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Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital anomaly. We presented PLSVC in a patient with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring hemodialysis. The left internal jugular vein was utilized for central venous access due to difficult central vascular access, resulting in a diagnosis of PLSVC draining in the left atrium. This case underscores the importance of awareness of anatomical variations before central catheter placement.

The pulmonary artery-to-left atrium (LA) fistula is one of the rare and unique structural causes of silent cyanosis. This correctable abnormality can be identified by having a high index of clinical suspicion and appropriate investigations using echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography (CT). We report an eight-year-old child who had worsening exertional dyspnea, long-standing central cyanosis, and recurrent infections. A large-sized fistula connecting the right pulmonary artery (RPA) to the LA with all the right- and left-sided pulmonary veins showed normal drainage into the LA, suggesting a type I RPA-to-LA fistula, which was diagnosed on cardiac CT. Percutaneous closure using the occluder device is planned as further management for the patient.

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Transcatheter atrial shunt therapies, designed to dynamically lower left atrial (LA) pressure by shunting blood into the larger reservoir of the right atrium and central veins, have been developed as a novel treatment for heart failure (HF) over the past 10+ years. Several atrial shunt devices and procedures are currently in development with several pivotal randomized clinical trials (RCT) underway; however, only 2 sham-controlled RCT (both with the Atrial Shunt Device [Corvia Medical] in HF with EF ≥ 40%) have been reported thus far; a mechanistic RCT (n = 44) that demonstrated a reduction in exercise LA pressure at 1 month and a pivotal RCT (n = 626) that was neutral with no difference in outcomes or health status between shunt and sham groups. Subsequent analyses of the single completed pivotal RCT found that peak exercise pulmonary vascular resistance <1.74 WU plus the absence of a cardiac rhythm management device identified a responder group that benefited from LA unloading with atrial shunt implantation, a finding that is currently being confirmed in a follow-up RCT. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the field of atrial shunt therapeutics with a description of the following: (1) current HF treatment; (2) rationale and history of atrial shunt development; (3) design of and accumulated evidence for the various atrial shunt devices and procedures under investigation; (4) unanswered questions in the field; and (5) future considerations. Atrial shunts represent a potential innovative therapeutic for HF but the optimal design/approach and phenotype of HF most likely to benefit are yet to be determined.

There has been increasing evidence supporting the importance of left atrial (LA) functional analysis and measurement in various physiologic and pathologic cardiovascular conditions due to its high diagnostic and prognostic values. Assessment of LA strain (LAS) has emerged as an early marker of subclinical LA dysfunction. Using speckle-tracking echocardiography, LAS can be measured in all phases of LA function (reservoir, conduit, and booster pump). In valvular heart disease (VHD), surgical and nonsurgical interventions should be performed before irreversible left ventricular (LV) and/or LA myocardial dysfunction. The current guidelines recommended using LV strain as a parameter for early detection and timely intervention. Currently, many published data have shown the diagnostic and prognostic values of LAS in VHD, which is encouraging to integrate LAS during echo assessment. In this review, we aim to collect the current data about the clinical utility of LAS changes in risk stratification, predicting outcome, and guiding the time of intervention in VHD. The review summarized these data according to the type of valve pathologies.

UNASSIGNED: Three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) is one of the newest development in non-invasive imaging offering simultaneous 3D evaluation of atria and valvular annuli. 3DSTE was used to analyze correlations between left atrial (LA) volume changes and mitral annular (MA) dimensions and functional properties in healthy adult subjects.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 297 healthy subjects were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study, from which insufficient quality of images was responsible for the exclusion of 98 cases (33%). The remaining study population consisted of 199 healthy adults without valvular regurgitation/stenosis in sinus rhythm (mean age: 33.5 ± 12.7 years, 104 males, body mass index: 24.7 ± 1.2 kg/ m 2 , systolic and diastolic blood pressure: 118.2 ± 3.4 mmHg and 78.3 ± 4.5 mmHg, respectively). Two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and 3DSTE were performed in all cases.
UNASSIGNED: Larger LA volumes were associated with more dilated MA dimensions with its reduced function. Elevated LA stroke volumes could be demonstrated only in systole and end-diastole, while increased LA emptying fraction was present only in end-diastole. Reduced MA fractional area change was associated with larger diastolic LA volumes, smaller early diastolic LA stroke volume, in addition all LA emptying fractions were smaller as well. Correlations could be demonstrated between LA and MA parameters.
UNASSIGNED: 3DSTE is suitable not only for chamber quantifications, but also for the assessment of valvular annular dimensions. Strong relationship exists between LA volumes and MA dimensions and functional properties.

