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Open access

Management of thromboembolism-in-transit with pulmonary embolism

V S Ellensen, S Saeed, T Geisner, and R Haaverstad

We present a rare complication of deep venous thrombosis with pulmonary embolism that threatened the patient with systemic embolization. A 36-year-old female was referred to the hospital after five days of progressive shortness of breath and chest pain. Preceding onset of symptoms, she had undergone surgery leading to reduced physical activity and had just returned from vacation by a long flight. Investigations with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a thromboembolism-in-transit across a patent foramen ovale. Thoracic CT showed submassive bilateral pulmonary embolism. Hemodynamic parameters were stable. The patient was treated surgically with extraction of the thrombus, closure of the foramen ovale and removal of the bilateral pulmonary emboli. She was discharged after an uneventful hospital stay.

Learning points:

  • Thromboembolism-in-transit across a patent foramen ovale usually occurs in the presence of deep venous thrombosis with pulmonary embolism. The abrupt rise in pulmonary arterial pressure may contribute to the migration of the thrombus across the atrial septum to the systemic circulation.

  • If any abnormal structures are seen in the left atrium by TTE in a patient with pulmonary embolism, a TEE should be performed to rule out an embolus entrapped in a patent foramen ovale.

  • When acute pulmonary hypertension cannot be assessed by conventional methods, additional parameters such as shortened right ventricular outflow tract acceleration time and a mid-systolic notching of the pulse wave Doppler profile in the right ventricular outflow tract may be useful.

  • Mortality is highest during the initial 24 h after onset of chest symptoms; thus, optimal treatment must commence urgently.

  • The choice of treatment in each individual patient must be made after a thorough discussion in a multidisciplinary heart team.

Open access

Impact of left ventricular outflow tract flow acceleration on aortic valve area calculation in patients with aortic stenosis

Andaleeb A Ahmed, Robina Matyal, Feroze Mahmood, Ruby Feng, Graham B Berry, Scott Gilleland, and Kamal R Khabbaz

Objective

Due to its circular shape, the area of the proximal left ventricular tract (PLVOT) adjacent to aortic valve can be derived from a single linear diameter. This is also the location of flow acceleration (FA) during systole, and pulse wave Doppler (PWD) sample volume in the PLVOT can lead to overestimation of velocity (V1) and the aortic valve area (AVA). Therefore, it is recommended to derive V1 from a region of laminar flow in the elliptical shaped distal LVOT (away from the annulus). Besides being inconsistent with the assumptions of continuity equation (CE), spatial difference in the location of flow and area measurement can result in inaccurate AVA calculation. We evaluated the impact of FA in the PLVOT on the accuracy of AVA by continuity equation (CE) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods

CE-based AVA calculations were performed in patients with AS once with PWD-derived velocity time integral (VTI) in the distal LVOT (VTILVOT) and then in the PLVOT to obtain a FA velocity profile (FA-VTILVOT) for each patient. A paired sample t-test (P < 0.05) was conducted to compare the impact of FA-VTILVOT and VTILVOT on the calculation of AVA.

Result

There were 46 patients in the study. There was a 30.3% increase in the peak FA-VTILVOT as compared to the peak VTILVOT and AVA obtained by FA-VTILVOT was 29.1% higher than obtained by VTILVOT.

Conclusion

Accuracy of AVA can be significantly impacted by FA in the PLVOT. LVOT area should be measured with 3D imaging in the distal LVOT.

Open access

Echocardiographic assessment of the tricuspid and pulmonary valves: a practical guideline from the British Society of Echocardiography

Abbas Zaidi, David Oxborough, Daniel X Augustine, Radwa Bedair, Allan Harkness, Bushra Rana, Shaun Robinson, and Luigi P Badano

Transthoracic echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality in the assessment of right-sided valve disease. The principle objectives of the echocardiographic study are to determine the aetiology, mechanism and severity of valvular dysfunction, as well as consequences on right heart remodelling and estimations of pulmonary artery pressure. Echocardiographic data must be integrated with symptoms, to inform optimal timing and technique of interventions. The most common tricuspid valve abnormality is regurgitation secondary to annular dilatation in the context of atrial fibrillation or left-sided heart disease. Significant pulmonary valve disease is most commonly seen in congenital heart abnormalities. The aetiology and mechanism of tricuspid and pulmonary valve disease can usually be identified by 2D assessment of leaflet morphology and motion. Colour flow and spectral Doppler are required for assessment of severity, which must integrate data from multiple imaging planes and modalities. Transoesophageal echo is used when transthoracic data is incomplete, although the anterior position of the right heart means that transthoracic imaging is often superior. Three-dimensional echocardiography is a pivotal tool for accurate quantification of right ventricular volumes and regurgitant lesion severity, anatomical characterisation of valve morphology and remodelling pattern, and procedural guidance for catheter-based interventions. Exercise echocardiography may be used to elucidate symptom status and demonstrate functional reserve. Cardiac magnetic resonance and CT should be considered for complimentary data including right ventricular volume quantification, and precise cardiac and extracardiac anatomy. This British Society of Echocardiography guideline aims to give practical advice on the standardised acquisition and interpretation of echocardiographic data relating to the pulmonary and tricuspid valves.

Open access

Idiopathic eosinophilic myocarditis presenting with features of an acute coronary syndrome

Nam Tran, Chun Shing Kwok, Sadie Bennett, Karim Ratib, Grant Heatlie, and Thanh Phan

Summary

A 62-year-old female was admitted with severe left-sided chest pain, nausea and pre-syncope. She had widespread T wave inversion on ECG and elevated troponins and was suspected to have an acute coronary syndrome event. Invasive coronary angiogram revealed normal coronary anatomy with no flow-limiting lesions. Echocardiography and cardiac MRI revealed impaired left ventricular (LV) systolic impairment, a mobile LV apical thrombus and a moderate global pericardial effusion with no significant compromise. Full blood count analysis indicated the patient to have significant eosinophilia, and the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic eosinophilic myocarditis. She was commenced on Prednisolone and Apixaban, and eosinophil levels returned to normal after 10 days of steroids. Over the course of 3 months, the patient had a complete recovery of her LV function and resolution of the LV thrombus. This case highlights a rare, reversible case of idiopathic eosinophilic myocarditis which may present similar to acute coronary syndrome.

Learning points:

  • Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare disease that can exhibit symptoms similar to acute coronary syndrome events.

  • The diagnosis of EM should be considered in patients with chest pain, normal coronary angiogram and pronounced eosinophilia levels.

  • Endomyocardial biopsy is the gold standard diagnostic tool; however, it has a low sensitivity detection rate and its use is not indicated in some patients.

  • Echocardiography is useful in the initial detection of cardiac involvement and complications. However, echocardiography lacks diagnostic specificity for all forms of myocarditis including EM.

  • Cardiac magnetic resonance is a useful method and may add in diagnosing all forms of myocarditis including EM.

  • Patients with EM should be identified promptly and treated with high doses of oral glucocorticoid to reduce the risk of permanent cardiac dysfunction.