Correlation of echo-Doppler aortic valve regurgitation index with angiographic aortic regurgitation severity

We assessed aortic regurgitation (AR) severity by utilizing multiple echo-Doppler variables in comparison with AR severity by aortic root angiography. Patients were divided into 3 groups: mild, moderate, and severe. An AR index (ARI) was developed, comprising 5 echocardiographic parameters: ratio of color AR jet height to left ventricular outlet flow diameter, AR signal density from continuous-wave Doppler, pressure half-time, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and aortic root diameter. There was a strong correlation between AR severity by angiography and the calculated echo-Doppler ARI (r = 0.84, p = 0.0001). As validated by aortic angiography, the ARI is an accurate reflection of AR severity.     

Quadricuspid aortic valve with severe aortic regurgitation

Quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare congenital anomaly that usually presents with aortic regurgitation. Its importance, however, lies in its association with coronary abnormalities, which may lead to surgical catastrophe, if not diagnosed pre-operatively. This report describes a case of quadricuspid aortic valve detected incidentally during routine pre-operative transesophageal echocardiography.     

Echocardiographic assessment of aortic regurgitation and aortic root dilatation in bicuspid aortic valve]

Aortic regurgitation (AR) and aortic root dilatation in 29 consecutive patients with bicuspid aortic valves but without aortic root disease (20 males, and 9 females: aged 27-85 years) were studied using two-dimensional echocardiography. The normal ranges of aortic root dimensions were calculated from values of 185 normal subjects, as 95% confidence intervals. AR was observed in 17 patients by color flow mapping. In 12 of the 17 AR patients, no significant lesion of the aortic cusp was detected by two-dimensional echocardiography. These 12 AR patients were compared with 12 patients without AR. Increase in dimension of the aortic root was relatively frequent in the 12 AR patients at the aortic annulus (AA) (67 vs 17%, p < 0.05), and at the sinus of Valsalva (A1) (67 vs 17%, p < 0.05). At the ascending aorta 5 mm distal to the sinus of Valsalva (A2), the difference was not significant (58 vs 17%, p < 0.09). The 12 bicuspid AR patients without significant lesions of the aortic cusp were compared with 41 AR patients with normal tricuspid aortic valves. The frequencies of cases with increased aortic root dimension were 67 vs 46% (ns) at the AA, 67 vs 22% (p < 0.05) at A1 and 58 vs 5% at A2 (p < 0.01). Thus, aortic annular dilatation was thought to be the cause of AR in bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves without significant lesions of the aortic cusps, and generalized dilatation of the aortic root was more frequent in bicuspid AR patients than in tricuspid AR patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Report of a case with aortic regurgitation in progressive systemic sclerosis]

Aortic valve lesions in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) are very uncommon. To our knowledge, aortic regurgitation (AR) associated with PSS has not been reported previously. We would like to report the case of a 58-year-old woman who had PSS with AR due to Raynaud's symptom, fever, positive ANA, accelerated ESR, and diastolic blowing murmur along the left sternal border. After treatment with adreno-cortico steroid and an immunosuppressive agent, the patient improved serologically and symptomatically. However, she was later admitted to our hospital again due to heart failure with progressive AR. She died of refractory heart failure with severe AR and tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The former was caused by aortic cusp lesions and the latter by pulmonary hypertension. An autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PSS, which was found to have involved the heart, lungs and pancreas. Vasculitis with infiltration and fibrotic changes were noted in these organs. Moreover, there were fibrotic thickenings and shortenings in the aortic cusps with cell infiltration. There were no indications of rheumatic disease. These results suggest that the cause of our patient's aortic valve disease may have been PSS vasculitis.     

Quadricuspid aortic valve associated with severe aortic regurgitation

A 57-year old man with severe aortic regurgitation was found to have a quadricuspid aortic valve. Aortic valve replacement was performed successfully with a St. Jude Medical prosthetic valve. On histological examination, the resected cusps showed fibrotic thickening with calcification.     

