Multiplane two-dimensional versus real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in ischemic mitral regurgitation

Objectives: Intraoperative three‐dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been suggested to be a valuable technique for the evaluation of the mechanisms of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). Studies comparing multiplane two‐dimensional (2D) with 3D TEE reconstruction of the mitral valve using the new mitral valve quantification (MVQ) software are lacking. We undertook a prospective comparison between multiplane 2D and 3D TEE for the assessment of IMR. Methods: We evaluated echocardiographically 45 patients with IMR who underwent mitral valve surgery in our institution. 2D and 3D TEE examinations followed by a 3D offline assessment of the mitral valve apparatus were performed in all patients. Offline analysis of mitral valve apparatus was conducted with QLAB–MVQ. Results: 3D TEE image acquisitions were performed in a short period of time and were feasible in all patients. Real time 3D TEE imaging was superior to 2D in identifying specific mitral scallops (A1, A3, P1, P3) and commissures. When compared with 2D TEE, 3D offline reconstruction of the mitral valve allows an accurate quantification of the shape and diameters of the mitral annulus. Both approaches provide almost similar values for the tenting area and the coaptation depth. The 3D approach gave the advantage of direct calculation of the leaflets angles, tenting volume, and surface of the leaflets. The interpapillary muscles distance at the level of the papillary muscle head was greater in 2D than in 3D. Conclusions: 3D TEE imaging provides valuable and complementary information to multiplane 2D TEE for the assessment of patients with IMR. (Echocardiography 2011;28:1125‐1132)     

Assessment of mitral annulus (p3 segment) asymmetric deformity in myocardial infarction with ischemic regurgitation by real time three-dimensional echocardiography

Objective: The three-dimensional (3D) saddle shape of the mitral annulus (MA) is well characterized in humans, but segmental MA deformity and regurgitation suffered after the ischemic damage of myocardial infarction (MI) is poorly understood. In this study, such changes were assessed in patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) post-MI, using our computerized 3D echo technique. Methods: A patient cohort (n = 72) with IMR due to inferior or anterior MI and normal controls (n = 20) were enrolled for 3D MA echo studies. Sequential coordinates of MA were manually measured from each of 18 radial planes, cropped in midsystole, to generate 3D MA images. In addition, six segmental (A1, A2, A3, P1, P2, P3) parameters of MA and global features, such as circumference, area, and height, were calculated. Results: All six segments of MA were significantly dilated in the IMR group compared with corresponding segments of normal controls. Although there were no significant intragroup differences in A1, A2, and A3 segments, a greater degree of P3 segmental MA deformity was observed only in patients following inferior MI. Conclusion: The MA dilatation observed in patients with IMR after MI was more pronounced in patients with anterior versus inferior MI. However, P3 segmental dilatation of MA was significantly greater in patients after inferior IM with significant IMR, corresponding with more severe asymmetric MA deformity. (Echocardiography 2012;29:42-50).     

The incremental value of regional dyssynchrony in determining functional mitral regurgitation beyond left ventricular geometry after narrow QRS anterior myocardial infarction: a real time three-dimensional echocardiography study

Background: Determinants of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) severity after acute anterior myocardial infarction (MI) remained unclear. Our aim was to: (1) test whether LV dyssynchrony upon real time three‐dimensional echocardiography (RT‐3DE) is independently associated with FMR severity; and (2) to investigate the role of regional systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI) in identifying FMR severity. Methods: RT‐3DE was successfully performed on 64 consecutive patients following acute anterior MI with a narrow QRS complex (<130 ms) and another 30 healthy volunteers. MR severity was assessed using vena contracta method. SDI was derived from the dispersion of the time to minimum regional volume for all 16 LV segments. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the independent relationship between FMR and SDI with and without multivariate adjustment. Results: The mean LV ejection fraction was 49.6%± 11.9% in the MI group. All regional (except apical) and global SDIs were associated with regional LV remodeling and were significantly correlated with FMR even after multivariate adjustment, with midwall SDI being most strongly associated with MR severity (R²= 0.55, P < 0.001). Regional midwall SDI superimposed on LV global geometry and mitral leaflet deformation substantially expanded the area under curve in identifying FMR (AUC increased from 0.69 to 0.93, c‐statistics: P = 0.041). Conclusions: While both global and regional dyssynchrony following anterior MI were independently related to FMR severity, regional midwall dyssynchrony further added incremental value in predicting FMR severity beyond traditional parameters. This finding provides a new insight into the understanding of FMR after anterior MI and may further potentiate specific therapeutic approaches. (Echocardiography 2011;28:665‐675)     

Unexpected mechanism of mitral regurgitation in a patient post ALCAPA repair: Added value of three-dimensional echocardiography

Accurate assessment of etiology of mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the key steps in the decision-making process and further clinical management of patients with severe MR. Our clinical case illustrates the added value of three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) in assessment of mitral valve morphology and identification of an unexpected mechanism of MR which was not previously diagnosed using conventional echocardiography. 3DE helped to choose appropriate management strategy in this patient.     

