Abstract
We report a case of left ventricular aneurysm evaluated using the velocity vector imaging (VVI) technique, an angle-independent method used to calculate the tissue velocity strain and strain rate on routine gray scale two-dimensional images and display the velocities of endocardial points as vectors overlaid on B-mode images. It uses a combination of speckle tracking and complex geometric analysis, allowing tracing of myocardial activity throughout the cardiac cycle. In this case, evaluation of the myocardial dynamics in the fetus by VVI was started at 27 weeks of gestation, and both the systolic and diastolic velocities and the ejection fraction in the aneurysmal segment were less than in the other segments. VVI imaging at 35 weeks of gestation showed this difference even more clearly. Postnatal VVI examination showed no significant difference between results for the systolic and diastolic velocities or ejection fraction and those obtained at the prenatal VVI examination. VVI seemed to be as useful at this time, especially for assessing ventricular systolic function, as it was for postnatal examination.
References
Ohlow MA, Secknus MA, Geller JC, et al. Congenital left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula. Pathophysiology, clinical relevance, and treatment. Med Klin (German). 2007;102:358–65.
Papagiannis J, Van PR, Schwint O, et al. Congenital left ventricular aneurysm: clinical, imaging pathologic, and surgical findings in seven new cases. Am Heart J. 2001;141:491–9.
Baysan O, Uzun M, Yokuşoğlu M, et al. Incidentically diagnosed left ventricular aneurysm: report of two cases. Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2008;8:223–32.
Koshiishi T, Osada H, Hara A, et al. Prenatal rupture of right ventricular diverticulum: a case report and review of the literature. Prenat Diagn. 2007;27:1154–7.
Forbess JM, Cook N, Serraf A, et al. An institutional experience with second- and third-stages palliative procedures for hypoplastic left heart syndrome: the impact of the bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1997;29:665–70.
Carles D, Maugey-Leulom B, Habboud H, et al. Early prenatal diagnosis of ventriculum complicated by serous pericardial effusion. Prenat Diagn. 1995;15:778–80.
Cavallé-Garrido T, Cloutier A, Harder J, et al. Evolution of fetal ventricular aneurysms and diverticula of the heart: an echocardiographic study. Am J Perinatol. 1997;14:393–400.
Friedberg MK, Silverman NH, Dubin AM, et al. Right ventricular mechanical dyssynchorony in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2007;20:1073–9.
Younoszai AK, Saudek DE, Emery SP, et al. Evaluation of myocardial mechanics in the fetus by volicity vector imaging. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2008;21:470–4.
Ta-shma A, Perles Z, Bavri S, et al. Analysis of segmental and global function of the fetal heart using novel automatic functional imaging. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2008;21:146–50.
Barker PC, Houle H, Li JS, et al. Global longitudinal cardiac strain and strain rate for assessment of fetal cardiac function: novel experience with velocity vector imaging. Echocardiography. 2009;26:28–36.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Makino, S., Tanaka, T., Makita, M. et al. Evaluation of congenital left ventricular aneurysm in the fetus by velocity vector imaging. J Med Ultrasonics 36, 149–152 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-009-0220-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-009-0220-8