Articles tagged with Echocardiography
A simple, seven-second X-ray scan can accurately detect the severity of pulmonary valve regurgitation in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot. The test uses dynamic chest radiography and requires minimal radiation, offering a more accessible diagnostic option for those who cannot undergo traditional methods.
A new AI model, ECG2Stroke, can predict the risk of a stroke up to 10 years into the future using only electrocardiogram (ECG) data and a patient's age and sex. The model was trained on over 200,000 patients and showed accuracy in predicting cardioembolic strokes, which are preventable with blood thinners.
Researchers developed a new multiview DNN structure to capture complex 3D anatomy and physiology from multiple imaging views, improving diagnostic accuracy for cardiovascular conditions. The approach demonstrated better performance than single-view DNNs and provided a viable alternative for other medical imaging modalities.
A new report from Northwestern University offers six practical strategies to improve the doctor-patient bedside encounter in an era dominated by AI. By employing these strategies, clinicians can strengthen patient-physician relationships, combat inequities, and reduce burnout, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.
A novel screening approach called VEST uses virtual echocardiography to identify patients at high risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a life-threatening form of heart failure. The tool has been shown to generate accurate PAH risk scores without manual calculations and can guide timely referrals for expert care.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic developed AI-ECG tools that can detect heart muscle weakness in women of childbearing age, allowing for earlier identification and management. The tools demonstrated high diagnostic performance, with an area under the curve of .94 for AI-ECG and .98 for AI digital stethoscope.
A recent study published in Diabetes Care found that persistently high blood sugar and insulin resistance significantly increased the risk of worsening functional and structural heart damage during adolescence to young adulthood. The study showed a five-fold increase in prediabetes prevalence among adolescents, with females being dispr...
A new study published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that persistent childhood tobacco smoking significantly increased the risk of premature heart damage by age 24. The study followed 1,931 children from age 10 to 24 and found that active smoking was associated with a 52% increased risk of heart damage.
A new AI program, PanEcho, has been developed to interpret echocardiography videos independently, reducing wait times and improving timely medical care. The program demonstrated accuracy in estimating continuous echocardiographic parameters and quantifying left ventricle dimensions and function.
A University of Dundee study has used machine learning to analyze health records of heart failure patients and identify alternative treatment plans that could improve their welfare. The pilot project aims to tailor treatment for each patient, ensuring they receive optimized care with the potential to improve quality of life.
Researchers developed an AI-powered method to automatically diagnose ASDs in children using color Doppler images from echocardiograms, addressing the limitations of manual diagnosis and image segmentation. The deep learning model accurately identified ASDs with high accuracy, potentially improving treatment outcomes for affected children.
A study of over 4,500 healthy adults aged 60 and older found that nearly 28% had some form of heart valve disease, with age being the main risk factor. The majority of cases were mild, but the study highlights the need for more research into screening methods to identify and manage the disease in the elderly population.
Researchers compared human hearts with those of great apes, discovering a more compact muscle structure in humans, related to greater cardiac function. This finding supports the hypothesis that human heart evolved to meet higher demands of human physiology, such as larger brain size and physical activity.
The study found normal values of 3D-RV volume and function in a large Chinese population, with significant sex differences and variations between vendors. Men had larger RV volumes than women, and the elderly had smaller RV volumes.
A new AI-based video biomarker is associated with aortic stenosis development and progression, allowing for opportunistic risk stratification across various imaging modalities. The study's findings suggest potential applications on handheld devices for early detection and intervention.
Researchers developed a calculation to identify moderate aortic stenosis patients at higher risk of mortality. The study found that low mean arterial pressure is associated with higher mortality in all patient subgroups.
A large Kaiser Permanente study found that moderate aortic stenosis patients have similar outcomes to those with mild stenosis. Fine-tuning physician assessment could help identify patients who may benefit from surgery, improving treatment strategies.
Using MRI instead of CT with CTA alone in patients presenting to the ED with dizziness was associated with greater critical neuroimaging results and more frequent echocardiography. Patients with dizziness undergoing MRI showed a lower frequency of 90-day ED readmissions compared to those discharged after CT with CTA alone.
A groundbreaking study has shown that a devastating heart condition can spontaneously reverse in three men, who are now free of symptoms. The condition, transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, is progressive and previously considered irreversible.
