经胸和经食管超声心动图诊断主动脉瓣穿孔的价值

目的：探讨经胸超声心动图（TTE）和多平面经食管超声心动图（MTEE）诊断主动脉瓣感染性心内膜炎（AVIE）伴主动脉瓣穿孔（AVP）的价值。方法：对10例经TTE或（和）MTEE诊断的AVIE并发AVP患 超声心动图资料进行分析,将超声特点与手术结果进行对照。结果：TTE或MTEE诊断AVIE并AVP的要点为二维超级心动图显示瓣体的回声连续中继或缺失,彩色多普勒血流显像显示瓣体回声缺失部位穿瓣偏心血流,其特异性为100％,敏感性为90．9％,TTE结合MTEE对AVP的定位、定量诊断有较高的正确性,结论TTE和MTEE检查是早期正确诊断AVIE并发AVP的首选方法,有重要临床应用价值。     

A case of iatrogenic aortic valve leaflet perforation after closure of a ventricular septal defect

Aortic regurgitation caused by leaflet perforation is most frequently seen in association with infective endocarditis that involves the aortic valve. There have been occasional reports of iatrogenic aortic regurgitation caused by aortic valve injury after cardiac surgery with the use of the transaortic approach or invasive cardiac procedures. Suture-related aortic valve injury can develop during periaortic cardiac surgery, but this has been very rarely reported. Inadvertent injury to an aortic valve leaflet caused by a stitching needle or surgical forceps can produce leaflet perforation with aortic regurgitation. This report describes a case of aortic regurgitation that was caused by iatrogenic aortic valve leaflet perforation, and this occurred in a 22-year-old woman who underwent repair of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) 15 years previously. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed a defect located at the aortic annulus close to the infundibular septum on a two-dimensional echocardiographic study and we observed an eccentric jet flow into the left ventricle in early diastole on the continuous wave and color flow Doppler studies. A small perforation in the body of the right aortic cusp and mild to moderate aortic regurgitation were confirmed by the use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and ascending aortography.     

An unusual case of acquired ventricular septal defect as a complication of aortic valve endocarditis: echocardiographic delineation of multiple subvalvular complications in one patient.

We describe a patient with unusual echocardiographic features of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis. Transesophageal echocardiography in this patient demonstrated a large multiloculated aortic root abscess extending to mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa, a high acquired ventricular septal defect, paravalvular aortic regurgitation caused by aortic valve dehiscence, and anterior mitral valve leaflet perforation.     

Clinical and echocardiographic evaluation of mitral valve aneurysms: a retrospective,single center study

Mitral valve aneurysms (MVAs) are rarely encountered in echocardiography laboratories. Although they are commonly associated with endocarditis of the aortic valve, various mechanisms have been suggested for the etiopathogenesis of MVAs associated with non-infectious conditions. 5,887 patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) between 2007 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively for MVA. Mitral valve aneurysm is defined as a localized saccular bulging of the mitral leaflet towards the left atrium with systolic expansion and diastolic collapse. The color flow Doppler image of a perforation was described as a high-velocity turbulent jet traversing a valve leaflet in systole. We found that 12 of 5,887 patients (0.204 %) had MVA in TEE examinations. The mean age of patients with MVA was 53 years (range 21–80 years), including four females and eight males. Nine patients presented with symptoms of endocarditis. On TEE, aneurysms were located in the anterior mitral leaflet in 11 patients, and in the posterior mitral leaflet in one patient. Eight patients had severe, three had moderate, and one had trace mitral regurgitation. Of the nine patients with perforated leaflets, eight patients had severe and one patient had moderate mitral regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation was present in nine patients, being severe in three, moderate in two, mild in two, and trace in two patients. Two patients without severe mitral regurgitation were followed-up conservatively, while nine patients underwent surgery. Two patients died from septic shock, one in the postoperative period and the other one prior to surgery. Although MVAs occur during the course of aortic valve endocarditis and, in particular, due to aortic regurgitation jet, it should be borne in mind that they may develop as an isolated valvular pathology and may be misdiagnosed as chordal rupture, other cardiac masses, or vegetation. Thus, MVAs may not be so infrequent as they are thought; they may justify to be considered in the differential diagnosis of masses seen on the mitral valve on echocardiographic examination.     

Aneurysm of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve secondary to aortic valve endocarditis.

Aneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet is a rare complication of infective aortic valve endocarditis, the natural evolution of which is generally its rupture, with subsequent acute and severe mitral regurgitation. Its presence cannot be recognized with transthoracic echocardiography and even in surgery. We describe a 78-year-old man with aortic valve endocarditis, in whom transesophageal echocardiography was essential for the diagnosis of this complication, its therapeutic management, and the postoperative follow-up after simple valve repair. In addition, the most appropriate surgical approach is discussed.     

