Left Ventricular Dysfunction is Associated with Intraventricular Dyssynchrony by 3-Dimensional Echocardiography in Children

Left ventricular systolic dyssynchrony in patients with Kawasaki disease: a real-time three-dimensional echocardiography study

The left ventricular (LV) systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI) is an important prognostic indicator for many cardiovascular diseases; however, the characteristics of the SDI in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are unknown. In this study, we aimed to identify and quantify the SDI using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) in KD patients during different phases. In addition, we intended to explore whether the SDI is associated with systolic dysfunction. Seventy consecutive KD patients and seventy age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. The SDIs (percent of cardiac cycle) of 16 segments (16-SDI%) and 12 segments (12-SDI%) were calculated based on the defined standard deviation of each segment time from end diastole to the minimal systolic volume according to the 17-segment model (apex excluded). In the acute phase, the 16-SDI% and 12-SDI% were significantly higher in KD patients than in controls (4.40 ± 0.14 vs. 1.98 ± 0.12, P = 0.000; 3.55 ± 1.21 vs. 1.67 ± 0.93, P = 0.009, respectively), and patients with coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) exhibited higher 16-SDI% (P = 0.021) and 12-SDI% (P = 0.034) than patients without CAA. In the convalescent phase, patients with CAA still had higher 16-SDI% (P = 0.002) and 12-SDI% (P = 0.031) than controls, while the SDI in patients without CAA recovered to normal. The 16-SDI% was negatively correlated with the LV ejection fraction obtained from RT3DE (r = - 0.845, P = 0.000). Mechanical dyssynchrony is prevalent in KD patients during the acute phase and transient in patients without CAA, while patients with CAA still have impaired synchrony even in the convalescent phase. LV systolic dysfunction is associated with increased dyssynchrony. RT3DE is a valuable modality for identifying and quantifying dyssynchrony in KD patients.

Three-dimensional Echocardiography in Congenital Heart Disease: An Expert Consensus Document from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and the American Society of Echocardiography

Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has become important in the management of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly with pre-surgical planning, guidance of catheter intervention, and functional assessment of the heart. 3DE is increasingly used in children because of good acoustic windows and the non-invasive nature of the technique. The aim of this paper is to provide a review of the optimal application of 3DE in CHD including technical considerations, image orientation, application to different lesions, procedural guidance, and functional assessment.

Assessment of intraventricular time differences in healthy children using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Parameters describing intraventricular time differences are increasingly assessed in both adults and children. However, to appreciate the implications of these parameters in children, knowledge of the applicability of adult techniques in children is essential. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the applicability of speckle-tracking strain-derived parameters in children, paying special attention to age and heart rate dependency.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-three healthy subjects (aged 0-19 years) were included. Left ventricular global peak strain, time to global peak strain, and parameters describing intraventricular time differences were assessed using speckle-tracking strain imaging in the apical two-chamber, three-chamber, and four-chamber views (longitudinal strain) and the parasternal short-axis view (radial and circumferential strain). Parameters describing intraventricular time differences included the standard deviation of time to peak strain and differences in time to peak strain between two specified segments. Age and heart rate dependency were evaluated using regression analysis, and intraobserver and interobserver variability were tested.

RESULTS

Acquisition and analysis of longitudinal six-segment time-strain curves was successful in 94.8% of subjects and radial and circumferential time-strain curves in 89.5%. No clinically significant linear relation was observed between age or heart rate and parameters describing intraventricular time differences. The coefficient of variation of time to global peak strain parameters was <10, while it was >10 for parameters describing intraventricular time differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The feasibility of speckle-tracking strain analysis in children is relatively good. Furthermore, no linear relation was observed between age or heart rate and parameters describing intraventricular time differences. However, the limited reproducibility of some parameters describing intraventricular time differences will confine their applicability in clinical practice.

The impact of change in volume and left-ventricular hypertrophy on left-ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in children with end-stage renal disease

Left-ventricular dyssynchrony (LVD) adversely affects systolic performance and has not been previously evaluated in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We hypothesized (1) that LVD in children with ESRD would be significantly increased compared with controls and (2) that volume load and left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) would be associated with increased LVD. This was a prospective observational study in which real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic data were acquired in 27 stable children with ESRD (13 peritoneal dialysis [PD] and 14 hemodialysis [HD]) and 29 normal controls. Data were acquired before and after an HD session. Dyssynchrony index (SDI) was defined per standard formulae and was normalized to cardiac cycle duration (SDIp). Left-ventricular mass (LVM) was obtained from M-mode echocardiography and was normalized to height(2.7) (LVM index). The mean age (13.8 vs. 11.3 years) and SDI, SDIp, LVM, and LVM index were significantly greater among children with ESRD than among controls (p < 0.05). Demographics and heart rates were comparable between HD and PD subgroups, whereas SDI 16 and 12 segments, SDIp 16 segments, and LVM were significantly greater in the HD group. SDI and SDIp 16 segments improved after an HD session (p < 0.05); LVM and LVM index remained unchanged. LVD was significantly greater in patients with LVH compared with those without LVH. Children with ESRD had significant LVD and increased LVM compared with controls. Increased LVD in those undergoing HD rather than PD, as well as the improvement in synchrony after HD, suggest that volume may modulate LVD. LVD was increased in children with LVH. LVD in children with ESRD may have pathogenic implications.

Advances in echocardiography

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This study will outline recent advances in echocardiography and their impact in the understanding of cardiac morphology and ventricular function.

RECENT FINDINGS

Evaluation of morphologic abnormalities in pediatric cardiology has benefited greatly from three-dimensional echocardiography, particularly with the introduction of high-frequency transducers. The size of cardiovascular structures is frequently affected by heart disease, and a systematic approach to adjust measurements for the effects of body size and age has helped to distinguish a normal structure from an abnormal one. Quantification of diastolic and systolic function continues to be a major focus in echocardiography. New modalities such as tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography have provided new parameters to assess myocardial performance, and these parameters include myocardial velocities, ventricular twist and torsion, strain and strain rate, and mechanical dyssynchrony. Mechanical dyssynchrony analysis has been particularly useful in cardiac resynchronization therapy, a novel treatment for heart failure which shows great promise.

SUMMARY

Improved delineation of cardiac morphology has greatly augmented the current understanding of congenital heart diseases, and management strategies have been modified based on three-dimensional echocardiographic findings. The introduction of new parameters to evaluate ventricular function has provided early markers for cardiovascular impairment in several disease states, thereby allowing clinicians to monitor these patients more closely.

Health-e-Child project: mechanical dyssynchrony in children with dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE

Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony has been poorly studied in the pediatric population with dilated cardiomyopathy. We investigated the degree of dyssynchrony in children with dilated cardiomyopathy using tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain.

METHODS

Twenty-five children with dilated cardiomyopathy were compared with healthy subjects. Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony was assessed by speckle tracking strain and tissue Doppler imaging. Both radial and longitudinal dyssynchrony were analyzed. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was measured to assess the relation between dyssynchrony and ventricular function and remodeling.

RESULTS

Radial and longitudinal dyssynchrony parameters were significantly higher in the dilated cardiomyopathy group and correlated with Z-score left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. A logarithmic correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter parameters was found.

CONCLUSION

In children with dilated cardiomyopathy, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain allowed the detection of dyssynchrony, which correlates with the severity of left ventricular function.

New method for evaluation of left ventricular dyssynchrony and success of cardiac resynchronization therapy: real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography

A klinikai tapasztalat azt mutatja, hogy a jelenleg elérhető kritériumok alapján kiválasztott szívelégtelen betegek közel egyharmada a kardiális reszinkronizációs terápia (CRT) ellenére nonreszpondernek bizonyul, vagyis az optimális kezelés ellenére klinikai állapotukban javulás nem észlelhető. Ez a tény vezetett ahhoz a kutatási irányhoz, hogy találjunk olyan, noninvazív képalkotó diagnosztika (például echokardiográfia) során mérhető és/vagy számítható értéket, amely alkalmas a diszszinkrónia megítélésére és jobban segíti kiválasztani a CRT-re alkalmas betegeket. Ennek az áttekintő közleménynek a célja a legújabb noninvazív echokardiográfiás módszer, a real-time háromdimenziós echokardiográfia lehetséges szerepének bemutatása lenne az elérhető irodalom alapján.

Usefulness of live three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in a congenital heart disease center

Three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has numerous potential applications in the care of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, there were few data examining its utility in this setting. The aim was to describe the initial experience and feasibility of this modality at a tertiary CHD center. Twenty-seven 3D-TEE studies using the x7-2t live 3D matrix TEE transducer with an iE33 echocardiographic scanner (Philips Medical Systems, Bothell, Washington) were attempted. The utility of this method was examined in the 3 settings of interventional catheterizations (n = 16), intraoperative studies (n = 4), and diagnostic studies (n = 7). The probe was successfully inserted in 26 of 27 patients (weight 22.6 to 110 kg). In conclusion, the current matrix-array 3D-TEE probe was found to have a wide variety of clinical applications in a CHD center.

Intraventricular dyssynchrony in light chain amyloidosis: a new mechanism of systolic dysfunction assessed by 3-dimensional echocardiography

Background

Light chain amyloidosis (AL) is a rare but often fatal disease due to intractable heart failure. Amyloid deposition leads to diastolic dysfunction and often preserved ejection fraction. We hypothesize that AL is associated with regional systolic dyssynchrony. The aim is to compare left ventricular (LV) regional synchrony in AL subjects versus healthy controls using 16-segment dyssynchrony index measured from 3-dimension-al (3D) echocardiography.

Methods

Cardiac 3D echocardiography full volumes were acquired in 10 biopsy-proven AL subjects (60 ± 3 years, 5 females) and 10 healthy controls (52 ± 1 years, 5 females). The LV was subdivided into 16 segments and the time from end-diastole to the minimal systolic volume for each of the 16 segments was expressed as a percent of the cycle length. The standard deviations of these times provided a 16-segment dyssynchrony index (16-SD%). 16-SD% was compared between healthy and AL subjects.

Results

Left ventricular ejection fraction was comparable (control vs. AL: 62.4 ± 0.6 vs. 58.6 ± 2.8%, p = NS). 16-SD% was significantly higher in AL versus healthy subjects (5.93 ± 4.4 vs. 1.67 ± 0.87%, p = 0.003). 16-SD% correlated with left ventricular mass index (R 0.45, p = 0.04) but not to left ventricular ejection fraction.

Conclusion

Light chain amyloidosis is associated with left ventricular regional systolic dyssynchrony. Regional dyssynchrony may be an unrecognized mechanism of heart failure in AL subjects.