Severe mitral regurgitation--relations between magnetic resonance imaging,echocardiography and natriuretic peptides

Objective - The validity of the Ross operation as freestanding root replacement in adult patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease has lately been questioned. We have analyzed retrospectively our results in 23 adult patients (19 males) operated for bicuspid aortic valve disease ad modum "Ross" employing a freestanding root replacement technique. Design - In 9 patients the dominant aortic valve lesion was stenotic (aortic stenosis group) and in the remaining 14 patients it was aortic insufficiency (aortic insufficiency group). The fate of the pulmonary autograft in the two groups was studied. The intraoperatively measured aortic and pulmonary annuli diameters from the two groups were compared with those from a population of normal looking aortic and pulmonary valves matched for body surface area. Results - The aortic insufficiency group needed significant reduction of the aortic annulus diameter to conform to the size of the pulmonary autograft. The pulmonary autograft annuli in this group were significantly larger in diameter than the ones in the aortic stenosis group. The mean pulmonary annulus diameter in the aortic stenosis group was, on the other hand, significantly smaller when compared with that in the normal matched population. After a mean follow-up period of about 19 months, the aortic insufficiency group showed significant dilatation of the neo-aortic sinuses. Between the two groups, the remaining echocardiographic variables remained either stable or improved at follow-up. Conclusion - Pre-existing larger diameters of the aortic and pulmonary annuli in the aortic insufficiency group combined with the significantly increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameters, may predispose these patients to significant dilatation of the unsupported aortic sinuses after a Ross operation. This dilatation does not, however, lead to increase in the autograft valve insufficiency at short-term follow-up if the aortic annulus and the distal ascending aorta are tailored to the size of the pulmonary autograft. Ross operation, employing freestanding aortic root replacement technique, may therefore be recommended in adult patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease with excellent short-term results.     

获得性主动脉瓣瓣膜病变的整形手术

目的为了恢复主动脉瓣的功能,总结４０例获得性主动脉瓣整形术的经验。方法对４０例获得性主动脉瓣病变进行整形手术,包括主动脉瓣边缘楔形削除、交界切开、钙化灶清除、穿孔修补及自体心包加宽瓣叶等整形手术。结果手术死亡率５％。单纯主动脉瓣关闭不全组术后反流面积明显减少;单纯主动脉瓣狭窄组或狭窄合并关闭不全组术后跨瓣压差明显下降,而后者反流加重。结论在获得性主动脉瓣病变中,瓣膜条件尚好的单纯关闭不全或狭窄可行整形矫正,而狭窄合并关闭不全者行整形难以恢复正常瓣膜功能     

Surgical management of an aortic root dilatation in a patient suffering from Hunter syndrome

Hunter syndrome is a rare disease leading to glycosaminoglycan accumulation in tissues. Multiple organs are involved, but prognosis is mainly conditioned by cardiac and respiratory failures. Cardiac valvular impairment is quite common but aortic root dilatation is rarely described. This article covers a case of surgical root replacement due to aortic valve insufficiency and aortic root dilatation documented with magnetic resonance and computed tomography angiographies. Anatomic pathology reported both aortic valve and aorta with mucoid overload and elastic fibre depletion. These patients do have a risk of aortic root dilatation, which justifies periodic monitoring. Diagnosis must be made using indexed measures.     

Aortic valve leaflet sparing and salvage surgery: evolution of techniques for aortic root reconstruction

Over the past 20 years, a series of procedures have been designed to reconstruct the aortic root of patients with aortic insufficiency, in whom the pathology and hence the surgery spares the valve leaflets. Such techniques have various names. Usually ‘valve sparing’ is used in context with chronic aortic dissection or aortic root aneurysm as in patients with Marfan's syndrome. ‘Aortic valve salvage’ tends to be the term of choice for similar surgical reconstruction in the setting of aortic dissection. ‘Aortic valve repair’ is often chosen when direct surgical procedures are performed on the leaflets themselves. All of the techniques have evolved based upon an increased understanding of the functional anatomy of the aortic root complex. The different technical approaches, their applications and results need to be understood by the cardiology community. The failure modes for such techniques are specific and different from prosthetic valve failure modes, but are adequately followed with echocardiography. Over two-thirds of patients remain free of re-development of significant aortic insufficiency at 8–10 years following surgery. The overall patient survival is more dependent upon the underlying cardiovascular status of the patient than the surgical technique itself. Perioperative mortalities vary between 0 and 6% and are comparable to composite valve+graft techniques and isolated aortic valve replacement, in which the operative mortality approximates 3.3–4%. Long-term results are good to excellent and spare the patient anticoagulation and prosthetic valve disease.     

In vitro investigation of aortic valve annuloplasty using prosthetic ring devices

Objectives: The remodeling of the dilatated valve annulus with a prosthetic ring for the repair of valve insufficiency is a well-established concept in mitral valve surgery, and may also be suitable for aortic valve reconstruction. In this study, two models of prosthetic aortic annuloplasty devices were investigated. Methods: Fresh porcine aortic roots (n = 16) were investigated in a pulsatile flow simulator after patch dilatation of the annulus and subsequent reconstruction using both an external and an internal prosthetic ring. For each configuration, leakage was determined by ultrasonic flow measurements and leaflet co-aptation by transesophageal echocardiography. In addition, valves’ motions were recorded by high-speed video. Results: By the use of the prosthetic annuloplasty rings, leakage volumes decreased significantly compared with the dilatated root, more pronounced with the intra-annular ring. Similarly, the co-aptation height of the leaflets increased. Pressure gradients were not significantly influenced by the ring application, but leaflet motion patterns changed from the usual trapezoid to a more rectangular opening characteristic, visible at both echocardiographic and high-speed video analysis. Conclusions: The reconstruction of a dilatated aortic valve annulus using external and internal ring devices is feasible and effective for reduction of regurgitation at which the internal ring provides a greater potential to decrease valve insufficiency.     

A case of tuberculous endocarditis with acute aortic valve insufficiency and annular subvalvular left ventricular aneurysm

Tuberculous endocarditis is an exceptionally rare disease, and its surgical operation has been reported in only one case. This is a successful surgical report of acute aortic insufficiency caused by tuberculous endocarditis associated with annular subvalvular left ventricular aneurysm (ASLVA) beneath the aortic valve. This patient had acute left ventricular failure and cardiorespiratory arrest and suffered from multiple organ dysfunction and coagulopathy disorder. Urgent surgery was performed to replace the aortic valve with the approximation of ASLVA. Histopathological findings of the excised aortic cusps gave the diagnosis of tuberculous endocarditis, and antituberculous drug administration started on the first postoperative day. Postoperative recovery has been uneventful without relapse of tuberculosis for 7 postoperative years.     

升主动脉瘤合并主动脉瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的总结21例升主动脉瘤合并主动脉瓣关闭不全的外科治疗经验。方法19例行Bentall手术,2例行Cabrol手术;5例同时置换二尖瓣。术前心功能IV级15例,III级6例。动脉瘤直径6～11 cm,平均(8.5±2.6) cm;17例主动脉内膜有撕裂,其中5例升主动脉远端仍有夹层。主动脉瓣环直径2.7～5.4 cm,平均(3.2±1.8）cm。超声心动图检查均示主动脉瓣严重关闭不全。结果手术后无早、晚期死亡,术后超声心动图和造影检查示主动脉瓣关闭良好,移植的冠状动脉通畅、无扭曲,效果满意。结论动脉瘤直径大于6 cm时应及时随访和做预防性手术,一旦发现夹层动脉瘤应立即手术,Bentall手术治疗升主动脉瘤效果良好。     

室间隔缺损合并主动脉瓣脱垂与关闭不全的外科治疗

报告１０例室间隔缺损合并主动脉瓣关闭不全与脱垂的临床特点及治疗方法。发病率占同期室间隔缺损修补术的３．２％，其中８例行主动脉瓣成形术；１例主动脉瓣替换术；１例单纯室间隔缺损修补。手术效果满意。我们对发病机制，不同类型的主动脉瓣病变采用不同的手术方法进行了分析和讨论。     

Aortic valve repair with pericardial leaflet extension for aortic valve insufficiency

