Introdução: Embora o papel da ecocardiografia transesofágica (ETE) esteja bem estabelecido na avaliação morfológica e funcional da valva mitral e na seleção dos pacientes com prolapso da valva mitral (PVM) para a cirurgia reparadora, o impacto da ETE tridimensional (3D) no resultado cirúrgico ainda não está bem demonstrado. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o valor diagnóstico adicional da ETE 3D em comparação com a técnica bidimensional (2D) e a associação de parâmetros anatômicos tridimensionais com o resultado cirúrgico em pacientes com PVM submetidos à valvoplastia. Métodos: Para a análise comparativa da sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia diagnóstica entre ETE 2D e 3D, foram incluídos 62 pacientes operados por PVM com insuficiência importante, sendo a inspeção cirúrgica considerada padrão-ouro. Para a análise 3D, foram estudados 54 pacientes submetidos à plástica valvar que foram divididos em 2 grupos de acordo com o grau da insuficiência mitral pós-operatória (grupo 1, insuficiência mitral ausente ou grau I; grupo 2, insuficiência mitral grau II ou III). Foram medidos pela quantificação 3D os seguintes parâmetros anatômicos: diâmetros anteroposterior e intercomissural, altura, circunferência e área do anel mitral; comprimento, área e linha de coaptação das cúspides; volume e altura do prolapso; distância dos músculos papilares à borda da cúspide; e ângulos mitroaórtico e não planar. Para a identificação de variáveis associadas aos grupos de resultados cirúrgicos, foi realizada análise univariada (teste t de Student para as variáveis contínuas e teste qui-quadrado ou o teste de Fisher para as variáveis categóricas), análise multivariada com método de regressão logística e curva ROC para a obtenção do ponto de corte. Resultados: A ETE 2D apresentou maior sensibilidade no diagnóstico de prolapso nos segmentos A2, P1 e P3 que a ETE 3D (p = 0,019, 0,023, 0,012, respectivamente) enquanto que a ETE 3D apresentou maior especificidade no segmento P1 (p = 0,006). Não houve diferença na acurácia diagnóstica ente os dois métodos. A presença de prolapso das duas cúspides (p = 0,041) e a distância do músculo papilar posteromedial à borda da cúspide (p = 0,038) foram maiores no grupo 2. Análise multivariada identificou prolapso das duas cúspides e distância do músculo papilar posteromedial à borda da cúspide maior que 30 mm como fatores associados à insuficiência mitral pós-operatória grau II ou III (p = 0,039 e 0,015, respectivamente), e com risco de 5,3 e 6,3 vezes maior de insuficiência significativa pós-operatória, respectivamente. Conclusões: A ETE 2D e 3D apresentaram acurácia equivalente no diagnóstico de PVM, com maior sensibilidade da ETE 2D no diagnóstico de prolapso nos segmentos A2, P1 e P3, e maior especificidade da ETE 3D no segmento P1. A distância do músculo papilar posteromedial à borda da cúspide obtida pela análise quantitativa 3D e a presença de prolapso das duas cúspides mostraram associação com o grau da insuficiência mitral pós-operatória grau II e III / Background: Although the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is well established in the morphological and functional assessment of the mitral valve and in the choice of patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) eligible to valvuloplasty, the impact of tridimensional (3D) TEE on surgical results has not been well demonstrated yet. The present study aimed to evaluate the additional diagnostic value of 3D TEE in comparison with bidimensional (2D) technique, as well as the correlation between 3D anatomical parameters and the surgical results in patients with MVP submitted to valvuloplasty. Methods: In order to compare the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy between 2D and 3D TEE, 62 patients with MVP and severe mitral regurgitation were enrolled; surgical appraisal was considered as the gold-standard. Regarding 3D analysis, 54 patients submitted to valvuloplasty were divided in two groups, according to their postoperative mitral regurgitation grades (group 1, absent or grade I mitral regurgitation; and group 2, grade II or III mitral regurgitation). The following parameters were assessed quantitatively by 3D TEE: anteroposterior diameter, commissural width, height, circumference and area of the mitral ring; anterior and posterior leaflets length, leaflets surface area, coaptation length, volume and height billow; distance from the tip of the anterolateral and posteromedial papillary muscle to leaflet border; non-planar and aortic-mitral angles. Univariate analysis (Student t test for continuous variables and Chi-square or Fischer test to the categorical ones), multivariate and ROC curve analyses were performed to identify the relationship between anatomical parameters and surgical results (p < 5%). Results: 2D TEE showed higher sensitivity to