Introduction Among the coronary-cavitary fistulas, the most commonly found type corresponds to that involving the right coronary artery and the right cardiac cavities, with corresponding volume overload due to arteriovenous deviation. The clinical manifestations correspond to heart failure, angina with myocardial infarction and arrhythmias. A continuous murmur easily suggests the diagnosis of a congenital defect, which is consolidated by the imaging examinations. Other fistulas should always be suspected in the differential diagnosis, such as the patent ductus arteriosus, aortopulmonary window, […]

Abstract Background Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance remains a major problem for heart transplant (HT) candidate selection. Objective This study sought at assess the effect of pre-HT sildenafil administration in patients with fixed pulmonary hypertension. Methods This retrospective, single-center study included 300 consecutive, HT candidates treated between 2003 and 2013, in which 95 patients had fixed PH, and of these, 30 patients were treated with sildenafil and eventually received a transplant, forming Group A. Group B included 205 patients without PH […]

Background: The practice of screening for complications has provided high survival rates among heart transplantation (HTx) recipients. Objectives: Our aim was to assess whether changes in left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) are associated with cellular rejection. Methods: Patients who underwent HTx in a single center (2015 – 2016; n = 19) were included in this retrospective analysis. A total of 170 biopsies and corresponding echocardiograms were evaluated. Comparisons were made among biopsy/echocardiogram pairs with […]

Abstract Background: Few reports exist on the relationship of the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) with its most important features including enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and with the right ventricular (RV) function. Objective: To determine the correlation between the left atrial size and the RV function and dimensions in patients with and without LVDD and LVH. Methods: Fifty patients were included, 25 (40% men) of them with LVDD, aged 67.1 ± 10.6 years (study […]

Abstract Background: Light-chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is characterized by fibril deposits, which are composed of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains. The right ventricle is mostly involved in AL-CA and impairment of its function is a predictor of worse prognosis. Objectives: To characterize the volumetric and functional properties of the right atrium (RA) in AL-CA by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE). Methods: A total of 16 patients (mean age: 64.5 ± 10.1 years, 11 males) with AL-CA were examined. Their results were […]

Clinical aspects The patient had syncope episodes since the age of 20 years, and heart failure since the age of 30 years, undergoing cardiac transplantation at the age of 36 years. Since symptom onset, heart disease with marked left ventricular dilatation and moderate dysfunction was detected. The exercise test revealed frequent ventricular arrhythmia. His syncope episodes were attributed to malignant ventricular arrhythmias, and a cardioverter defibrillator was implanted. […]