Background: This article presents our intermediate term results of pericardial leaflet extension used in various complex pathologies of the aortic valve leading to aortic regurgitation. Methods: Sixteen patients had aortic insufficiency/regurgitation with deficient leaflet tissues so that repair was performed with pericardial leaflet extension. The mean patient age was 26.6 years and 69% were male. Two patients (13%) were in NYHA class I, 12 patients (75%) were in class II and 2 patients (13%) were in class III preoperatively. Six patients (38%) had a bicuspid aortic valve and 10 patients (63%) had a tricuspid aortic valve. Eight patients (50%) had moderate and 8 patients (50%) had severe aortic insufficiency (AI) preoperatively. Two patients (13%) had associated cardiac procedures at the time of aortic repair. Results: There were no operative deaths but 3 patients died in the late postoperative period. Five patients underwent subsequent aortic valve replacement or a Ross procedure at re-operation. The most common finding during re-operation was thickening of the leaflet extension or rolling in of the edges of the leaflet extension. Freedom from aortic valve re-operation at five years postoperation was 68% (standard error 14). Late follow-up revealed that 9 patients (56%) were in NYHA class I and 7 patients (44%) were in class II. Ten (63%) patients had mild AI and 6 patients (37%) had moderate AI at most recent follow-up. Conclusions: Absence of hospital mortality, freedom from embolic events and echocardiography evidence of immediate competency of the valve are the reliable indicators of this surgical technique.     

Pulmonary trunk perforation during transapical minimal invasive aortic valve replacement

In this case report we illustrate our experience with a perforation of the pulmonary trunk during a transapical aortic valve implantation in a single case. The patient suffered from an aortic valve stenosis and was accepted for a minimally invasive procedure because of multiple comorbidities. After unproblematic transapical placement of the aortic valve, a venous bleeding from the anterolateral wound was observed. Median sternotomy showed a bleeding out of the pulmonary trunk that could be stopped with purse-string sutures. The further course of the patient was uneventful.     

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement and aortic valve repair for a 2-year-old girl with Loeys–Dietz syndrome

We report the case of a 2-year-old girl with Loeys–Dietz syndrome complicated by aortic root dilatation and aortic regurgitation. We performed valve-sparing aortic root replacement with reimplantation technique and aortic valve repair using central plication and free-margin reinforcement simultaneously. The postoperative course was uneventful and the latest echocardiography, 5 years after procedure, revealed trivial aortic insufficiency.     

四叶式主动脉瓣畸形的诊断及外科治疗

目的 总结四叶式主动脉瓣畸形的超声心动图诊断并探讨外科治疗.方法 回顾分析上海市心血管病研究所2004年1月至2007年5月超声心动图资料,总结四叶式主动脉瓣膜病例的超声诊断特点.观察23例四叶式主动脉瓣四叶分布形态、回声、启闭及血流动力学情况.并总结分析手术治疗的9例病人的资料.结果 在92656例心脏超声检查中,共检出四叶式主动脉瓣膜畸形23例,检出率为0.248‰.年龄19～83岁,平均(50.3±18.8)岁;男11例,女12例.23例中22例合并不同程度主动脉瓣膜反流,仅1例主动脉瓣膜功能正常.其中9例行主动脉瓣膜置换手术,术中发现A型8例,F型1例.结论 四叶式主动脉瓣膜畸形是非常少见的先天性心脏畸形,多数由超声心动图检查发现,实时三维超声心动图对可疑病例可明确诊断.四叶式主动脉瓣膜畸形主要并发主动脉瓣膜反流,严重者应手术治疗.     

The Konno aortoventriculoplasty for repeat aortic valve replacement

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of aortic root augmentation by the Konno-aortoventriculoplasty technique as part of reoperative aortic valve replacement. Methods: Since 1983, 15 patients, 12 males and three females, had repeat aortic valve replacement (AVR) with concomitant Konno aortoventriculoplasty. Age ranged from 1.2 to 18 years (mean 12.5 years). The underlying anatomic diagnoses were valve and subvalvar aortic stenosis in 11, truncal valve insufficiency in one, endocarditis in one, Shone's complex in one and severe aortic insufficiency associated with a ventricular septal defect in one patient. All patients had had previous AVR. The causes for reoperation were prosthetic valve stenosis due to growth in ten and paravalvular leak in one, homograft failure in two, xenograft failure in one, and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) after mitral valve replacement in one patient. The mean size of explanted prostheses was 19.2 mm (13–23 mm) while the mean size of the implanted prostheses was 24.3 mm (19–27 mm) (P<0.01). Previous aortic root enlargement had been performed in 11 patients in conjunction with AVR. The Manougian technique was used previously in two, Konno aortoventriculoplasty in eight, and both techniques in one patient. The newly implanted aortic valves were a homograft in one patient and mechanical prostheses in 14 patients. Results: There was one operative death (1 of 15 or 6.6%) in a 17.5 year old patient with previous AVR and posterior root enlargement, due to low cardiac output state. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 17 years (mean 7.2 years). The only late death occurred in an 11.6-year-old patient due to prosthetic valve endocarditis. Two patients had complete heart block and had permanent pacemaker insertion (2 of 15 or 13.3%). One patient had pulmonary valve replacement because of combined stenosis and insufficiency 5 years after operation. All 13-surviving patients are asymptomatic at latest follow up. Conclusion: Konno aortoventriculoplasty with repeat AVR may be safely performed. Excellent results may be achieved despite previous aortic root enlargement. It is a good surgical option for complex LVOTO and may even reduce reoperation in children by allowing placement of a larger prosthesis.     

A difficult case of retrieval of an aortic valve and balloon during a transcatheter aortic valve implantation

INTRODUCTIONTranscatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) represents an emerging therapy for valve replacement in patients not suitable for traditional open repair. As awareness of the procedure grows, case numbers are increasing worldwide. Though this procedure represents a less invasive approach to aortic valve replacement, it is not without complications.PRESENTATION OF CASEThis case presentation describes a serious, previously unreported, complication incurred in an 83-year-old male in whom TAVI was attempted. During deployment of the valve at the aortic annulus, both the valve and accompanying balloon embolised into the thoracic aorta and this was further complicated by migration of the balloon into the abdominal aorta and an aortic dissection. The false lumen of the dissection at the level of the infrarenal aorta was tacked to the aortic adventitial wall using interrupted sutures through a laparotomy. A completion angiogram demonstrated that a flow limited dissection did extend up to both common iliac arteries. This was managed with balloon-expandable covered stents deployed in both common iliac arteries with satisfactory outcome.DISCUSSIONThis case occurred as a combination of multiple factors that include lack of burst pacing and poor timing of the balloon inflation. The aortic balloon and the valve had to be removed urgently to avoid ventricular embolization of these structures that can result in a fatal situation.CONCLUSIONThis case presentation describes the management of these complications using a combined open and endovascular approach in a well-equipped hybrid operating theatre, resulting in the patient survival.     

保留主动脉瓣主动脉根部置换术治疗主动脉根部瘤的疗效分析

目的评价使用保留主动脉瓣主动脉根部置换术治疗主动脉根部瘤的临床应用疗效。方法 2001年2月至2010年9月阜外心血管病医院对60例主动脉根部瘤患者行保留主动脉瓣主动脉根部置换术,其中男44例,女16例;年龄9～64(37.2±13.0)岁。主动脉夹层15例,升主动脉瘤10例,马方综合征25例,主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形2例。行主动脉根部重建术53例,主动脉瓣瓣叶再植术7例。比较术前、术后心功能及主动脉瓣反流程度等指标。结果全组中无手术死亡和严重并发症发生,呼吸机使用时间中位数为13(2～1 110)h,住ICU时间1～18(2.7±2.5)d。术后复查超声心动图提示:主动脉瓣反流程度均明显减轻,仅3例为中大量反流,其余无反流或微少量反流。术后随访2～122(61.5±35.9)个月,随访56例,失访4例,随访期间死亡9例,生存率83.9%(47/56)。2例因主动脉瓣反流分别于术后13个月和14个月再次入院行主动脉瓣置换术。47例患者心功能较术前明显改善,心功能Ⅰ级35例(74.4%),Ⅱ级8例(17.0%)。免于主动脉瓣中重度反流40例(85.1%)。结论保留瓣叶的主动脉根部置换术治疗主动脉根部瘤的远期疗效满意,瓣膜相关并发症发生率低。     

保留主动脉瓣主动脉根部置换术的研究进展

多年以来,主动脉瓣和主动脉根部置换术被认为是主动脉根部瘤的标准治疗方法。随着人们对主动脉瓣置换术后并发症危害性认识的增加,和对主动脉瓣根部解剖及生理特点认识的深入,保留主动脉瓣主动脉根部置换技术有了较大发展。我们主要介绍主动脉瓣关闭不全的病因和分类、主动脉瓣保留技术及临床结果。     

Successful management of traumatic aortic valve insufficiency; report of a case

A case of the successful management of traumatic aortic valve insufficiency is reported. A previously healthy 48-year-old man sustained multiple injuries in a traffic accident. One month after the accident, heart failure, derived from aortic insufficiency, was noted. Three years and 5 months after the injuries, aortic valve replacement was performed, and a large tear, approximately 7 mm in length, was found in the aortic right coronary cusp. This finding corresponded to the traumatic aortic valve insufficiency. Traumatic aortic valve insufficiency is rare, and early diagnosis may be difficult. Examinations for associated intracardiac injuries should be carefully undertaken.     