diagnose MVP in A2, P1, and P3 segments, when compared with 3D TEE (p= 0.019, 0.023, and 0.012, respectively), while 3D TEE showed greater specificity to identify P1 segment (p= 0.006). No difference was observed in the accuracy between both methods. The presence of bileaflet prolapse (p= 0.041) and the distance from posteromedial papillary muscle to leaflet border (p= 0.038) were higher in group 2. Multivariate analysis showed that bileaflet prolapse and distance of more than 30 mm from posteromedial papillary muscle to leaflet border were related to grade II or III postoperative mitral regurgitation (p= 0.039 and 0.015, respectively), representing 5.3 and 6.3 more risk of significant mitral regurgitation, respectively. Conclusions: Both 2D TEE and 3D TEE presented similar accuracy in the diagnosis of MVP; 2D TEE showed higher sensitivity to diagnose the prolapse in A2, P1 and P3 segments, while the 3D TEE presented greater specificity to identify the affected P1 segment. The distance from the tip of the posteromedial papillary muscle to the leaflet border quantitatively estimated by 3D TEE and the evidence of bileaflet prolapse showed to be associated to the degree of mitral regurgitation after valvuloplasty

Introdução: Embora o papel da ecocardiografia transesofágica (ETE) esteja bem estabelecido na avaliação morfológica e funcional da valva mitral e na seleção dos pacientes com prolapso da valva mitral (PVM) para a cirurgia reparadora, o impacto da ETE tridimensional (3D) no resultado cirúrgico ainda não está bem demonstrado. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o valor diagnóstico adicional da ETE 3D em comparação com a técnica bidimensional (2D) e a associação de parâmetros anatômicos tridimensionais com o resultado cirúrgico em pacientes com PVM submetidos à valvoplastia. Métodos: Para a análise comparativa da sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia diagnóstica entre ETE 2D e 3D, foram incluídos 62 pacientes operados por PVM com insuficiência importante, sendo a inspeção cirúrgica considerada padrão-ouro. Para a análise 3D, foram estudados 54 pacientes submetidos à plástica valvar que foram divididos em 2 grupos de acordo com o grau da insuficiência mitral pós-operatória (grupo 1, insuficiência mitral ausente ou grau I; grupo 2, insuficiência mitral grau II ou III). Foram medidos pela quantificação 3D os seguintes parâmetros anatômicos: diâmetros anteroposterior e intercomissural, altura, circunferência e área do anel mitral; comprimento, área e linha de coaptação das cúspides; volume e altura do prolapso; distância dos músculos papilares à borda da cúspide; e ângulos mitroaórtico e não planar. Para a identificação de variáveis associadas aos grupos de resultados cirúrgicos, foi realizada análise univariada (teste t de Student para as variáveis contínuas e teste qui-quadrado ou o teste de Fisher para as variáveis categóricas), análise multivariada com método de regressão logística e curva ROC para a obtenção do ponto de corte. Resultados: A ETE 2D apresentou maior sensibilidade no diagnóstico de prolapso nos segmentos A2, P1 e P3 que a ETE 3D (p = 0,019, 0,023, 0,012, respectivamente) enquanto que a ETE 3D apresentou maior especificidade no segmento P1 (p = 0,006). Não houve diferença na acurácia diagnóstica ente os dois métodos. A presença de prolapso das duas cúspides (p = 0,041) e a distância do músculo papilar posteromedial à borda da cúspide (p = 0,038) foram maiores no grupo 2. Análise multivariada identificou prolapso das duas cúspides e distância do músculo papilar posteromedial à borda da cúspide maior que 30 mm como fatores associados à insuficiência mitral pós-operatória grau II ou III (p = 0,039 e 0,015, respectivamente), e com risco de 5,3 e 6,3 vezes maior de insuficiência significativa pós-operatória, respectivamente. Conclusões: A ETE 2D e 3D apresentaram acurácia equivalente no diagnóstico de PVM, com maior sensibilidade da ETE 2D no diagnóstico de prolapso nos segmentos A2, P1 e P3, e maior especificidade da ETE 3D no segmento P1. A distância do músculo papilar posteromedial à borda da cúspide obtida pela análise quantitativa 3D e a presença de prolapso das duas cúspides mostraram associação com o grau da insuficiência mitral pós-operatória grau II e III / Background: Although the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is well established in the morphological and functional assessment of the mitral valve and in the choice of patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) eligible to valvuloplasty, the impact of tridimensional (3D) TEE on surgical results has not been well demonstrated yet. The present study aimed to evaluate the additional diagnostic value of 3D TEE in comparison with bidimensional (2D) technique, as well as the correlation between 3D anatomical parameters and the surgical results in patients