[An echocardiographic comparison of left ventricular function in HIV-virus carriers and infected patients in different stages of immunosuppression].
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
S Salomão
Publications and source records attributed to S Salomão.
[The QTc interval and its dispersion in hypertrophic myocardiopathy--its relation to complex ventricular arrhythmias and the effect of anti-arrhythmia agents].
UNLABELLED: The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): 1. The relation of rate corrected QT interval (QTc) and of QTc interlead variability (QTc dispersion) to complex ventricular arrhythmias (CVA); 2. The effects of amiodarone (Am), beta-blockers (beta B) and calcium antagonists (CA) on QTc and on QTc dispersion. Surface 12 leads ECG was analysed in 55 patients with HCM (39 +/- 12 years, 32 males). All patients were in sinus rhythm, without bundle branch block. Maximum (max), minimum (min) and mean QTc values were considered. QTc dispersion was calculated as: a) max QTc - min QTc (max-min); b) dispersion index (DI) = standard deviation of QTc/mean QTcx100. Patients groups were defined accordingly to: 1--the absence (group A1-35 patients) or the presence (group A2-20 patients) of CVA on 24 hours Holter monitoring; II--absence of cardioactive medication (group B1-20 patients) versus monotherapy with Am (group B3-10 patients), or beta B (group B4-15 patients), or CA (group B5-10 patients). Age, gender, type of HCM (asymmetric versus concentric) and echocardiographic fractional shortening were not different in the studied groups. RESULTS: [table: see text] CONCLUSIONS: 1. Maximum QTc interlead QTc dispersion are increased in patients with HCM that show CVA on Holter monitoring; 2. Amiodarone prolongs QTc but reduces QTc dispersion, while beta-blockers and calcium antagonists do not significantly change neither the duration nor the dispersion of ventricular repolarization.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
[Diagnosis of coronary disease using echocardiography with inotropic dobutamine stimulation].
PURPOSE: To evaluate dobutamine echocardiography capacity to diagnose coronary artery disease. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Cardiology Department of Hospital Santa Marta. PATIENTS: 32 patients with suspected coronary artery disease, without myocardial infarction, have been studied. METHODS: An intravenous perfusion of dobutamine with gradual doses, from 5 to 40 micrograms/kg/min, and increments of 5 to 10 micrograms/kg/min, in 3 minute stages, except the last stage which lasted only 1 minute with 40 micrograms/kg, was performed. Twelve-lead ECG were registered to detect ST changes and symptoms, namely chest pain. Basal and dobutamine bidimensional echocardiograms, in the end of each stage and during recovery, were registered in video. The segmental analysis was performed considering the left ventricle divided in 16 segments. It was considered positive the occurrence or aggravation of the contractility asynergy of the left ventricle with inotropic stress. All the patients were submitted to coronary arteriography. RESULTS: Due to the bad quality of the echocardiographic images 2 patients were excluded. The stress dobutamine echocardiograms were positive in 14 P and negative in 16 P. The coronary arteriography showed coronary disease in 18 cases and absence of significant lesions in 12 cases. The values for sensitivity, specificity positive predictive value and negative predictive value obtained with dobutamine echocardiography were, 78% and 100% and 75% respectively. In Dobutamine-ECG, 7P had ST segment changes, 2 of them with chest pain values for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value with dobutamine-ECG were, 39%, 100% and 52%, respectively. The occurrence of side-effects was observed in 8 P (27%): ventricular tachycardia (2 P-7%), complex ventricular ectopy (4 P-13%), chest pain (2 P-7%), headache (1 P-3%), nausea (1 P-3%) and palpitations (2 P-7%). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of side-effects in the two groups of patients, with and without coronary artery disease (33% vs 17%, respectively; p = ns). The reasons for early discontinuation of dobutamine infusion were: ventricular tachycardia (2 P), complex ventricular ectopy (2 P) and chest pain (1 P). Heart rate, systolic blood pressure and double-product did not differ significantly in patients with and without coronary artery disease. In dobutamine electrocardiography 7 P had ST segment changes, 2 of them with chest pain. CONCLUSION: Dobutamine echocardiography showed in this study elevated values for sensitivity and specificity, however sensitivity can be increased with better technical conditions.
Aged↗
Use of sleep questionnaires in assessing the effect of moclobemide on the sleep profiles of depressive patients.
The sleep profiles of healthy adult volunteers (group 1) were compared with the sleep profiles of depressive patients (group 2), using the method suggested by Görtelmeyer. This method uses a questionnaire to evaluate the various aspects of sleep profiles that may be different in depressive patients compared with healthy subjects. Thirty patients in group 2 were tested before and during exposure to moclobemide (450 mg/day) for 8 weeks. The group of healthy adults did not receive moclobemide and showed stable sleep profiles throughout the study period. After approximately 2 weeks of administration of moclobemide, the sleep profiles of depressive patients that had been aberrant at baseline became more normal. Around this same time, the antidepressant effects of moclobemide became apparent. The sleep questionnaire used in this study appears to be a valuable and practical method for evaluating sleep architecture.
Adult↗
[Non-invasive evaluation of ventricular ejection force by Doppler echocardiography].
UNLABELLED: Left ventricular ejection force as been purpose as a new Doppler ejection phase index, to assess left ventricular performance. In order to evaluate its usefulness, 33 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were prospectively study. We considered three groups based on angiographic ejection fraction: group A-- > or = 55% (11 patients), group B--35 to 55% (10 patients), and group C-- < or = 35% (10 patients). All patients were in sinus rhythm and mitral regurgitation > I/IV or aortic valve disease were exclusion criterion. The following parameters, derived from Pulsed Doppler aortic velocities curves, were analyzed: peak velocity (cm/s), acceleration time (s), velocity time integral over the acceleration time (VTI Ac-cm), mean acceleration (cm/s2) and ejection force (g.cm/s2). Ejection force as calculated using the mass-acceleration concept, ad: ejection force = mean acceleration x VTI Ac x CsA x 1.06 (CsA - 2D cross sectional area of the aortic annulus; 1.06 - mass density of blood, g/cm3). [table: see text] CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms that Doppler echocardiography can be used for the assessment of left ventricular performance based on noninvasive measurements and that Doppler derived ejection force is an accurate index for this purpose. However, ejection force evaluation, taking in account the results obtained for mean acceleration, a much less time consuming Doppler derived parameter, appears not to show any clinical advantage.
Adult↗
[The recurrence of an atrial myxoma in a patient with a mechanical mitral prosthesis--apropos a case].
Recurrence of cardiac myxoma after surgery is an uncommon situation, particularly if a wide excision of the tissue under the tumour has been done. The authors report a case of a 54-year-old male presenting with a left atrial myxoma near the mitral valve, which had to be replaced by a mechanical prosthetic valve during the removal of the tumour. One year later, he was admitted to hospital with persistent fever, weight loss, and congestive heart failure. After a positive hemoculture, intravenous antibiotherapy was initiated, and twice modified because of relapsing fever. Six weeks later, he was transferred to our institution, after an episode of severe acute pulmonary edema. 2D-Doppler echocardiography suggested the possibility of prosthesis dysfunction, revealing a transprothetic diastolic flow with a high peak velocity and moderately elevated pressure half-time. No intra-atrial masses were visualized. Computed tomography was also inconclusive, because of multiple artifacts produced by the prosthesis. These results led to the performance of a cardiac catheterization with contrast ventriculography, which revealed the presence of a transprothetic gradient, and mild mitral regurgitation. The patient was submitted to cardiac surgery, which revealed a recurrent pedunculated left atrial myxoma, with mechanical obstruction of the mitral prosthetic valve. No signs of endocarditis were found. Recurrent cardiac myxomas are reviewed and discussed, as well as the specific problems of the present case, namely the presence of a mechanical prosthetic mitral valve and the initial hemoculture results, with consequent diagnostic delay.
Heart Atria↗
[The pulsed Doppler evaluation of patients with dilated cardiopathy].
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, by 2D-Doppler echocardiography, the patterns of left ventricular filling in groups of patients with left ventricular systolic disfunction and different pulmonary wedge pressures. STUDY DESIGN: perspective study of different indexes of left ventricular diastolic filling measured by Doppler echocardiography and compare them with a normal group. SETTING: Patients studied in the Cardiology Department of the Santa Marta Hospital with a diagnosis of dilated cardiopathy and submitted to cardiac catheterisation. PATIENTS: Twenty-four patients, aged 39 years old, submitted to hemodynamic study (group A) and nineteen subjects, aged 34 years old (group B). Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PWP) was determined in group A and the patients were divided in two groups: group A1 (with PWP < 16 mmHg) and group A2 (with PWP > or = 16 mmHg). INTERVENTIONS: Every patient was submitted to cardiac catheterisation. The echocardiographic study showed global decrease of left ventricular systolic function. With pulsated Doppler left ventricular diastolic flow indexes were determined. The following parameters were studied: peak protodiastolic flow velocity (Vel E), peak telediastolic flow velocity (Vel A), E/A ratio, protodiastolic acceleration time (O-E) and diastolic flow time (O-C). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between group A as a whole and group B. However in group A1, with a lower PWP there was a decrease of E flow velocity in relation to the control group (54.6 cm/sec +/- 14 vs 66.4 cm/seg +/- 12.8 p < 0.05) or to the group A2 (75.3 cm/sec +/- 29.9 p < 0.05). In the group A1 there was an increase of the flow velocity A in relation to group B (56.1 cm/sec +/- 15.9 vs 36.4 cm/sec +/- 7.3 p < 0.05) and to the group A2 (56.1 cm/sec +/- 15.5 vs 28.2 +/- 9.1 p < 0.05). The relation E/A in group A1 was deceased in relation to group B (1.0 +/- 0.4 m vs 1.8 +/- 0.6 p < 0.05) and in group A2 its increased in relation to B (2.6 +/- 0.9 vs 1.8 +/- 0.6 p < 0.05). The E-D time was increased in group A1 in relation to group B (162.1 +/- 8.7 cm/sec vs 140.5 +/- 42.0 cm/sec p < 0.05) and slightly reduced in group A2 (134.5 +/- 78 msec vs 140.5 +/- 42.0 msec NS). All the patients with mitral regurgitation belonged to group A2. There was only statistical difference in the velocity between the patients in group A with and without mitral regurgitation (29.6 +/- 17.4 cm/sec vs 26.4 +/- 8.5 cm/sec p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of some limitations, Doppler echocardiography is useful in the evaluation of left ventricular filling of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. It shows different patterns that vary according to the hemodynamic states of the patient.
Adult↗
[Pulmonary artery involvement in Takayasu arteritis. A case of right ventricular failure as presentation form].
Pulmonary involvement in Takayasu's artery disease has been reported since 1940 with an incidence of 14 to 56%. However, the development of severe pulmonary hypertension is an extremely rare event in the natural course of the disease. The authors report a case of a 62 year old male presenting with severe congestive heart failure of recent onset. The initial evaluation and routine exams suggested the presence of pulmonary hypertension of unknown etiology. The absence of left radial pulse in the physical examination led to the performance of a complete angiographic study which confirmed the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis with pulmonary involvement and severe pulmonary hypertension.
Heart Failure↗
An unusual echocardiographic aspect of a dysfunctioning mitral prosthesis.
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Echocardiography↗
[Value of two-dimensional echocardiography in the prognosis of patients after acute myocardial infarction].
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic importance of two-dimensional echocardiography in patients (pts) with acute myocardial infarction. SETTING: Department of Cardiology in a Central Hospital. METHODS: In 71 pts (63 men and 8 women) aged 35 to 75 years interned with a proved myocardial infarction, a score of left ventricular segmental wall motion was used on echocardiographic examination performed during the late hospital phase, to evaluate left ventricular function. Two groups of pts were considered: group A constituted by 38 pts with complication detected during follow-up that ranged 4 to 18 months; group B by 33 pts with no cardiac events for the same period. The relation of the wall motion score with each group and the location of myocardial infarction was performed. RESULTS: In group A, the mean score index was 1.67 in pts with angina, 1.08 in pts with heart failure and 0.82 in pts who died. The mean score index was 1.25, 1.57 and 1.18 respectively in pts with an anterior, inferior and antero-inferior infarction. In group B, the mean score index was 1.70 in pts with an anterior infarction, 1.85 in those with an inferior infarction and 1.33 in the patient with an antero-inferior infarction. Patients with a non-Q wave infarction had a mean score index of 2. The mean score index was significantly different between group A and B (respectively 1.33 vs 1.79; p less than 0.00001) and a mean score index of 1.53 was considered the mean risk value. CONCLUSIONS: Two-dimensional echocardiography performed during hospital predischarge permits risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction, specially for death and heart failure.
Adult↗
[Mitral prostheses with and without dysfunction: evaluation using 2-D Doppler echocardiography].
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the flow characteristics of normal and abnormal functioning mechanical and bioprosthetic (B) mitral valves. DESIGN: Prospective study in patients submitted to mitral valve replacement. SETTING: Laboratory of Echocardiography at Santa Marta Hospital. PATIENTS: 61 consecutive and asymptomatic patients with normally functioning mitral prosthesis (prt)--37 Bjork-Shiley (B-S), 11 Carpentier-Edwards (C-E), 5 Hancok (HAN), 7 Ionescu-Shiley (I-S) and 1 Wessex--and 15 pts with abnormal prosthetic function (6 B-S, 5 Hall-Kaster, 2 C-E, 1 I-S and 1 HAN). INTERVENTION: Prosthetic mitral flow record, using 2D-Doppler echocardiography, to analyse: peak velocity (PV), peak gradient (PG), mean gradient (MG), pressure half time (PHT), area (A) and presence of regurgitation (R). RESULTS: Normally functioning prosthetic valves--PV ranged from 88 to 186 cm/s (134.6 +/- 24.3) in B-S prt and 133 to 198 cm/s (157.4 +/- 18.8) in B, p less than 0.0001. The prt B-S showed a greater PG (10.3 +/- 2.5 vs 7.6 +/- 2.6 mmHg), MG (3.1 +/- 1.1 vs 2.6 +/- 1 mmHg) and smaller area (2.3 +/- 0.4 vs 2.5 +/- 0.4 cm2) then Bioprosthetic ones, p less than 0.0001, p = 0.003, p = 0.003 respectively. There was a significant correlation between PG and MG: r = 0.84, r = 0.87, r = 0.84 respectively in B-S prt, Bioprosthesis and both, p less than 0.001. Mild regurgitation was present in 8 pts with prt B-S and 4 with B. Malfunctioning prosthetic valves--The mean of PV was 238.5 +/- 29.2 cm/s in prt B-S compared to 265.48.2 +/- 48.2 cm/s in B. Significant regurgitation, was detected by Doppler technic in 100% of B and 72% of mechanical prt. PV greater than 2 m/s has a 100% sensitivity and specificity to separate normal from abnormal prosthesis function. CONCLUSIONS: These data may be useful as reference values to the follow-up of pts with these types of prt. The prt B-S seems to have more optimal hemodynamics profile than B ones. Protodiastolic transprosthetic PV greater than 2 m/s suggest abnormal functioning valve. PG is a significant determinant of MG.
Adult↗
[Influence of recipient auricular contraction on the left ventricle filling pattern of the transplanted heart studied with pulsed Doppler echocardiography].
OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the influence of recipient atrial contraction (RAC) timing on left ventricular filling pattern (LVFP), assessed by Pulsed Doppler, in orthotopic transplant recipients (OTR). STUDY DESIGN: prospective study of OTR. SETTING: patients (pts) submitted to orthotopic heart transplantation at Hospital de Santa Marta, from April/87 to March/89, in routine evaluation. PARTICIPANTS: nine pts, aged 21 to 55 years (mean = 32 +/- 11), 0.5 to 20 (mean = 7.4 +/- 6.9) months post-operatively. METHODS: in each pt 40 to 60 (mean 52) consecutive cardiac cycles were analysed; five groups (Gr.) were considered, according to RAC (P wave) position in the cardiac cycle: Gr. I--Early systole, GR. II--late systole, Gr. III--early diastole, Gr. IV--late diastole and Gr. V--absent. The following parameters were studied: peak early diastolic mitral flow velocity (Evel), peak late diastolic mitral flow velocity (Avel), ratio Evel/Avel, (E/A) and pressure half time (PHT). RESULTS: 1) Evel and E/A were significantly higher, Avel lower, and PHT shorter, in Gr II and III; 2) Avel was higher and E/A smaller in Gr. IV; 3) no statistically significant differences were found betwenn Gr. I and V, for any of the parameters analised. CONCLUSIONS: the timing of RAC significantly influences LVFP and it must be considered on Echo-Doppler analysis of diastolic function in OTR.
Adult↗
[Flow in the entry chamber of the right ventricle: diastolic function indexes in a normal population].
OBJECTIVES: To define normal values of indexes of diastolic function of right ventricle by bidimensional pulsed doppler echocardiography. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of normal individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty normal subjects by physical examination, electrocardiographic, radiological and echocardiographic criteria, aged between 22-48 (mean 31.2 +/- 6.7) were evaluated. We determined 16 different indexes and correlated them with heart rate, age and body surface; 27% of cases owing to the poor quality of records, were excluded. RESULTS: Eight indexes were heart rate dependent and for their use is necessary the respective correction; none of them correlated with age or body surface. Areas determined under the curves of flow are very time consuming and require great accuracy determination. So, we had correlated areas with other different indexes in order to obtain other parameters to give us the same information on a easier and quickly way. E/A relation correlated with all areas relations. CONCLUSIONS: The indexes determined can be considered as normal standard in order to evaluate, by a non-invasive way, right ventricle diastolic function. Nevertheless, the great proportion of records of poor quality is a limitation of the method.
Adult↗
[Flow in the entry chamber of the left ventricle. Changes with age].
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of aging in the parameters of the left ventricle diastolic function, using 2D-Doppler echocardiography. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of normals subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: They were studied 38 normals subjects aged between 23-70 years divided in two groups: group A--20 subjects aged less than 45 years (34.5 +/- 6) and group B--18 subjects aged greater than 45 years (55.7 +/- 8.4); we registered the left ventricle inflow flows by 2D-pulsed Doppler Echocardiography and analyzed the following indexes: E and A Velocities, E/A ratio, relations of areas under the curves of flow, E Area/Total Area (EAr/TAr), A Area/Total Area (AAr/TAr), 33% Area/Total Area (33Ar/TAr), 50% Area/Total Area (50Ar/TAr) and A Area/E Area (AAr/EAr). RESULTS: E Vel and E/A ratio are significantly higher in the group A (p less than 0.001), both decreasing with aging, respectively r = -0.71 and r = 0.63; on the other way, the relative contribution of atrial systole to the left ventricle diastolic filling is significantly higher in the group B(ArA/ArT p less than 0.001; AAr/EAr p less than 0.001), increasing significantly with aging, r = 0.64 and r = 0.69, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing of atrial contribution to the left ventricular diastolic filling in the elderly, so in comparative studies it must be used control groups with the same age.
Adult↗
[Influence of respiratory cycle on the flows in the entry and exit chambers of the left ventricle].
OBJECTIVES: to analyse the effects of the normal respiration in the flows of left ventricle inflow and outflow tracts by Pulsed Doppler Echocardiography. STUDY DESIGN: prospective study of normal subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: twenty normals subjects by physical examination, electrocardiographic, radiological and echocardiographic criteria, aged between 23-70, mean 47.5 +/- 14; they were registered the inflow and outflow tracts flows simultaneously with the respiratory cycle. We analysed the peak early and end diastolic velocities and time intervals in the inflow tract flow and peak velocity and time intervals in the outflow tract and their changes with respiration. RESULTS: during expiration, there was a significative higher peak early velocity in the inflow tract and in the maximal velocity in the outflow tract of the left ventricle; there was no significative changes in the time intervals. CONCLUSIONS: it's important do not forget the changes of the different indexes used to determine the volumes, cardiac output and left ventricle function observed during normal respiration, in a normal or patient population.
Adult↗
[Non-invasive evaluation of systolic pressure of the pulmonary artery in patients with tricuspid regurgitation, using Doppler echocardiography].
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To quantify the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) by continuous wave Doppler echocardiography and record the prevalence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). DESIGN: Prospective analysis of 42 patients (pts), submitted to right heart catheterization (RHC). SETTING: Pts referred to the Echocardiographic Laboratory at Sta. Marta Hospital - H.C.L. PATIENTS: Sequential sample of 42 pts with several cardiac pathologies, subjected to RHC and 2D Doppler Echocardiography. INTERVENTIONS: The right ventricular and SPAP were recorded in the hemodynamic exam. We considered pulmonary hypertension (PH) if SPAP was greater than 35 mmHg or mean pressure greater than 20 mmHg. The pts were divided into two groups: I-pts without PH and II-pts with PH. The 2D Doppler echocardiography was made within 24 H of the hemodynamic one. Peak gradient (pg) of TR and the correlation with catheterization data were analysed. RESULTS: Hemodynamic--The mean SPAP in the sample was 46 +/- 21.5 mmHg (27 +/- 4.6 in group I and 55 +/- 20.2 mmHg in II). In 35 pts with TR the mean SPAP was 50.3 +/- 21.2 mmHg. Doppler--The pressure gradient was 40 +/- 18.7 mmHg. 57% pts of the group I and 96% II had TR p less than 0.001. The correlation between Doppler gradient and SPAP was r = 0.95, and no change was noted when 7 is used as a constant. CONCLUSION: Continuous wave Doppler echocardiography is a non invasive technic useful to the quantitative analysis of SPAP.
Adult↗
[Isolated hypoplasia of the right ventricle--apropos of a case].
OBJECTIVE: To report one case of a rare heart disease (Isolated Hypoplasia of the Right Ventricle) and discuss the methodology used to propose surgery with goal. Good follow up results. DESIGN: To report a case. SETTING: One patient studied in the Cardiology Department of the Santa Marta Hospital, Lisbon, and submitted to surgery in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of the same Hospital. PATIENT: A 22 years old woman, who had cyanosis since birth, normal cardiac auscultatory findings, pulmonary oligohemia in the chest Roentgenogram and right atrial strain on the Electrocardiogram. INTERVENTIONS: She had an echocardiogram (M1 Mode and 2D) and catheterised, with pressure and oximetry measurements. During the latter procedure, the atrial septal defect was occluded for 20 minutes with a Fogarty catheter and pressure and oximetries were reevaluated. She was later operated. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The Echocardiogram showed right ventricular hypoplasia, with a normally inserted tricuspid valve and a dilated right atrium. The hemodynamic study confirmed the presence of an atrial septal defect with right to left shunt, normal pulmonary artery pressure, no gradients and giant "a" wave in the right auriculogram. The right ventriculography showed right ventricular inflow hypoplasia. The occlusion of the atrial septal defect with the balloon catheter decreased the peripheral insaturation, without a significant increase in the right ventricular pressure. With this information, surgery was proposed (closure of the atrial septal defect), with good results (4 years of follow-up). CONCLUSION: The interruption of the shunt with a balloon allows us to see if the right ventricle can handle properly the volume load. With this information surgery can be suggested. It may be rather simple as in this case.
Adult↗
[Flow patterns of a normally functioning monocuspid aortic prosthesis evaluated using Doppler echocardiography].
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Flow analysis in normally functioning eccentric monocuspid aortic prosthetic valves, to obtain a reference data list. DESIGN: To analyse, using 2D-Doppler Echocardiography, aortic flow velocity and systolic time intervals in clinically normal patients (pts), by physical examination. SETTING: Referred pts to the Echocardiographic Laboratory at Santa Marta Hospital--HCL. PATIENTS: Sequential sample of 61 pts with aortic prosthesis (41 Bjork-Shiley and 20 Hall-Kaster) without clinical evidence of either cardiac failure or significant aortic regurgitation. Patients with bad quality record were also excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Doppler Echocardiography was used to record transaortic flow, and the following indexes were analysed: instantaneous peak velocity (pv) and gradient (pg), presence of regurgitation, systolic time intervals and both preejection period/ejection time (PEP/ET) and acceleration time/ejection time (AT/ET). RESULTS: Pv ranged from 1.1 to 4 m/sec (mean 2.4 +/- 0.2. The prosthesis size 19 and 21 showed a greater pg compared to the larger ones: 46.3 +/- 14.4 mmHg against 12.6 +/- 6.4 mmHg (p less than 0.001). Occasionally a pg over 50 mmHg was found in the prosthesis size 19 and 21. The correlation between prosthesis size and pg was also significant (r = -0.62; p less than 0.001). PEP interval was 60 +/- 10 milisec in prosthesis no. 19 and 90 +/- 13 milisec in no. 27 (p less than 0.01). AT ranged from 77 +/- 14 to 88 +/- 14 milisec (mean 82 +/- 13). ET was 294 +/- 5.4 milisec in valves size 19 and 257 +/- 34 millisec in no. 25 (p less than 0.05); there was also a significant difference between prosthesis size 19 and 27 (p less than 0.05). Mild regurgitation was detected in 32.7% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: These data may be particularly useful as reference values to the follow-up of pts these types of prosthesis. Significant differences were found in pg between different valve sizes and this should be remembered when proceeding to standard evaluation by 2D-Doppler Echocardiography. Regurgitation is frequently detected in normally functioning prosthesis, not deeper than 2 cm in the left ventricle.
Adult↗