Abnormal traffic between the left atrium (LA) and inferior vena cava (IVC) in the database is currently rare. Herein, we present a unique case of abnormal traffic between the LA and the IVC, which was diagnosed using transesophageal echocardiography and confirmed by computed tomography angiography. This case substantiates the superiority of transesophageal echocardiography over transthoracic echocardiography in detecting specific site lesions.

UNASSIGNED: The morphology and function of the left atrium (LA) are intimately tied to left ventricular loading conditions. Data pertaining to the effect of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) on LA function and geometry are scarce. The aim of the study was to quantify associations between TAVR and LA remodelling by pooling available data from published observational studies.
UNASSIGNED: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. Studies reporting serial LA speckle-tracking echocardiographic (STE) data, before and after TAVR, were included. Other outcome data included LA area and indexed volume (LAVi) and standard chamber measurements. Outcomes were stratified by timing of follow-up echocardiography: early (<6 months) or late (≥6 months). Twelve studies were included, comprising 1066 patients. The mean reduction in LAVi was 2.72 mL/m2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-4.06, P < 0.01]. LA reservoir function improved overall by a mean difference (MD) of 3.71% (95% CI 1.82-5.6, P < 0.01), although there was significant heterogeneity within the pooled studies (I 2 = 87.3%). Significant improvement in reservoir strain was seen in both early follow-up (MD 3.1%, P < 0.01) and late follow-up studies (MD 4.48%, P = 0.03), but heterogeneity remained high (I 2 = 65.23 and 94.4%, respectively). Six studies reported a change in LA contractile function, which recovered in the early follow-up studies (MD 2.26, P < 0.01), but not in the late group (MD 1.41, P = 0.05). Pooled improvement in LA booster function was 1.96% (95% CI 1.11-2.8, P < 0.01).
UNASSIGNED: TAVR is associated with significant negative LA remodelling, and an improvement in LA mechanics, quantified by STE. The prognostic implications of these findings require further study.

UNASSIGNED: Heart failure is a common cause of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Left atrial (LA) characteristics are thought to be involved in the development of heart failure. However, LA assessment is complex. Though a variety of parameters have been defined, there is no single parameter that best defines LA function. Pilot data indicate that left atrial volumetric/mechanical coupling index (LACI) may be useful, but data with CKD are lacking.
UNASSIGNED: The objective of this study was to define LACI in a cohort of patients with CKD and to assess its value in evaluating LA function and predicting heart failure.
UNASSIGNED: A cohort of patients with CKD was enrolled at our hospital between 2021 and 2023. Follow-up was performed for heart failure. LACI is a volumetric to mechanical coupling index, calculated as the ratio of the LA volume index to the tissue-Doppler myocardial velocity at atrial contraction. Spearman\'s rank correlation or Pearson\'s correlation was used to calculate the correlation between LACI and echocardiographic/hemodynamic variables. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was utilised to derive the area under the curve (AUC) for LACI, LVGLS, LASr, LASct and LASI for the detection of heart failure. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were employed to compare clinical outcomes based on LACI thresholds. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between risk factors and elevated LACI. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify risk factors for heart failure.
UNASSIGNED: LACI showed a positive correlation with NT-proBNP, CK-MB, LAVI, E/e\' and LASI (r = 0.504, 0.536, 0.856, 0.541 and 0.509, p < 0.001); and a negative correlation with LASr (r = -0.509, p < 0.001). On the ROC analysis for the determination of heart failure, the AUC of LACI was comparable to those of LVGLS (0.588 vs. 509, p = 0.464), LASr (0.588 vs. 0.448, p = 0.132), LASct (0.588 vs. 0.566, p = 0.971) and LASI (0.588 vs. 0.570, p = 0.874). The cardiovascular risk factors increased by LACI were age, BMI, diabetes, triglycerides, LA size, LASr, LASI, E/A, E/e\' and EF (p < 0.05). During a median follow-up of 16 months (range, 6-28 months), the event-free survival curves demonstrated a higher risk of heart failure in the group with LACI > 5.0 (log-rank test: P < 0.001). LACI > 5.0 was an independent predictor of heart failure [OR: 0.121, 95% CI (0.020-0.740), p = 0.022].
UNASSIGNED: LACI may prove to be a valuable tool for assessing LA function in patients with CKD, and could be integrated into the routine assessment of LA for the purpose of prognostic assessment and clinical decision-making in patients with CKD.