组织谐波成像与基波成像对冠心病人室壁节段运动的对比观察

本文对临床已确诊有冠心病的患者随机抽样50例(男38例,女12例,平均年龄49.6岁±16.8岁)950个室壁运动节段进行组织谐波显像(THI)检查并与B型超声检查结果对比。根据美国超声心动图学会推荐的左室16节段划分法,加右室侧壁的基底部、中部和心尖部,共19段。图像质量评分:0分:不论在动态或静态都不能勾画出心内膜边界;1分:在动态中能显示心内膜,冻结状态下心内膜与心腔分界不清;2分:冻结状态下心内膜与心腔分界清晰,能准确勾画出心内膜边界。采用HDI3000型全数字化彩色多普勒超声诊断仪,探头选择超宽频探头P3-2,基波频率2.7MHz,谐波频率1.67…     

自然组织谐波成像对冠心病室壁运动的评价

目的：评价自然组织谐波成像（NTHI）技术在对冠心左内膜的识别和左室壁运动评价方面的应用价值。方法：对33例冠心病患者行常规和NTHI二维超声检查。采用胸骨旁左室长轴、心尖四腔、二腔切面、心内膜识别分4级,壁运动分析采用16节段法。结果：NTHI改善了57．2％（302／528）节段的心内膜识别,改变了12．7％（67／528）节段的室壁运动级别。结论：应用自然组织谐波技术可改善冠心病病人心内膜的超声识别,进而增加对冠心病病人室壁运动分析的准确性。     

左室声学造影有效性和安全性研究

目的应用国产声学造影剂全氟丙烷人血白蛋白微球注射液,经静脉注射后观察左室内膜边界识别效果,并对其安全性进行评价。方法对81例至少有一个以上节段内膜边界显示不清的患者,经静脉注射造影剂0.01mgkg,观察心内膜节段显像、室壁运动及左室充盈状态。观察造影前后患者生命体征、心电图,血、尿常规,肝肾功能。采用改良Simpson法分别测量造影前后射血分数。结果造影前左心室内膜显影评分为5.27±1.74,造影后为11.44±0.88。应用造影剂可更准确测量射血分数,清晰显示96%的心内膜节段的室壁运动,并使81例患者左心室均可完全显影达3级。造影后患者的生命体征、心电图及肝肾功能未见明显异常。结论国产声学造影剂可明显改善左室内膜边界的识别,且安全性和患者的耐受性较好。     

组织谐波显像和CK技术结合在冠心病应用的研究

目的　彩色室壁运动技术（Ｃｏｌｏｒ Ｋｉｎｅｓｉｓ ＣＫ） 的应用受二维图像质量影响。组织谐波显像（ｔｉｓｓｕｅ ｈａｒｍｏｎｉｃｉｍａｇｅ ＴＨＩ）能改善声窗不佳者二维图像质量。本文拟观察ＴＨＩ对ＣＫ 评价室壁运动的影响。方法　非选择性冠心病患者２１ 名,分别在基波（ＦＩ） 和谐波（ＨＩ）下采集二维和收缩末ＣＫ 图像,比较两种显像方式下心内膜显示、二维和ＣＫ 图像质量以及ＣＫ 评价室壁运动的准确性。结果　ＨＩ下心内膜显示改善,二维和ＣＫ 图像质量提高,ＣＫ图像采集成功率由ＦＩ的８４－８ ％ 增加到９５－８ ％ ,评价室壁运动的准确性由６８－４ ％ 增加到８８－７％ 。结论　ＴＨＩ和ＣＫ技术的结合提高了ＣＫ 技术的临床适用性。     

