Eustachian valve thrombus:critical factor in outcome of venous thromboembolism

This case report describes a patient with pulmonary embolism (PE) in whom transesophageal echocardiography showed a thrombus in the right atrium attached to the eustachian valve (EV). The EV is typically absent in the adult, but when present it is considered to be benign. It is an uncommon site for thrombus formation. This patient was treated with systemic anticoagulation.     

When to use femoral vein injection for diagnosis of patent foramen ovale—Effect of a persistent eustachian valve on right atrial flow patterns during contrast transesophageal echocardiography

Contrast echocardiography using agitated saline injected into the antecubital vein is the most common method used for the diagnosis of patent foramen ovale. We describe a case whereby the presence of a persistent eustachian valve and a “negative contrast sign” during contrast transesophageal echocardiography raised suspicion of a false‐negative result. Femoral vein injection of contrast successfully demonstrated a patent foramen ovale. Femoral vein injection should be considered if this scenario is recognized because the eustachian valve directs blood preferentially from the inferior vena cava toward the interatrial septum and this route may prove to be more reliable.     

The pitfalls of transthoracic echocardiography. A case of eustachian valve endocarditis

A case of infective endocarditis involving the vestigial eustachian valve is presented and the available English medical literature is reviewed. Only 5 prior cases have been reported: 4 of those required transesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis, and the other was found at autopsy. This clinical entity is routinely missed on transthoracic echocardiography. Injection drug use is a common predisposing factor, and Staphylococcus aureus is the most commonly identified organism. This report broadens the differential diagnosis of endovascular infections in injection drug users and highlights the importance of transesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis in selected patients.     

An Unusual Cause of Cardioembolic Stroke: Paradoxical Embolism Due to Thrombus Formation on the Eustachian Valve

Cardioembolism is an important cause of ischemic stroke, with several studies showing worse outcome than following other stroke subtypes. Paradoxical embolism is a rare cause of cardioembolic stroke. We report a case of a patient with presumed paradoxical cardioembolic stroke secondary to thrombus formation on the eustachian valve remnant in the right atrium. The patient was anticoagulated with resolution of the mass upon follow‐up assessment. The diagnostic, investigative and management strategies are discussed for patients with suspected paradoxical embolism causing stroke. Physicians are reminded of the utility of echocardiography for identifying potential cardioembolic etiologies, including both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.     

Usefulness of two‐ and three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of proximal left coronary system compression by a paraprosthetic aortic valve abscess

Paraprosthetic aortic valve abscess represents a rare, but lethal complication of infective endocarditis. We report a case of proximal left coronary system compression by a paraprosthetic aortic valve abscess whose detection was augmented using live/real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. Our case illustrates the usefulness of combined two‐ and three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in detecting this finding.     

Single-plane transesophageal echocardiography for assessing function of mechanical or bioprosthetic valves in the aortic valve position.

To assess the value and limitations of single-plane transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of prosthetic aortic valve function, 89 patients (69 mechanical and 20 bioprosthetic aortic valves) were studied by combined transthoracic and transesophageal 2-dimensional and color flow Doppler echocardiography. In the assessment of aortic regurgitation, the transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic findings were concordant in 71 of 89 patients (80%). In 8 patients, the degree of aortic regurgitation was underestimated by the transthoracic approach; in each case the quality of the transthoracic echocardiogram was poor. In 10 patients, transesophageal echocardiography failed to detect trivial aortic regurgitation due to acoustic shadowing of the left ventricular outflow tract from a mechanical valve in the mitral valve position. Transesophageal echocardiography was superior to transthoracic echocardiography in diagnosing perivalvular abscess, subaortic perforation, valvular dehiscence, torn or thickened bioprosthetic aortic valve cusps, and in clearly distinguishing perivalvular from valvular aortic regurgitation. Transesophageal echocardiography correctly diagnosed bioprosthetic valve obstruction in 1 patient, but failed to diagnose mechanical valve obstruction in another. In conclusion, transesophageal echocardiography offers no advantage over the transthoracic approach in the detection and quantification of prosthetic aortic regurgitation unless the transthoracic image quality is poor. Transesophageal echocardiography is limited in detecting mechanical valve obstruction and in detecting aortic regurgitation in the presence of a mechanical prosthesis in the mitral valve position. However, it is superior to transthoracic echocardiography in identifying perivalvular pathology, differentiating perivalvular from valvular regurgitation and in defining the anatomic abnormality responsible for the prosthetic valve dysfunction. Combined transthoracic and transesophageal examination provides complete anatomic and hemodynamic assessment of prosthetic aortic valve function.     

Acute traumatic disruption of a bicuspid aortic valve.

Cardiac involvement is frequent in patients with blunt chest trauma and multiple injuries. Different cardiac structures can be involved, but isolated aortic valve rupture is rare. We report the case of a man admitted to our hospital with multiple injuries as a result of a car crash. Transthoracic, followed by transesophageal echocardiography, revealed disruption of a large anterior bi-coronary cusp in a bicuspid valve with severe aortic regurgitation, without lesions or abnormalities of thoracic aorta. Aggressive pharmacological management consented to delay valve replacement to obtain resolution of concomitant pulmonary injuries.     

