Flow velocity acceleration in the left ventricle: a useful Doppler echocardiographic sign of hemodynamically significant mitral regurgitation

Doppler echocardiography is a sensitive method to detect mitral regurgitation in patients with both native and prosthetic valves. However, estimates of the amount of mitral regurgitation remain semiquantitative, and even severe mitral regurgitation may be underestimated in the presence of markedly eccentric regurgitant jets or acoustic shadowing of the left atrium by mitral or aortic prostheses. This report describes the Doppler findings in 10 patients with severe native valve mitral regurgitation (angiographic grade III or IV) and in 15 patients with severe bioprosthetic mitral regurgitation that required valve replacement. An increase in peak mitral flow velocity above normal values was seen in eight of 10 patients with severe native valve mitral regurgitation (greater than or equal to 130 cm per second) and 11 of 15 patients with severe prosthetic valve mitral regurgitation (greater than or equal to 210 cm per second). One of 10 patients with a native valve and four of 15 patients with a bioprosthetic valve appeared to have only a localized left atrial systolic flow disturbance, incorrectly suggesting that the mitral regurgitation was mild. However, in all patients with severe mitral regurgitation, a low velocity (less than 100 cm per second) flow signal could be recorded in the left ventricle that was directed toward the mitral valve in systole. This flow signal showed a gradual increase in velocity as the sample volume was moved toward the mitral valve, with an abrupt further increase on entry into the left atrium. This signal was continuous with antegrade mitral flow and had the same orientation as mitral regurgitation recorded by continuous wave technique from the apex. A similar flow signal was not recorded in the left ventricle of any individual in a control group of 30 patients who had no mitral regurgitation or who had angiographic grade I or II mitral regurgitation. These findings suggest that acceleration of left ventricle flow toward the mitral valve in systole is only recorded when there is hemodynamically significant mitral regurgitation that is approximately equal to angiographic grade III or IV. Recognition of this Doppler finding may help in the estimation of mitral regurgitation severity, especially in difficult diagnostic situations.     

Robotic mitral valve plasty for mitral regurgitation after blunt chest trauma in Barlow's disease

We successfully treated a case of mitral regurgitation due to chest trauma in Barlow's disease. A 71‐year‐old man was admitted with severe mitral regurgitation after blunt compression of the chest by a heavy object 5 months earlier. Preoperative examination revealed wide chordae tendineae rupture and myxomatous changes to the bileaflets. Neo‐chordae reconstruction of the anterior mitral leaflet using loop technique, triangular resection of the posterior mitral leaflet, and ring annuloplasty was performed via surgical robot. Robotic mitral valve plasty for severe mitral regurgitation due to chest trauma in Barlow's disease was achieved safely with good clinical and excellent cosmetic results.     

Transcatheter CoreValve valve‐in‐valve implantation in a stentless porcine aortic valve for severe aortic regurgitation

We describe the first valve‐in‐valve Corevalve transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the St. Jude Toronto stentless porcine aortic valve in the United States, which enabled this 59‐year‐old patient with a history of bacterial endocarditis and aortic regurgitation to avoid heart transplant with complete resolution of his severe left ventricular dysfunction.     

Coexistence of sinus bradycardia and junctional tachycardia in a patient with fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy

A 65‐year‐old woman was referred for catheter ablation in the treatment of persistent tachycardia after surgery for atrial fibrillation and mitral regurgitation. Bipolar voltage mapping of both atria revealed that severe and extensive atrial fibrosis isolated the sinoatrial node from the atrioventricular junction and led to the coexistence of sinus bradycardia and persistent junctional tachycardia.     

A second‐time percutaneous aortic‐valve implantation for bioprosthetic failure

We report a case of an 84‐year‐old man with a history of surgical aortic‐valve replacement for chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) who later developed severe prosthetic valve AR. Subsequent treatment with a Corevalve^® was unsuccessful with severe AR seen at 3 years after the valve‐in‐valve procedure. The patient was then successfully treated with a second catheter‐based Corevalve^® implantation.     

