Repair of the anterior mitral leaflet*

Background: Repair rather than replacement of the diseased mitral valve has been the goal of the cardiac surgeon. Although well accepted for posterior leaflet pathology, a diseased anterior leaflet was believed by some to be irreparable.
Aims: To assess the result of reconstructive mitral valve surgery involving the anterior mitral leaflet in a selected group of patients.
Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with degenerative (19), ischaemic (one) and congenital/ calcific mitral regurgitation were evaluated. There were five females and 15 males with a mean age of 62 ± 12 years (41–75 years). The technique used to repair these valves included chordal transposition, leaflet plication commissuroplasty and a new technique we call leaflet repositioning.
Result: There were no deaths, follow-up is complete with mean follow-up of 31 ± five months (two-102) months. All patients have had 2DE and 13 TOE as well. There have been no reoperations due to failure of the repair, 95% of patients are in NYHA Class HI post operative, while 15% have significant residual regurgitation. (Aust NZ J Med 1993; 23: 279–284.)     

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。     

Quantification of annular dilatation and papillary muscle separation in functional mitral regurgitation: role of anterior mitral leaflet length as reference

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that anterior mitral leaflet length (ALL) does not differ significantly between normal subjects and patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and hence may be used as a reference measurement to quantify annular dilatation and papillary muscle separation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively studied 50 controls, 15 patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) with significant FMR, and 15 patients with LVD without significant FMR. Significant MR was defined as an effective regurgitant orifice area > or = 0.2 cm2 as measured by the flow convergence method. Annular diameter, interpapillary distance, and ALL were measured, and the following ratios were derived: annular diameter indexed to ALL (ADI) and interpapillary distance indexed to ALL (IPDI). There was no significant difference in ALL among the three groups. The mean ADI was 1.26 times controls in patients with LVD without significant FMR compared to 1.33 times controls in patients with LVD with significant FMR (P = 0.06, no significant difference between groups). The mean IPDI was 1.42 times controls in patients with LVD without significant FMR compared to 2.1 times controls in patients with LVD with significant FMR (P < 0.0001, significant difference between groups). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in ALL between controls and patients with LVD. ALL can be used as a reference measurement to quantify annular dilatation and papillary muscle separation in patients with FMR. Interpapillary distance but not annular diameter indexed to ALL correlates with severity of FMR.     

Isolated cleft of the anterior mitral valve leaflet.

Isolated anterior mitral leaflet cleft (not associated with atrio-ventricular septal defect) is a rare cause of congenital mitral regurgitation, and the treatment consists of direct suturing of the cleft. We present a clinical case with this entity.     

Utility of the posterior to anterior mitral valve leaflets length ratio in prediction of outcome of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Background: Scoring of mitral stenosis (MS) severity is very important for selection of patients for balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV). Objective: We propose a novel yet simple, independent parameter of MS severity based on the posterior mitral valve leaflet to anterior mitral valve leaflet length ratio (PMVL/AMVL length ratio). It could be a useful predictor to outcome of BMV. Subjects and methods: A total of 106 patients (mean age 29.1 ± 8.6 years) had MS with mitral valve score of eight or less. The length of anterior mitral valve leaflet and posterior mitral valve leaflet were measured. Patients were classified into group with ratio ≥ 1/2 and group of ratio <1/2. Eighty‐five healthy control subjects were studied. Results: Patients with PMVL/AMVL ratio ≥ 1/2 post‐BMV had lower transmitral gradients (4.5 ± 3.1 mmHg vs. 9.7 ± 2.1 mmHg, P < 0.002) and greater mitral valve area (MVA) (2.09 ± 0.3 cm² vs. 1.5 ± 0.2 cm², P < 0.001), lower pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) (23.8 ± 14.3 mmHg vs. 34.2 ± 12.5 mmHg, P < 0.001), left atrial pressure (10.2 ± 6.7 mmHg vs. 18.9 ± 6.4 mmHg, P < 0.001), and lower incidence of de novo or worsening of mild mitral regurgitation (MR; 1.64% vs. 8.9%, 0% vs. 6.6%, P < 0.001). PMVL/AMVL length ratio was positively correlated with post‐BMV MVA (r = 0.69, P < 0.002), PASP (r = 0.592, P < 0.003), and negatively correlated with incidence of de novo or worsening of mild MR (r =–0.78, –0.93, P < 0.001). The regression analyses revealed that PMVL/AMVL ratio is the best and a reliable predictor of success and outcome of BMV, hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.12 (0.05–52), P < 0.001. Conclusion: Length ratio of PMVL/AMVL assessment with echocardiography is an excellent simple predictor of post‐BMV mitral valve area and the cardiac events. (Echocardiography 2011;28:1068‐1073)     

