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Objective: To assess regional mechanical dyssynchrony as a determinant of the degree of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Setting: Tertiary cardiology clinic. Patients: 74 consecutive patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction < 40%, mean 32.2 (SD 7.3)%) were evaluated. Methods: Effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) area, indices of mitral deformation (systolic valvular tenting, mitral annular contraction) and of global IV function and remodelling (ejection fraction, end systolic volume, sphericity index) and local remodelling (papillary-fibrosa distance, regional wall motion score index), and tissue Doppler-derived dyssynchrony index (DI) (regional DI, defined as the standard deviation of time to peak myocardial systolic contraction of eight LV segments supporting the papillary muscles attachment) were measured. Results: All the assessed variables correlated significantly with ERO. By multivariate analysis, systolic valvular tenting was the strongest independent predictor of ERO (R² = 0.77, p = 0.0001), with a minor influence of papillary-fibrosa distance (R² = 0.77, p = 0.01) and regional DI (R² = 0.77, p = 0.03). Local LV remodelling (regional wall motion score index: R² = 0.58, p = 0.001; papillary-fibrosa distance: R² = 0.58, p = 0.002) and global remodelling indices (sphericity index: R² = 0.58, p = 0.003) were the main determinants of systolic valvular tenting, whereas regional Dl did not enter into the model. Regional DI was an independent predictor of ERO (R = 0.56, p = 0.005) in patients with non-ischaemic LV dysfunction but not in patients with ischaemic LV dysfunction when these groups were analysed separately. Conclusions: The degree of FMR is associated mainly with mitral deformation indices. The regional dyssynchrony also has an independent association with ERO but with a minor influence; however, it is not a determinant of FMR in patients with ischaemic IV dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Echographic examination of the lung surface may reveal multiple "comet-tail images" originating from water-thickened interlobular septa. These images could be useful for noninvasive assessment of interstitial pulmonary edema. Study Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of lung comet-tail images compared with chest radiography, wedge pressure, and extravascular lung water (EVLW) quantified by the indicator dilution method (PiCCO System, version 4.1; Pulsion Medical Systems; Munich, Germany). Methods and Patients: We enrolled 20 patients (mean age, 62.6 +/- 11.5 years [+/- SD]). Patients were studied before, immediately after, and 24 h following cardiac surgery with chest ultrasound, chest radiography, pulmonary artery catheterization, and the PiCCO system. Performing echo scanning (right and left hemithorax, from second to fourth intercostal space, from parasternal to midaxillary line), an individual patient comet score was obtained by summing the number of comets in each scanned space. Results: A total of 60 comparisons were obtained. Significant positive linear correlations were found between comet score and EVLW determined by the PiCCO System (r = 0.42, p = 0.001), between comet score and wedge pressure (r = 0.48, p = 0.01), and between comet score and radiologic lung water score (r = 0.60, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: The presence and the number of comet-tail images provide reliable information on interstitial pulmonary edema. Therefore, ultrasonography represent an attractive, easy-to-use, bedside diagnostic tool for assessing cardiac function and pulmonary congestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in anaesthesia remains controversial because it is a rapidly evolving technique with few proven benefits and considerable cost. Recently, the Society of Cardiovascular Anaesthesiologists has published practice guidelines for the use of peri-operative TOE. To determine the current role of transoesophageal echocardiography and the relative impact of category-based transoesophageal echocardiographic indications the present study investigated its use in seven Western European countries. The study sample was taken from a prospective cohort of 224 patients with acute or chronic haemodynamic disturbances or at risk of myocardial ischaemia. All patients were monitored with two-lead electrocardiography and radial and pulmonary artery catheters, as well as biplane or multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography. A total of 2232 clinical interventions were made in these patients. The most frequently observed intervention was the administration of a fluid bolus (45% of all interventions). Overall, transoesophageal echocardiography was the most important guiding factor in 560 (25%) interventions. It was the most important monitor in guiding the following therapeutic interventions: anti-ischaemic therapy--207 of 372 interventions (56%); fluid administration--275 of 996 (28%) interventions; vasopressor or inotrope administration--56 of 316 (16%) interventions; vasodilator therapy--six of 142 (4%) interventions and depth of anaesthesia--four of 211 (2%) interventions. We found that transoesophageal echocardiography is frequently influential in guiding clinical decision making and is used most frequently for category II indications but category I indications were associated with more frequent change in management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Long-term outcome of patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation according to the tethering pattern. preliminary results of an observational study," by E. Agricola and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Validation of real-time 3D echocardiography study protocol in identification of anatomic mitral regurgitant defect in patients with prolapse or flail," by E. Agricola is presented.

An abstract of the article "Possible mechanisms of dyspnea on effort in patients with normal left ventricular systolic function," by M. Pisani and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Stress-induced pulmonary edema assessed by chest ultrasound during exercise echocardiography: correlation with severity of ischemia and wedge pressure," by E. Agricola and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Tissue Doppler predicts left ventricular filling pressure better than standard Doppler in patients with mitral valve regurgitation," by E. Agricola, M. Galderisi, M. Oppizzi, G. Melisurgo, F. Airoldi, and A. Margonato is presented.