An unusual cause of diastolic mitral regurgitation as a result of sterile perforation of the mitral valve.

We report the case of a 50-year-old man in whom a supracristal ventricular septal defect led to aortic regurgitation and, thus, to consecutive sterile perforation of the anterior mitral leaflet, culminating in the development of severe systolic and diastolic mitral regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation as a result of valve prolapse caused by a supracristal (conal) ventricular septal defect is a well-known phenomenon. The same is true for the origin of mitral jet lesions in patients with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve. As of yet, there have been no reports about the acquisition of mitral valve perforations in patients without the history of vegetations. Moreover, the occurrence of diastolic mitral regurgitation is usually associated with atrioventricular pressure reversal, a phenomenon that was not present in our patient. The unique comorbidity was easy to detect with Doppler echocardiography, supported by transesophageal 2-dimensional and dynamic 3-dimensional echocardiography for preoperative surgical treatment.     

Spontaneous drainage of paravalvular abscess diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography

Paravalvular abscesses, which occur in up to 30% of cases of native valve endocarditis, are being detected with increasing frequency with the use of transesophageal echocardiography. Abscesses of the mitral aortic intervalvular fibrosa have been described but only in association with native or prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis. We describe a patient with native mitral valve endocarditis complicated by an abscess in the fibrosa. A 51-year-old diabetic man presented with Staphylococcus aureus mitral valve endocarditis. A transesophageal echocardiographic study done 8 days after admission revealed two large masses at the base of the anterior mitral leaflet with extension into the fibrosa consistent with a paravalvular abscess that was not detected by precordial echocardiography. A repeat transesophageal echocardiographic study done 20 days after admission showed spontaneous drainage of the abscess and a subsequent fistula between the left atrium and left ventricle. This case highlights the important role that transesophageal echocardiography has in suspected and known cases of endocarditis. Its major advantage of delineating posterior cardiac structures allowed accurate diagnosis and serial evaluation of this previously unreported complication of endocarditis.     

Accessory mitral valve in an adult population: the role of echocardiography in diagnosis and management.

Accessory mitral valve is a rare congenital abnormality and is an unusual cause for subvalvular left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. It is detected first in children and is very rarely noticed in adults. The most common clinical presentation is symptomatic LVOT obstruction. We present a case series of 5 adult patients with varying clinical presentations in which the accessory mitral valve was diagnosed using echocardiography. Three patients presented with varying degrees of symptomatic LVOT obstruction, one presented with recurrent transient ischemic attack and stroke, and one patient was incidentally diagnosed during echocardiography to exclude endocarditis. Accessory mitral valve should be suggested in patients with LVOT obstruction.     

实时三维超声心动图在评价人工瓣膜结构和功能中的应用

目的 探讨实时三维超声心动图评价人工瓣膜结构和功能的临床应用价值.方法 应用彩色多普勒超声对33例人工瓣膜置换术后患者进行实时三维超声心动图检查,其中二尖瓣位人工机械瓣19例,生物瓣3例;主动脉瓣位人工机械瓣11例.结果 30例(91%)能够清楚显示人工瓣膜和支架结构及其周邻的解剖结构,其中26例功能正常,4例功能异常,其中3例为二尖瓣机械瓣瓣周漏,另1例为二尖瓣位生物瓣赘生物形成伴瓣叶穿孔破裂.结论 联合应用实时三维和全容积成像模式可以直观、准确地评价人工瓣膜的结构和功能.是对经胸二维超声和经食管超声心动图的有益补充.     

An unusually accentuated diastolic anterior motion of the mitral valve in aortic insufficiency

A 55‐year‐old woman was diagnosed with endocarditis involving the aortic valve and resulting in moderate aortic insufficiency. Transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated an unusually accentuated diastolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral valve leaflet toward the interventricular septum. The anterior leaflet remained within a few millimeters of the septum throughout diastole, with a narrow jet of aortic insufficiency separating the anterior leaflet from the septum. We hypothesize that the particularly long anterior mitral leaflet was drawn toward the septum during diastole due to the Venturi effect of the aortic insufficiency jet within a narrow ventricular outflow tract. This accentuated diastolic anterior motion may be a diastolic correlate of systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 41 :392–393, 2013     

Congenital bicuspid aortic valve enodocarditis with multiple subvalvular complications and an acquired membranous ventricular septal defect.

We report a case with echocardiographic demonstration of native congenital bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis with multiple subaortic complications. Transesophageal echocardiography in this case revealed large vegetations with multiloculated aortic paravalvular abscess around the cusps; a high-acquired restrictive membranous ventricular septal defect with vegetations extending to the tricuspid leaflets and paravalvular aortic regurgitation caused by aortic leaflet perforation.     