Effect of heart rate on cardiac hemodynamics in patients with aortic regurgitation]

We evaluated the effects of heart rate on cardiac hemodynamics in 10 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR, mean regurgitant fraction: 64.3%). Cardiac catheterization was performed in all patients, and the hemodynamic parameters were obtained by increasing heart rate (80.100.120.140) using right atrial pacing. Regurgitant fraction and total systemic resistance were improved up to 100/min, but aggravated on further increase in heart rate. Cardiac function curve was remarkably improved up to 100/min, but aggravated on further increase in heart rate. LV end-diastolic pressure-volume relation was moved toward the left lower direction up to 100/min, but toward the left upper direction on further increase in heart rate. Thus, it was concluded that in severe AR, cardiac function was improved up to 100/min, but aggravated on further increase in heart rate.     

应用血管内多普勒超声评价主动脉瓣返流对冠状动脉血流的影响

目的应用血管内多普勒超声评价主动脉瓣返流对冠状动脉血流的影响。方法选取慢性重度的主动脉瓣返流患者12例,先行冠状动脉造影检查,排除冠心病,再行冠状动脉内多普勒检查,测定前降支中远端的平均峰值流速(APV),舒张收缩流速比值(DSVR),冠状动脉血流储备(CFR)等,并测定左心室舒张末压力(LVEDP),用12例正常数据作对照。结果与正常对照相比,主动脉瓣返流患者 APV 升高[(45.8±19.5)cm/s vs.(23.5±15.4)cm/s,P<0.05];DSVR 降低[(1.4±0.8)vs.(2.6±1.7),P<0.05];CFR 降低[(1.5±1.9)cm/s vs.(3.8±2.1)cm/s,P<0.05];LVEDP 升高[(20.6±10.5)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)vs.(8.2±5.6)mm Hg,P<0.05];前降支中段内径无变化[(3.8±1.5)mm us.(3.5±1_4)mm,P>0.05]。结论慢性重度主动脉瓣返流对冠状动脉血流有显著影响,表现为基础状态时 APV 升高,而 DSVR 和 CFR 降低,并使左心室舒张功能减低。CFR减低可能是冠状动脉造影正常的主动脉瓣返流患者心绞痛的主要机制。     

Congenital quadricuspid aortic valve associated with aortic regurgitation.

A case of quadricuspid aortic valve is described. The aortic valve consisted of 3 equal-sized and 1 smaller cusps, and a supernumerary cusp located between the right and noncoronary cusps. A right coronary ostium was close to the accessory commissure, and in a lower position. Three fenestrations were found at the supernumerary commissure. Aortic valve replacement was performed successfully with a St. Jude Medical prosthetic valve. On histological examination, the resected cusps showed fibrotic thickening with calcification and no sign of previous inflammatory disease. Quadricuspid aortic valve must be considered a malformation capable of leading to severe valve failure in later life.     

Degenerative aortic regurgitation

In view of the growing incidence of degenerative origin among the aetiologies of aortic regurgitation, we felt it interesting to report our experience of the surgical treatment of such patients. Out of 313 patients operated on for isolated chronic aortic regurgitation between 1974 and 1989, 102 (32.6%) had aortic regurgitation of degenerative origin and form the basis of this study. The patients were divided into group I (n = 48) without aneurysm of the ascending aorta and group II (54 patients) with anulo-aortic ectasia. The first group was further subdivided according to the diameter of the ascending aorta: in group Ia (23 patients) the aorta was normal with a root diameter of less than 40 mm, while in group Ib (25 patients) the aorta was enlarged (root diameter between 40 and 54 mm). There was no statistically significant difference between the pre-operative and operative parameters of patients in groups Ia and Ib. All underwent aortic valve replacement without associated surgery of the ascending aorta. During a mean follow-up of 58 months, five patients from group Ib had aortic dissection and in another three, an ascending aorta aneurysm developed. Reoperation was performed in six cases. No such complications occurred in group Ia. At 6 years, the proportion of patients free from complications related to the ascending aorta was 100% in group Ia vs 63 +/- 6% in group Ib (P less than 0.05). In group II, all the patients underwent aortic valve replacement. The modalities of repair of the ascending aorta differed with time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