Right‐sided valve disease

In this review, we discuss right‐sided heart valve disease, namely tricuspid regurgitation (TR), tricuspid stenosis, pulmonary regurgitation, pulmonary stenosis and right‐sided endocarditis. These are frequently seen in conjunction with other diseases, making assessment of their significance more difficult, but it has become increasingly clear that moderate or severe right‐sided heart valve disease, in particular TR, is associated with worse prognosis. There remain large gaps in our knowledge of medical and interventional treatment, but in this article we outline what is known about the causes, presentation and management of these commonly seen conditions.     

Large Ascending Aortic Aneurysm and Severe Aortic Regurgitation in a 7-year-Old Child with Marfan Syndrome and a Review of the Literature: Marfan Syndrome in Childhood

A 7-year-old girl was admitted because of dyspnea on exertion and palpitations. Her symptoms had gradually worsened for the last 6 months. She had physical features of the Marfan syndrome. Transthoracic echocardiography showed an ascending aortic aneurysm, severe aortic regurgitation, and mildly dilated left ventricle. Because of marked aortic aneurysm and severe aortic regurgitation, the patient was treated with a beta-blocker and an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. Surgery was refused by her parents. We describe here a child with Marfan syndrome in whom significant dilatation of the ascending aorta and severe aortic regurgitation is encountered and major cardiovascular complications of Marfan syndrome were reviewed.     

Treatment of pacemaker induced severe mitral regurgitation with biventricular pacing in two patients with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction

This report describes two patients who developed severe mitral regurgitation and drug refractory congestive heart failure after implantation of a conventional pacemaker. Both patients had a normal left ventricular ejection fraction. Dramatic long-term improvement occurred following the institution of biventricular pacing that resulted in mild mitral regurgitation. The findings illustrate the benefit of cardiac resynchronization therapy in pacemaker induced left ventricular dyssynchrony causing severe mitral regurgitation and severe congestive heart failure in selected patients with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction.     

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in a pregnant patient with absent pulmonary valve syndrome

We present a 22 year old Moroccan woman with chronic severe pulmonary regurgitation, who becomes symptomatic in her fourth month of pregnancy. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance, during pregnancy, revealed a large pulmonary aneurysm and turbulent blood flow in the pulmonary trunk with severe pulmonary regurgitation. After gestation, the branch pulmonary arteries were assessed with magnetic resonance angiography and the severely dilated pulmonary arterial trunk and valve were replaced by a pulmonary homograft. We briefly review this rare syndrome, the management of pulmonary regurgitation during pregnancy and the role of CMR during pregnancy.     

Coexistence of multiple and widespread cardiovascular complications in a patient with Marfan syndrome

Inherited connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome are frequently associated with cardiovascular manifestations. Aortic involvement with dilation and dissection is the most common finding and the major cause of death in Marfan syndrome patients. We report the echocardiographic study of a 53‐year‐old male patient with uncommon coexistence of cardiovascular abnormalities typical of connective tissue disease at first clinical presentation in acute clinical setting: dissection of the descending aorta associated with severe mitral regurgitation due to leaflet flail and massive aortic insufficiency due to ascending aortic enlargement, leading to left ventricular dilation and dysfunction. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2013     

Valvular heart disease in a patient taking benfluorex

The authors describe a case of valvular heart disease in a 48-year-old woman receiving benfluorex (150 mg t.i.d. for 8 years) and leading to surgical mitral valve replacement. Examination showed severe dyspnea with severe mitral regurgitation associated with tricuspid regurgitation. No other common disease known to affect mitral valves nor intake of other drugs (ergot derivatives or appetite suppressant drugs) was found. The paper discusses the imputability of benfluorex, a drug used as an adjuvant in hypercholesterolemia, structurally related to amphetamines.     

经导管主动脉瓣置换治疗单纯性重度主动脉瓣反流合并不同程度肺动脉高压短期结局研究

目的 探讨经导管主动脉瓣置换术（transcatheter aortic valve replacement，TAVR）治疗单纯性重度主动脉瓣关闭不全（aortic regurgitation，AR）合并肺动脉高压（pulmonary artery hypertension, PAH）的短期预后。方法 回顾性分析2021年6月至2022年12月复旦大学附属中山医院收治的29例接受TAVR治疗的单纯性重度AR合并PAH患者的病例资料，根据患者超声心动图测得的肺动脉收缩压（systolic pulmonary artery pressure, SPAP），将患者分为轻中度PAH组（35≤SPAP＜ 50 mmHg，n＝18）和重度PAH组（SPAP≥50 mmHg，n＝11），收集2组患者基线信息、术中影像学资料及术后随访信息。结果 相比于轻中度PAH组，重度PAH组心功能Ⅲ、Ⅳ级占比较高（100% vs 61%, P＝0.018）、脑钠肽较高［（2 820.35±1 762.82） vs （1 241.09±1 999.86）mg/mL, P＝0.040］、左心室射血分数较低［（45.64±10.24）% vs （54.61±11.36）%, P＝0.042］、二尖瓣中重度反流及三尖瓣中重度反流占比更高（73% vs 33%，P＝0.039；82% vs 33%，P＝0.011）。TAVR术后，PAH患者的AR在术后1 d及术后1个月均显著改善（P＜0.001），SPAP均显著下降（P＜0.001），重度PAH组三尖瓣反流程度显著下降（P＝0.009）。在院期间及随访1个月结果发现，AR合并不同程度PAH的患者在术后1 d及术后1个月内无全因死亡及心源性死亡事件的发生。其中，有5.56%重度AR合并轻中度PAH患者与9.09%合并重度PAH的患者在术后1 d和1个月分别发生中重度瓣周漏，中重度AR的占比分别为5.56%和9.09%。2组术后不良事件差异无统计学意义。结论 TAVR治疗单纯性重度AR合并PAH是安全有效的，能够改善AR并且降低肺动脉压力。     

Aortic valve commissural tear mimicking type A aortic dissection.

A 52-year-old man came to the local emergency department with symptoms of heart failure and transient chest pain. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation and a dilated ascending aorta. Aortic dissection was suspected, and he was transferred to our institution. Transesophageal echocardiography appeared to confirm the presence of a type A dissection. A mobile, linear structure was present in the proximal ascending aorta, suggesting the presence of dissection flap. Aortic cusp prolapse and severe aortic regurgitation were seen. At surgery, no aortic dissection was present. Rather, the commissure between right and left aortic valve cusps was separated from the wall of the aorta. Motion of the torn commissure with the cardiac cycle apparently led to the transesophageal echocardiographic appearance described. The ascending aorta was dilated. Histopathologic examination of the aorta confirmed the visual appearance of cystic medial necrosis. Aortic valve commissural tear is a rare event, which may lead to severe aortic regurgitation. This entity may lead to the false-positive transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of type A dissection.     

Prenatal Sonographic Diagnosis of Premature Constriction of the Fetal Ductus Arteriosus After Maternal Self‐Medication With Benzydamine Hydrochloride

We report 3 cases of prenatal diagnosis of premature constriction of the ductus arteriosus after maternal benzydamine hydrochloride therapy (3‐mg lozenges) in third‐trimester pregnancies. In each case, fetal echocardiography revealed a dilated, hypocontractile right ventricle with severe tricuspid regurgitation and constriction of the ductus arteriosus. Although the effect of indomethacin and other nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs on prenatal ductal constriction is well known, readily available over‐the‐counter nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs such as benzydamine can have an equally deleterious effect and are best avoided in the third trimester of pregnancy.     

Triphasic mitral inflow pattern associated with hemodynamic deterioration in anemia or mitral regurgitation: a report of two cases

We present two cases with a mid-diastolic mitral inflow peak called an “L wave” due to underlying diseases. Case 1 was an 81-year-old woman with severe anemia (hemoglobin level of 3.9 g/dL). Pulsed Doppler echocardiography showed an L wave that disappeared after transfusion of red cell concentrates. Case 2 was a 72-year-old woman with severe mitral regurgitation due to ruptured chordae tendineae. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography showed an L wave that disappeared after mitral valve repair. The present report suggests that both severe anemia and mitral regurgitation might have contributed to L wave formation, which suggests hemodynamic deterioration.     