超声心动图评价感染性心内膜炎累及二尖瓣-主动脉瓣纤维连结

目的:二尖瓣-主动脉瓣纤维连结(Mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa,MAIVF)受累是感染性心内膜炎的一种少见并发症,本文回顾性总结分析了其超声特点及临床特征。方法:对18例超声心动图诊断感染性心内膜炎MAIVF受累的病例图像回顾性分析,总结其临床特征及超声特点。结果:①MAIVF受累可能好发于伴随先天性主动脉瓣二叶式畸形及结缔组织病的感染性心内膜炎;②MAIVF受累的患者主动脉瓣病变较二尖瓣更为严重;③MAIVF受累可以表现为MAIVF部位的增厚,囊腔形成或局部团块样组织,并可能导致心腔间的分流。结论:超声心动图是感染性心内膜炎MAIVF受累的首选筛查方法,可以评价脓肿大小、形态、位置、周围血流信号及其他感染性心内膜炎并发症,为制定手术方案提供完整的信息。     

Early surgical intervention in culture-negative endocarditis of the aortic valve complicated by abscess in an infant: A case report

BACKGROUNDSurgical therapy of infective endocarditis (IE) involving aortic valves and mitral valves is widespread. However, there are few reports concerning patients with culture-negative endocarditis complicated by the appearance of comorbid valvular perforation and abscess. Therefore, real-time surveillance of changes in cardiac structure and function is critical for timely surgical management, especially in patients who do not respond to medical therapy.CASE SUMMARYHere, we report an atypical case in a 9-mo-old infant without congenital heart disease but with symptoms of intermittent fever and macular rashes. Physical examination, laboratory tests, and electrocardiograms suggested a diagnosis of IE, although the result of blood cultures was exactly negative. After treatment with antibiotic drugs, the patient got a transient recovery. On the 9^th day, we proceeded with continuous echocardiogram due to fever again and the results revealed aortic valve abscess with perforation, regurgitation, vegetation, and pericardial effusion. Intraoperative monitoring revealed aortic valve perforation, presence of apothegmatic cystic spaces below the left coronary cusp of the aortic valve, and severe aortic valve regurgitation. Aortic valve repair was performed by autologous pericardial patch plasty. The patient was discharged after 4 wk of treatment and no complications occurred after surgery.CONCLUSIONOur case demonstrated the necessity of serial echocardiography monitoring for possible adverse symptoms of IE in pediatric patients.     

Current management of mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse is a pathologic anatomic and physiologic abnormality of the mitral valve apparatus affecting mitral leaflet motion. "Mitral valve prolapse syndrome" is a term often used to describe a constellation of mitral valve prolapse and associated symptoms or other physical abnormalities such as autonomic dysfunction, palpitations and pectus excavatum. The importance of recognizing that mitral valve prolapse may occur as an isolated disorder or with other coincident findings has led to the use of both terms. Mitral valve prolapse syndrome, which occurs in 3 to 6 percent of Americans, is caused by a systolic billowing of one or both mitral leaflets into the left atrium, with or without mitral regurgitation. It is often discovered during routine cardiac auscultation or when echocardiography is performed for another reason. Most patients with mitral valve prolapse are asymptomatic. Those who have symptoms commonly report chest discomfort, anxiety, fatigue and dyspnea, but whether these are actually due to mitral valve prolapse is not certain. The principal physical finding is a midsystolic click, which frequently is followed by a late systolic murmur. Although echocardiography is the most useful mode for identifying mitral valve prolapse, it is not recommended as a screening tool for mitral valve prolapse in patients who have no systolic click or murmur on careful auscultation. Mitral valve prolapse has a benign prognosis and a complication rate of 2 percent per year. The progression of mitral regurgitation may cause dilation of the left-sided heart chambers. Infective endocarditis is a potential complication. Patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome who have murmurs and/or thickened redundant leaflets seen on echocardiography should receive antibiotic prophylaxis against endocarditis.     

超声心动图在人工机械瓣卡瓣诊断中的临床应用

目的分析人工机械瓣卡瓣的超声图像特点,探讨超声心动图在人工机械瓣卡瓣诊断中的临床价值。方法 7例人工机械瓣卡瓣患者,超声心动图观察以下内容:1机械瓣瓣叶回声及活动情况;2通过机械瓣口的血流情况;3瓣口血流频谱,估算机械瓣口面积。结果人工机械瓣卡瓣位于二尖瓣6例,主动脉瓣1例。其中6例超声心动图即可清晰显示人工机械瓣叶活动受限,瓣环或瓣叶增厚,回声不光滑,血流束减少或变细,流束与瓣环平面夹角变小。频谱显示瓣口峰值流速及压差较正常增加,瓣口面积减小,术中所见与超声探查结果完全相符。患者均行再次换瓣手术。结论超声心动图是无创、快速诊断人工机械瓣卡瓣的首选方法。     