with MVP submitted to valvuloplasty. Methods: In order to compare the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy between 2D and 3D TEE, 62 patients with MVP and severe mitral regurgitation were enrolled; surgical appraisal was considered as the gold-standard. Regarding 3D analysis, 54 patients submitted to valvuloplasty were divided in two groups, according to their postoperative mitral regurgitation grades (group 1, absent or grade I mitral regurgitation; and group 2, grade II or III mitral regurgitation). The following parameters were assessed quantitatively by 3D TEE: anteroposterior diameter, commissural width, height, circumference and area of the mitral ring; anterior and posterior leaflets length, leaflets surface area, coaptation length, volume and height billow; distance from the tip of the anterolateral and posteromedial papillary muscle to leaflet border; non-planar and aortic-mitral angles. Univariate analysis (Student t test for continuous variables and Chi-square or Fischer test to the categorical ones), multivariate and ROC curve analyses were performed to identify the relationship between anatomical parameters and surgical results (p < 5%). Results: 2D TEE showed higher sensitivity to diagnose MVP in A2, P1, and P3 segments, when compared with 3D TEE (p= 0.019, 0.023, and 0.012, respectively), while 3D TEE showed greater specificity to identify P1 segment (p= 0.006). No difference was observed in the accuracy between both methods. The presence of bileaflet prolapse (p= 0.041) and the distance from posteromedial papillary muscle to leaflet border (p= 0.038) were higher in group 2. Multivariate analysis showed that bileaflet prolapse and distance of more than 30 mm from posteromedial papillary muscle to leaflet border were related to grade II or III postoperative mitral regurgitation (p= 0.039 and 0.015, respectively), representing 5.3 and 6.3 more risk of significant mitral regurgitation, respectively. Conclusions: Both 2D TEE and 3D TEE presented similar accuracy in the diagnosis of MVP; 2D TEE showed higher sensitivity to diagnose the prolapse in A2, P1 and P3 segments, while the 3D TEE presented greater specificity to identify the affected P1 segment. The distance from the tip of the posteromedial papillary muscle to the leaflet border quantitatively estimated by 3D TEE and the evidence of bileaflet prolapse showed to be associated to the degree of mitral regurgitation after valvuloplasty

Currarino-Silverman syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by premature fusion of manubrio-sternal joint and the sternal segments, resulting in a high carinate chest deformity; it is frequently associated with congenital heart disease. Among the various heart lesions reported in this syndrome, mitral valve disease and coarctation of the aorta have not yet been described (to our knowledge). Our report consists of five children with this syndrome, four of whom had mitral valve disease, with an associated coarctation of the aorta in one patient. The fifth patient had an innocent heart murmur.

In der vorliegenden Studie wurden die prä- und postoperativen transthorakalen echokardiographischen Untersuchungen von 31 Patienten mit Mitralklappenrekonstruktion im Zeitraum von 2007 bis 2011 retrospektiv analysiert. Es wurden die Untersuchungen eingeschlossen, bei denen sowohl vor als auch nach dem operativen Eingriff das Bilddatenmaterial komplett zur Verfügung stand. Die echokardiographische Dokumentation der im klinischen Alltag durchgeführten Untersuchungen ermöglichte die Evaluation der Dimensionen von rechten und linken Ventrikel sowie beider Vorhöfe, der systolischen und diastolischen linksventrikulären Funktion, der Morphologie der Herzklappen sowie der pulmonalarteriellen Drücke. Die Patientenkohorte wurde zusätzlich in Subgruppen nach Symptomatik, nach additiven chirurgischen Interventionen und nach dem Vorliegen von chronischem Vorhofflimmern analysiert. Die Ergebnisse der Mitralklappenrekonstruktion zeigten erwartungsgemäß postoperativ eine signifikante Reduktion des Schweregrades der Mitralklappenregurgitation, eine Verkleinerung der linksseitigen Herzhöhlen, eine Normalisierung der linksventrikulären Pumpfunktion und der pulmonalarteriellen Drücke. Asymptomatische Patienten im Sinusrhythmus mit isolierter Mitralklappenrekonstruktion hatten die günstigsten postoperativen echokardiographischen Ergebnisse. Weiterhin war eine postoperativ eingeschränkte rechtsventrikuläre und linksventrikuläre diastolische Funktion zu postulieren. Ein mit fast 20% beträchtlicher Anteil der Patienten mit einer postoperativen Vena contracta der Mitralklappenregurgitation ≥ 3mm war vermutlich auf eine Vorselektion der Patienten zurückzuführen. Schlussfolgernd sollte eine Mitralklappenrekonstruktion möglichst vor Eintreten irreversibler kardialer Schädigungen durchgeführt werden.

Submitted by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-08T14:29:39Z No. of bitstreams: 2 MARILIA AVILA VALANDRO ok.pdf: 1044698 bytes, checksum: 07606147cdffad848dc4db44d0162dd3 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-08T14:30:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 MARILIA AVILA VALANDRO ok.pdf: 1044698 bytes, checksum: 07606147cdffad848dc4db44d0162dd3 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-08T14:30:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 MARILIA AVILA VALANDRO ok.pdf: 1044698 bytes, checksum: 07606147cdffad848dc4db44d0162dd3 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-29 / A endocardiose valvar (EV) é a cardiopatia mais prevalente na espécie canina, capaz de alterar o balanço autonômico pela ativação crônica do sistema nervoso simpático, relacionado ao risco de morte súbita e pior prognóstico. Diversos programas de treinamento com caminhada foram eficazes no restabelecimento do equilíbrio autonômico em seres humanos cardiopata, verificados a luz da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC). Dessa forma, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de oito semanas de caminhada, realizadas três vezes por semana, durante 30 a 50 minutos, de moderada intensidade (60 a 80% da frequência cardíaca máxima), sobre a função autonômica cardíaca de cães com EV, utilizando a VFC no domínio do tempo e da frequência como ferramenta. Para tanto, 20 cães com EV foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo controle - não treinado (GC, n=9) e grupo treinamento (GT, n=11), e avaliados nos momentos basal (T0), quatro semanas (T1) e oito semanas (T2). No domínio do tempo, a variável média rMSSD (raiz quadrada da média ao quadrado das diferenças sucessivas entre os intervalos NN) foi maior no GT em quatro (155,5+42,07) e oito semanas (199,8+83,54) em relação ao GC (91,17+35,79 e 88,17+57,51) (p<0,05). No domínio da frequência, a variável High Frequency (HF) foi a mais representativa, e apresentou aumento no GT (30950+25810) após quatro semanas quando comparado ao GC (19090+23210) (p<0,05) e dentro do grupo GT após oito semanas de treinamento (40300+33870) em relação à avaliação basal (29340+20950) (p<0,05). As demais variáveis não sofreram influências do programa de treinamento proposto. Esses resultados demonstram que o treinamento físico com a utilização de caminhadas foi capaz de alterar a VFC, indicando uma maior participação parassimpática em cães com EV. / Valvular endocardiosis is the most prevalent cardiopathy in canine specie. This disease is able to change autonomic balance, which is related to sudden death and worse prognostic, through chronic activation of sympathetic nervous system. Looking at heart rate variability, various walk training plans were efficient for the autonomic balance reestablishment in cardiophats people. In this way, this study focused on evaluate the effect of 8 weeks walking plan on cardiac autonomic function of dogs with valvular endocardiosis. These walking plans were consisted of moderated intensity walking (reaching from 60 to 80% of maximum heart rate) during 30 to 50 minutes, three times a week. Heart rate variability was analyzed by utilizing time and frequency domain as a tool. Thus, 20 dogs with valvular endocardiosis were divided into two groups: Control group, with no training (CG, n=9), and Training group (TG, n=11). They were evaluated at basal moment (T0), 4 weeks (T1), and 8 weeks (T2). At time domain, only the medium variable rMSSD (the root mean square of successive differences between the square NN intervals) was higher in the TG in four (155.5+42.07) and eight weeks (199.8+83.54) than CG (91.17+35.79 and 88.17+57.51) (p<0.05). At frequency domain, the high frequency variable was the most representative and after four weeks, it showed higher on TG (30950+25810) than CG (19090+23210) (p<0.05). After eight weeks, within TG there was higher frequency (40300+33870) when compared to basal evaluation (29340+20950) (p<0.05). The proposed training program did not affect the other variables. These results suggest that the physical training with utilization of walking plans were able to change the heart rate variability what indicated a higher parasimpathetic participation of dogs with valvular endocardiosis.

The projects of this thesis examine the complex interaction between isotonic exercise, functional capacity, exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia, severity of regurgitation and left ventricular function in patients with significant chronic mitral regurgitation. The concept of left ventricular contractile reserve, i.e. the ability of the left ventricle to increase its contractility and decrease its end systolic volume with isotonic exercise, is explored. In patients with chronic isolated mitral regurgitation without coronary disease, isotonic exercise was associated with a slight decrease in left ventricular end diastolic volume but a marked decrease in end systolic volume, resulting in a significant increase in the stroke volume and ejection fraction. Early after uncomplicated mitral valve repair surgery, there was a significant decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction with a proportion of the patients developing left ventricular dysfunction despite a normal pre-operative ejection fraction. When different pre-operative echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function were evaluated for their ability to predict left ventricular function after mitral valve repair, the exercise indices were found to be superior to resting indices. Left ventricular end systolic volume immediately after exercise was found to be the best predictor. The optimal cut-off was at 25 ml/m2, which had a sensitivity and specificity of 83% in predicting early post-operative left ventricular dysfunction. Exercise indices appeared to be superior to resting indices in identifying patients with persistent left ventricular dysfunction &lt1 year after mitral valve repair. The concept of contractile reserve was further examined by estimating the left ventricular stroke work from simplified pressure-volume loops, which were constructed from non-invasively obtained parameters with geometric assumptions. Left ventricular stroke work immediately after exercise, but not at rest, was found to be significantly lower in patients with latent left ventricular dysfunction. Patients without latent ventricular dysfunction had similar increases in stroke work with exercise compared with healthy normal subjects. The ability of the left ventricle to increase its stroke work with exercise, a measure of the contractile reserve, was correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction after mitral valve repair. A numerical model was constructed using the clinical data as input parameters. The results from the numerical model were similar to that obtained from the clinical study, testifying that the observation made in the clinical study was valid and independent of the geometric assumptions made in constructing the simplified pressure-volume loops. Left ventricular pressure-volume loops under different loading conditions were plotted from simultaneously measured left ventricular pressure and volume to measure the left ventricular end systolic elastance (Ees) and preload recruitable stroke work relationship (MSW). Despite normal or near normal haemodynamics at rest, a significant proportion of the study patients were found to have impaired left ventricular contractility, as measured by Ees, consistent with a state of latent left ventricular dysfunction. Exercise indices of left ventricular function were better correlated with Ees and MSW than resting indices. There were highly significant inverse relationships between end systolic volume index immediately after exercise and Ees and MSW. Moreover, there was a significant powered relationship between MSW and exercise left ventricular ejection fraction. There was no such relationship between Ees or MSW and any of the resting echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function. Furthermore, the optimal diagnostic cut-off level of end systolic volume index after exercise at 25 ml/m2 accurately identified those with impaired left ventricular contractility as defined by an Ees of &gt 2 mmHg/ml. In patients with chronic organic mitral regurgitation with ejection fraction of &lt 50%, objectively measured functional capacity, VO2max, was correlated with exercise cardiac output, patient age and gender but not to the severity of the mitral regurgitation or the resting left ventricular function. The VO2max of these patients were significantly lower than that of age and gender-matched healthy controls despite these patients' relative lack of subjective symptoms. There were significant individual variations in the response of the severity of the mitral regurgitation to isotonic exercise. Patients whose regurgitant stroke volume increased had a lower exercise cardiac output than those whose regurgitant stroke volume decreased. Such variability was also seen with the response of the left ventricular function to exercise. Patients whose left ventricular end systolic volume increased with exercise, i.e. patients with a limited contractile reserve, had a lower exercise cardiac output and lower VO2max than those whose end systolic volume decreased with exercise. The determinants of exercise capacity were then examined in patients with functional mitral regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction. VO2max of these patients was correlated with exercise cardiac output and exercise left ventricular ejection fraction, a situation similar to that seen in patients with organic mitral regurgitation and normal left ventricular function. Furthermore, indices of left ventricular systolic function at rest and pulsed wave Doppler indices of diastolic function showed no significant correlations with VO2max. The determinants of VO2max remained unchanged in these patients after four weeks of supervised exercise training. The four weeks of exercise training resulted in a significant decrease