复杂二尖瓣前叶脱垂不同术式选择探讨

目的:总结腱索转移、人工腱索、瓣叶折叠及双孔技术在二尖瓣成形术中的临床应用和体会,提高临床治疗效果。方法:回顾性分析2007年1月至2013年8月,采用四种成形技术治疗的以二尖瓣前叶脱垂为主病例122例,其中男性68例,女性54例,年龄18~69岁,平均(43±7.9)岁,A1区脱垂21例,A2区脱垂12例,A3区脱垂28例,A1合并A2区脱垂26例,A2合并A3区脱垂35例,合并后叶脱垂16例。术前心功能分级(NYHA分级)Ⅱ级67例,Ⅲ级55例。45例采用腱索转移技术,54例采用人工腱索技术,12例采用瓣叶折叠技术,11例采用双孔技术,5例合并冠心病同期行冠状动脉旁路移植术(前降支单支桥3例,回旋支单支桥2例,)。结果:腱索转移组和人工腱索组均无围手术期死亡,瓣叶折叠组1例患者术后第8天死于多脏器功能衰竭,双孔技术组1例患者术后13 d死于肺部感染。出院前心脏超声显示:腱索转移组少量反流6例,微量反流14例,未见明显反流25例。人工腱索组少量反流16例,微量反流15例,未见明显反流23例。瓣叶折叠组少量反流8例,微量反流4例。双孔技术组少量反流9例,微量反流2例。四组术前、出院前、术后6个月左心室射血分数、左心室舒张末内径、收缩末内径差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。四组术前舒张末内径、收缩末内径较出院前、术后6个月舒张末内径、收缩末内径差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。四组出院前射血分数较术前、术后6个月低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。腱索转移组术后14个月1例患者因转移的腱索缝合缘撕脱造成二尖瓣大量反流再次手术置换二尖瓣。人工腱索组1例患者术后6个月频繁出现血红蛋白尿再次手术置换二尖瓣。结论:四种成形技术可以满足各种类型复杂二尖瓣前叶脱垂的处理。腱索转移适合单纯的前叶脱垂病变;人工腱索适用范围更广泛,容易学习;瓣叶折叠适用范围稍窄,适合初学者;双孔技术适用范围较广,不应作为首选方法,可和其他方法联合应用。四种方法均有良好的近期效果,值得去掌握和应用。     

Local intense mosaic pattern at site of flail mitral leaflet: report of a new color Doppler sign

Color flow Doppler has been useful in diagnosing the presence and severity of mitral regurgitation (MR). We noted a hitherto unreported sign of MR due to flail mitral leaflet: intense local mosaic pattern at the site of the flail leaflet. This sign was seen well in 11 of 14 patients (79%) with the two-dimensional echocardiographic features of flail mitral leaflet, all with moderate or severe MR. In 3 other patients, the sign was absent; two of those had flail mitral leaflet with severe MR. No local mosaic pattern was seen on color Doppler in 20 other patients with MR but no flail mitral leaflet. We speculate that the focal intense mosaic color Doppler morphology may have been caused by intrusion of the flail leaflet into the MR stream, or to a Coanda-like effect of the MR jet "adhering" to the flail leaflet.     

Mitral leaflet motion: age and implications for the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse

The extent of posterior mitral leaflet motion (PMLM) during systole in relation to age was studied in 300 asymptomatic men aged 18-42 years. PMLM of 4 mm or more on two-dimensional directed M-mode echocardiography was found in 8% (16/200) of subjects under age 35 years, but in only 2% (2/100) of those aged 35 years or more (p less than 0.05). On two-dimensional echocardiography, 16% (31/200) of men under 35 years old had PMLM greater than or equal to 0.40 mm2 compared with 1% (1/100) of those 35 years or more (p less than 0.001). The findings were not related to differences in left ventricular cavity dimensions or in the extent of systolic ventricular contraction. Body mass index (BMI) increased with age, but there was a significant and independent negative correlation of age with PMLM after controlling for BMI. The data are compatible with the hypothesis that the aging process is associated with decreased mobility of the mitral valve or annulus with lesser degrees of backward bowing or billowing of the leaflets during systole. Age should be taken into account in determining "normal" values for mitral leaflet motion.     

Percutaneous edge‐to‐edge repair of severe mitral regurgitation using the MitraClip XTR versus NTR system

BackgroundTranscatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) has shown to improve symptoms and functional capacity in patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR). Novel device developments provide the technology to treat patients with complex anatomies and large coaptation gaps. Nevertheless, the question of superiority of one device remains unanswered. We aimed to compare the MitraClip XTR and MitraClip NTR system in a real world setting.HypothesisTMVR with the MitraClip XTR system is equally effective, but associated with a higher risk of leaflet injury.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed peri‐procedural and mid‐term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of 113 patients treated for severe MR between March 2018 and August 2019 at the University Hospital of Munich.ResultsPostprocedural MR reduction to ≤2+ was comparable in both groups (XTR: 96.1% vs. NTR: 97.6%, p = .38). There was a significant difference in a composite safety endpoint of periprocedural Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) including leaflet injury between groups (XTR 14.6% vs. NTR 1.7%, 95% CI [2.7, 24.6], p = .012). After a median follow‐up of 8.5 (4.4, 14.0) months, durable reduction of MR was confirmed (XTR: in 91.9% vs. NTR: 96.8%, p = .31) and clinical and symptomatic improvement was comparable in both groups accordingly.ConclusionWhile efficacy was comparable in both treatment groups, patients treated with the MitraClip XTR systems showed more events of acute leaflet tear and single leaflet device attachment (SLDA). A detailed echocardiographic assessment should be done to identify risk candidates for acute leaflet injury.     