左室流出道梗阻继发感染性二尖瓣穿孔的超声心动图2例

目的探讨左室流出道梗阻继发感染性二尖瓣前叶穿孔的超声心动图特点。方法选择左室流出道梗阻继发感染性二尖瓣前叶穿孔及单纯左室流出道梗阻病例,采用数字化超声心动图技术,比较2种情况下二尖瓣返流的特点及二尖瓣形态学改变。结果左室流出道梗阻继发感染性二尖瓣前叶穿孔时有下列特点:(1)二尖瓣返流由源于前叶体部及瓣叶对合缘的2束返流构成,在心尖四腔切面上返流束呈“Y”字形;(2)二尖瓣返流连续多普勒频谱为2束返流共同形成的叠加频谱;(3)二尖瓣前叶体部可见结构改变。单纯左室流出道梗阻者无上述特点,其二尖瓣返流为单一起源的偏心返流束。结论左室流出道梗阻继发感染性二尖瓣前叶穿孔时,二尖瓣返流束的起源、形态、频谱及二尖瓣前叶结构均有特征性改变。     

主动脉瓣置换术后二尖瓣穿孔超声表现1例

患者因“反复心累、气促1+年,加重3+月”入院。术前TTE诊断为：主动脉瓣重度返流,二尖瓣轻度返流,感染性心内膜炎可能性。患者拟行主动脉瓣置换术。麻醉后TEE再次明确术前超声诊断,外科医师遂即体外循环下行主动脉瓣置换术。体外循环脱机后TEE监测发现二尖瓣前叶瓣体出现新增反流束,缩流颈为2mm,考虑以下原因：1. 术前超声及术中TEE漏诊的可能性;2.可疑医源性二尖瓣损伤;3.因术中未对二尖瓣进行探查,不排除血流动力学不稳定加重瓣体损伤。外科医师遂即行二尖瓣瓣叶修复术,术后TEE显示二尖瓣前叶瓣体反流消失,主动脉瓣未见瓣周漏。患者于术后12天顺利出院。     

Hemodynamic evaluation of normally functioning Sulzer Carbomedics prosthetic valves

The Sulzer Carbomedics prosthetic heart valve (CP) is a commonly used mechanical valve in clinical practice. In the present study, we used conventional and color Doppler echocardiography to assess the hemodynamics of normally functioning CP in the aortic (n = 73) and mitral (n = 127) positions. Our findings demonstrate no significant correlation of Doppler-measured peak and mean pressure gradients and effective orifice area with implanted valve size and actual orifice areas, measured directly by the manufacturer for CPs in both the mitral and aortic positions. However, it is still useful to measure effective orifice area by Doppler because a value in the normal or nonstenotic range points to an unobstructed prosthesis in the aortic or mitral position, in the absence of poor left ventricular ejection fraction. A value in the stenotic range could mean a normally functioning or obstructed prosthesis and, therefore, may need further investigation, such as assessment of valve leaflet motion by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography or fluoroscopy. Valve regurgitation as evaluated by color Doppler flow mapping was mild in practically all CPs in the aortic position, and in the majority of CPs in the mitral position.     

超声心动图对急症诊断经皮二尖瓣球囊扩张术瓣叶穿孔的价值

本文分析5例风湿性心脏病重度二尖瓣狭窄患者，经皮二尖瓣球囊扩张术（PBMV）后，瓣叶穿孔的超声心动图（UCG）特异性表现为：原狭窄的二尖瓣口无改变，而瓣叶（多见前叶）回声连续中断，彩色多普勒显示（CDFI）收缩期大量蓝色为主返流束经撕裂穿孔瓣叶入左房，此表现为急症诊断PBMV穿孔提供了明确可靠的依据。     

Evidence for the 'cardiac pump theory' in cardiopulmonary resuscitation in man by transesophageal echocardiography.

There are two theories to explain the mechanism of blood flow during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: The 'Cardiac Pump Theory' and the 'Thoracic Pump Theory'. We have performed transesophageal echocardiography during the resuscitation of a patient with cardiopulmonary arrest. By this method we could study the motion of the aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves and the changes in ventricular size during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in man. We demonstrated an opening of the aortic valve during thoracic compression with simultaneous closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves. During relaxation of the chest, a rapid opening of the atrioventricular valves and closure of the aortic valve was noted. Short interruption of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to test for spontaneous heart action lead to echocontrast in all four heart chambers through stasis of blood, which resolved on continuation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This 'washing out' phenomenon enables visualization of blood flow through the aortic valve during compression, and through the mitral valve during relaxation. These observations favour the Cardiac Pump Theory as the predominant hemodynamic principle of blood flow during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in man.