Project description:Dynamic imaging of heart valves and specifically prosthetic valves is a central benefit of echocardiography. Most bioprosthetic heart valves degenerate over a given time and hence require repeat valve replacement which carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Reoperation is the standard of care and may still be required after the first successful surgery due to complications disrupting either mechanical or bioprosthetic valves. Such complications can be delayed or even prevented if optimal prosthesis selection is individualized according to patients' medical and postimplantation follow-up. We present the case of an 84-year-old woman where an open-heart valve-in-valve approach, implanting a mechanical valve in a failed bioprosthetic valve, produced a unique image on transthoracic echocardiography which needs to be recognized by imagers for appropriate patient diagnosis and management.
Project description:AimsPTMC produces significant changes in mitral valve morphology as improvement in leaflets mobility. The determinants of such improvement have not been assessed before.Methods and resultsThe study included 291 symptomatic patients with mitral stenosis undergoing PTMC. Post-PTMC subvalvular splitting area was a determinant of post-PTMC excursion in both the anterior (B 0.16, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.30, p < 0.05) and the posterior (B 0.12, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.24, p < 0.05) leaflets. Another determinant was the post-PTMC transmitral pressure gradient for anterior (B -0.02, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.005, p < 0.01) and posterior (B -0.01, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.005, p < 0.05) leaflets excursion. The relationship between post-PTMC MVA and leaflet excursion was non-linear "S curve". There was a steep increase of both anterior (p, 0.02) and posterior (p, 0.03) leaflets excursion with increased MVA till the MVA reached a value of about 1.5 cm2; after which both linear and S curves became nearly parallel.ConclusionThe improvement in leaflets excursion after PTMC is determined by several morphologic and hemodynamic changes produced in the valve. The increase in MVA improves mobility within limit; after which any further increase in MVA is not associated by a significant improvement in mobility in both leaflets.
Project description:We present a case of mitral valve (MV) replacement that resulted in multiple complications, as diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), including left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, aortic dissection and left ventricular rupture. We also describe that identification of bleeding originating from the posterior aspect of the heart by the surgical team should trigger a complete TEE evaluation for adequate diagnosis. An 84-year-old woman underwent a MV replacement. Weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) revealed a late-peaking gradient of 44 mmHg over the left ventricular outflow tract caused by obstruction from a bioprosthetic strut. After proper surgical correction, TEE evaluation showed a type A aortic dissection that was subsequently repaired. After separation from CPB, the surgical team identified a major bleed that originated from the posterior aspect of the heart. Although the initial suspicion was injury to the atrioventricular groove, a complete TEE evaluation confirmed a left ventricular free wall rupture by showing the dissecting jet using colour-flow Doppler. TEE is an essential component in cardiac surgery for assessment of surgical repair and potential complications. Posterior bleeding should trigger a complete TEE examination with assessment of nearby structures to rule out a life-threatening pathology. Left ventricular free wall rupture can be identified using colour-flow Doppler.Multiple complications may occur after MVR.TEE is an essential component in the evaluation of surgical repair and its potential associated complications, including LVOT obstruction, aortic dissection and LV rupture.Posterior bleeding, from the region of AV groove, should trigger a complete TEE examination with assessment of nearby structures such as the atria, coronary sinus and myocardium to rule out a life threatening pathology.The diagnosis of a LV rupture can be confirmed with 2-D imaging and colour-flow Doppler demonstrating a dissecting jet through the myocardium.
Project description:ObjectivesWe present our surgical management of a mechanical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) complication of an anterior mitral valve leaflet (AML) perforation with infective endocarditis.Key stepsManagement consisted of surgical TAVR explantation, transaortic patch plasty of the AML perforation, patch plasty of an aortic laceration by the TAVR valve, and surgical aortic valve replacement.Potential pitfallsIn cases of high operative risk in a technically demanding surgical situation, the surgeon should aim to operate early and avoid extensive surgical trauma and long operation time by addressing the mitral valve through the aorta and choosing repair instead of replacement for AML perforation.Take-home messagesPoor positioning of TAVR valves can result in severe structural and subsequent infectious complications. Early surgical treatment in high-risk older adult patients can be successfully performed, with favorable outcomes. Scrupulous asepsis and prophylactic perioperative antibiotic therapy are the most important prophylactic measures for prosthetic valve endocarditis.