升主动脉瘤合并主动脉瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的：回顾性总结自１９９１年１２月至１９９９年５月期间,３３例升主动脉瘤伴主动脉瓣关闭不全外科治疗的经验。方法：３３例升主动脉瘤中,１例为真性动脉瘤。３２例为夹层动脉瘤。夹层动脉瘤按ＤｅＢａｋｅｙ分型法,Ｉ型８例,ＩＩ型２４例,均伴主动脉关闭不全,均行Ｂｅｎｔａｌｌ手术,１０例合并二、三尖瓣关闭不全,做二、三尖瓣整形手术。１例合并冠心病,做内乳动脉与前降支搭桥术,结果：手术死亡率为６．０％（２／３３）,２例分别死于感染性心内膜为和吻合不可控制性渗血,２例有严重脑部并发症,随访时间１～５５个月,远期死亡２例,均系错迷窒息死亡,其余２９例心功能明显改善,眩动脉瘤无复发。结论：（１）升主动脉瘤合并主动脉瓣关闭不全行Ｂｅｎｔａｌｌ手术,采用良好的心肌保护方法,注意吻合技术防止出血,可以取得良好的手术效果。（２）对Ｄ     

重度主动脉瓣关闭不全合并中度功能性二尖瓣反流的临床研究

目的 探讨中度功能性二尖瓣反流（FMR）在重度主动脉瓣关闭不全患者中的处理原则及其近中期疗效。方法 分析2019年10月至2020年10月南京医科大学附属南京医院心胸血管外科16例重度主动脉瓣关闭不全合并中度功能性二尖瓣反流患者经手术治疗的临床资料。结果 所有术后患者围手术期无死亡,术后随访（2.9±1.7）个月,术后超声心动图提示FMR程度与术前相比较有所减轻,同时左心房内径（LAD）（P=0.01）、左心室舒张末期内径（LVEDD）（P=0.025）及左心室收缩末期内径（LVESD）（P=0.045）明显缩小,但LVEF较术前反而有所下降,但无统计学意义（P=0.259）。术后3~6个月随访,所有患者无复发,无需再次手术,复查超声心动图与术前比较LAD（P=0.022）、LVEDD（P=0.006）、LVESD（P=0.043）呈进行性缩小, 接近正常水平,EF较术前相比明显改善,有显著统计学差异（P=0.029） ,且FMR同步明显减轻。截至最后一次随访,5例二尖瓣无反流,7例微量反流,4例少量反流,手术成形效果满意。结论 重度主动脉瓣关闭不全合并中度的FMR建议积极行二尖瓣成形术处理,能够保留二尖瓣瓣膜的持久性和功能性,可获得较满意的近中期疗效。     

Evaluation of left ventricular function in patients with aortic regurgitation using afterload stress.

Left ventricular function was assessed in 14 patients with chronic aortic regurgitation by afterload elevation with angiotensin. Seven of 14 patients maintained their resting ejection fraction with angiotensin (group A), while the remaining seven experienced a decline of greater than 0.10 in ejection fraction (group B). Six of seven group A patients showed an appropriate rise in left ventricular stroke work index in response to the angiotensin-induced rise in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. In contrast, six of seven group B patients showed abnormal, flat, or declining stroke work indices. Included in the seven group B patients were two patients with left ventricular dysfunction secondary to coronary artery disease. The five other group B patients, who did not have coronary diseases, exhibited similar stress-induced ventricular dysfunction, despite the absence of any significant resting hemodynamic differences from patients in group A. These five stress-induced dysfunction patients were distinctive from patients who maintained their ejection fraction level in that the former all had regurgitant fractions of greater than 0.50, whereasl all gruop A patients had regurgitant fractions of less than 0.50. Similarly, these five stress-induced dysfunction patients had significantly larger left ventricular end-diastolic volumes than did the group A patients. These data suggest that patients with pronounced aortic regurgitation measured in terms of regurgitant fraction greater than 0.50 and left ventricular end-diastolic volume of greater than 160 cm3/m2 exhibit impaired ventricular function if appropriately stressed. As most of the patients with stress-induced dysfunction had a normal ejection fraction at rest, it may be that stress-induced dysfunction represents a stage before overt resting dysfunction and cardiac failure.