Left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm formation following three aortic valve replacement surgeries

We present a case of a pseudoaneurysm arising from the left ventricular outflow tract/aortic root as a complication of aortic valve surgery. A 45-year-old Nigerian female presented to our institution′s emergency department with chest discomfort. She had three bioprosthetic aortic valve replacements in the preceding year at an outside institution for aortic regurgitation and wanted a second opinion on remaining surgical options. The learning points relevant to this case are as follows: (1) Recognizing potential complications postmultiple valve surgeries, (2) screening patients for chronic infections and rheumatologic conditions that can contribute to failed valve surgeries

Diastolic abnormalities detected by velocity vector imaging in the presence of coronary ischemia: A pilot stress echocardiographic study

Background: The ischemic cascade has long been known to begin with diastolic dysfunction before detectable systolic abnormalities. The advent of speckle-tracking imaging and velocity vector imaging (VVI) has provided accurate and reproducible interpretation of systolic abnormalities in numerous disease processes; however, this imaging tool has been only recently been proposed for detecting diastolic abnormalities. Methods: We analyzed pre and poststress echocardiography images of ten patients using VVI. We calculated normalized strain time (NST) as the duration strain was at least 90% of the measured peak and subtracted pre and poststress NST to calculate prolongation of NST as a sign of diastolic dysfunction. These intervals were measured from left ventricular longitudinal cine images obtained from two and 4-chamber in five patients not only with a positive stress echocardiographic response but also anatomy confirmed by coronary angiography. They were then compared to five patients without coronary artery disease (CAD). Results: Differences in pre and poststress NST measured in the apical 4-chamber view were greater in CAD patients than without (40 ± 16 vs. 12 ± 19; P = 0.04). Conclusions: Significant diastolic abnormalities were detected using a semi-automated VVI analysis in the poststress recovery period. A prospective study is now required in a larger number of patients to correlate the development of diastolic strain abnormalities with extent and location of CAD

Is mitral annular ascent useful in studying left ventricular function through left atrio-ventricular interactions?

Background: The mitral annulus (MA) is a crucial structure that is in constant motion throughout the cardiac cycle. The main purpose of this study was to determine if M-mode evaluation of the longitudinal motion of the MA could be useful to examine atrio-ventricular interactions. Methods: Echocardiographic data obtained from 150 patients (mean age 56 ± 16; 82 males) from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine was evaluated to examine if any relationship exists between MA motion and measures of atrio-ventricular interactions. Results: Even though left atrial size, left ventricular (LV) mass index, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and degree of LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) were significant echocardiographic variables affecting MA motion; LVEF and the degree of LVDD were the main determinants of MA excursion during systole (MAPSE) and after atrial contraction (MAa). Our results confirm the surrogate value of MAPSE with regards to LVEF and also show that the extent of MA excursion during systole is the main determinant of MAa. The effect of LV diastolic function applies more strongly to MAPSE than to MAa. However, the maximal MAa amplitude varies in accordance to the type of LVDD. Conclusions: We have shown for the first time that M-mode interrogation of the MA longitudinal motion appears useful to assess atrio-ventricular interactions. Since LV systolic and diastolic functions are so closely related; additional studies are now required to examine how this longitudinal measure correlates with known circumferential rotational data obtained with other imaging modalities. Keywords: Atrio-ventricular interaction, Echocardiography, Left atria, Left ventricle, Mitral annulus, M-mod

Heart Failure with Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Complex Conundrum Simply Not Limited to Diastolic Dysfunction

Over the last two decades, the changing paradigm of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has transformed our understanding not only of the pathophysiology of this clinical entity but also the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches aimed at treating this complex patient population. No longer HFpEF should be seen as simply left ventricular diastolic dysfunction but as a group of that in addition of having small and thick left ventricles with abnormal diastolic filling patterns as their main pathophysiologic abnormality; they also have whole host of different abnormalities. In fact, this heterogeneous clinical entity embodies numerous mechanisms and is linked to multiorgan dysfunction, with hypertension and obesity playing a major role. Although we have gained an enormous amount of understanding not only on the causes but also the downstream effects of HFpEF, there is still much to be learned before we can fully comprehend this complex clinical entity. It is the main intention of this review to synthesize the most recent attributes, mechanism, diagnostic tools, and most useful therapeutic alternatives to be considered when evaluating patients either complaining of dyspnea on exertion as well as exercise intolerance or those recently admitted with HF symptoms but with normal LVEF in the absence of any other valvular abnormalitie

Over-the-counter mouthwash use, nitric oxide and hypertension risk

Purpose: Mouthwash is used by a large population. Short-term clinical trials have shown that antibacterial mouthwash deplete oral nitrate-reducing bacteria, and decrease systemic nitric oxide bioavailability. Our previous publication from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS) was the first to show frequent over-the-counter mouthwash use was independently associated with increased risk of prediabetes/diabetes. This manuscript evaluates whether over-the-counter mouthwash was associated with increased risk of hypertension. Materials and methods: SOALS recruited 40-65 year old overweight/obese individuals; baseline evaluations started in 2011 and the 3-year follow-up exam was completed by 2016. From the 1028 participants (76%) who completed follow-up, we excluded people with reported physician diagnosis of hypertension or systolic or diastolic BP at or above the hypertension cut-offs (n = 481), missing smoking (n = 1), missing physical activity (n = 1) and missing alcohol intake (n = 5) at baseline; 540 participants were included. The primary exposure was mouthwash use twice daily or more. The primary outcome for this manuscript is self-reported physician-diagnosed hypertension over the follow-up. We used Poisson regression controlling for age, sex, smoking, physical activity, waist circumference, alcohol intake, systolic blood pressure, pre-diabetes/diabetes status and cardiac medication use. We additionally evaluated other mouthwash use categorizations. Results: Twelve percent (66/540) developed hypertension over follow-up. People who used mouthwash twice/day or more had higher incidence of hypertension compared to less frequent users (Incidence Rate Ratio = 1.85; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.17, 2.94), and compared to non-users (IRR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.27, 3.71). Several additional potential confounders evaluated did not impact these associations. Associations persisted among never smokers. Additional outcomes including BP assessed at a single study visit did not show associations. Conclusion: In this study, frequent regular use of over-the-counter mouthwash was associated with increased risk of hypertension, independent of major risk factors for hypertension and several other potential confounders