Papillary fibroelastoma of the pulmonary valve

A papillary fibroelastoma is rare, but it is the most common primary tumor of the cardiac valves. Most papillary fibroelastomas affect the left-sided heart valves, such as the aortic and mitral valves; however, they also rarely affect the pulmonary valve. Generally, surgical removal is strongly recommended to prevent its potential thromboembolic risks, especially in cases of left-sided cardiac involvement. However, there are few reports on the treatment of asymptomatic, small, right-sided cardiac fibroelastomas. We present a rare case of an asymptomatic papillary fibroelastoma occurring on the pulmonary valve, which was detected by transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and a 64-slice cardiac computed tomography scan, and which was surgically removed.     

Cor triatriatum dexter associated with atrial septal defect: Management in a complex clinical case

The coexistence of an atrial septal defect and a prominent eustachian valve is a rare congenital anomaly, rarely reported in literature. Differentiation between a giant eustachian valve and cor triatriatum dexter can be difficult. A case of a large atrial septal defect associated with cor triatriatum dexter diagnosed by echocardiography in an asymptomatic woman is reported. A watchful waiting strategy was adopted.     

Usefulness of three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in particular clinical settings: a case of aorto-cavitary fistula in periprosthetic aortic valve abscess

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) due to staphylococcus aureus is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Paravalvular abscess formation is a common complication of PVE at the aortic position, but fistula formation is rarely seen. The transesophageal echocardiography is the "gold-standard" exam to detect PVE. We present a case of a 69-year-old patient with prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis, paravalvular abscess, and fistula in right atrium, where the diagnosis was made with three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, without transesophageal evaluation.     

The transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of left atrial myxoma simulating a left atrial thrombus in the setting of mitral stenosis.

We report a case of left atrial myxoma simulating a thrombus on transthoracic echocardiography, but correctly diagnosed using transesophageal echocardiography. As this tumor is usually fatal unless surgically resected, a correct diagnosis is essential. Myxomas which do not prolapse between the mitral valve leaflets and coexist with mitral stenosis may be difficult to diagnose accurately using transthoracic echocardiography. The advantages of transesophageal compared with transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnosis of nonclassical left atrial myxoma are discussed.     

Pulmonary embolization of papillary fibroelastoma. Arising from the tricuspid valve

Papillary fibroelastomas are rare, benign tumors of the heart that often are incidental findings at autopsy or cardiac surgery, or during echocardiography. These tumors are predisposed to valvular involvement, and all such lesions detected by echocardiography have occurred in the left side of the heart, except for 3 on the tricuspid valve. Left-sided lesions have been associated with embolic phenomena; however, embolization of right-sided lesions has never been documented. We report a tricuspid valve fibroelastoma detected by 2-dimensional and transesophageal echocardiography, and confirmed by surgical excision and biopsy. To our knowledge, this is the 1st reported case of pulmonary embolization of papillary fibroelastoma arising from the tricuspid valve.     

Steerable control of the eustachian valve during transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects.

Over the past decade there has been increased use of transcatheter devices for closure of secundum atrial septal defects. The presence of a large eustachian valve complicating transcatheter closure has not been described. We describe four patients with prominent eustachian valves, in three of whom we employed a simple technique to obtain control of the eustachian valve during device placement using transesophageal echo guidance.     

Illustration by transesophageal echocardiography of rapid and important pannus formation during infective endocarditis of a prosthetic valve.

A 38-year-old man with a Starr-Edwards mitral prosthetic valve presented with a Staphylococcus aureus septicemia. Twenty-four hours later, transthoracic echocardiography did not show obvious vegetations but Doppler examination of the prosthetic valve demonstrated a prolonged half pressure time and an elevated peak transmitral velocity. Seventy-two hours after the first septic event transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large annular pannus floating in the left atrium in systole and protruding in the prosthetic cage during diastole. This case report emphasizes the importance of transesophageal echocardiography in septic patients with prosthetic valves and underlines the possibility of extremely rapid pannus formation in these patients.     

Comparison of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in evaluation of 47 Starr-Edwards prosthetic valves.