经静脉实时心肌造影超声心动图评估心肌梗死后存活心肌

目的探讨经静脉实时心肌造影超声心动图（RT-MCE）评估心肌梗死后存活心肌。方法18例准备进行血运重建术心肌梗死患者,于术前1-5天行RT-MCE检查,并于术后3个月再次行常规超声心动图检查,室壁运动分析采用18节段分析法,分为运动正常、运动减弱、无运动和反常运动。心肌存活定义为术后超声检查室壁运动明显改善。将造影结果分为3种情况：充盈缺损,造影剂充盈延迟、回声稀疏不均匀或心内膜下充盈缺损,回声均匀性增强。其中后两种情况定义为存活心肌。结果在18例心肌梗死患者中共检出109个室壁运动异常节段,运动减弱为47个,无运动为56个,反常运动为6个。注射造影剂后回声均匀性增强的心肌节段中有2个节段术前室壁运动减弱,术后运动均改善;回声不均匀或心内膜下充盈缺损的心肌节段中术前室壁运动减弱有24个节段,术后运动改善14个,术前室壁无运动有24个节段,术后运动改善20个;充盈缺损的心肌节段中术前室壁运动减弱有21个节段,术后运动均未改善,术前室壁无运动32个,术后运动改善2个。RT-MCE检出存活心肌的敏感性、特异性分别为94.7%、78.9%。结论RT-MCE能比较准确的判断心肌梗死后心肌的存活性。     

超声心动图在激光心肌打孔血运重建术中的作用

对８例有陈旧性心梗（ＯＭＩ）并不稳定心绞痛的患者进行激光打孔血运重建术（ＴＭＬＲ）术前、术中及术后的超声心动图评估。术前ＴＴＥ发现８例患者均有与ＯＭＩ报道部位一致的节段室壁运动异常。５例术前行多巴酚丁胺负荷超声（ＤＳＥ）检查，２例小剂量负荷时有室壁运动改善，３例在大剂量时，发现新的节段室壁运动异常或原有室壁运动异常加重。术中ＴＥＥ检查５例，监测打孔成功率７５％。术后随访，虽然所有存活患者临床症状明显改善，但复查超声静息状态下未发现ＬＶＥＦ及室壁运动指数的明显改善，这可能与ＴＭＬＲ治疗后仅导致心内膜下亚区域心肌灌注改善有关。     

静息状态超声心动图估测心肌存活性

目的　探讨静息状态超声对心肌存活性估测价值。方法　４９例冠心病患者ＣＡＢＧ前后行静息状态超声心动图检查。根据室壁厚度和心肌行组织回声情况将运动异常节段（ＲＷＭＡ）分为两种类型。类型Ⅰ的超声特征为室壁舒张末期厚度及回声与周围组织相比无明显差别, 该类型虽有ＲＷＭＡ, 但局部心肌以存活心肌为主。类型Ⅱ的超声特征为： 舒张末期室壁厚度与周围组织相比明显变薄, 失去正常心肌的颗粒状细回声, 心肌组织回声明显增强呈线状或条状索状, 无法区分心内膜、肌层和心外膜, 正常心肌的三层结构消失, 该类型的心肌主要为瘢痕组织, 失去了心肌存活性。所有患者术后７天至２３月复查静息状态超声心动图, 以术后室壁运动计分较术前改善１分以上为心肌具有存活性, 反向运动、室壁瘤节段变为运动消失和（或）反向运动不认为有存活。结果　２３３个ＲＷＭＡ中表现为类型Ⅰ的１３８段, 其中运动减低６１段, 运动消失７７段。术后运动减低有４８段、运动消失３９段室壁运动改善。表现为类型Ⅱ有的９５段, 其中运动减低２１段, 运动消失３９段, 反向运动１６段, 室壁瘤１９段。术后室壁运动无改善的运动减低、消失、反向运动和室壁瘤分别为１７、３６、１６和１９段。类型Ⅱ中有７个节段术     

多巴酚丁胺负荷多普勒组织超声心动图预测PTCA术后冬眠心肌功能改善的价值

目的：探讨PWDTI结合LDDSK预测PTCA术后冬眠心肌功能改善的价值。方法：采用PWDTI结合LDDSK测量36例陈旧性心梗患者(静息下观察82个室壁运动异常节段)PTCA术前1天静息下和负荷下室壁运动异常节段峰值收缩速度Vs，并计算负荷下S％增长。PTCA术后4～6周随访分析。结果：PTCA术后，46节段室壁运动改善，36节段室壁运动未改善。以S％＞35％为裁断值，PWDTI结合LDDSK预测PTCA术后室壁功能改善的敏感性86．9％、特异性86．1％、准确性86．6％、阳性预测值88．9％、阴性预测值83．8％。结论：脉冲多普勒组织成像结合多巴酚丁胺负荷超声心动图可识别冬眠心肌并准确地预测PTCA术后局部左室功能改善。     

多巴酚丁胺负荷心肌声学造影的临床研究

目的 探讨多巴酚丁胺负荷心肌声学造影的临床应用价值。方法 10例正常人、1例冠脉旁路移植术和10例陈旧性心肌梗死患者共21例受试者分别于多巴酚丁胺负荷试验（DST）前后行经静脉心肌灌注显像（MCE）检查。采用能量谐波方法显像,16节段半定量记分法目测评分。梗死室壁色泽得分＝梗死室壁各节段得分总和／总节段数。多巴酚丁胺负荷心肌声学造影后梗死节段显像较前增加1分以上为心肌具有存活性。结果 10例正常人和1例冠脉旁路移植术患者大剂量多巴酚丁胺负荷心肌声学造影前后室壁节段显像记分间差异均无显著性意义。10例陈旧性心肌梗死患者进行了小剂量多巴酚丁胺负荷心肌声学造影估测心肌存活的研究,60个室壁节段,23个异常节段（不显像11节段;稀疏显像12节段）,负荷后12节段（不显像4节段,稀疏显像8节段）得到1分以上的改善,显色缺损较不显色节段可能具有更多的存活心肌（P＜0．05）。结论 多巴酚丁胺负荷心肌声学造影增加冠脉心肌血流量,使能量谐波状态下的心肌声学造影图像质量更好,可评估冠脉储备能力和估测梗死区的存活心肌。     

彩色室壁运动技术评价冠心病节段性室壁运动的临床研究

目的：探讨彩色室壁运动技术（ＣＫ）在定量评价室壁节段性运动异常（ＲＷＭＡ）方面的应用价值。方法：分别以常规二维超声（２ＤＥ）及Ｃ技术对７例冠心病患者及３０例正常人乳头肌水平左室短轴切面室壁节段性运动进行评价。结果：正常组未发现节段性室壁运动异常,收缩期心内膜位移连续均匀,正常节段位移时间范围为２８０～３６０ｍｓ。平均值３２０ｍｓ,位移幅度范围为７～１２ｍｍ,平均值９．５ｍｍ,缺血组织２４例患者出现     

自然组织谐波成像临床应用的研究

目的：研究自然组织谐波对心内膜显示能力和心内结构清晰度的影响。方法： 采用自然组织谐波成像对６７ 例不同患者经胸二维成像进行对比分析。结果：成像理想的２０ 例患者在自然组织谐波和基波成像条件下其心内膜清晰度和心脏结构显示能力无明显差别。４７例成像困难的患者,自然组织谐波成像能明显提高心内膜显示能力,改善心脏结构清晰度,以心尖切面左室外侧壁和前壁心内膜显示能力提高较明显,尤其心尖四腔心切面图像质量改善最佳。结论： 自然组织谐波成像可提高心内膜显示能力和心脏组织结构清晰度, 但并非适用于任何人。     

Qualitative and quantitative effects of harmonic echocardiographic imaging on endocardial edge definition and side-lobe artifacts.

Harmonic imaging is a new ultrasonographic technique that is designed to improve image quality by exploiting the spontaneous generation of higher frequencies as ultrasound propagates through tissue. We studied 51 difficult-to-image patients with blinded side-by-side cineloop evaluation of endocardial border definition by harmonic versus fundamental imaging. In addition, quantitative intensities from cavity versus wall were compared for harmonic versus fundamental imaging. Harmonic imaging improved left ventricular endocardial border delineation over fundamental imaging (superior: harmonic = 71.1%, fundamental = 18.7%; similar: 10.2%; P <.001). Quantitative analysis of 100 wall/cavity combinations demonstrated brighter wall segments and more strikingly darker cavities during harmonic imaging (cavity intensity on a 0 to 255 scale: fundamental = 15.6 +/- 8.6; harmonic = 6.0 +/- 5.3; P <.0001), which led to enhanced contrast between the wall and cavity (1.89 versus 1.19, P <.0001). Harmonic imaging reduces side-lobe artifacts, resulting in a darker cavity and brighter walls, thereby improving image contrast and endocardial delineation.     

Is the Technically Limited Echocardiographic Study an Endangered Species? Endocardial Border Definition with Native Tissue Harmonic Imaging and Optison Contrast: A Review of 200 Cases

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine whether contrast adds diagnostic value to both fundamental and native tissue harmonic imaging (NTHI) for endocardial border definition. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive patients who underwent stress echocardiography imaging were studied in either fundamental (n = 52) or NTHI mode (n = 148) with an Acuson Sequoia echocardiographic system. Contrast agent (Optison) was administered (0.5 to 1 mL) for enhancement of endocardial borders. Two- and 4-chamber views were analyzed before and after administration of contrast at peak stress for grading of 5 endocardial border segments. Scores from 0 to 5 were assigned to each study for all the images both before and after contrast (0 = 0 segments completely visualized; 5 = 5 segments completely visualized). RESULTS: The use of Optison contrast significantly enhanced border definition when imaging was performed in either fundamental or NTHI mode. Addition of contrast resulted in better endocardial border definition in fundamental mode (4.1 + or - 1.0 versus 2.3 + or - 1.3, P <.001). However, in NTHI mode, the presence of contrast resulted in enhanced definition of endocardial border compared with its absence (4.8 + or - 0.5 versus 3.3 + or - 1.1, P <.001). The combination of NTHI and contrast resulted in more visualization of endocardium when compared with the combination of fundamental imaging and contrast (4.8 + or - 0.5 versus 4.1 + or - 1.0, P <.001). In addition, interobserver agreement for border detection increased from 83% in fundamental mode without contrast to 95% with the use of NTHI with Optison (P <.001). CONCLUSION: As defined in 200 cases, the combination of NTHI with Optison contrast results in nearly complete and consistent endocardial border definition.     

Improved 3-D-echocardiographic endocardial border delineation using the contrast agent FS069 (Optison) transesophageal studies in a porcine model

3-D echocardiography has the potential for quantitative assessment of regional wall motion. However, the 3-D procedures used to date do not provide the same spatial and temporal resolution as 2-D echocardiography, which results in problems with border delineation of the endocardium. There are, as yet, few studies testing if the use of contrast agent can improve endocardial definition in the 3-D data set. FS069 (Optison) was used for the first time for this purpose in the present study. A total of 12 mechanically-ventilated pigs were examined by transesophageal 3-D echocardiography, 1. using fundamental imaging and 2. following left-atrial injection of FS069 (Optison). The left ventricle was analyzed using an 18-segment model. Score with the value 0 (not visible), 1 (moderately visible) and 2 (well defined) were used to rate endocardial definition. All segments were assessed both end-diastolic and end-systolic. Various LV regions were examined by grouping segments (anterior/lateral/inferior and basal/mid-ventricular/apical). Using the contrast agent, the proportion of nonvisible segments fell diastolic from 40 (18.5%) to 15 (6.9%), and systolic from 26 (12.0%) to 11 (5.1%). The proportion of well defined segments increased diastolic from 62 (28.7%) to 108 (50%) and systolic from 73 (33.8%) to 123 (56.9%). The mean visibility score increased diastolic from 1.10 +/- 0.68 to 1.43 +/- 0.62 (p < 0.001), systolic from 1.22 +/- 0.64 to 1.52 +/- 0.59 (p < 0.001). The benefit was greatest in regions where the visibility score was lowest without contrast: in the area of the lateral wall and systolic near the apex. In conclusion, the use of FS069 (Optison) results in significantly better endocardial delineation in the 3-D data set. This could be important in future for the 3-D echocardiographic assessment of regional wall motion.     

Dobutamine stress echocardiography: improved endocardial border definition and wall motion analysis with tissue harmonic imaging.

BACKGROUND: We performed a study to determine whether tissue harmonic imaging (THI) facilitates wall motion analysis at rest and whether these benefits extend through the stages of a dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) study. We also assessed the impact of THI on the feasibility of DSE in technically difficult patients. Finally we tested the hypothesis that THI by improving endocardial border definition (EBD) could enhance the interobserver agreement between trainees and experienced operators for interpreting DSE studies. METHODS: Twenty unselected patients underwent DSE by standard protocol. Parasternal and apical views were obtained with the use of fundamental mode (FND) and THI at baseline, low dose, and peak stress. Segmental EBD was characterized as 1 to 4 (1 = excellent) and segmental wall motion was characterized as 1 to 4/x (1 = normal, x = unable to interpret) by a consensus of 2 experienced observers. A trainee in stress echocardiography independently scored all segments, and these results were compared with the consensus of the experienced readers. RESULTS: EBD improved with THI in 26 +/- 6.7 of 48 segments per patient (54%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40 to 0.68) and deteriorated with THI in only 2 +/- 2.7 (4%, 95% CI 0 to 0.09). Of the total of 48 segments per patient, a mean of 10 +/- 5.7 (21%, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.31) were of inadequate quality to be interpreted for wall motion on FND, and this changed to 4 +/- 3.4 (6%, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.12) on THI (P <.001). EBD improved in a similar degree in all DSE stages 53%, 54%, and 53% for rest, low dose, and peak stress, respectively. Six of the 20 study patients were deemed unsuitable for DSE on FND, and all were changed to suitable subjects on THI. Of the 205 segments deemed unsuitable for interpretation on FND, 140 (68%) were of the anterior and lateral walls of the LV. Improvement with THI was also more prominent on these walls. The mean coefficient of agreement (kappa) for wall motion analysis was 0.82 +/- 0.14 on FND and improved to 0. 92 +/- 0.09 on THI (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: THI dramatically improves EBD and the ability to confidently score segmental wall motion. Interobserver agreement is also significantly enhanced. These benefits extend to the peak stage of a DSE study. Routine use of THI may enhance the diagnostic accuracy of DSE and extend its application to technically difficult patients previously deemed unsuitable.     

Is there a role for intravenous transpulmonary contrast imaging in pediatric stress echocardiography?

OBJECTIVE: Intravenous transpulmonary contrast echocardiography plays a significant role in the enhancement of endocardial border delineation during stress echocardiography in the adult population. The current study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of intravenous transpulmonary contrast in pediatric patients and to compare the quality of endocardial visualization by harmonic 2-dimensional (2D) imaging alone with harmonic 2D echocardiography with contrast imaging. METHODS: Twenty-two children, age 9.3 +/- 3.9 underwent dobutamine (19 patients) or exercise (3 patients) stress echocardiography. None had intracardiac shunting. Each patient underwent both harmonic 2D imaging alone and harmonic 2D imaging with contrast administration at peak stress. Oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure were monitored. Endocardial delineation was evaluated by qualitative grading of 22 endomyocardial regional segments in each patient. Contrast images were graded by an echocardiographer who was blinded to the scores previously assigned to harmonic 2D echocardiography images. RESULTS: There were no changes in saturation, heart rate, or blood pressure during or after contrast administration. Use of contrast significantly improved endocardial visualization in 11 of 22 segments (P <.05), particularly lateral, apical, and anterior left ventricular wall segments. CONCLUSION: Intravenous intrapulmonary administration is feasible and has no obvious adverse effects in a small pediatric patient group. Contrast echocardiography improves endocardial border delineation over harmonic imaging in pediatric stress echocardiography.     

Echocardiography of idiopathic cardiomyopathies

Echocardiography is useful to demonstrate cardiac abnormalities seen in idiopathic cardiomyopathies. Dilated cardiomyopathy is characterized by dilated cardiac chambers and diffusely hypokinetic wall motion. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy with no known cause. Restrictive cardiomyopathy has diastolic failure with preserved systolic function. Echocardiography demonstrates the normal sized ventricles and the dilated atria. Recent advances in echocardiography include second harmonic imaging and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Second harmonic imaging can produce good quality images with high S/N ratio and is useful to delineate the endocardial border clearly and to show smoke-like echo in cardiac chambers. Tissue Doppler echocardiography can measure wall motion velocity. One of the potential application of this method would be to differentiate constrictive pericarditis from restrictive cardiomyopathy.     

Does second harmonic imaging improve left ventricular endocardial border identification at higher heart rates during dobutamine stress echocardiography?

BACKGROUND: The increased heart rate during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) may impair endocardial border visualization. Second harmonic imaging (SHI) enhances left ventricular (LV) border visualization compared with conventional fundamental imaging (FI) at rest. However, its role during DSE is not well established yet. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to compare the additional value of SHI to FI for the LV endocardial border visualization during various stages of DSE. METHODS: Eighty patients underwent DSE. Imaging was performed with both FI and SHI at rest and at low-and peak-dose dobutamine infusion. Endocardial border visualization was assessed by using a 16-segment/3-point score (0 = well visualized; 1 = poorly visualized; 2 = not visualized). RESULTS: Heart rate increased from rest (70 +/- 13 bpm) to low-dose dobutamine (77 +/- 17, P <.01) and showed further increase at peak dose (129 +/- 16, P <.001 versus low dose). There was a higher prevalence of segments with an invisible LV endocardial border with FI compared with SHI at rest (9.4% versus 6.2%, P <.0001), at low dose (10.8% versus 6.3%, P <.0001), and at peak dose (15.0% versus 8.2%, P <.0001). There was an increase in the number of segments with an invisible border from rest to peak stress by FI (P =.0001), whereas the difference was less significant for SHI (P =.07). CONCLUSION: Second harmonic imaging improves visualization of the LV endocardial border compared with FI during DSE. The advantage of SHI over FI is more marked at higher heart rates than at rest.     

The role of echocardiographic harmonic imaging and contrast enhancement for improvement of endocardial border delineation.

Despite advances in imaging technology, many myocardial segments remain poorly visualized with echocardiography; however, both contrast enhancement and harmonic imaging have shown promise for improving endocardial definition. Fifty subjects with technically limited echocardiograms were studied with fundamental and harmonic imaging as well as during echocardiographic contrast injection. Overall endocardial visualization scores improved with both techniques compared with fundamental imaging. Harmonic imaging improved endocardial visualization in 43% of all segments and in 57% of segments nonvisualized with fundamental imaging. The benefit of harmonic imaging was seen in all segments. Contrast echocardiography had similar overall improvements in visualization (42% of all segments, 67% of segments nonvisualized with fundamental imaging) but was not helpful in all regions. Harmonic imaging outperformed contrast in 9 of 22 segments, whereas contrast was superior in 4 of 22. In a subgroup of patients with very poor images, contrast enhancement was superior, with a greater increase in overall score and a higher salvage rate than harmonic (68% vs 40%).