Hypoplasia of the posterior mitral leaflet: A rare cause of mitral regurgitation in adulthood

Hypoplasia of the posterior mitral valve leaflet (PMVL) is a rare congenital heart disease, usually presenting in infancy and childhood with severe mitral regurgitation, either in isolation or associated with other cardiac lesions. We report a case of a 69‐year‐old woman with recent‐onset exertional dyspnea and severe mitral regurgitation. Two‐ and three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography showed severe hypoplasia of the PMVL, confirmed by surgical inspection.     

Congenital uni‐leaflet mitral valve with severe stenosis: A case report with literature review

Numerical abnormalities of mitral leaflets is a special entity in congenital mitral malformations. Previously reported cases of uni‐leaflet mitral valve were primarily related to absence or dysplasia of certain leaflets. We present a case here with mitral leaflets that were not divided into anterior and posterior as usual, but developed as an integral structure instead, which is different from previously documented cases of uni‐leaflet mitral valves. Real time three‐dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) provides a visual presentation of the abnormal mitral structure which was confirmed by surgical operation. To the best of our knowledge, this unusual form of uni‐leaflet mitral valve has not been reported yet.     

A case of severe mitral regurgitation due to an unusually long aberrant chorda tendinea straddling the anterior mitral leaflet

We present a case of a 27-year-old female with severe mitral regurgitation caused by a single long aberrant chorda tendinea. This chorda extended from the base of the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve, through the A2 scallop of the mitral valve, and attached to the dome of the left atrium. Initial transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) demonstrated a mildly redundant anterior mitral leaflet with thickened leaflet tip and moderate eccentric, posteriorly directed mitral regurgitation. Repeat TTE revealed a chord-like structure attached to the midportion of the anterior mitral leaflet and extending to the left ventricular outflow tract. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) suggested two aberrant chordae tendineae tethering the A2 scallop on both the left atrial and left ventricular side. Patient underwent surgical resection of the aberrant chorda. During the excision of the chorda the structural integrity of the A2 scallop was compromised, necessitating mitral valve repair with excellent results.     

Unexpected mechanism of mitral regurgitation in a patient post ALCAPA repair: Added value of three-dimensional echocardiography

Accurate assessment of etiology of mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the key steps in the decision-making process and further clinical management of patients with severe MR. Our clinical case illustrates the added value of three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) in assessment of mitral valve morphology and identification of an unexpected mechanism of MR which was not previously diagnosed using conventional echocardiography. 3DE helped to choose appropriate management strategy in this patient.     

Pathology of mitral valve stenosis and pure mitral regurgitation—Part I

This two-part article examines the histologic and morphologic basis for stenotic and purely regurgitant mitral valves. In Part I, conditions producing mitral valve stenosis are reviewed. In over 99% of stenotic mitral valves, the etiology is rheumatic disease. Other rare causes of mitral stenosis include congenitally malformed valves, active infective endocarditis, massive annular calcium, and metabolic or enzymatic abnormalities. In Part II, conditions producing pure mitral regurgitation will be discussed. In contrast to the few causes of mitral stenosis, the causes of pure (no element of stenosis) mitral regurgitation are multiple. Some of the conditions producing pure regurgitation include floppy mitral valves, infective endocarditis, papillary muscle dysfunction, rheumatic disease, and ruptured chordae tendineae.     

Pathology of mitral valve stenosis and pure mitral regurgitation—Part II

This two-part article examines the histologic and morphologic basis for stenotic and purely regurgitant mitral valves. in Part I, conditions producing mitral valve stenosis were reviewed. in over 99% of stenotic mitral valves, the etiology is rheumatic disease. Other rare causes of mitral stenosis include congenitally malformed valves, active infective endocarditis, massive annular calcium, and metabolic or enzymatic abnormalities. in Part II, conditions producing pure mitral regurgitation are discussed. in contrast to the few causes of mitral stenosis, the causes of pure (no element of stenosis) mitral regurgitation are multiple. Some of the conditions producing pure regurgitation include floppy mitral valves, infective endocarditis, papillary muscle dysfunction, rheumatic disease, and ruptured chordae tendineae.     

Prolapsing mitral valve leaflet syndrome. A spectrum that includes cleft posterior mitral valve

Two patients with a prolapse and cleft posterior mitral leaflet were studied. The first case had an associated ostium secundum type atrial septal defect. In both cases, the pansystolic regurgitation of contrast material during angiography corresponded to the pansystolic configuration of the murmur. In each instance, the systolic murmurs displayed a late systolic accentuation during the maximal prolapse of the mitral valve. The echocardiographic studies demonstrated only a late systolic prolapse which in both patients corresponded angiocardiographically to the maximum buckling of the pansystolic prolapse. Echocardiographic and angiocardiographic features of cleft posterior mitral valve leaflet are discussed.     