Project description:ObjectivesThe present study aims to assess and describe the intracardiac blood flow dynamic in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), repaired mitral valves (MV) and mitral valve prostheses using vector flow mapping (VFM).MethodsPatients with different MV pathologies and MV disease treatments were analysed. All patients underwent 2D transthoracic echocardiography, and images for flow visualization were acquired in VFM mode in an apical three-chamber view and four-chamber view. Vectors and vortices were qualitatively analyzed.Resultsthirty-two (32) patients underwent 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with VFM analysis. We evaluated intracardiac flow dynamics in 3 healthy subjects, 10 patients with MR (5 degenerative, 5 functional), 4 patients who underwent MV repair, 5 who underwent MV replacement (3 biological, 2 mechanical), 2 surgically implanted transcatheter heart valve (THV), 2 transcatheter edge-to-edge MV repair with MitraClip (TEER), 3 transcatheter MV replacement (TMVR) and 3 transapical off-pump MV repair with NeoChord implantation. Blood flow patterns are significantly altered in patients with MV disease and MV repair compared to control patients. MV repair is superior to replacement in restoring more physiologicalpatterns, while TMVR reproducesan intraventricular flowcloser to normal than surgical MVR and TEER.ConclusionsIntracardiac flow patterns can be clearly defined using VFM. Restoration of a physiological blood flow pattern inside the LV directly depends on the procedure used to address MV disease.
Project description:Because of the growing population of older adult patients, the prevalence of severe mitral annulus calcification ("big MAC") is increasing. The surgical techniques used to treat big MACs are technically demanding; despite the technical aspect, up to one-third of patients are considered too high risk for conventional surgery but are candidates for the coulisse technique, which is a procedure that implants a transcatheter valve into a native mitral annulus. The anterior leaflet is unfolded, thus reducing the risk of obstructing the left ventricular outflow tract and for paravalvular leak and avoiding valve migration. Preoperative planning, based on a computed tomography scan, is mandatory.
Project description:BackgroundThe accurate etiology of mitral valve aneurysm (MVA) formation is not completely understood, and the most effective management approach for this condition remains controversial.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 20 MVA patients who underwent either surgical interventions or conservative follow-ups at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between 2017 and 2021. We examined their clinical, echocardiographic, and surgical records and tracked their long-term outcomes.ResultsOf the 20 patients, 12 were diagnosed with MVA using transthoracic echocardiography, seven required additional transesophageal echocardiography for a more definitive diagnosis, and one child was diagnosed during surgery. In all these patients, the MVAs were detected in the anterior mitral leaflet. We found that 15 patients (75%) were associated with infective endocarditis (IE), whereas the remaining patients were associated with bicuspid aortic valve and moderate aortic regurgitation (AR) and mild aortic stenosis (5%), congenital heart disease (5%), elderly calcified valvular disease (5%), mitral valve prolapse (5%), and unknown reasons (5%). Of the 17 patients who underwent hospital surgical interventions, two died due to severe cardiac events. The remaining 15 patients had successful surgeries and were followed up for an average of 13.0 ± 1.8 months. We observed an improvement in their New York Heart Association functional class and mitral regurgitation and AR degrees (P-value < 0.001). During follow-up, only one infant had an increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular end-systolic diameter, whereas the remaining 14 patients had decreased values (P < 0.001). In addition, none of the three conservatively managed patients experienced disease progression during the 7-24 months of follow-up.ConclusionsWe recommend using echocardiography as a highly sensitive method for MVA diagnosis. Although most cases are associated with IE or AR, certain cases still require further study to determine their causes. A prompt diagnosis of MVA in patients using echocardiography can aid in its timely management.