in left ventricular end systolic volume, a trend towards an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction and some restoration of the contractile reserve. The total exercise time almost doubled. However, this dramatic improvement in total exercise time was accompanied only by non-significant increases in VO2max and left ventricular ejection fraction. Therefore, the benefits of exercise training in these patients may involve more than just central mechanisms. Exercise induced myocardial ischaemia may also contribute to a limited left ventricular contractile reserve in patients with mitral regurgitation. Electrocardiographic changes at rest are commonly seen in patients with mitral regurgitation due to mitral valve prolapse. These resting electrocardiographic changes make exercise electrocardiography uninterpretable for exercise-induced ischaemia. Exercise electrocardiographic changes are also commonly encountered in these patients despite the absence of coronary artery disease and a normal resting electrocardiogram, making exercise electrocardiography unreliable as a non-invasive screening test for coronary artery disease. In these patients, exercise echocardiography was slightly more sensitive but significantly more specific in diagnosing significant coronary artery disease. The overall accuracy and the positive predictive value were significantly higher for exercise echocardiography than for exercise electrocardiography. The &quotcost-effectiveness&quot of different diagnostic strategies for coronary artery disease in patients with mitral valve prolapse was examined based on the results of the clinical study. Strategies involving exercise electrocardiography as part of the screening test were costly and were associated with a high false negative rate. Strategies involving exercise echocardiography were more accurate and less costly but the initial costs of exercise echocardiography for all patients meant that the overall costs were still considerable. Assessing the pre-test probability of coronary artery disease in these patients and using exercise echocardiography as the initial test for patients with at least a moderate pre-test probability of coronary artery disease seemed to result in the best compromise between cost and effectiveness. The studies of this thesis have shown that a limited cardiac contractile reserve is a sign of latent ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation. The presence of a limited contractile reserve can be used to predict left ventricular dysfunction after mitral valve repair. The concept of a limited contractile reserve is further supported by the finding of a limited increase in left ventricular stroke work with exercise from a theoretical as well as a numerical model of left ventricular pressure-volume loops. Exercise echocardiographic indices show better correlations to invasively measured Ees and MSW than resting indices. VO2max in these patients is determined more by their ability to increase their forward cardiac output with exercise and not by the regurgitant volumes. Exercise training in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and functional mitral regurgitation results in some restoration of contractile reserve. Exercise echocardiography is also a reliable and cost-effective test in the non-invasive screening for coronary artery disease in these patients. Based on the results of the studies in the thesis, one can incorporate exercise echocardiography as one of the important assessment tools in the management of patients with significant mitral regurgitation as it allows measurement of left ventricular volumes and assessment of contractile reserve. Further studies are needed to examine whether a policy of monitoring of contractile reserve in these patients to guide therapy and surgical referral will result in a better preservation of long term left ventricular function, an improvement in functional capacity and patient outcome.

<p>During a cardiac cycle the cardiac walls change between contracted and relaxed and the valves open and close in response to pressure changes. This master thesis is a study of the changes in heart movement pattern caused by intravenous injections of Ca2+ or Nitroprusside. At Stanford University radiopaque markers have been surgically implanted in the walls and in the mitral valve of ovine hearts and 3D coordinates for each marker have been constantly measured during the cardiac cycle. By using MatLab, the volume and pressure of the left ventricle and several parameters related to the opening kinematics of the mitral valve have been analyzed. The results show, among others, that both Ca2+ and Nitroprusside reduce the volume and pressure of the left ventricle and that both substances decrease the size of the mitral annular ring. It was also shown that Ca2+ delays the opening of the mitral valve.</p>

During a cardiac cycle the cardiac walls change between contracted and relaxed and the valves open and close in response to pressure changes. This master thesis is a study of the changes in heart movement pattern caused by intravenous injections of Ca2+ or Nitroprusside. At Stanford University radiopaque markers have been surgically implanted in the walls and in the mitral valve of ovine hearts and 3D coordinates for each marker have been constantly measured during the cardiac cycle. By using MatLab, the volume and pressure of the left ventricle and several parameters related to the opening kinematics of the mitral valve have been analyzed. The results show, among others, that both Ca2+ and Nitroprusside reduce the volume and pressure of the left ventricle and that both substances decrease the size of the mitral annular ring. It was also shown that Ca2+ delays the opening of the mitral valve.

No description available.

No description available.