preliminary observations suggest that this approach can identify viable tissue.

Adult↗

Simultaneous transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography and atrial pacing for detecting coronary artery disease.

This study describes a new technique for assessing wall motion abnormalities, combining transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and transesophageal atrial pacing in 71 patients. Stable capture was reached in 70 patients (99%). In 3 patients (4%) pacing was discontinued prematurely because of discomfort. TEE during pacing was performed in 52 patients with and in 18 patients without coronary artery disease (CAD). In 43 of 52 patients with CAD, regional wall motion abnormalities occurred (sensitivity 83%). No wall motion abnormalities occurred in 17 of 18 patients without CAD (specificity 94%, positive predictive value 98%). Wall motion abnormalities related to another vascular region were observed in 17 of 22 patients with previous myocardial infarction (sensitivity 77%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%). Simultaneous 12-lead electrocardiography during atrial pacing was performed in 57 patients and yielded positive results in 21 of 40 patients with (sensitivity 52%) and in 3 of 17 patients without (specificity 82%, positive predictive value 88%) CAD. Exercise stress testing was performed in 66 patients. Twenty-four of 48 patients with CAD had a positive exercise electrocardiogram (sensitivity 50%); a false-positive exercise electrocardiogram was observed in 3 of 18 patients (specificity 83%, positive predictive value 89%). It is concluded that TEE during transesophageal atrial pacing is a feasible and promising alternative technique for the assessment of CAD, with a higher sensitivity than simultaneous 12-lead and exercise electrocardiography.

Adult↗