Giant coronary artery aneurysms and coronary artery fistulae are uncommon pathologies. We present the case of an elderly woman who was referred to cardiology for investigation of possible ischaemic heart disease prior...Giant coronary artery aneurysms and coronary artery fistulae are uncommon pathologies. We present the case of an elderly woman who was referred to cardiology for investigation of possible ischaemic heart disease prior to orthopaedic surgery. The patient had developed chest pain in the setting of a septic total knee replacement associated with changes on electrocardiography. Coronary angiography revealed multiple coronary arteriovenous fistulae associated with giant coronary artery aneurysm causing steal syndrome in the setting of haemodynamic stress.展开更多
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established therapy for selected heart failure (HF) patients to improve symptoms, ventricular function, and survival. Although increasingly used, left ventricular (LV) dys...Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established therapy for selected heart failure (HF) patients to improve symptoms, ventricular function, and survival. Although increasingly used, left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony assessment by echocardiography has failed to show enough predictive value to assess patient response to CRT and the current guidelines do not recommend its routine use. Furthermore, a variety of echocardiographic techniques used for the purpose, including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), real time three-dimensional echocardiography, M-mode, and various Doppler parameters, showed limited value and poor agreement between the studies and methods, greatly influenced by interobserver variability. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a more recent approach that uses strain imaging to assess LV dyssynchrony. This article discusses the speckle tracking for LV dyssynchrony and its current clinical applications.展开更多
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFPEF)is common and represents a major challenge in cardiovascular medicine.Most of the current treatment of HFPEF is based on morbidity benefits and symptom reduction.Va...Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFPEF)is common and represents a major challenge in cardiovascular medicine.Most of the current treatment of HFPEF is based on morbidity benefits and symptom reduction.Various pharmacological interventions available for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction have not been supported by clinical studies for HFPEF.Addressing the specific aetiology and aggressive risk factor modification remain the mainstay in the treatment of HFPEF.We present a brief overview of the currently recommended therapeutic options with available evidence.展开更多
Diabetic cardiomyopathy is defined as the presence of myocardial dysfunction in patients with diabetes in the absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, or other known cardiac disease. Diabetes has been shown t...Diabetic cardiomyopathy is defined as the presence of myocardial dysfunction in patients with diabetes in the absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, or other known cardiac disease. Diabetes has been shown to affect the heart through various cellular mechanisms leading to enhanced myocardial fibrosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, systolic and diastolic dysfunction. With increasing incidence of type II diabetes mellitus, it has continuously rising health and financial implications in both developed and developing countries. Hyperglycaemia seems to be the main deriving force, and careful glycaemic control as well as early administration of neurohormonal antagonists currently remains the mainstay of therapy. Many newer treatment targets are currently being explored. Here we present a brief review of its pathophysiology, association with heart failure symptoms, and management strategies.展开更多
文摘Giant coronary artery aneurysms and coronary artery fistulae are uncommon pathologies. We present the case of an elderly woman who was referred to cardiology for investigation of possible ischaemic heart disease prior to orthopaedic surgery. The patient had developed chest pain in the setting of a septic total knee replacement associated with changes on electrocardiography. Coronary angiography revealed multiple coronary arteriovenous fistulae associated with giant coronary artery aneurysm causing steal syndrome in the setting of haemodynamic stress.
文摘Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established therapy for selected heart failure (HF) patients to improve symptoms, ventricular function, and survival. Although increasingly used, left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony assessment by echocardiography has failed to show enough predictive value to assess patient response to CRT and the current guidelines do not recommend its routine use. Furthermore, a variety of echocardiographic techniques used for the purpose, including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), real time three-dimensional echocardiography, M-mode, and various Doppler parameters, showed limited value and poor agreement between the studies and methods, greatly influenced by interobserver variability. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a more recent approach that uses strain imaging to assess LV dyssynchrony. This article discusses the speckle tracking for LV dyssynchrony and its current clinical applications.
文摘Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFPEF)is common and represents a major challenge in cardiovascular medicine.Most of the current treatment of HFPEF is based on morbidity benefits and symptom reduction.Various pharmacological interventions available for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction have not been supported by clinical studies for HFPEF.Addressing the specific aetiology and aggressive risk factor modification remain the mainstay in the treatment of HFPEF.We present a brief overview of the currently recommended therapeutic options with available evidence.
文摘Diabetic cardiomyopathy is defined as the presence of myocardial dysfunction in patients with diabetes in the absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, or other known cardiac disease. Diabetes has been shown to affect the heart through various cellular mechanisms leading to enhanced myocardial fibrosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, systolic and diastolic dysfunction. With increasing incidence of type II diabetes mellitus, it has continuously rising health and financial implications in both developed and developing countries. Hyperglycaemia seems to be the main deriving force, and careful glycaemic control as well as early administration of neurohormonal antagonists currently remains the mainstay of therapy. Many newer treatment targets are currently being explored. Here we present a brief review of its pathophysiology, association with heart failure symptoms, and management strategies.