Aortic valve replacement in a patient with liver cirrhosis and coagulopathy

Open heart surgery in patients with end-stage liver disease is accompanied by various complications. Coagulopathy resulting from liver failure tends to cause uncontrollable hemorrhage. Severe aortic insufficiency has moderate to severe risk for liver transplantation. It can lead to heart failure, liver congestion, and finally rejection of the transplanted liver. Aortic valve replacement in patients diagnosed as having cirrhosis has a significant risk of mortality because of the above-mentioned complications. We present a patient with liver cirrhosis and severe aortic insufficiency who had thrombocytopenia and severe coagulopathy. Aortic valve replacement was performed successfully using cardiopulmonary bypass before the liver transplantation. Hemostasis management was done effectively perioperation. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged after 10 days. Liver transplantation was performed successfully 2 months later.     

Aortic root dilatation may alter the dimensions of the valve leaflets

Objective: Valve-sparing surgery can be used in patients with dilated aortic roots and aortic insufficiency (AI) but has not become a common practice, in part because the spared valve may be incompetent. Our goal was to study how the dimensions of the aortic root and leaflets have changed in such patients. Methods: Fourteen patients with dilated aortic root and AI were examined by transesophageal echocardiography. The annulus diameter, sinotubular junction (STJ) diameter, sinus height, leaflet free-edge length, and leaflet height were measured. Correlations among these dimensions and with the AI grades were explored. Measurements were also made in 19 normal human aortic valves from silicone molds. Results: There was no evident change in the average diameter of the annulus between the normal valves and those in the dilated aortic roots. The STJ diameter was obviously increased in the dilated aortic roots; the aortic sinuses also appeared to be taller and the leaflets larger than normal. The leaflet free-edge length, the leaflet height, and the sinus height were found to increase with the dilated STJ diameter. The degree of AI was not found to correlate well with any of the dimensions measured. Conclusions: The dimensions of the leaflets may change parallel to aortic root dilatation with AI. Therefore, during valve sparing, it may be necessary to correct both the dilatation of the root and the leaflet free-edge length to achieve a competent valve.     

Anatomical mismatch of the pulmonary autograft in the aortic root may be the cause of early aortic insufficiency after the Ross procedure

Objective: Early aortic insufficiency can be a problem after the Ross procedure. Anatomical mismatch and an inexact surgical technique may lead to distortion of the normal pulmonary valve geometry and subsequent incorrect leaflet coaptation and valve insufficiency. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of changing and improving the surgical technique to minimize the early pulmonary autograft valve failure. The modifications and the strategy are discussed. Methods: From January 1995 to February 1999, a total of 77 adults underwent the Ross procedure for aortic valve replacement at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The operative technique used was full free-standing aortic root replacement with a pulmonary autograft in all cases. In the first 24 cases, the diameter of the pulmonary roots was seldom measured, eye-balling was used to exclude anatomical mismatch due to a dilated aortic root, and only one attempt of correction was made, which failed. In the other 53 cases, the technique was improved by: (1) reducing the aortic anulus diameter in cases with moderate dilatation; (2) excluding cases with severe dilatation of the aortic annulus; (3) adjusting the diameter of the sinotubular junction of the aorta to the diameter of the sinotubular junction of the pulmonary artery; (4). reimplanting the left ostium in the autograft, and (5) changing the proximal anastomosis technique. Results: In this study, we had an early aortic incompetence of grade 2 in eight patients among the first 24 patients. In the other 53 patients, postoperative echocardiography at 1 week revealed aortic insufficiency of grade 2 in two patients. Conclusions: Aortic insufficiency after the Ross procedure can be minimized by patient selection, intraoperative correction of anatomical mismatch and improved surgical technique.