TVT 2023 will feature 15 Late-Breaking Clinical Science studies highlighting advances in transcatheter aortic valve replacement and mitral, tricuspid, and left atrial appendage occlusion therapies. The meeting aims to guide the selection of patients who will benefit from these procedures and define optimal treatment strategies.
Researchers successfully performed the first in-utero surgery to repair a potentially deadly developmental condition called vein of Galen malformation. The procedure involved treating an aggressive vascular malformation before birth, resulting in improved cardiac output and no signs of negative effects on the brain after birth.
A study analyzing over 12,000 patients found that transesophageal echocardiography-guided transcatheter structural cardiac interventions were associated with a major complication rate of 3.6%. The most frequently reported complication was gastrointestinal bleeding.
New technology measures peak velocity of blood flow in the heart accurately, helping doctors diagnose and monitor patients with heart failure. The 4D heart MRI scan provides precise imaging of the heart valves and flow inside the heart, enabling better treatment planning.
A new ECG-based AI model developed by Tempus and Geisinger can predict patients at increased risk of undiagnosed structural heart disease. The rECHOmmend study found that the model achieved excellent performance, exceeding previous models in predicting any single disease.
A new study published in the European Heart Journal shows that MRI is superior to echocardiography for diagnosing heart failure and predicting patient outcomes. The research found that MRI can accurately measure left ventricular filling pressure, leading to improved diagnosis and reduced need for invasive assessments.
Researchers found no evidence that early selective treatment with ibuprofen reduces death or moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extreme preterm infants. However, treatment reduced the risk of an open patent ductus arteriosus and surgical treatment for a symptomatic PDA.
Left atrium emptying fraction derived from cardiac CTA improves predictive performance of established clinical risk scores. A reduced LAEF independently predicts all-cause mortality within 24 months post-procedure.
A new study published in Hypertension journal found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients with impaired first-phase ejection fraction are nearly five times more likely to die than those with healthier measures. The research suggests that early detection and prevention of chronic heart damage may be key to improving patient outcomes.
A rare case of mediastinal tuberculoma mimicking a malignant cardiac tumor was diagnosed after postoperative pathological examination. Multimodality imaging, including echocardiography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, played a crucial role in distinguishing the benign condition from a malignant tumor.
The special journal issue features Nemours pediatric cardiologists' expertise on echocardiography and other imaging techniques used in children with cardiovascular disease. The articles highlight best practices for screening, diagnosing, and managing congenital heart disease to improve patient outcomes.
The Harmony TPV Pivotal Trial demonstrated favorable outcomes for the use of TPV device in patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation. The trial showed high procedural success, safety, and favorable device performance, with 100% freedom from procedure-related mortality at 30 days.
Researchers propose a novel framework to analyze thousands of complete data sequences from stress echocardiography, revealing early signs of cardiovascular disease. The method uses Multiple Kernel Learning (MKL) to project heterogeneous data into a low-dimensional space, distinguishing between healthy and pathological responses.
Researchers found that echocardiography is valuable for assessing patients with secondary mitral regurgitation and determining their eligibility for TMVR. The study also identified characteristics of the heart that predict response to TMVR, concluding all patients with similar characteristics should be considered for this intervention.
The new document defines the training requirements for performing advanced echocardiographic procedures, outlining knowledge, experience, and skill requirements for Level III competency. It emphasizes the importance of proper training to ensure positive clinical outcomes and patient safety.
A study of 12,615 participants found that good exercise performance was associated with lower risks of cardiovascular death, cancer death, and other causes of death. The findings suggest the importance of fitness for longevity.
Fetal single ventricle defects can be identified with echocardiograms, but irregular filling mechanics may contribute to defects in developing fetal hearts. Researchers are exploring how flow patterns affect outcome and could use fluid dynamics to advance the mechanistic understanding of heart failure in children.
A wireless device called Vivio accurately detected heart dysfunction in childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracycline chemotherapy. The device displayed high sensitivity and a low false-negative rate compared to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.
Researchers found that in fit, young people, increased right ventricular outflow tract pressure during exercise may be a normal physiological response. This finding challenges the assumption of equal systolic pressures in the lung arteries and heart pumping to them.
A study presented at ESC Congress 2016 found that nebivolol treatment prevented anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients. New echocardiographic techniques revealed significant alterations in heart function after chemotherapy, but no changes were noted in the nebivolol-treated group.
KAMC's Hajj Committee plans year-round to ensure preparedness for the massive patient influx during the Hajj. The hospital treats 700-1000 cardiac patients, with most being Hajj visitors, and has increased echocardiography staff from 7 to 13 during peak seasons.
Current practice of testing athletes at rest may miss signs of right ventricular dysfunction that can lead to sudden death. A new study shows that exercise echocardiography can detect changes in the right ventricle's functioning during physical activity, providing a potential diagnostic tool for cardiologists managing athletes.
A study published in Global Heart finds that echocardiography is increasing detection rates of definite and borderline rheumatic heart disease globally. Using echocardiography increases detection rates by many-fold, revealing a higher true global prevalence than current estimates.
A study found that echocardiographic screening in the general public for structural and valvular heart disease was not associated with a reduction in risk of death, myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke. Despite low prevalence of structural heart disease, screening led to unnecessary tests and potential harm.
A study of 535 patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography found that only 31.8% resulted in an active change in care, with most TTEs classified as appropriate yet failing to improve outcomes. The low rate highlights the need for efficient use of healthcare resources while maintaining high-quality care.
Dr. Partho Sengupta presented the first-ever hologram presentation at the ASE's 2013 24th Annual Scientific Sessions, utilizing 3D digital images and expert interview recordings to analyze cardiovascular system structure, function, and flow patterns. This innovative presentation format was made possible through collaborative efforts of...
A new study suggests MDCT is more accurate than echocardiography for measuring annular size in TAVI candidates. This improvement can lead to better procedure success and valve selection, potentially changing the decision for 55% of patients.
Researchers used 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC SPECT/CT to diagnose infectious endocarditis in hard-to-diagnose cases, achieving high sensitivity and specificity. The test detected septic embolism in 41% of patients, aiding physicians in diagnosis and treatment.
A new study suggests adding a modified echo to current screenings to identify student athletes with heart problems that could lead to sudden death. The study found that an abbreviated echo can increase the sensitivity of finding heart defects in competitive athletes.
A study examined the effectiveness of exercise testing in asymptomatic patients after coronary revascularization. Ischemia was detected in 262 patients and death was associated with ischemia, suggesting that risk evaluation could be obtained from a standard exercise test rather than exercise echocardiography.
Studies using echocardiography revealed early signs of myocardial damage and impaired ventricular relaxation in cancer patients treated with trastuzumab. ACE inhibitors and statins were found to deliver cardio protective effects, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) enables accurate infarct size estimation in STEMI patients. A new study demonstrates the use of 3D speckle-tracking to estimate infarct size and necrosis transmurality, providing a more comprehensive assessment of cardiac damage.
Patients treated by physicians who billed for both technical and professional fees were more likely to undergo cardiac stress imaging after coronary revascularization. The incidence of nuclear stress testing was higher among these physicians compared to those who did not bill for the service, with 12.6% vs 5.0%.
Pulse oximetry is a viable screening tool for detecting congenital heart disease in infants, with over 26% of births occurring in facilities without same-day echocardiography. The implementation of pulse oximetry is expanding rapidly, particularly after the US Department of Health and Human Services added it to core screening standards.
A new study published in BMJ Open found no evidence that patients who underwent a heart ultrasound before major surgery had improved survival rates one month or one year after their operation. In fact, some groups of patients may have worse survival rates if they had undergone an echocardiogram.
A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine finds that massage therapy is more effective than usual medical interventions for improving pain and function in patients with chronic low back pain. The researchers also suggest that relaxation massage may have a slight advantage over structural massage due to its wider availability.
A large European study found that better-educated men and women had nearly half the risk of hospital admission for heart failure than the least well educated. The study, led by Dr. Eva Prescott, also found a socioeconomic gradient in echocardiographic indicators of both systolic and diastolic dysfunction.
A study using advanced imaging technologies has shed new light on left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), a cardiomyopathy associated with heart failure, stroke, and arrhythmias. The research reveals that developing cardiac risks appear to progress over time in patients with LVNC.
The European Society of Cardiology recommends echocardiography as the first-line test for patients suspected of cardiovascular disease. Echocardiography provides accurate images of the heart's chambers, valves, and coronary arteries, allowing for diagnosis and prognosis without invasive procedures.
The field of non-invasive cardiac imaging has evolved significantly, with various techniques such as echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance, and computed tomography available. However, clinicians face challenges in choosing the most suitable modality due to a plethora of options.
A population of 4,450 athletes showed no evidence of HCM, with only 12 cardiac abnormalities detected. Routine echocardiography is not necessary in large population screening programs for young athletes with HCM.