Ischemic mitral regurgitation: pathophysiology, diagnosis and surgical treatment

Ischemic mitral valve regurgitation often complicates acute myocardial infarction and also represents a negative prognostic factor for long-term survival in patients undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization. While severe mitral regurgitation should always be corrected during a coronary artery bypass operation, the decision making is more difficult in patients with a mild-to-moderate degree of regurgitation. Recent studies and experimental protocols have elucidated the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to mitral regurgitation with great interest in annular modifications and subvalvular alterations. These data suggest that new and integrated surgical approaches that address annuloplasty ring sizing, ring type selection and tethering phenomenon (i.e., chordal cutting, 'edge-to-edge' technique and left-ventricular plasty techniques) are required for a safer and durable valve repair. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography are useful in determining the etiology and the degree of mitral regurgitation, to assess mitral deformation and to measure indexes of global and regional left-ventricular remodeling. Stress echocardiography may unmask higher degrees of mitral regurgitation. More data are needed in order to confirm the promising and interesting preliminary experimental findings of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis and clinical evaluation of ischemic mitral regurgitation.     

经食管超声心动图术中评价PV-4人工腱索植入二尖瓣成形术

目的应用经食管超声心动图（TEE）,评价二尖瓣腱索断裂,行PV-4人工腱索植入二尖瓣成形术效果和应用前景。 方法随机对30例二尖瓣腱索断裂患者行二尖瓣成形术,术前及术后即刻进行TEE彩色血流显像检查,其中Ⅰ组15例患者行人工腱索植入22根（前叶18根,后叶4根）。Ⅱ组15例患者未行人工腱索植入。 结果术前Ⅰ组中度二尖瓣反流为7例（占46.7%）,重度二尖瓣反流为8例（占53.3%）,Ⅱ组中度二尖瓣反流为5例（占33.3%）,重度二尖瓣反流为10例（占66.7%）,术后Ⅰ组无二尖瓣反流为5例（占33.3%）,轻微二尖瓣反流为10例（占66.7%）,Ⅱ组轻微二尖瓣反流为5例（占33.3%）,轻度二尖瓣反流为9例（占60.0%）,中度二尖瓣反流为1例（占6.7%）。 结论TEE彩色血流显像显示植入人工腱索的患者,无二尖瓣反流者占33.3%,轻微反流者占66.7%,而未植入人工腱索的患者均有二尖瓣反流,轻微反流者占33.3%,轻度反流者占60.0%,中度反流者占6.7%,成形效果较人工腱索植入者为差。     

Intercommissural Lead Placement into a Right Ventricular Coronary Sinus—Utility of Intracardiac Echo Guidance

Patients with congenital heart disease and prosthetic valves frequently present management dilemmas related to cardiac pacing and lead placement. Permanent pacing of the right ventricle across a bioprosthetic tricuspid valve presents discreet issues related to its potential for traumatic injury and subsequent prosthetic valve dysfunction. Coronary sinus (CS) lead placement is being used more frequently to avoid valvular dysfunction. We report an unusual case in which the CS ostium was located ventricular to the tricuspid prosthesis. Intracardiac echocardiography was used to position a CS lead between the commissures of the tricuspid prosthesis resulting in trivial regurgitation acutely and at 1‐year follow‐up. (PACE 2011; 34:e30–e32)     

Chronic mitral regurgitation secondary to a perivalvular leak from remote trauma.

We report a rare case of mitral regurgitation as a result of perivalvular leak in a 49-year-old man with a history of blunt trauma. He presented with a 2-month history of progressive exertional dyspnea, angina, and heart failure. Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated severe mitral regurgitation as a result of a perivalvular leak of the mitral valve that was not evident on transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac catheterization.     

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.