Journal of cardiography最新文献

To clarify the mechanism of the reduced intensity of the mitral component of the first heart sound (IM) in complete left bundle branch block (LBBB), electrocardiograms, phonocardiograms, apexcardiograms and mitral valve echograms of 12 patients with LBBB (LBBB group) and 13 normal subjects (normal group) were simultaneously recorded. The first derivative of the apexcardiogram was also studied. One of the 12 patients had an intermittent LBBB. There was no significant difference in the P-Q interval between the two groups. The following results were obtained: 1. In the LBBB group; 1) The intensity of the IM, expressed as a ratio of the amplitude of the IM to that of the aortic component of the second heart sound (IIA) on the apical phonocardiograms, was significantly reduced except in one patient who had a relatively short P-Q interval. 2) The timings of the onset of the upstroke of the apexcardiogram and mitral valve closure were significantly and equally delayed. 3) The amplitude of the mitral valve echogram at the onset of the upstroke of the apexcardiogram (end-diastolic amplitude of the mitral valve) was significantly decreased. The closing velocity of the mitral valve was also decreased. 4) The amplitude ratio (H2/H1) and the rate of rise (A) of the apexcardiogram at the onset of the IM were significantly decreased. 2. The intensity of the IM, H2/H1 and A of the apexcardiogram at the onset of the IM were compared for three cases with nearly equal end-diastolic mitral valve amplitudes in each group. The intensity of the IM was apparently reduced in the LBBB group, compared with that of the normal group, and its intensity correlated inversely with H2/H1 and A. These results indicate that the reduced intensity of the IM in LBBB is caused mainly by the decreased amplitude of the mitral valve excursion at the onset of left ventricular contraction. An additional cause is the decreased tension on the closed mitral valve resulting from the slow rate of left ventricular pressure rise at the onset of the IM.

201-thallium myocardial imaging studies were performed to evaluate systolic pressures in the right ventricle of 194 patients. These patients were classified to four groups. Group A (95 cases) consists of 77 patients with congenital cardiac disease, five patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, and 13 patients with history of MCLS. Congenital cardiac diseases included 30 patients with tetralogy of Fallot, 20 with ventricular septal defect, nine with atrial septal defect, and eight with pulmonary stenosis. Group B (35 cases); preoperative state of transposition of the great arteries. Group C (43 cases); post-operative state of congenital cardiac disease whose pre-operative right ventricular systolic pressures represented more than 70% of the left ventricular systolic pressures. This group included 31 patients with tetralogy of Fallot, seven with ventricular septal defect, four with atrial septal defect and one with patent ductus arteriosus. Group D (21 cases); post-operative state of transposition of the great arteries. Fifteen min after intravenous infusion of 30-50 microCi/kg 201-TlCl, myocardial images were obtained in five projections (anterior, LAO 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and lateral). The angles were determined to demonstrate clearly the interventricular septum and the ventricular free wall. The images of end-diastolic phase were obtained using the ECG-synchronized gated method in each projection. The region of interest (ROI) was defined as a section or slice by drawing two lines perpendicular to the septum, and the counts of the systemic and pulmonic ventricular free wall (Cs and Cp) were analyzed to evaluate the pressure of the pulmonic ventricle. The pressures of the ventricles were obtained by cardiac catheterization performed concomitantly with the cardiac imaging.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Heart murmurs, especially the mitral regurgitant murmurs of 40 patients were analyzed using the fast Fourier transformation technique. 1. Three types of frequency spectral pattern of mitral regurgitation (MR) were demonstrated: A) broad, spanning 100 to 500 Hz, B) narrow, characterized by one giant peak, and C) two peaks. The reason for these patterns was not clear, but they may be related to various hemodynamic events. 2. The mean frequency (f) in MR was 295 +/- 38 Hz and it increased in proportion to the regurgitant grade: e.g., Sellers II, 258 +/- 27 Hz; Sellers III, 294 +/- 23 Hz; and Sellers IV, 311 +/- 65 Hz. The accumulated percentage of the 200-400 Hz component decreased, while that of the 400-600 Hz component increased. 3. The f in MR of various etiologies were as follows: It was higher in ruptured chordae tendineae, rheumatic cases and mitral valve prolapse syndrome, but was lower in papillary muscle dysfunction and dilated cardiomyopathy. In the latter two, the percentage of the 0-200 Hz component was greater than in other disorders. The degree of left ventricular dysfunction and of myocardial injury may be responsible for the changes in the propagation properties. In ventricular septal defect and aortic stenosis, the f was 306 +/- 12 Hz and 230 +/- 40 Hz, respectively. The frequency spectrum of the latter was lower than that of MR, which may be derived from the difference between ejection and regurgitant murmurs; whereas, that of ventricular septal defect was similar to that of rheumatic MR. 4. The relation between the frequency spectrum and the phase of systole was studied. In dilated cardiomyopathy and papillary muscle dysfunction, the f of each phase increased in late systole; whereas, the maximum f was in mid-systole in other disorders. 5. Administration of amyl nitrite resulted in a decreased f, an increased percentage of the 0-200 Hz component, and a decreased 400-600 Hz component. The spectral distribution shifted to the lower frequency region. Results of this study suggested that significant information can be obtained from the frequency analysis of heart murmurs.