OBJECTIVES. Our objectives were to characterize by transesophageal echocardiography the normal appearance of the Starr-Edwards prosthetic heart valve and to compare the utility of transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography in detection of valve abnormality. BACKGROUND. The Starr-Edwards prosthetic heart valve, the first mechanical valve to be used, has demonstrated excellent durability. METHODS. Fifty transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic studies on 37 patients with 47 Starr-Edwards prosthetic valves were analyzed retrospectively. Six cases of surgically confirmed infective endocarditis were studied. RESULTS. Vegetation or abscess formation, or both, was identified by transesophageal echocardiography in all six cases of infective endocarditis but was found in only one of these cases by transthoracic echocardiography. Thrombus was detected by transesophageal echocardiography in 9 of 11 patients with transient ischemic attacks or stroke and in 2 patients by transthoracic echocardiography with 3 confirmed at surgery. In 26 of the 30 patients with a mitral Starr-Edwards valve, the valve demonstrated a trivial or mild "closing volume" early systolic or holosystolic leak on transesophageal echocardiography alone. Transthoracic evaluation identified significant mitral regurgitation in six of the eight patients who had this finding on transesophageal echocardiography. Serial studies were performed to assess response to treatment or need for surgical intervention in eight patients. Seventeen valves have been implanted for 12 years; six of these had significant leakage without apparent cause, a finding not observed more recently implanted valves. CONCLUSIONS. These observations demonstrated the unique utility of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with Starr-Edwards prosthetic valve dysfunction, endocarditis or thrombus formation, and of the clear superiority of transesophageal echocardiography over transthoracic echocardiography in these situations.     

Thrombus on the eustachian valve leading to recurrent pulmonary embolism: A rare problem requiring aggressive management

The eustachian valve is an embryological remnant of the inferior vena cava valve that is absent or inconspicuous in the adult. Even when prominent, it is considered to be a benign finding. The present report describes a patient with deep venous thrombosis who had recurrent pulmonary embolism despite thrombolysis and anticoagulation. He was found to have an adherent thrombus on the eustachian valve and his symptoms resolved completely following surgical thrombectomy. The present report highlights that the eustachian valve can, on rare occasions, harbour pathology and can adversely impact the outcomes of coexisting medical problems such as deep venous thrombosis. Infective endocarditis, pulmonary embolism and systemic embolism via a patent foramen ovale are the major complications of eustachian valve pathology. Transesophageal echocardiography appears to be superior to transthoracic echocardiography in identifying eustachian valve pathology and should be considered in all patients with thromboembolism without a known source.     

Expanding percutaneous treatment of mitral valve diseases: Transcatheter closure of mitral valve leaflet perforation

Mitral valve perforation is a rare cause of mitral regurgitation. We present a case of a 16-year-old patient with mitral valve regurgitation after redo-cardiac surgery for recurrent subaortic stenosis. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a mitral regurgitation with an eccentric jet causing a significant regurgitation documented by the presence of a convergence flow over the hole. This finding was corroborating by transesophageal echocardiography locating the perforation from the region of A2 scallop. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography confirmed these findings and played a key role guiding the procedure. Typical approach is usually a cardiac surgical procedure based on repair the perforation, but the mitral orifice was successfully closed percutaneously using an Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADO II; Abbott Vascular, IL).     

Cardiac Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome: An Often Unrecognized Malady

Platypnea‐orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare but clinically important form of dyspnea. The syndrome is characterized by dyspnea and arterial oxygen desaturation that occurs in the upright position and improves with recumbency. In cardiac POS, an atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale allows communication between the right‐ and left‐sided circulations. A second defect, such as a dilated aorta, prominent eustachian valve, or pneumonectomy, then contributes to right‐to‐left shunting through the interatrial connection. Diagnosis is made through pulse oximetry to confirm orthodeoxia and through transesophageal echocardiography with bubble study to visualize the shunt. Although data are limited for this rare syndrome, percutaneous closure has thus far proven safe and effective.     

The Preoperative Evaluation of Infective Endocarditis via 3-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography

Transesophageal echocardiography continues to have a central role in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis and its sequelae. Recent technological advances offer the option of 3-dimensional imaging in the evaluation of patients with infective endocarditis. We present an illustrative case and review the literature regarding the potential advantages and limitations of 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of complicated infective endocarditis.A 51-year-old man, an intravenous drug user who had undergone bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement 5 months earlier, presented with prosthetic valve endocarditis. Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography with 3D rendition revealed a large abscess involving the mitral aortic intervalvular fibrosa, together with a mycotic aneurysm that had ruptured into the left atrium, resulting in a left ventricle-to-left atrium fistula. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography enabled superior preoperative anatomic delineation and surgical planning. We conclude that 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography can be a useful adjunct to traditional 2-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography as a tool in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.     

Antiphospholipid syndrome with myocardial infarction and aortic valve involvement

The primary antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder which is characterized by: arterial and/or venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, recurrent fetal loss and high plasma levels of antiphospholipid antibodies. Valvular involvement is associated with arterial thrombosis and the most frequent manifestation is regurgitation. We report the case of a young male with primary antiphospholipid syndrome and previous cerebrovascular thrombosis hospitalized for subacute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed right and left anterior descendent coronary artery stenosis, the latter being successfully recanalized by direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated aortic valve involvement with predominant regurgitation and transesophageal echocardiography detected valve excrescences on the aortic leaflets. Laboratory study demonstrated thrombocytopenia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and high titers of anticardiolipin antibodies. Oral anticoagulation therapy was started. Thrombotic events have not recurred after three months of follow-up.