A case of severe mitral regurgitation due to an unusually long aberrant chorda tendinea straddling the anterior mitral leaflet

We present a case of a 27-year-old female with severe mitral regurgitation caused by a single long aberrant chorda tendinea. This chorda extended from the base of the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve, through the A2 scallop of the mitral valve, and attached to the dome of the left atrium. Initial transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) demonstrated a mildly redundant anterior mitral leaflet with thickened leaflet tip and moderate eccentric, posteriorly directed mitral regurgitation. Repeat TTE revealed a chord-like structure attached to the midportion of the anterior mitral leaflet and extending to the left ventricular outflow tract. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) suggested two aberrant chordae tendineae tethering the A2 scallop on both the left atrial and left ventricular side. Patient underwent surgical resection of the aberrant chorda. During the excision of the chorda the structural integrity of the A2 scallop was compromised, necessitating mitral valve repair with excellent results.     

Double perforation of anterior mitral leaflet aneurysm in a patient with mitral and aortic leaflet aneurysms

Double valve aneurysms in a single patient are a rare occurrence and even rare finding is occurrence of double perforation of anterior mitral leaflet aneurysm. We present an adult patient with bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of aorta and previous endocarditis presenting late with these rare abnormalities.     

A systematic approach for transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair of isolated commissure prolapse

Although transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair (TEER) has been widely used for non-central degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR), few reports have described therapeutic strategies for commissure prolapse. Furthermore, no standard approach for TEER for commissure has established. Thus, we categorized various grasping strategies into three patterns, and proposed a promising systematic strategy to observe three possible grasping patterns for identifying appropriate grasping target. Here, we report a successful TEER case of isolated posterior commissure prolapse in which we used a systematic approach.     

Pitfalls of mitral regurgitation assessment in the presence of mitral valve prolapse

Adequate grading of mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in the presence of mid-late systolic jets can represent a major challenge. In this entity, jets are commonly overestimated by echocardiography. Correct quantification is crucial and highly relevant for the further management and prognosis of these oftentimes young patients. This case points out potential pitfalls and underlines the importance to systematically include qualitative, quantitative, and semi-quantitative parameters into the echocardiographic assessment.     

The role of cross-sectional echocardiography in the diagnosis of flail mitral leaflet

Cross-sectional echocardiography was performed on two patients with mitral regurgitation in whom M-mode echocardiographic findings were not specific for the etiology of mitral regurgitation. In one patient, flail motion of the free edge of the anterior mitral leaflet into the left atrium was demonstrated only by cross-sectional echocardiograms. In the second patient, the flail posterior mitral leaflet was suggested to be a result of bacterial endocarditis. Cross-sectional echocardiograms clearly identified a flail motion of a mass of vegetation attached to the posterior mitral leaflet. Thus, cross-sectional echocardiography can provide critical information in recognizing patients with a flail mitral leaflet.     

The spectrum of mitral regurgitation in idiopathic mitral valve prolapse: a Color Doppler study

To characterize the spectrum of mitral regurgitation in mitral valve prolapse, one hundred patients were studied by color Doppler flow mapping. The findings were correlated with the clinical presentation and with the possible complications. Mitral regurgitation was absent in 46 patients, mild in 26 patients, moderate in 18 patients and severe in 10 patients. The jet orientation was central in 15 patients, antero-medial in 13 patients and postero-lateral in 26 patients. The regurgitation was early systolic in 7 patients, late systolic in 20 patients and holosystolic in 27 patients. A good agreement was observed between the color flow patterns and the presence, timing and radiation of a murmur. Systolic clicks were not predictors of the presence or the severity of regurgitation. The grade of mitral regurgitation was positively correlated with age, left heart enlargement and valvular redundancy. No sex difference was observed. The prevalence of serious arrhythmias or cerebral ischemic events was not significantly increased when a regurgitation was present.     

经导管介入治疗二尖瓣疾病的研究进展

二尖瓣反流（Mitral valve regurgitation,MR）逐渐成为心脏瓣膜病中最常见的疾病之一。虽然外科手术在治疗MR中起到重要作用,但由于围手术期的风险过大、老年人基础情况较差等原因,许多患者禁忌外科手术。近年来,经导管治疗MR装置的出现,给治疗MR带来了新的选择,但同时也面临着许多挑战。本文综述了经导管治疗MR装置的技术特征及其临床试验的结果。