Browsing by Author "Pecoraro, Alfonso"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    COVID-19 and cardiovascular imaging : a guide for the practising clinician
    (South African Heart Association, 2020) Meel, Ruchika; Cupido, Blanche; Pecoraro, Alfonso; Doubell, Anton; Lubbe, Wayne; Ntusi, Ntobeko A. B.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, patients with cardiac disease have been the worst affl icted with a high mortality. Cardiac imaging forms an integral part of the armamentarium in the management of these patients. This review focuses on providing a general guide to cardiac imaging in the COVID-19 context for the practising clinician in Africa. These recommendations are likely to be modifi ed as further data emerge on the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the cardiovascular system.
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    Double atrial heart sound in a patient with 2:1 atrioventricular block
    (South African Heart Association, 2017) Pecoraro, Alfonso; Doubell, Anton F.; Herbst, Philip G.
    No abstract available
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    Out of hospital cardiac arrest due to spontaneous left ventricular rupture
    (South African Heart Association, 2017) Snyman, H.; Du Preez, L.; Pecoraro, Alfonso
    No abstract available
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    Post-traumatic, intrapulmonary arteriovenous fistula : diagnosis by trans-oesophageal echocardiography
    (South African Heart Association, 2015) Van der Bijl, Pieter; Herbst, Phillip G.; Doubell, Anton F.; Pecoraro, Alfonso
    Abstract not available
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    A rare cause of aortic regurgitation
    (South African Heart Association, 2017) Kabwe, Lorrita; Pecoraro, Alfonso
    No abstract available
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    Tri-leaflet mitral valves – when lightning strikes thrice
    (South African Heart Association, 2016) Van Rensburg, Annari; Pecoraro, Alfonso; Kyriakakis, Charles; Herbst, Philip; Doubell, Anton
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mitral valves are well known to be bi-leaflet structures with attachments from both leaflets (anterior and posterior) to both papillary muscles (anterolateral and posteromedial). Congenital abnormalities of the mitral valve, although well described, are quite rare. These abnormalities can involve either the leaflet (cleft mitral valve) or the subvalvular apparatus (parachute mitral valve) or even occur as accessory mitral valve tissue (accessory mitral valve leaflet). These can occur in isolation, or in association with other congenital abnormalities. A tri-leaflet mitral valve is a novel echocardiographic finding that has only been described in 6 patients in 4 different case reports.(1-4) We report on 3 patients recently found to have trileaflet mitral valves in the setting of atrioventricular concordance and normal offset of the AV valves at our out-patient clinic.
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    An unusual complication after mitral valve repair
    (South African Heart Association, 2019) Kabwe, Lorrita; Weich, Hellmuth; Pecoraro, Alfonso
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A 22-year-old lady presented to the outpatient department with new onset dyspnoea and effort intolerance. She had a prior history of successful mitral valve repair 5 years previously for symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation, secondary to myxomatous mitral valve prolapse. Clinical examination revealed an undisplaced apex with a parasternal heave (suggestive of right ventricular hypertrophy) and a soft ejection systolic murmur in the pulmonary area. On review of her previous echocardiograms, the pre-surgery apical 4 chamber (Figure 1A) revealed a dilated left ventricle and atrium with normal right heart chambers. Her post-operative echocardiogram (Figure 1B) confirmed successful mitral valve repair with a reduction in left ventricular size and normal right ventricle. A review of her echocardiogram (Figure 1C) at this visit, revealed new right ventricle dilatation with features of diastolic overload. No evidence of tricuspid/pulmonary incompetence was found. Transoesophageal echocardiography (Figure 1D) confirmed a large atrial septal defect (ASD). We concluded that this was an iatrogenic ASD as a complication of mitral valve repair. The ASD was closed percutaneously with an amplatzer device (see online publication for video supplement).
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    When opportunity knocks
    (South African Heart Association, 2016) Van Rensburg, Annari; Kyriakakis, Charles; Pecoraro, Alfonso; Herbst, Philip
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Constrictive pericarditis remains a common medical problem in developing countries where it frequently complicates tuberculous pericarditis. In addition, it is not infrequently seen in the developed world in the context of previous cardiac surgery, chest irradiation and even idiopathic pericarditis.(1) The diagnosis of pericardial constriction is often elusive and delays between the onset of symptoms and final diagnosis is the norm. Given the potential curability of this cause of heart failure and the fact that various features of chronicity in the disease portend a poor prognosis, recognising the disease early is of paramount importance.(1) The haemodynamics of constriction, particularly in more pronounced cases, produces a set of interesting clinical findings that the vigilant physician can elicit. A useful, and often neglected clinical feature, is that of a diastolic precordial or epigastric impulse, the palpable equivalent of an audible diastolic pericardial knock. This short report illustrates this unique clinical finding and explains the haemodynamics responsible for it. We also briefly review other commonly found clinical findings that assist in making the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis.