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Objective: To assess the coronary sinus (CS) presence, size, and CS to atrial ratio (CS/A) in the first trimester (FT) compared with the second trimester (ST)., Methods: In this IRB-approved retrospective study, fetuses with adequate FT cardiac sweeps and normal ST hearts were included. Maternal and fetal characteristics were obtained. CS and atrial diameters were measured by a single sonologist. The CS/A ratio was compared between FT and ST. Linear regression assessed the relationship between biparietal diameter (BPD) and CS and atrial diameters. Statistical significance was set at P < .05., Results: Among 99 fetuses, the CS was seen in 42/53 (79.2%) in the FT and 14/32 (43.8%) in the ST. No significant associations were found between CS visualization and the factors analyzed. The CS/A ratio was significantly higher in the FT versus ST (0.43 vs 0.25; P < .0001). Combined FT and ST data revealed positive correlations between BPD and both CS (slope = 0.018, P < .0001) and atrial diameters (slope = 0.135, P < .0001), suggesting differential growth rates, with the atrium exhibiting a faster growth rate as BPD increased., Conclusions: The CS appears prominent in the FT compared with the ST, likely due to differential growth rates between the CS and atrium. Remnants of embryonic structures, differences in myocardial drainage, and hemodynamics may also be contributing factors. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess the value of the FT CS/A ratio., (© 2024 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.)

Objective: Stroke remains the leading cause of disability in the United States. Even as acute care for strokes advances, there are limited options for improving function once the patient reaches the subacute and chronic stages. Identification of new therapeutic approaches is critical. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) holds promise for these patients. A number of case reports and small case series have reported improvement in movement disorders after strokes in patients treated with DBS. In this systematic review, the authors have summarized the patient characteristics, anatomical targets, stimulation parameters, and outcomes of patients who have undergone DBS treatment for poststroke movement disorders., Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The PubMed, Scopus, and SpringerLink databases were searched for the keywords "DBS," "stroke," "movement," and "recovery" to identify patients treated with DBS for movement disorders after a stroke. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklists for case reports and case series were used to systematically analyze the quality of the included studies. Data collected from each study included patient demographic characteristics, stroke diagnosis, movement disorder, DBS target, stimulation parameters, complications, and outcomes., Results: The authors included 29 studies that described 53 patients who underwent placement of 82 total electrodes. Movement disorders included tremor (n = 18), dystonia (n = 18), hemiballism (n = 6), spastic hemiparesis (n = 1), chorea (n = 1), and mixed disorders (n = 9). The most common DBS targets were the globus pallidus internus (n = 32), ventral intermediate nucleus of thalamus (n = 25), and subthalamic area/subthalamic nucleus (n = 7). Monopolar stimulation was reported in 43 leads and bipolar stimulation in 13. High-frequency stimulation was used in 57 leads and low-frequency stimulation in 6. All patients but 1 had improvement in their movement disorders. Two complications were reported: speech impairment in 1 patient and hardware infection in another. The median (interquartile range) duration between stroke and DBS treatment was 6.5 (2.1-15.8) years., Conclusions: This is the first systematic review of DBS for poststroke movement disorders. Overall, most studies to date have been case reports and small series reporting heterogeneous patients and surgical strategies. This review suggests that DBS for movement disorders after a stroke has the potential to be effective and safe for diverse patients, and DBS may be a feasible option to improve function even years after a stroke.