The flail mitral valve: echocardiographic findings by precordial and transesophageal imaging and Doppler color flow mapping

To determine the echocardiographic and Doppler characteristics of mitral regurgitation associated with a flail mitral valve, precordial and transesophageal echocardiography with pulsed wave and Doppler color flow mapping was performed in 17 patients with a flail mitral valve leaflet due to ruptured chordae tendineae (Group I) and 22 patients with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation due to other causes (Group II). Echocardiograms were performed before or during cardiac surgery; cardiac catheterization was also performed in 28 patients (72%). Mitral valve disease was confirmed at cardiac surgery in all patients. By echocardiography, the presence of a flail mitral valve leaflet was defined by the presence of abnormal mitral leaflet coaptation or ruptured chordae. Using these criteria, transesophageal imaging showed a trend toward greater sensitivity and specificity than precordial imaging in the diagnosis of flail mitral valve leaflet. By Doppler color flow mapping, a flail mitral valve leaflet was also characterized by an eccentric, peripheral, circular mitral regurgitant jet that closely adhered to the walls of the left atrium. The direction of flow of the eccentric jet in the left atrium distinguished a flail anterior from a flail posterior leaflet. By transesophageal echocardiography with Doppler color flow mapping, the ratio of mitral regurgitant jet arc length to radius of curvature was significantly higher in Group I than Group II patients (5.0 +/- 2.3 versus 0.7 +/- 0.6, p less than 0.001); all of the Group I patients and none of the Group II patients had a ratio greater than 2.5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Incidence of ruptured chordae tendineae in the mitral valvular prolapse syndrome: an echocardiographic study.

Echocardiographic studies were performed in 190 consecutive patients with mitral valvular prolapse. All patients had either midsystolic posterior motion of the mitral valve or holosystolic hammock-like movement of the valve in systole. Thirteen patients (7 percent) were noted to have ruptured chordae tendineae. In four patients, a combination of abnormalities was observed. Five patients had clinical and bacteriologic evidence of infective endocarditis, two of whom had severe intractable pulmonary edema consequent to acute mitral regurgitation which required mitral valvular replacement. At surgery, one of these patients had ruptured chordae tendineae to both leaflets, and the other had chordal rupture of the posterior leaflet. The other patients probably had spontaneous rupture of the chordae tendineae. A spectrum of clinical findings was noted. Six patients had marked mitral regurgitation, while two had isolated systolic clicks. Thus, chordal rupture does not always result in severe hemodynamic deterioration. Serial echocardiographic studies will be of value in studying the natural history and progression of disease in patients with chordal rupture.     

Statistical comparison of M mode and two dimensional echocardiographic diagnosis of flail mitral leaflets

Forty-five patients who had surgical therapy for pure mitral insufficiency were evaluated prospectively with both M mode and two dimensional echocardiography; 26 patients (Group I) had a flail mitral valve leaflet, and 19 patients (Group II) had intact chordae tendineae. The M mode echocardiographic criteria of a flail valve (systolic left atrial echoes, systolic mitral valve flutter, diastolic mitral flutter and chaotic paradoxic diastolic posterior leaflet motion) were compared statistically with the two dimensional echocardiographic criterion (loss of systolic leaflet coaptation). The presence of one M mode echocardiographic finding had a sensitivity of 60 percent, a specificity of 53 percent, a predictive accuracy of 63 percent and a predictive value of 50 percent. The sensitivity (96 percent), specificity (84 percent), predictive accuracy (89 percent) and predictive value (94 percent) of the two dimensional echocardiogram were statistically superior to those of the M mode study (p < 0.05 or better for each criterion). Thus, two dimensional echocardiography is distinctly superior to M mode echocardiography in the diagnosis of flail mitral valve leaflets.     

Unusual sequelae after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty: a Doppler echocardiographic study.

Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty is a promising new technique for the treatment of mitral stenosis, with a relatively low complication rate reported to date. To assess the sequelae of this procedure, Doppler echocardiographic studies were prospectively performed before and after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty in a series of 172 patients (mean age 53 +/- 17 years). After balloon dilation, mitral valve area increased from 0.9 +/- 0.3 to 2 +/- 0.8 cm2 (p less than 0.0001), mean gradient decreased from 16 +/- 6 to 6 +/- 3 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001) and mean left atrial pressure decreased from 24 +/- 7 to 14 +/- 6 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001). Although most patients were symptomatically improved, six (4%) were identified who had unusual sequelae evident on Doppler echocardiographic examination immediately after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. These included rupture of a posterior mitral valve leaflet, producing a flail distal leaflet portion with severe mitral regurgitation detected on Doppler color flow mapping (n = 1); asymptomatic rupture of the chordae tendineae attached to the anterior mitral valve leaflet with systolic anterior motion of the ruptured chordae into the left ventricular outflow tract (n = 1); a double-orifice mitral valve (n = 1); and evidence of a tear in the anterior mitral valve leaflet (n = 3), producing on both pulsed Doppler ultrasound and color flow mapping a second discrete jet of mitral regurgitation in addition to regurgitation through the main mitral valve orifice. All six patients made a satisfactory recovery and none has required mitral valve replacement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Two-dimensional echocardiographic recognition of ruptured chordae tendineae

Real-time, phased-array, two-dimensional echocardiographic studies identified ruptured chordae tendineae in five patients: four patients had a flail mitral valve and one had flail mitral and tricuspid valves. The characteristic abnormality was a rapid systolic motion of the involved leaflet beyond the line of valve closure into the atrium. The maximal abnormal systolic motion was greatest at the tip of the leaflet with a loss of the normal coaptation point. By contrast, the two-dimensional echocardiographic feature of mitral valve prolapse is an abnormal systolic motion that is maximal in the body of the leaflet with intact leaflet coaptation. Thus, two-dimensional echocardiography can identify flail mitral and tricuspid valves and is useful in distinguishing ruptured chorade from valvular prolapse.     

Comparison of accuracy of transesophageal versus transthoracic echocardiography for the detection of mitral valve prolapse with ruptured chordae tendineae (flail mitral leaflet)

The accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography was compared with that of transthoracic echocardiography in the detection of ruptured chordae tendineae (flail mitral leaflet) in 27 patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) who underwent valve repair or replacement for mitral regurgitation. Confirmation of the presence of ruptured chordae resulting in a flail leaflet was available at surgery in all cases. The echocardiographic studies were read blindly by 2 independent observers with any differences resolved by a third. Mean (+/- standard deviation) age was 63 +/- 13 years. Men (n = 20) outnumbered women (n = 7) (p less than 0.02), and tended to be younger (p = 0.06). Flail leaflets were identified in 20 of 27 patients. In 1 patient, both leaflets were involved and in the remaining 19 patients posterior leaflets (15 patients) were more frequently affected than anterior leaflets (4 patients). Transesophageal echocardiography correctly identified all 20 patients with flail leaflets, but 1 false positive study occurred among the 7 patients without a flail leaflet. In contrast, transthoracic echocardiography identified only 12 of 20 patients with flail leaflets, with no false positive studies. Transesophageal echocardiography was more accurate, correctly classifying 26 of 27 (96%) cases versus 19 of 27 (70%) by the transthoracic approach (p less than 0.01). This study suggests a higher incidence of chordal rupture to the posterior leaflet in patients with MVP and demonstrates improved accuracy of transesophageal over transthoracic echocardiography in the detection of flail leaflets.     

Clinical,echocardiographic, and biomechanical differences in mitral valve prolapse affecting one or both leaflets

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common cause of severe mitral regurgitation necessitating surgical correction. Unileaflet prolapse (ULP), usually involving the posterior leaflet, is more common than bileaflet prolapse (BLP), which is more difficult to repair. Little is known about clinical, echocardiographic, and biomechanical differences between ULP and BLP. In this study, biomechanical testing was performed on mitral valve leaflets and chordae obtained at operation for severe mitral regurgitation. Preoperative clinical characteristics and echocardiographic measurements were obtained on surgical patients (ULP = 88, BLP = 37). Men outnumbered women by a factor of 4:1 in ULP, and by 3:1 in BLP. Patients with BLP were younger (53.2 ± 1.7 vs 59.5 ± 1.1 years) than those with ULP, and this difference was greater in women (48.9 ± 2.5 vs 62.9 ± 2.2 years). BLP patients were less likely to be hypertensive, and more likely to undergo valve replacement rather than repair. Echocardiography showed that BLP leaflets were longer and thicker than ULP leaflets. The severity of mitral regurgitation was similar in both groups, although ULP patients had a much higher incidence of flail leaflets (45% vs 5% in BLP). Mechanical strength of chordae was greater in BLP than in ULP, although leaflet strength was similar. The increased chordal strength in BLP may be responsible for less flail. In patients with MVP and severe mitral regurgitation requiring surgery, ULP and BLP are distinct entities with substantial differences in the population affected, in echocardiographic manifestations including prevalence of flail, in chordal mechanics, and in the likelihood of surgical repair.     

Echocardiography in the diagnosis of rupture of chordae tendineae. Description of a clinical case

A case of ruptured chordae tendineae is reported. The patient, a 53 year old man, had a crescendo-decrescendo holosystolic murmur, a third and a fourth heart sound, that is the typical auscultatory pattern of this lesion. However, M-mode and 2-D echocardiography had a permanent role in arriving at the diagnosis. M-mode echocardiography, in fact, showed a clear systolic flutter of the mitral valve and a large anterior diastolic motion of the posterior mitral leaflet; 2-D echo, besides, revealed a quick systolic motion into the left atrium of the tip of the posterior mitral leaflet and lack of coaptation of mitral leaflet during systole. The patient underwent an operation of valve repair. At the postoperative echocardiographic examination none of the features of flail posterior mitral leaflet were found. This fact can demonstrate the success of the operation.     

Hemolytic anemia produced by regurgitation through transposed chordae tendineae

Hemolytic anemia after mitral repair and annuloplasty ring placement is very uncommon, and rarely described. The case is presented of a 53-year-old woman who developed severe mitral regurgitation and transfusion-dependent hemolytic anemia following mitral valve repair with a Carpentier-Edwards annuloplasty ring, which included transposition of chordae tendineae from the posterior leaflet to the anterior leaflet. Transesophageal echocardiography suggested that the transposed chordae tethered the anterior leaflet, causing malcoaptation of the leaflets. This resulted in central regurgitation divided by the chordae tendineae, producing two turbulent flow jets causing hemolysis. At reoperation, these chordae were removed and two longer Gortex neochordae to the anterior leaflet were placed with subsequent resolution of the anemia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of hemolytic anemia caused by transposed mitral valve chordae tendineae from the posterior to the anterior leaflet.     

人工腱索置入的二尖瓣置换术5年效果分析

目的:评价人工腱索置入的二尖瓣置换术后5年效果。方法:将术后随访>5年的行二尖瓣置换患者分为两组。组1患者二尖瓣置换同时行人工腱索置入;组2二尖瓣置换时保留全部或部分后瓣患者,每组各30例。将术后5年的超声结果进行比较,同时比较术前、术后各组间数据差别。结果:对于二尖瓣替换手术,人工腱索置入与保留瓣下结构患者术后各项指标均有良好的改善,中期效果相当。结论:当二尖瓣置换手术中瓣下结构严重钙化,腱索、乳头肌与瓣膜重度粘连及融合导致其无法保留的风湿性心脏病患者中,人工腱索置入不失为一种合适的选择。     

Role of chordae tendineae in mitral valve opening: two-dimensional echocardiographic evidence

Study of 16 normal and 33 flail mitral valves provides evidence of the active participation of chordae tendineae in mitral valve opening. The normal valves have straight chordae at all phases of opening. During isovolumic relaxation and progressive opening phases, the smooth configuration of the mid-anterior mitral leaflet is broken by a sharp outward "tenting." This tenting is localized at chordal insertions, reflecting significant tension at these points. Flail mitral valves allow comparison of opening motion between mitral segments with normal chordal attachment and flail segments without chordal support. Posterior flail leaflets demonstrate delay in initiation of opening motion relative to the normal anterior leaflet. The most dramatic examples of this delay reveal a maximal opening excursion of the anterior leaflet before the flail posterior leaflet initiates opening motion. The untethered free margins of opening flail anterior leaflets produce the appearance of the flail segment trailing the body of the anterior leaflet with a sharp break in leaflet contour between the supported and unsupported segments. These configurational expressions of mitral valve opening are inconsistent with a passive hemogenic mechanism. They support an active myogenic process mediated through direct traction on the valve by the chordae tendineae.     

Techniques of modified mitral valve replacement with preservation of the posterior leaflet and chordae tendineae

Modified mitral valve replacement (MVR) was performed mostly with mechanical valves in 117 patients consisting of 53 patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and 64 patients with mitral stenosis (MS) or combined mitral valve disease (MSR). Concomitantly, aortic valve replacement (AVR) was carried out in 42 patients, tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) in 26, tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) in 2 and other procedures in 4. There were 3 hospital deaths and 3 late deaths. In this series, 4 types of technique were utilized in order to preserve the posterior leaflet and chordae tendineae. The authors recommend the following techniques. In pure or predominant MS, after removal of the anterior leaflet and chordae, buttress sutures are placed from the valvular annulus to the posterior leaflet near its free margin. In pure or predominant MR, excising part of the posterior leaflet is added prior to the above-described technique. By using these two techniques, modified MVR can be performed for any type of valve lesion and with any kind of prosthetic valve.     

经胸二维超声心动图诊断不同部位二尖瓣脱垂的准确性

目的:评价经胸二维超声心动图诊断不同部位二尖瓣脱垂的准确性及其对术式选择的指导作用。方法:本研究共入选39例患者,均经二维超声心动图诊断为二尖瓣脱垂,并对其脱垂部位,脱垂程度,反流程度及各腔室大小进行了详尽的描述。该39例患者均行外科手术治疗,并将术中所见与超声心动图结果对照,首先根据术中所见瓣叶脱垂部位将患者分为前叶病变组(n=15),后叶病变组(n=19)及双叶病变组(n=5),比较各组间临床及超声心动图特点,明确超声心动图诊断不同部位二尖瓣脱垂的准确性。同时根据手术方式将患者分为瓣膜置换者(n=23)与瓣膜成形者(n=16),比较两类患者间的超声心动图特点。结果:39例患者中,超声心动图诊断与术中所见比较二尖瓣前叶病变组,后叶病变组及双叶病变组分别为14例及15例,22例及19例、3例及5例,诊断瓣叶脱垂伴腱索断裂者为17例及22例,与术中所见比较,该四者的准确率分别为92.3%,87.1%,89.7%及72%。在选择不同手术方式的比较的结果为,二尖瓣前叶及双叶脱垂者多行瓣膜置换术,二尖瓣后叶病变者多行瓣膜成形术。结论:二维超声心动图不仅能较准确地诊断不同部位的二尖瓣脱垂,同时对手术方式的选择具有重要的指导作用。     

Acute mitral regurgitation due to ruptured chordae tendineae in a patient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a case report

A 63-year-old woman had been followed up for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with 85 mmHg of left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient over 7 years. She was hospitalized because of acute dyspnea and syncope. On admission, echocardiography revealed severe mitral regurgitation with ruptured chordae tendineae at the medial scallop of the posterior mitral leaflet. Mitral valve replacement was successfully performed and her symptoms improved to 28 mmHg of left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient. In patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, elevated left ventricular systolic pressure and systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflets may lead to mucoid degeneration in the chordae tendineae. Rupture of the mitral chordae tendineae should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acutely deteriorated mitral regurgitation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, because this is a rare but critical complication.     

Chordae tendineae rupture resulting in pulmonary edema in a patient with discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis--a case report and literature review

This report concerns an apparently healthy elderly woman who presented with gradually worsening mitral regurgitation secondary to chordae tendineae rupture leading to pulmonary edema in the presence of discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis with a severe gradient reflecting the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The gradual worsening of heart failure took place parallel to the increase in severity of mitral regurgitation in a short period. The patient underwent successful mitral valve replacement with myectomy. Surgical inspection revealed rupture of the chordae tendineae to the posterior leaflets without any significant primary intrinsic disease of the mitral valve. The predominant mechanism of chordae tendineae rupture in this patient with discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis is a severe pressure gradient. It is suggested that increased awareness of chordae tendineae rupture as a cause of mitral regurgitation and the prompt use of appropriate diagnostic tools may facilitate the timely recognition of this potentially fatal, but treatable, cause of mitral regurgitation in patients with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.     

二尖瓣腱索断裂292例临床分析

目的 探讨二尖瓣腱索断裂的临床特征、发病规律及其治疗方法 .方法 对292例二尖瓣腱索断裂住院患者的临床资料及病理检查结果 进行回顾性分析.结果 前叶腱索断裂99例(33.9%),后叶腱索断裂180例(61.6%),前后叶腱索均断裂13例(4.5%).腱索部分断裂266例(91.1%),完全断裂26例(8.9%).214例(73.3%)为特发性腱索断裂,78例(26.7%)为继发性腱索断裂(P<0.05).特发性腱索断裂多为黏液样变性所致,发病年龄较大,多为男性,且以后叶居多;继发性二尖瓣腱索断裂的病因多为感染性心内膜炎、冠心病、先天性心脏病、风湿性心脏病,发病年龄较小,多为男性,且以前叶居多.结论 二尖瓣腱索断裂后叶发病率高于前叶,前后叶腱索均断裂较少见.特发性二尖瓣腱索断裂较继发性腱索断裂多见.     

M mode and two dimensional echocardiography in mitral and aortic regurgitation: Pre- and postoperative evaluation of volume overload of the left ventricle

Both M mode and two dimensional echocardiography are useful in determining the origin of mitral regurgitation. Two dimensional echocardiography appears to be superior to M mode echocardiography in the diagnosis of a flail leaflet, papillary muscle dysfunction and cleft mitral valve. It is possible to differentiate valvular causes from myocardial causes of regurgitation. Unfortunately, the severity of mitral regurgitation is difficult to quantify with either the M mode or the two dimensional technique. Echocardiography does allow differentiation of acute forms of mitral and aortic regurgitation from chronic volume overload of the left ventricle. Rupture of chordae tendineae is the most common cause of acute mitral regurgitation, and two dimensional echocardiography is 96 percent sensitive in its detection. Bacterial endocarditis, flail aortic valve and dissecting aneurysm as causes of acute aortic regurgitation can be detected with two dimensional echocardiography. Systolic left ventricular cavity dimension, percent fractional shortening and ejection fraction are important variables in predicting optimal time for surgery in patients with chronic aortic and mitral regurgitation. The noninvasive technique of echocardiography may be especially useful in decision making in the asymptomatic patient.     

Transesophageal echocardiography as predictor of mitral valve repair

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Mitral valve repair has recently emerged as the treatment of choice in patients presenting with insufficiency due to valve prolapse. The study aims were to evaluate: (i) the clinical presentation in a consecutive series of patients with mitral valve prolapse undergoing surgical repair; (ii) the correlation between pre- and intraoperative echocardiographic features and surgical findings in these patients; and (iii) whether clinical and echocardiographic data may predict surgical outcome. METHODS: Between March 1997 and May 2000, 152 patients (110 men, 42 women; mean age 59+/-13 years) were recruited into the study. All patients had myxomatous mitral valve disease causing severe regurgitation and underwent systematic examination by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for clear delineation of the three scallops of the posterior leaflet and juxtaposed segments of the anterior leaflet. RESULTS: In 119 patients (78%) a flail valve was documented by TEE and confirmed on surgical inspection; an anterior leaflet chordal rupture was not visualized by TEE in one case. In 15 cases (10%) there was flail of the anterior leaflet, and in 105 cases (69%) flail of the posterior leaflet. A bileaflet complex prolapse without chordal rupture was found in 32 cases. On the basis of TEE evaluation, mitral valve replacement was performed electively in 10 patients (7%); the other 142 (93%) underwent mitral valve repair. Adequate repair was obtained in 93% of cases; residual mitral regurgitation (eight cases; grade 3+) and mitral stenosis (one case) were documented by intraoperative TEE, and nine patients (6%) underwent valve replacement. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with myxomatous mitral valve prolapse and severe regurgitation undergoing valve repair have chordal rupture of the posterior mitral leaflet, a condition in which results of valve repair are excellent. TEE provides a powerful means to define the mechanisms of mitral regurgitation and to identify the suitability of patients for valvuloplasty.     

Mechanisms of severe mitral regurgitation in mitral valve prolapse determined from analysis of operatively excised valves

Certain clinical and mitral valvular morphologic findings are described in 83 patients (age 26 to 79 years [mean, 60]; 26 women [31%] and 57 men [69%]) with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral regurgitation (MR) severe enough to warrant mitral valve replacement. All 83 operatively excised valves were examined by the same person, and all excised valves had been purely regurgitant (no element of stenosis). No patients had hemodynamic evidence of dysfunction of the aortic valve. In each valve a portion of the posterior mitral leaflet was elongated such that the distance from the distal margin to basal attachment of this leaflet was similar to the distance from the distal margin of the anterior leaflet to its basal attachment to the left atrial wall. Two major mechanisms for the severe MR were found: dilatation of the mitral anulus with or without rupture of chordae tendineae and rupture of chordae tendineae with or without dilatation of the mitral anulus. Of the 83 patients, 48 (58%) had both dilated anuli (greater than 11 cm in circumference) and ruptured chordae tendineae; 16 (19%) had dilated anuli without ruptured chordae, and 16 (19%) had ruptured chordae without significant anular dilatation. In three patients the anulus was not dilated, nor were chordae ruptured, and therefore the mechanism of the MR is uncertain. Mitral chordal rupture was nearly as frequent in the 64 patients with clearly dilated anular circumferences as in the 19 patients with normal or insignificantly dilated anular circumferences (less than or equal to 11 cm).     

Mitral valve echoes in patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome.

Echocardiology is an important tool in diagnosing patients with the mitral valve prolapse (MVP) syndrome. An unusual echocardiographic finding reported in this study was observed in 12 of 83 patients (14.5 per cent) with MVP syndrome. The finding consisted of a pattern of multiple, high-intensity parallel echoes behind the anterior mitral leaflet noted throughout diastole which in character were closely akin to those previously observed in left atrial myxoma or hemodynamically significant flail mitral valve leaflet. These latter diagnoses were excluded by other criteria. The prevalence of this finding in patients with MVP was significantly increased (P < .01 by Chi-square contingency testing) when contrasted with 44 patients without MVP. There was no identifying feature in the clinical history or physical examination which could be used to predict those in whom the diastolic echoes were observed. However, a significant increase in dysrhythmias as recorded by routine electrocardiogram or 24-hour Holter monitoring was noted. Angiographic information obtained in selected patients suggested that the posterior leaflet per se caused these diastolic echoes. Because of patulous transformation of the valve, elongation of the chordae, or loss of support of the papillary muscle from the posterior free wall, the posterior leaflet appeared drawn forward toward the anterior leaflet, perhaps from a venturi-like effect caused by the rapid ingress of blood during diastolic filling. This malpositioning of the posterior leaflet was not associated with significant mitral regurgitation and appears to represent but another facet in the spectrum of mitral valve prolapse.