Musical murmurs are probably related to the vibrations of some structures in the cardiovascular system, and this may be reflected in the characteristic stripes which are recorded by the fast Fourier transformation (FFT) of the pulsed Doppler echocardiography (so-called FFT stripe). In the present study, we demonstrated new stripes by color Doppler echocardiography, which were composed of multiple warm and cold color bands which we termed color Doppler stripes (CD stripe). An experiment was performed to obtain Doppler signals from the surface of a vibrating tonometer at a frequency of 128 Hz. When the CD stripe was obtained, a similar FFT stripe was also recorded from the same sampling site. Fourteen patients with musical murmurs were selected from 2,000 consecutive phonocardiographic records made during the last one and a half years. The CD stripe was obtained in three and the FFT stripe in six. When both stripes were obtained, the FFT stripe was always obtained if we set carefully the sample site in the CD stripe, and these two were consistent in timing. We concluded that, in view of the close correlation between the CD stripe and the FFT stripe, the newly observed CD stripe is also a characteristic finding reflecting a regularly vibrating structure. The technical feasibility of color Doppler echocardiography to detect fine movements of structures may be helpful in the study of musical murmurs.

A case of primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma was presented, which initially had a relatively large quantity of pericardial fluid, followed by constrictive pericarditis. The patient was a 43-year-old woman whose chief complaint was dyspnea and admitted to our hospital in March, 1984. Because of a relatively large quantity of pericardial fluid was observed. In April, drainage of the fluid and pericardiotomy were performed with marked relief of symptoms. She was discharged, but her dyspnea recurred in August, and she was readmitted. After the second admission, the chest radiograph showed a cardiothoracic ratio of 62%, and her electrocardiogram showed low voltage. A pericardial knock was recorded, and the timing of this sound coincided with that of the peak of the early distolic wave of the mitral flow velocity pattern. A jugular pulse tracing showed a deep and sharp y descent. The diastolic pressure curve of the right ventricle revealed a dip and plateau pattern. The echocardiographic finding was characterized by abnormal systolic motion and an early diastolic dip of the interventricular septum, multiple abnormal echoes and thickening of the pericardium, and an abnormal mass echo in the left atrial cavity. Based on the above examinations, pericardiotomy was performed, but the tumor was not entirely resected. The histological diagnosis was malignant mesothelioma.

Collapse of the right ventricle and right and left atria is observed in cardiac tamponade. To assess the diagnostic value of each collapse component in identifying cardiac tamponade, two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiograms were recorded simultaneously with the measurement of intrapericardial pressure in five patients as they underwent pericardiocentesis. Before pericardiocentesis, each patient had evidence of right ventricular and right atrial collapse. In addition, left atrial collapse was observed in four patients. During pericardiocentesis, left atrial collapse initially resolved accompanied by a drop in pressure in the pericardial sac. Continuous drainage of pericardial effusion resulted in significant symptomatic improvement and the cessation of paradoxical pulse at the point of resolution of right ventricular collapse. However, right atrial collapse persisted after resolution of right ventricular collapse, but it was absent when pericardiocentesis was completed. Injection of saline solution with heparin into the pericardial sac for cleansing initially caused right atrial collapse, while right ventricular collapse developed with the appearance of cardiac tamponade. In one patient, the simultaneous recording of right ventricular and intrapericardial pressures and two-dimensional echocardiograms demonstrated that right ventricular collapse occurred early in diastole, when intrapericardial pressure exceeded right ventricular pressure. In conclusion, right ventricular collapse is the most reliable sign of cardiac tamponade. Right atrial collapse occurs in the early stage of cardiac tamponade. Left atrial collapse appears very late in the course of hemodynamic deterioration due to cardiac tamponade.

To evaluate left ventricular regional wall motion, ECG dual-gated cardiac blood pool ECT was performed for 25 patients with ischemic heart disease, including 19 cases of myocardial infarction, five cases of angina pectoris, and one case of post A-C bypass surgery. There were six normal controls. Following SPECT obtained using 32 views (180 degrees), the vertical and horizontal long axes were reconstructed from transaxial images. Then, regional wall motion was evaluated from subtraction images; (end-diastolic)-(end-systolic) and (end-systolic)-(end-diastolic) images. SPECT images were compared with left ventriculography (LVG); vertical long-axial ECT images with segments 1-5 of LVG by the AHA classification, and horizontal ECT long-axial images with segments 6 and 7 of LVG, respectively. The subtraction images from ECG dual-gated cardiac blood pool ECT corresponded with left ventriculography in 79.4% of 175 segments in 25 patients with ischemic heart disease (sensitivity 92.6%, specificity 68.0%, and accuracy 79.4%). When wall motion was classified as normal, hypokinesis, akinesis, and aneurysmal, good agreement was observed between the two methods in 68% of these segments. The locations of asynergy as obtained by this method were closely in accord with those of perfusion defects by Tl-201 myocardial SPECT in 74.4% of segments. Left ventricular aneurysms were detected using subtraction image; (end-systolic)-(end-diastolic). We conclude that this subtraction method is useful for evaluating left ventricular asynergy.

The clinical profiles in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who had exercise-induced deterioration in systolic performance of the left ventricle (LV) were investigated using exercise echocardiography. The materials consisted of 32 patients, which who categorized in two groups according to the extent of % shortening fraction of the LV (% SF) at the peak exercise; 21 whose % SF was increased (group I: from 40.9 +/- 7.2% at rest to 44.2 +/- 8.0% at the peak exercise) and 11 whose % SF was decreased (group II: from 40.8 +/- 7.3% to 34.8 +/- 6.9%). There were no significant differences between these two groups as to the resting echocardiographic data or the prevalence of pressure gradient in the LV outflow tract. The frequency of symptoms, such as chest pain and exertional dyspnea, was higher in the group II (73%) than in the group I (38%). The time of exercise tolerance was significantly shorter in group II than in group I (I: 9.2 +/- 1.9 min., II: 7.4 +/- 2.6 min., p less than 0.05). Five patients (45%) in group II and four (19%) in group I developed at least 2 mm ST segment depression during exercise electrocardiography. Twenty-four hour ambulatory ECG monitoring showed a high prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias in group II. Seven (78%) of nine patients in group II and five (28%) of 18 in group I had abnormal 201T1 myocardial scintigrams. Left ventricular ejection fraction was not significantly different between the two groups, but the end-diastolic pressure was higher in group II (19 +/- 6 mmHg) than in group I (15 +/- 4 mmHg). All patients who underwent coronary arteriography had no significant stenosis. Thus, there are significant differences in the clinical features between the two groups of patients who had reciprocal LV responses during exercise. These findings should be considered in the management of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Two methods of measuring right ventricular cardiac output with pulsed Doppler two-dimensional echocardiography were developed in 29 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization and angiography. Using tricuspid inflow and main pulmonary artery outflow methods we determined cardiac output, and good correlations were observed between thermodilution and Doppler measurements (r = 0.93 and 0.89, respectively). Results by the two methods correlated closely in patients without regurgitant lesions. In patients with tricuspid regurgitation, right ventricular inflow was always greater than right ventricular outflow volume while the reverse was true in those with pulmonary insufficiency. Furthermore, we investigated the right ventricular peak filling rate as the Doppler peak diastolic velocity X cross-sectional area of the tricuspid annulus and half filling right ventricular fraction derived from the time velocity integral of the Doppler-determined velocity curve. For the tricuspid valve morphologically, the Doppler-derived velocity profile in diastole resembled the first derivative of the angiographic right ventricular volume curve. A significant correlation was observed between the Doppler echocardiographic and angiographic peak filling rate (r = 0.84). The results of the present study validate the use of Doppler two-dimensional quantitative measurements of the right ventricular output, regurgitant fraction and indexes of diastolic function.