Mitral valve prolapse due to coronary artery disease

Controversy exists concerning the etiologic role of coronary artery disease in the prolapsing mitral valve leaflet syndrome. A 35 year old man with progressive coronary artery disease is described. Auscultation before and after his first myocardial infarction revealed only a fourth heart sound; subsequent left ventricular cineangiography demonstrated normal anatomy and function of the mitral valve, despite extensive wall motion abnormalities. Six months later he experienced another myocardial infarction after which the typical mid-systolic click, late systolic murmur of mitral valve prolapse developed. A second left ventricular cineanglogram at this time revealed mid-systolic mitral valve prolapse and mitral regurgitation. This patient's course indicates that myocardial damage from coronary artery disease can cause mitral valve prolapse in patients without preexisting redundant mitral valve tissue.     

Frequency and significance of M-mode echocardiographic evidence of mitral valve prolapse in clinically isolated pure mitral regurgitation: analysis of 65 patients having mitral valve replacement

To assess the reliability of M-mode echocardiographic patterns of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) (echo MVP) in detection of morphologic evidence of MVP (morphologic MVP), operatively excised mitral valves and corresponding M-mode echocardiograms from 65 patients with chronic, severe, isolated, pure mitral regurgitation (MR) were studied. Of the 65 patients, 45 (69%) had echo MVP (either holosystolic or mid-to-late systolic prolapse patterns on preoperative M-mode echograms) and 42 (93%) of them had morphologic MVP; of the 3 without morphologic MVP, 2 had ruptured chordae tendineae from infective endocarditis and 1 had papillary muscle dysfunction from atherosclerotic coronary heart disease. Of the 20 patients without echo MVP, 14 (70%) had no morphologic MVP (9 had papillary muscle dysfunction from coronary heart disease, 4 had infective endocarditis on previous normal valves and 1 had rheumatic heart disease). Of the 48 patients with morphologic MVP, 42 (88%) had echo MVP and most had considerably dilated mitral anulae; the other 6 had ruptured chordae tendineae with less degrees of anular dilatation. Of the 17 patients without morphologic MVP, 3 had echo MVP (coronary artery disease in 1 and infective endocarditis on a previous normal valve in 2); of the 14 with neither echo nor morphologic MVP, 9 had papillary muscle dysfunction from coronary artery disease, 4 had infective endocarditis on previously normal valves and 1 had rheumatic heart disease. The patients with very dilated mitral anuli and leaflet areas generally had holosystolic (hammocking) patterns on echo; the patients with small anuli and leaflet areas usually had mid-to-late systolic (buckling) prolapse patterns.     

Three‐Dimensional Echocardiography‐Based Prediction of Posterior Leaflet Resection

Clinical long‐term outcomes have shown that partial leaflet resection followed by ring annuloplasty is a reliable and reproducible surgical repair technique for treatment of mitral valve (MV) leaflet prolapse. We report a 61‐year‐old male for three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE)‐based virtual posterior leaflet resection and ring annuloplasty. Severe mitral regurgitation was found and computational evaluation demonstrated substantial leaflet malcoaptation and high stress concentration. Following virtual resection and ring annuloplasty, posterior leaflet prolapse markedly decreased, sufficient leaflet coaptation was restored, and high stress concentration disappeared. Virtual MV repair strategies using 3DTEE have the potential to help optimize MV repair.     

High Occurrence of Mitral Valve Prolapse in Cardiac Catheterization Patients with Pure Isolated Mitral Regurgitation

ABSTRACT. Danielsen R, Nordrehaug JE, Vik-Mo H (Department of Clinical Physiology, Haukeland Hospital, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway). High occurrence of mitral valve prolapse in cardiac catheterization patients with pure isolated mitral regurgitation. Acta Med Scand 1987; 221:33–8. The aetiological spectrum of angiographically verified pure isolated mitral regurgitation (MR) was studied in 48 consecutive adult patients (35 males). Severe MR was found in 35 patients (73%) and moderate MR in 13 patients (27%). Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) syndrome was found in 21 patients (44%). These were younger than the rest of the study population (55±13 vs. 62±6 years, p<0.05) and 15 (71%) of them were men. Endocarditis and chordal rupture occurred in 19% and 43% of the MVP patients. Sixteen patients (33%) had MR secondary to myocardial infarction while only three patients (6%) had MR of rheumatic aetiology. Bacterial endocarditis, hypertensive heart disease, hypertrophic obstructive car-diomyopathy and mitral annulus calcification were less frequently found. Mitral valve replacement was done in 20 (57%) of the patients with severe MR and MVP was the underlying disease in 15 (75%) of these patients. In conclusion, MVP is a frequent cause of pure isolated MR and of mitral valve replacement. In contrast to the preponderance of young females amongst MVP patients in population surveys, most of the MVP patients with MR in this study are middle-aged and elderly men.     

Multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography and morphology of regurgitant mitral valves in surgical repair

Background: An essential step in the surgical management ofpatients with mitral regurgitation, is a thorough understandingof the pathophysiological mechanism. This information can beobtained by multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography whichdisplays all the components of the incompetent valve. Methods and results: Forty-nine patients were scanned intra-operativelyby multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography, and findingscompared with those at visual inspection during surgery. Thepre-operative diagnosis was prolapse of the anterior mitralleaflet in nine patients (sensitivity 100%, specificity 95%),prolapse of the posterior leaflet in 17 patients (sensitivity100%, specificity 94%) and prolapse of both leaflets in eightpatients (sensitivity 87%, specificity 100%). In 11 patientsannular dilatation with no abnormalities in mitral leaflet closureor motion was diagnosed (sensitivity 73%, specificity 100%).Two patients had a false-positive diagnosis of prolapse of theanterior leaflet, two others on the posterior leaflet. A prolapseof both leaflets was overlooked in one patient. Multiplane transoesophagealechocardiography scanned the mitral valve, disclosing the extentof pathology along the closure line of leaflets in 88% of patientswith mitral valve prolapse. The antero-posterior diameter of the mitral annulus was measured:a diameter over 35 mm indicated annular dilatation. Using thiscriterion, sensitivity was 89% and specificity 100%. Conclusions: Multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography enabledcomponents of the mitral valve to be examined systematically,and provided important information on the pathophysiologicalmechanism of mitral regurgitation before surgical repair. Themethod also allowed the surgical outcome to be assessed, offeringthe possibility of optimal repair.     

Association of aortic valve sclerosis and coronary artery disease in patients with severe nonischemic mitral regurgitation

BACKGROUND: The presence of aortic valve sclerosis accounts for a higher rate of ischemic events and increased cardiovascular mortality. It may reflect coronary artery disease (CAD) because of a shared pathologic background. HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to analyze whether the presence of aortic valve sclerosis might help in identifying patients with coronary atherosclerosis among those with severe nonischemic mitral regurgitation (MR), who undergo coronary angiography before surgery for screening, and not because of suspected ischemic heart disease. METHODS: In all, 84 patients (mean age 64 +/- 9 years; 71% men) with mitral valve prolapse and severe regurgitation underwent echocardiography and coronary angiography. Aortic valve sclerosis was defined as focal areas of increased echogenicity and thickening of the leaflets without restriction of leaflet motion on echocardiography. Coronary artery disease was defined by the presence/absence of atherosclerotic plaques, independent of the degree of stenosis. RESULTS: Coronary artery disease was diagnosed in 47.6% of patients with and 15.8% of those without aortic valve sclerosis (p = 0.008). On logistic regression analysis, the presence of aortic valve sclerosis predicted CAD (odds ratio 3.3, 95% confidence interval 1.03-10.5; p = 0.04) independent of age. In female patients, the risk ratio for CAD in the presence of aortic valve sclerosis was 9. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery atherosclerosis and aortic valve sclerosis are closely associated in patients with severe nonischemic MR.     

Ergonovine testing for coronary artery spasm in patients with angiographic mitral valve prolapse

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) has been postulated to be a pathophysiologic mechanism in the production of ischemic-like chest pain and ECG changes in patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse syndrome. To evaluate the possible role of symptomatic CAS evoked by ergonovine maleate, this agent was administered (0.05 to 0.4 mg IV) to 24 patients with chest pain and mitral valve prolapse who had no significant (<50%) coronary artery obstruction. Symptoms, ECG and blood pressure changes were monitored in all patients following ergonovine administration. No significant changes were observed in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, or double product. Six patients developed their typical chest pain. In two of these six with chest pain, ST segment shifts >1 mm were seen. Post-ergonovine left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and coronary angiographic changes were also studied in a subgroup of 12 of these patients, including five of the six chest pain responders. In the five chest pain responders, pain was associated with a significant rise in LVEDP, whereas no significant change occurred in those patients not experiencing chest pain (p<0.01). Chest pain was also associated with significant CAS (>50% lumen reduction) in two patients, each with ST segment shifts >1 mm. In summary, ergonovine stimulation failed to evoke symptoms, ECG or blood pressure changes in three quarters of mitral valve prolapse patients studied. Six patients developed chest pain. Chest pain was associated with ECG changes characteristic of CAS in two of these patients, each with angiographic CAS. Thus, symptomatic CAS induced by ergonovine was absent in the majority of these 24 patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse syndrome.     

Mitral valve prolapse in patients with coronary artery disease. Echocardiographic-angiographic correlation.

Echocardiography was performed in 25 consecutive patients with angina pectoris and angiographically demonstrable coronary artery disease. Left ventricular echograms detected late or pansystolic mitral valve bowing suggesting of mitral valve proplapse in 6/25 (24%). Left ventricular angiography showed prolapse of the posterior mitral leaflet in 15/25 (60%), including 5 detected by echocardiography. Significant triple vessel coronary disease was present in 11 of 15 patients with prolapsed mitralvalve. In each of the latter a greater than 90 per cent obstructive lesion was noted in at least one coronary artery: right coronary artery, 9 subjects (82%); left circumflex coronary artery, 5 patients (33%); and left anterior descending coronary artery, 4 patients (27%). Of 15 subjects with angiographic evidence of mitral valve prolapse, 13 had left ventricular asynergy-inferior or inferoposterior in 8 subjects (62%) and anterior or anteroapical in 5 subjects (38%). Eleven subjects had vectorcardiographic evidence of transmural myocardial infarction-inferior or inferoposterior in 9 (82%) and anteroseptal in 2 (18%). A single subject with mitral valve prolapse had mild mitral regurgitation. It is concluded that: (1) coexisting prolapse of the posterior mitral valve leaflet and coronary artery disease is usually associated with triple vessel obstructive lesions, (2) severe right coronary disease, inferior left ventricular wall asynergy, and inferior myocardial infarction are important angiographic and vectorcardiographic correlates, and (3) echocardiography will detect such mitral valve prolapse in only one-third of affected cases.     

Colour Doppler echocardiographic assessment of regurgitant flow in mitral valve prolapse

Colour flow mapping was used to examine the pattern of regurgitantflow in 46 patients with mitral regurgitation due to mitralvalve prolapse. Valve morphology was assessed from the real-timetwo-dimensional image and the presence of mitral regurgitationwas determined from real time Doppler. On morphological criteria11 (24%) patients had isolated or predominant anterior leafletprolapse, 22 (48%) patients posterior and 13 (28%) patientsbi-leaflet prolapse. A single regurgitant jet was detected in43 patients (93%) and multiple jets in three (7%). The directionof the regurgitant jet was assessed in multiple views in twoorthogonal planes (antero-posterior and medial-lateral) definedin relation to the mitral valve leaflets. The regurgitant jetwas eccentric in the antero-posterior plane of the mitral leafletsin 40 of 45 (89%) cases and in the medial-lateral plane in 36of 40 (90%) cases. Posterior leaflet prolapse was usually associatedwith antero-medially directed jets, anterior leaflet prolapsewith postero-central or postero-lateral jets and bi-leafletprolapse with predominantly postero-medial jets. In a subgroupof patients with significant mitral regurgitation and an eccentricregurgitant jet, a ‘swirling’ effect was producedwith late systolic flow in the body of the left atrium towardthe mitral valve. Colour flow mapping in patients with mitral regurgitation dueto mitral valve prolapse demonstrated eccentric jets in mostpatients. The direction of regurgitant flow appeared to dependgreatly on the dynamic anatomy of the mitral valve leafletsduring systole. Although a single jet was detected in most patients,multiple jets did occur in a minority.     

Role of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiograpny in mitral valve repair

Background and objective Pre-operative assessment of mitral valve(MV)anatomy is essential to surgical design in patientsundergoing MV repair.Although 2-dimensional(2D)echocardiography provides precise information regarding MV anatomy,RT-3DTEE could increase the understanding of MV apparatus and individual scallop identification.We aimed to investigate the value of RT-3DTEE in MV repair. Methods RT-3DTEE was performed in six patients with mitral valve prolapse(MVP) by using Philips IE33with X7-2t probe.Preoperative RT-3DTEE studies were compared with surgical findings in patients undergoing surgical mitral valverepair,and quantitative evaluation was performed by QLab 6.0 software before and after surgicalmitralvalve repair.Results RT-3DTEE could display dynamic morphology of MV,the location of prolapse,and spatial relation to the surrounding tissue.It couldprovide surgical views of the valves and the valvular apparatus.These resuIts were consistent with surgical findings.The quantitativeevahuation before and after surgical MV repair indicated that anterolateral to posteromedial diameter of annalus.anterior to posteriordiameter of annulus,perimeter of annullus.,and area of annalus in projectionplane were significantlv smaller after operation comparedwith those before operation(P＜0.05).The length of posterior leaflet,,the area of anterior and posterior leaflet,the maximal prolapseheight,the volume of leaflet prolapse and the length of coaptation in projection planewere significantly reduced after operation(P＜0.05).Conclusion RT-3DTEE is a unique new medality for rapid and accurate evaluation of mitral valve prolapse and miwal valverepair.     

二尖瓣成形术治疗二尖瓣后叶脱垂

目的分析总结33例非风湿性二尖瓣后叶脱垂成形手术的效果。方法回顾性分析我院2005年5月至2011年5月行二尖瓣成形术治疗二尖瓣后叶脱垂（除外其他合并畸形、风湿性病变及前叶脱垂）患者33例,男性18例,女性15例,平均年龄46．5岁。术前二尖瓣中重度关闭不全9例、二尖瓣重度关闭不全24例。通过部分瓣叶矩形切除、瓣环环缩及成形环的综合运用修复二尖瓣,同期置入二尖瓣爱德华弹性环28枚。结果全组病例均痊愈出院,无围术期死亡。患者术前心脏彩超检查：左房内径（49．26±17．13）mm,左室内径（60．29±8．32）mm,射血分数（66．1±9．6）％,左室短轴缩短率29．78±6．81。术后1周心脏彩超检查：左房内径（40．23±7．93）mm,左室内径（50．63±4．67）mm,射血分数（53．0±8-3）％,左室短轴缩短率23．50±5．01。术后6个月复查心脏彩超检查：左房内径（36．16±7．46）mm,左室内径（45．61±5．67）mm,射血分数（65．0±7．6）％,左室短轴缩短率29．67±5．91。随诊6-70个月,平均随访18．2个月,二尖瓣功能正常或有微量反流22例,有微少量和少量反流9例,有少中量反流2例。无因二尖瓣关闭不全而再次手术者。结论对于二尖瓣后叶脱垂的病变,术中在经食管超声的帮助下,通过部分瓣叶矩形切除、瓣环环缩及成形环的综合运用,能够修复几乎所有非风湿性所导致的二尖瓣后叶脱垂,避免瓣膜置换。对于非风湿性二尖瓣后叶病变,瓣膜成形技术成熟、可靠,修复效果满意。     

Cross-sectional echocardiographic spectrum of papillary muscle dysfunction.

Cross-sectional echocardiography identified two abnormal patterns of mitral valve closure in 14 patients with mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle dysfunction: (1) in three patients with an akinetic inferior-posterior wall but normal cavity size, papillary muscle fibrosis was associated with late systolic mitral valve prolapse, and (2) in nine patients with ventricular dilatation or ventricular aneurysm, the point of mitral valve coaptation was displaced towards the apex of the left ventricle. In two of these patients both abnormalities were observed. In contrast, abnormal patterns were identified in only four of a group of 40 patients without angiographic evidence of mitral regurgitation (10, normal; 27, coronary artery disease; three, congestive cardiomyopathy). Thus, cross-sectional echocardiography can be useful to identify mitral regurgitation secondary to papillary muscle dysfunction.     

The multifactorial etiology of mitral valve prolapse, a new entity of postinflammatory mitral valve prolapse

As etiologic factors for mitral valve prolapse, papillary muscle dysfunction due to coronary artery disease, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, atrial septal defect and trauma have been reported. Connective tissue diseases such as Marfan's syndrome. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Turner's syndrome may also result in mitral valve prolapse. In the majority of patients with mitral valve prolapse, however, the etiology is unknown, in which case the condition is considered primary or idiopathic. We evaluated 33 consecutive surgically-excised mitral valves removed from patients with regurgitant prolapsing mitral valves and congestive heart failure. On microscopic examination, myxomatous degeneration was observed in 14 cases, postinflammatory changes, however, were seen in the other 19 cases and included diffuse vascularization with thick-walled vessels, round-cell infiltration and destruction of valve architecture. These valves showed a varying degree of doming and/or interchordal hooding as well as an increased surface area. Elongated chordae tendineae were seen in 37%, chordal rupture in 16% of the patients. Slightly fused chordae tendineae, minimal commissural fusion and/or fibrous thickening of cusps were also observed, findings which simulate closely rheumatic valvulitis. Patients with postinflammatory mitral valve prolapse were younger at the time of operation and at the onset of symptoms, had smaller surface areas of the anterior mitral leaflet and more marked leaflet thickening than patients with myxomatous mitral valve prolapse. The results of the study show that mitral valve prolapse in patients with severe mitral regurgitation can be attributed to postinflammatory changes; we suggest, therefore, the term "postinflammatory valve prolapse". Postinflammatory mitral valve prolapse may be due to manifest or subclinical rheumatic fever.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical and echocardiographic features of isolated severe pure mitral regurgitation

Recent studies have shown that rheumatic heart disease is no longer the main cause of isolated severe pure mitral regurgitation. In this study, we evaluated various clinical and echocardiographic features found in the syndrome of mitral regurgitation. Our data is consistent with recent reports that mitral valve prolapse and coronary artery disease are now the predominant causes of mitral regurgitation and that rheumatic heart disease is a much less common etiology. In addition, our data suggest that clinical evaluation alone is usually very accurate in identifying the correct etiology. Various clinical and echocardiographic features found in the subsets of acute and chronic mitral regurgitation are described. Specifically, patients with acute mitral regurgitation were more likely to have echocardiographic evidence of segmental left ventricular dysfunction and flail mitral valve leaflet. In chronic mitral regurgitation, atrial fibrillation and left atrial dilatation were more commonly present. Echocardiography was found to be more useful in the detection of the complications of coronary artery disease rather than in identifying its presence. Patients with a New York Heart Association classification of IV and those with echocardiographic evidence of an increased left ventricular end-systolic dimension or left ventricular hypertrophy had a worse prognosis.     

Advances in percutaneous treatment for adult valvular heart disease

Valvular heart disease occurs in 2–3% of the general population with an increase in prevalence with advancing age. The aetiology of valvular heart disease has evolved in recent decades with degenerative aortic and mitral valve disease supplanting rheumatic heart disease as a primary cause. The common valve lesions to be discussed in this article are aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. The traditional approach to calcific aortic stenosis when either symptoms or left ventricular impairment develops is surgical aortic valve replacement and it remains a treatment with excellent outcomes. In recent years there has been interest in less invasive approaches, including percutaneous and transapical aortic valve implantation. With refinements in technology these approaches are becoming a potential treatment option, primarily for high-risk patients who may otherwise be unsuitable for traditional open surgical treatment. Catheter-based approaches for mitral valve disease are also evolving. Mitral regurgitation may often be the result of mitral annular dilatation seen in patients with an enlarged left ventricle or left atrium. Percutaneous implantation of a constricting device in the coronary sinus, which lies in close proximity to the mitral annulus, results in a change to the geometry of the mitral valve and reduced regurgitation. Another technique in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation is the endovascular edge-to-edge repair in which coaptation of the mitral valve leaflets can be improved with a percutaneously deployed clip. Small patient series indicate that these new techniques are promising. As such, advances in percutaneous interventional and surgical approaches have the potential to further improve outcomes for selected patients with valvular heart disease.     

Left ventricular geometry and operative mortality in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Distortion of left ventricular (LV) shape is often associated with LV dysfunction and is thought to be an independent predictor of survival in patients with coronary disease. HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between LV geometry and hospital mortality in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing mitral valve surgery. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients (aged 68+/-12 years, 47% men) (n = 149) with MR who underwent cardiac catheterization, left ventriculography, and mitral valve surgery from 1995 to 1996 at Mount Sinai Medical Center was studied. Left ventriculograms, clinical records, and hemodynamics were reviewed. Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were calculated using standard techniques. Left ventricular shape in diastole and systole was evaluated using the sphericity index, which is defined as the end-systolic LV volume (x 100) divided by the volume of a sphere whose diameter is equal to the LV long axis. RESULTS: In the patients studied, the etiology of mitral insufficiency was mitral valve prolapse in 40.9%, ischemic heart disease in 40.3%, rheumatic heart disease in 11.4%, and prosthetic valvular dysfunction in 7.4%. The average ejection fraction was 65%+/-17. Systolic sphericity index (SSI) was 36%+/-15 in patients who died, compared with 25%+/-11 in patients who lived (p < 0.001). A multivariate model was constructed using hemodynamic and angiographic indices derived during preoperative cardiac catheterization. Systolic sphericity index (odds ratio = 1.6 for each point increase, p < 0.01) was found to be an independent predictor of postoperative survival in the global population, as well as in patients with coronary disease (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Left ventricular geometry is an independent angiographic risk factor for survival following mitral valve replacement. Sphericity index is a simple method for assessing LV geometry which should be calculated in patients as part of risk stratification.     

经食管实时三维超声检测风湿性心脏病患者二尖瓣对合指数的研究

目的:应用经食管实时三维超声心动图检测风湿性心脏病(RHD)患者二尖瓣对合指数,探讨其定量二尖瓣对合程度的可行性及临床价值。方法:选取合并有二尖瓣反流的RHD患者16例作为RHD组,无瓣膜病变且无瓣膜反流的志愿者16例作为对照组。①2组均行经食管实时三维超声心动图检查,应用二尖瓣定量分析程序对三维原始图像进行脱机分析,对相同时相的二尖瓣瓣叶及瓣环进行逐帧描记,分别获取2组在收缩末期及舒张早期的二尖瓣瓣叶面积、瓣环三维周长、瓣环二维投影面积。计算出2组的二尖瓣对合面积及对合指数。②2组均行常规超声心动图检查,测量2组舒张末期左室内径、收缩末期左室内径、左房内径及左室射血分数,并测量RHD组二尖瓣反流面积。结果:RHD组与对照组均能成功得到二尖瓣对合面积并可以计算出二尖瓣对合指数,且RHD组的对合指数明显小于对照组[(10.4±2.8)%:(28.1±3.8)%,P<0.001]。2组的前瓣叶对合指数均小于后瓣叶(RHD组P=0.03,对照组P=0.075)。RHD组的二尖瓣瓣叶面积、左房内径、瓣环三维周长、瓣环二维投影面积均大于对照组(均P<0.01)。结论:应用经食管实时三维超声心动图技术及相关二尖瓣定量分析程序可得到二尖瓣对合指数。合并有二尖瓣反流的RHD患者二尖瓣对合指数明显小于正常人。因此该参数可作为定量评估RHD患者二尖瓣对合程度的形态学指标。     

Pigtail catheter “propping” for MitraClip percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve repair

In recent years percutaneous therapy has emerged as a feasible and effective option for the treatment of mitral regurgitation, particularly in cases where the risks of conventional cardiac surgery are prohibitively high. To date the most widely used percutaneous approach is beating heart, edge‐to‐edge repair with the MitraClip device (Abbott Vascular‐Structural Heart, Menlo Park, CA). The technique requires simultaneous grasping and approximation of both mitral valve leaflets prior to securing and releasing the clip. However, this may be technically challenging or indeed impossible in patients with failure of coaptation, particularly when there is a large coaptation gap. We present an approach for overcoming this relatively common obstacle based on “propping” the anterior mitral valve leaflet toward its posterior counterpart with a diagnostic pigtail catheter to reduce the coaptation gap and to allow grasping of both leaflets without difficulty. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

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。     

Imaging characteristics of papillary muscle site of origin of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mitral valve prolapse

1 Background

Mitral valve prolapse has been associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias. We aimed to examine whether certain cardiac imaging characteristics are associated with papillary muscle origin of ventricular arrhythmias in these patients.

2 Methods and results

We screened electronic medical records of all patients documented to have mitral valve prolapse on either transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in our center, who also underwent an electrophysiologic study (EPS) between 2007 and 2016. Anterior and posterior mitral leaflet thickness and prolapsed distance were measured on TTE and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was assessed on CMR. Patients were categorized as papillary muscle positive (pap (+)) or negative (pap (?)) using EPS. Eighteen patients were included in this study. Of the 15 patients who underwent TTE, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the pap (+) group had an anterior to posterior leaflet prolapse ratio of >0.45 indicating more symmetric leaflet prolapse. There were no differences in anterior or posterior leaflet thickness or prolapse distance between the groups. Patients in the pap (+) group were more likely to be women. Of the 7 patients who underwent CMR, those who were pap (+) were more likely to have LGE in the region of the papillary muscles than those who were pap (?).

3 Conclusion

Female gender, more symmetric bileaflet prolapse on TTE, and the presence of papillary muscle LGE on CMR may be associated with papillary muscle origin of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mitral valve prolapse.