Expanding percutaneous treatment of mitral valve diseases: Transcatheter closure of mitral valve leaflet perforation

Mitral valve perforation is a rare cause of mitral regurgitation. We present a case of a 16-year-old patient with mitral valve regurgitation after redo-cardiac surgery for recurrent subaortic stenosis. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a mitral regurgitation with an eccentric jet causing a significant regurgitation documented by the presence of a convergence flow over the hole. This finding was corroborating by transesophageal echocardiography locating the perforation from the region of A2 scallop. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography confirmed these findings and played a key role guiding the procedure. Typical approach is usually a cardiac surgical procedure based on repair the perforation, but the mitral orifice was successfully closed percutaneously using an Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADO II; Abbott Vascular, IL).     

Isolated cleft of the anterior mitral valve leaflet.

Isolated anterior mitral leaflet cleft (not associated with atrio-ventricular septal defect) is a rare cause of congenital mitral regurgitation, and the treatment consists of direct suturing of the cleft. We present a clinical case with this entity.     

Live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of isolated cleft mitral valve

We report the usefulness of live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the comprehensive assessment of isolated cleft mitral valve in two adult patients studied by us.     

Parachute mitral valve with severe mitral regurgitation in an adult patient

Parachute mitral valve (PMV) is rarely seen in the adult population, in isolation or in association with other congenital heart defects, since most patients may have had milder lesions previously that were asymptomatic early in life, or were not detected due to lack of a comprehensive examination. We report a case of an 18-year-old woman with a history of exertional dyspnea, atypical chest pain, and cough for about 1 year. The echocardiographic examination identified a PMV with severe mitral regurgitation associated with bicuspid aortic valve and coarctation of the aorta. Most patients present with mitral stenosis of varying degree of severity, and rarely present with severe mitral regurgitation as seen in our patient.     

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of a stuck bioprosthetic mitral valve leaflet

Stuck (immobilized) leaflet of a metallic mitral prosthetic valve due to obstruction by mitral subvalvular apparatus is a well recognized complication after placement of prosthetic valves. However, a stuck mitral valve leaflet involving a bioprosthetic valve has not been reported so far most likely because of increased pliability of tissue leaflets. We describe the first case of a stuck bioprosthetic mitral valve leaflet in which intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was useful to make a definitive diagnosis and helped to resolve the problem immediately.     

Pitfalls of mitral regurgitation assessment in the presence of mitral valve prolapse

Adequate grading of mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in the presence of mid-late systolic jets can represent a major challenge. In this entity, jets are commonly overestimated by echocardiography. Correct quantification is crucial and highly relevant for the further management and prognosis of these oftentimes young patients. This case points out potential pitfalls and underlines the importance to systematically include qualitative, quantitative, and semi-quantitative parameters into the echocardiographic assessment.     

Three-dimensional echocardiography using a muliplane transesophageal probe: the clinical applications

The use of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography has provided three-dimensional image sets of the heart from multiple two-dimensional images with high-image quality through rotation of the transducer without changing its position (rotational scanning). We discuss the methods, clinical applications, and current limitations of this three-dimensional technique.     

The spectrum of mitral regurgitation in idiopathic mitral valve prolapse: a Color Doppler study

To characterize the spectrum of mitral regurgitation in mitral valve prolapse, one hundred patients were studied by color Doppler flow mapping. The findings were correlated with the clinical presentation and with the possible complications. Mitral regurgitation was absent in 46 patients, mild in 26 patients, moderate in 18 patients and severe in 10 patients. The jet orientation was central in 15 patients, antero-medial in 13 patients and postero-lateral in 26 patients. The regurgitation was early systolic in 7 patients, late systolic in 20 patients and holosystolic in 27 patients. A good agreement was observed between the color flow patterns and the presence, timing and radiation of a murmur. Systolic clicks were not predictors of the presence or the severity of regurgitation. The grade of mitral regurgitation was positively correlated with age, left heart enlargement and valvular redundancy. No sex difference was observed. The prevalence of serious arrhythmias or cerebral ischemic events was not significantly increased when a regurgitation was present.     

Ruptured mitral valve aneurysm: A devastating complication of aortic valve endocarditis

Mitral valve aneurysm is a rare clinical entity that is mostly resulted from infective endocarditis, in particular, aortic valve endocarditis. Once mitral valve aneurysm ruptures and severe mitral regurgitation and hemodynamic instability develop, prompt surgery should be considered. Here we report a patient with ruptured mitral valve aneurysm associated with native aortic valve endocarditis that was improved after a successful mitral and aortic valve replacement surgery associated with antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks.