经胸与经食管超声心动图诊断二尖瓣脱垂并腱索断裂准确性的比较

目的:比较经胸与经食管超声心动图诊断二尖瓣脱垂并腱索断裂的准确性.方法:选择经胸与经食管超声心动图检查诊断为二尖瓣脱垂伴或不伴腱索断裂并行手术治疗的患者21例,以术中所见为标准,明确两者诊断二尖瓣脱垂并腱索断裂的准确性,同时比较它们在判断病因及病变部位等方面的作用.结果:术前检查21例二尖瓣脱垂的患者中,经胸超声心动图诊断有8例患者发生腱索断裂,经食管超声心动图诊断为15例患者发生腱索断裂,与手术结果比较,两者的诊断准确率分别为71%和95%,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:经食管超声心动图较经胸超声心动图能更准确地诊断二尖瓣脱垂并腱索断裂,从而为术式的选择提供更可靠的依据.     

二尖瓣和瓣环的Voxel模型三维重建超声显像及其在二尖瓣脱垂中的应用

本文旨在评价经食管体元模型动态三维重建超声显像在二尖瓣脱垂诊断中的价值.研究对象为22例门诊和住院心血管病患者,男12例,女10例,年龄27～56岁,平均40.6±9.3岁,其中三尖瓣正常者12例,经手术证实的二尖瓣脱垂患者10例.图像采集选用美国HewlettPackard Sonos 2500多功能超声诊断仪和5MHz多平面经食管探头.动态三维超声重建采用德国Tomtec计算机工作站.12例二尖瓣正常者和10例二尖瓣脱垂者均能耐受经食管三维超声检查,获得满意的三维图像.用提取法对收缩期二尖瓣环进行三维重建,可得到一静态、立体的二尖瓣环形态.其前叶侧和后叶侧瓣环最高,左右交界侧瓣环最低,整个二尖瓣环呈一立体“马鞍”形,正常组和脱垂组二尖瓣环形态相似.10例二尖瓣脱垂者均能立体显示病变瓣膜的形态特征.从左房往左室方向观察,在心脏收缩期,脱垂部位象“伞面”状飘向在心房,并可精确显示二尖瓣脱垂累及前叶、后叶、前后叶均累及的情况,以及脱垂的具体部位.此外,三维重建后还能直接测量瓣叶脱垂的横径和纵径,明确脱垂大小.结果与术中所见相似.经食管体元模型动态三维重建超声显像能够正确诊断二尖瓣脱垂,且无假阳性和假阴性,具有临床推广意义.     

二维及三维超声心动图诊断左房室瓣脱垂在外科手术中的应用

目的通过二维及三维超声心动图诊断左房室瓣脱垂的部位及病理分型,选择合适的外科手术。方法 30例左房室瓣脱垂患者,于左房室瓣外科手术前行二维及三维经胸超声心动图检查,分析左房室瓣瓣膜病变特点,并与外科手术结果对照。结果二维及三维经胸超声心动图定性诊断左房室瓣脱垂的准确率为100%,诊断左房室瓣脱垂病理类型准确率为93.31%（28/30）,定位诊断左房室瓣前、后叶病变区域的准确率为90.0%（27/30）。结论二维及三维经胸超声心动图能清晰显示左房室瓣脱垂的病因及具体部位,选择合适的外科手术。     

反流类型结合彩色多普勒血流汇聚征象在定位二尖瓣脱垂部位的应用价值

目的:探讨应用反流类型结合二尖瓣血流汇聚征象在诊断二尖瓣脱垂部位的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析36例经手术证实的二尖瓣脱垂患者的超声心动图资料。与单纯二维超声心动图相比较,评价二尖瓣反流类型及血流汇聚征象在定位二尖瓣小叶脱垂部位的应用价值。结果:在36例二尖瓣脱垂患者中,手术证实有46个小叶脱垂。二维超声诊断准确率为74%;二维+二尖瓣反流类型+血流汇聚诊断的准确率为91%。结论:二尖瓣反流类型结合血流汇聚征象有助于提高经胸超声心动图诊断二尖瓣脱垂部位的准确性。     

经食管实时三维超声心动图对退行性二尖瓣病变瓣膜装置的定量研究

目的:定量研究退行性二尖瓣病变瓣膜装置立体结构特点,分析引起瓣膜反流的机制。方法:30例二尖瓣退行性病变大量反流病例组,25例无二尖瓣反流瓣膜结构功能正常对照组,分别进行经食管实时三维超声检查(Live 3D-TEE),测量2组收缩期时二尖瓣装置参数进行统计学分析,病例组术前诊断病变部位与术中所见做对照。结果:Live 3D-TEE对二尖瓣P2区病变诊断敏感性和特异性最高。病例组二尖瓣环各参数均较对照组增大,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2组瓣叶间及瓣叶与瓣环间夹角、瓣叶隆起高度和容积、二尖瓣环与主动脉瓣环间夹角差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。病例组二尖瓣叶长度、面积、脱垂高度和容积均大于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:Live 3D-TEE能够定量评估退行性二尖瓣病变瓣膜立体结构,分析病变引起二尖瓣反流机制,帮助外科有针对性的制定详尽精确的瓣膜成形手术方案。     

实时三维经食管超声心动图在二尖瓣脱垂合并感染性心内膜炎中的应用

目的 评价实时三维经食管超声心动图(RT-3D-TEE)在二尖瓣脱垂合并感染性心内膜炎(IE)中的应用价值。方法 选择二尖瓣脱垂合并IE患者20例,术前行经胸超声心动图(TTE)和RT-3D-TEE检查,分析脱垂部位及表现特征,并与术中所见进行对比。结果1RT-3D-TEE在二尖瓣脱垂的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、总符合率方面整体均高于TTE。2RT-3D-TEE在诊断二尖瓣赘生物形成、腱索断裂、穿孔方面的敏感性、特异性整体均高于TTE。结论 1.RT-3D-TEE较TTE更能准确定位二尖瓣脱垂的部位2.RT-3D-TEE能准确显示IE的各种表现形式,对术前手术方式的选择有重要指导作用。     

四维超声心动图评价二尖瓣脱垂

采用经胸壁与经食管检查途径获取二维数据，对１０例正常人及２０例二尖瓣脱垂患者的二尖瓣装置及返流束进行了四维（动态三维）超声心动图重建。结果显示，正常二尖瓣装置呈＂马鞍＂形结构，瓣膜附着于瓣环前后缘处靠近左房，位置较高，内外侧结合部附着处靠近左室，位置较低。收缩期二尖瓣前后叶对合良好，四维超声心动图可从左房、左室侧及四腔切面等多个方位显示二尖辩脱垂病变的立体结构关系，脱垂部位、形状、程度及活动情况均可清晰显示，并可对返流束进行四维重建，显示其立体形态及动态变化。对全面理解二尖瓣脱垂的病理改变、提高诊断率、协助制定治疗方案及评价疗效有重要价值。     

经食管二维与实时三维超声结合在风湿性二尖瓣病变成形术中的应用

目的:研究经食管二维与实时三维超声结合在风湿性二尖瓣病变成形术中的作用。方法:26例临床诊断为风湿性二尖瓣病变拟行二尖瓣成形术患者,术前联合应用经食管二维超声与实时三维超声,对二尖瓣功能不全进行分类,详细定位病变部位,测量二尖瓣前后叶厚度、长度及瓣环径。术后即刻评价疗效。结果:术前超声诊断单纯风湿性二尖瓣关闭不全10例(38.5%),单纯二尖瓣狭窄4例(15.4%),二尖瓣关闭不全重度伴狭窄轻度9例(34.6%),二尖瓣关闭不全重度伴狭窄中度3例(11.5%);瓣膜功能不全Ⅱ型4例(15.4%),ⅡAⅢa-P型18例(69.2%),Ⅲa-AⅢa-P型4例(15.4%)。术后即刻超声评价疗效,3例在超声指导下2次成形,其中2例最终选择瓣膜置换术。结论:经食管二维和实时三维超声心动图结合,在风湿性二尖瓣病变成形术前对瓣膜功能不全进行分类诊断,能准确评估二尖瓣叶厚度和长度,指导术式和人工瓣环的选择。术后即刻评价疗效,在风湿性二尖瓣成形术中有重要的应用价值。     

先天性二尖瓣关闭不全的再次手术

目的:回顾性分析先天性二尖瓣关闭不全再次手术的问题。方法:自2002年至2009年间共438例先天性二尖瓣关闭不全(不包括完全性或部分性房室通道)患儿行二尖瓣成形手术,所有患儿中有15例(3.4%)行再次二尖瓣手术,其中再次行二尖瓣成形术12例(组1),二尖瓣置换术3例(组2)。再次手术的原因包括:严重溶血和残余或复发二尖瓣关闭不全。术中根据瓣膜病变情况选择合适的成形方法,包括二尖瓣瓣环环缩、腱索转移、双孔成形和瓣膜置换手术。对所有患者均行临床评估和超声心动图检查评估二尖瓣功能。结果:全组患儿无死亡病例,所有15例随访患儿亦无死亡。组2患儿年龄、体质量和心胸比均大于组1。组1患儿中术中见原缝线撕裂2例,瓣环扩大4例,瓣叶局部裂3例,组1患儿术后超声心动图见二尖瓣关闭不全较术前明显减轻(P0.01)。组2中3例患儿均行二尖瓣双叶机械瓣置换。结论:二尖瓣成形术仍是先天性二尖瓣关闭不全再次手术的首选术式,对术前心功能差且瓣膜条件不理想的患儿行瓣膜置换手术是理智的选择。     

实时三维经食管超声心动图定位二尖瓣脱垂部位临床应用

目的:分析二尖瓣脱垂的三维经食管超声心动图(RT-3D-TEE)表现,探讨其诊断二尖瓣脱垂的应用价值。方法:选取由于二尖瓣脱垂引起二尖瓣关闭不全,进行二尖瓣修复或置换的患者23例,术前及术后即刻均行RT-3D-TEE检查,分析二尖瓣脱垂的RT-3D-TEE表现特征及脱垂部位,并与术中所见进行对比。RT-3D-TEE成像切面均采用二尖瓣左心房面外科视野观。结果:23例患者术前即刻二尖瓣左心房面外科视野观均显示清楚,观察二尖瓣小叶共138个。术前RT-3D-TEE判断二尖瓣脱垂小叶33个,无脱垂小叶105个,其中腱索断裂17例;发现3例瓣叶赘生物。术中发现二尖瓣脱垂小叶35个,无脱垂小叶103个,其中腱索断裂16例;赘生物3例。RT-3D-TEE诊断二尖瓣脱垂的敏感性为91.4%,特异性为99%,阳性预测值为97.0%,阴性预测值为97.1%,总符合率为97.1%。RT-3D-TEE判断腱索断裂的准确性为99.3%;诊断瓣叶赘生物的准确性为100%。结论:二尖瓣脱垂的RT-3D-TEE表现具有特征性,RT-3D-TEE是诊断二尖瓣脱垂的有效手段,亦可以提供一些额外信息。     

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.     

Incidence of systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal in patients with mitral valve prolapse: influence of the prolapse site]

OBJECTIVES: Systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal identified by pulsed Doppler echocardiography is useful for the diagnosis of severe mitral regurgitation. The direction of the mitral regurgitant jet in severe mitral regurgitation significantly influences the systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal in an experimental model. This study investigated the influence of the site of mitral valve prolapse on the incidence of systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal in patients with severe mitral regurgitation using transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography. METHODS: This study included 59 consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation (regurgitant fraction > 50%) due to mitral valve prolapse. Exclusion criteria were left ventricular ejection fraction < 45%, non sinus rhythms, associated aortic valve disease, bileaflet prolapse, and inadequate Doppler recordings. Right upper pulmonary venous flow was recorded and regurgitant fraction of mitral regurgitation measured by transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography. The sites of mitral valve prolapse were confirmed at operation in all patients. RESULTS: The incidence of systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal was 78% (14/18) in the patients with anterior leaflet prolapse, 82% (9/11) in the patients with medial commissure prolapse, 75% (12/16) in the patients with posterior middle scallop prolapse, 20% (2/10) in the patients with posterior medial scallop prolapse, and 25% (1/4) in the patients with posterior lateral scallop prolapse. There were no significant differences in regurgitant fraction between the five groups. The incidence of systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal was significantly lower in the patients with posterior medial scallop prolapse compared to the other sites of mitral valve prolapse (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of the severity of mitral regurgitation by systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal using transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography may be underestimated in patients with prolapse of the posterior medial scallop.     

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.     

Value of acceleration flows and regurgitant jet direction by color Doppler flow mapping in the evaluation of mitral valve prolapse

To clarify the role of color Doppler echocardiography in the evaluation of mitral valve prolapse, we studied 49 consecutive patients in whom the sites of mitral valve prolapse were confirmed at the time of operation. The study group consisted of 22 patients with anterior leaflet prolapse, 24 patients with posterior leaflet prolapse, and three patients with multiple scallop prolapse (one patient with both anterior leaflet and middle scallop prolapse, and two patients with both medial and lateral scallop prolapse). Two-dimensional echocardiographic diagnosis of anterior leaflet prolapse was correct in all patients. The diagnosis of posterior leaflet prolapse by two-dimensional echocardiography, however, was mistaken as anterior leaflet prolapse in 16 (13 patients with medial scallop prolapse and three patients with lateral scallop prolapse) of the 24 patients according to current diagnostic criteria for mitral valve prolapse. Eight patients with middle scallop prolapse were diagnosed correctly by two-dimensional echocardiography. Acceleration flows in the left ventricle were observed by color Doppler echocardiography in all 49 patients. The sites of acceleration flows detected by color Doppler echocardiography coincided with those of prolapse confirmed in all at the time of operation. There was a significant correlation between the maximum area of acceleration flow signals and severity of mitral regurgitation estimated by angiography. In the 13 patients with medial scallop prolapse and the three patients with lateral scallop prolapse, a regurgitant jet originated from a bulged portion of the posterior leaflet and was directed toward the opposite left atrial cavity to the bulged portion by short-axis images of color Doppler echocardiography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Usefulness of transthoracic freehand three-dimensional echocardiography for the evaluation of mitral valve prolapse

BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography is routinely used in evaluating patients with mitral valve prolapse but requires a systematic examination for accurate assessment of the involved lesion of mitral valve prolapse, because the sonographer is required to mentally reconstruct two-dimensional images into three dimensions. Recently, freehand three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography has been introduced in the clinical setting for three-dimensional visualization of the mitral valve apparatus. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of the freehand 3D echocardiography system in assessing the involved lesion in patients with mitral valve prolapse. METHODS: This study consisted of 25 consecutive patients (15 men, 10 women, mean age 55 +/- 17 years) with mitral valve prolapse who were scheduled for 3D echocardiography. Mitral valve was reconstructed in the view from the left atrium (surgeon's view) by 3D echocardiography. The location of the involved lesion in mitral valve was classified as the medial, middle and lateral portions of the anterior leaflet, and the medial, middle and lateral scallops of the posterior leaflet, respectively. The results by 3D echocardiography were compared with those of 2D echocardiography as the clinical standard. RESULTS: An adequate three-dimensional display of the entire mitral valve for analysis of the involved lesion could be reconstructed in all 25 patients (feasibility 100%). The sensitivity of 3D echocardiography for detecting the lesions at the medial, middle and lateral portions of the anterior leaflet was 80%, 100% and 75%, and the medial, middle and lateral scallops of the posterior leaflet was 100%, 100% and 0%, respectively. The specificities were 100% at all locations in the mitral valve. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that freehand 3D echocardiography is useful for assessment of the involved lesion of the mitral valve in patients with mitral valve prolapse.     

Evaluation of mitral leaflet motion by echocardiography and jet direction by Doppler color flow mapping to determine the mechanisms of mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES. This study was designed to assess the accuracy of two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography in determining the mechanism of mitral regurgitation, as compared with direct inspection of the valve at operation. BACKGROUND. Valve repair for mitral regurgitation offers substantial advantages over valve replacement, but it is technically more demanding and requires understanding of the mechanism of dysfunction. METHODS. We studied 286 patients undergoing mitral valve repair. Intraoperative two-dimensional echocardiography was used to classify mitral leaflet motion as excessive, normal or restricted. Doppler color flow mapping was used to evaluate the direction and origin of the mitral regurgitant jet. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were compared with intraoperative surgical determination of the mechanism of dysfunction, which also classified leaflet motion as excessive, normal or restricted. RESULTS. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography accurately diagnosed the mechanism of mitral regurgitation in 123 (93%) of 132 patients with posterior leaflet prolapse or flail, 30 (94%) of 32 patients with anterior leaflet prolapse or flail, 11 (44%) of 25 patients with bileaflet prolapse or flail, 6 (75%) of 8 patients with papillary muscle elongation or rupture, 31 (91%) of 34 patients with restricted leaflet motion or rheumatic thickening, 21 (72%) of 29 patients with ventricular-annular dilation and 8 (62%) of 13 patients with a leaflet perforation or cleft. Of 13 patients with two mechanisms of dysfunction by surgical inspection, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography correctly diagnosed one of the two mechanisms in 12 patients (92%), and both mechanisms in 5 patients (38%). Overall, echocardiographic determination of leaflet motion and Doppler determination of jet direction accurately diagnosed the mechanism of dysfunction in 242 (85%) of 286 patients. CONCLUSIONS. Echocardiography before mitral valvuloplasty provides a dynamic appraisal of the mechanism of dysfunction, enabling the surgeon to systematically understand the dysfunction and successfully apply the correct procedures to eliminate mitral regurgitation without valve replacement.     

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。     

Differentiating clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of chordal rupture detected in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease and floppy mitral valve: impact of the infective endocarditis on chordal rupture.

AIMS: We aimed to compare the clinical and echocardiographic correlates of chordal rupture in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease and floppy mitral valve. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised of 224 patients who underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography because of the severe mitral regurgitation. Chordal rupture was detected in 58 (25.9%) out of the 224 patients, in 33 out of the 83 (39.7%) patients with floppy mitral valve, and in 25 out of the 141 (17.7%) patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. Chordal rupture was more frequently associated with anterior leaflet (80%) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease, and posterior leaflet (72.7%) in patients with floppy mitral valve (p<0.05). Univariate correlates of chordal rupture were age, male sex, posterior mitral leaflet thickening and chordal elongation in patients with floppy mitral valve (p<0.05), and chordal shortening (p<0.0001) and infective endocarditis involving mitral anterior leaflet (p<0.05) in rheumatic group. Independent predictors of chordal rupture were age (>50 years), posterior mitral leaflet thickness (> or =0.45cm), and male sex (p<0.05) in patients with floppy mitral valve while infective endocarditis involving mitral anterior leaflet (p<0.05) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. Patients with chordal rupture due to floppy mitral valve had an older age (p<0.0001), a male dominance, longer mitral leaflets and chordae, and a larger mitral annulus circumference (p<0.05) as compared to those with rheumatic chordal rupture. Despite the comparable severity of mitral regurgitation and left atrial diameters between the two groups of chordal rupture (p>0.05), functional class and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were higher, and atrial fibrillation, acute deterioration, infective endocarditis, mitral leaflet rupture and need for mitral valve surgery in the 3 months were more frequent in rheumatic chordal rupture subgroup (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Chordal rupture seems to be more frequently associated with anterior mitral leaflet in rheumatic mitral valve disease, whereas it was the posterior leaflet in floppy mitral valve. Chordal rupture was related to male sex, older age, posterior leaflet thickening, and chordal elongation in patients with floppy mitral valve. However, infective endocarditis, acute deterioration, and need for early mitral surgery were more frequent in patients with rheumatic chordal rupture.     

Evaluation of mitral valve lesions in patients with infective endocarditis by three-dimensional echocardiography

Recognition of the involved lesions is extremely important in mitral valve repair for infective endocarditis. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is more sensitive for the detection of lesions than transthoracic echocardiography, but localization of the lesions is sometimes difficult by TEE. Three-dimensional (3D) TEE provides images of the mitral valve similar to the view from the left atrium. This study evaluated the value of 3D echocardiography for the diagnosis of involved lesions in 12 patients who underwent surgery for mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis. The location of the lesion in the mitral valve was classified as the medial, central and lateral portions of the anterior leaflet, and the medial, middle and lateral scallops of the posterior leaflet, respectively. In all patients, the involved sites were confirmed at operation. The sensitivities of 3D TEE for detecting the lesions at the medial, central and lateral portions of the anterior leaflet, and the medial, middle and lateral scallops of the posterior leaflet were 100%, 78% and 67%, and 100%, 100% and 100%, respectively. The specificities were 90%, 100% and 78%, and 100%, 100% and 100%, respectively. The lesions diagnosed by 3D TEE coincided with lesions confirmed at operation in 23 (92%) of 25 lesions. 3D TEE is useful for the assessment of the involved lesion of the mitral valve in patients with infective endocarditis.