Eccentric mitral regurgitation jets among patients having sustained inferior wall myocardial infarction

A strong association has been recognized between partial or complete mitral leaflet flail and highly eccentric mitral regurgitation jets. In light of anecdotal observation of eccentric mitral regurgitation apparently due to geometric and functional changes accompanying inferior wall myocardial infarction, the present study was performed to systematically study the eccentricity of mitral regurgitation jets complicating nonacute inferior wall myocardial infarction. Forty-eight consecutive patients with evidence of prior isolated inferior wall myocardial infarction and at least moderate mitral regurgitation but without other valvular, annular, chordal, or ventricular pathology potentially contributory to mitral regurgitation were studied. Mitral regurgitation jets were characterized with respect to eccentricity and anterior versus posterior direction. Regurgitant jet and mitral leaflet position were quantified relative to the mitral annulus. Five of 48 patients (10.4%) had eccentric jets, of which four were directed posterior and one anterior. Although not reaching statistical significance, patients with eccentric jets tended to have somewhat smaller left atrial size (41.2 +/- 7.8 vs 47.2 +/- 9.3 mm, P = 0.17) and left ventricular size (51.5 +/- 3.4 vs 55.1 +/- 7.8 mm, P = 0.13), and higher left ventricular ejection fraction (0.52 +/- 0.11 vs 0.46 +/- 0.09, P = 0.25) compared with patients with noneccentric jets. Leaflet position relative to the mitral annulus was significantly different among patients with eccentric compared with noneccentric posterior jets (54 +/- 10 degrees vs 33 +/- 11 degrees, P = 0.02), implying greater leaflet restriction toward the left ventricular apex. In conclusion, approximately one in 10 patients with isolated inferior wall myocardial infarction and at least moderate mitral regurgitation was found to have marked eccentricity of the regurgitant jet. Leaflet position was more apically displaced among patients with eccentric jets, suggesting greater leaflet restriction in systole. The finding of a highly eccentric posterior mitral regurgitation jet can be due to inferior wall myocardial infarction with posterior leaflet restriction as well as partial or complete anterior mitral leaflet flail.     

Initial experience with live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography

A new tool has been recently introduced to the echocardiography armamentarium, live/real time three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). In these cases, we describe our initial experience in 13 patients studied intraoperatively and in the echocardiography suite. This important technology promises improved anatomic definition, diagnostic confidence, and novel views of the complicated cardiovascular pathology encountered in common clinical practice.     

急性心肌梗死早期伴发二尖瓣关闭不全对患者预后影响

目的:探讨急性心肌梗死(AMI)患者伴发二尖瓣关闭不全(MR)的临床意义及预后。方法:将2年来我院收治的AMI患者145例分为MR组与no-MR组;根据梗死部位分为前壁AMI组与下壁AMI组,前、下壁各组又根据是否伴发MR分为:前壁MR组与前壁no-MR,下壁MR组与下壁no-MR组4个亚组。观察各组的临床情况与心血管事件。结果:MR组63例,占43.4%,与no-MR组相比,其年龄、左心室射血分数、终点心血管事件及随访期间心血管事件均差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。亚组间相比,前壁AMI-MR组与下壁AMI-MR组与相应的no-MR组比较终点心血管事件差异具有统计学意义,且该2组间随访期间临床心血管事件差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);下壁AMI-MR组与no-MR组2组间的终点心血管事件差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:AMI患者伴发MR提示预后不良,AMI患者伴有MR与梗死部位有关,且其部位与预后密切相关。     

Possible mechanisms of mitral regurgitation in dilated hearts: A study using transesophageal echocardiography

Hypothesis: This study was undertaken to clarify the mechanisms of mitral regurgitation (MR) in dilated hearts. Methods: in all, 68 patients with dilated heart and MR, including 26 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 24 with prior anterior myocardial infarction (A-MI), and 18 with prior posteroinferior myocardial infarction (I-MI), as well as 25 normal subjects were examined by transesophageal two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography. Results: The maximum area of the MR signal in the DCM group correlated positively with the anteroposterior diameter of the mitral annulus at late systole. Although the coaptation edge length of the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets appeared shorter in dilated hearts than in the hearts of controls, a significant difference did not exist. The length of the coaptation edge correlated negatively with the maximum area of the MR signal in all dilated hearts, and characteristic systolic displacement of the coaptation point of both mitral leaflets occurred. The MI groups demonstrated anterior and posterior displacement in the direction of the short axis of the left ventricle in the A-MI and I-MI groups, respectively. However, the DCM group demonstrated inferior displacement toward the long axis of the left ventricle; its magnitude correlated positively with the maximum area of the MR signal. Conclusion: A major cause of MR in dilated hearts is mitral malcoaptation due to displacement of the coaptation point of the mitral leaflets along the long or short axis of the left ventricle. This is caused by left ventricular enlargement and/or asynergy of the left ventricular wall, rather than by a decrease in mitral coaptation edge length due to mitral annular dilation.     

Exercise echocardiography in combined mild mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation

Dynamic mitral regurgitation (MR) is typically associated with either severe systolic left ventricular dysfunction or episodes of acute myocardial ischemia. We report three patients with mild combined mitral stenosis and regurgitation and normal global left ventricular systolic function who presented with severe exertional dyspnea. Upright bicycle exercise echocardiography revealed development of severe dynamic MR in all three cases with Doppler evidence of severe pulmonary hypertension. There was no echocardiographic or electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia. Exercise echocardiography is an established tool for assessing dynamic changes in transvalvar pressure gradients. These results suggest that exercise echocardiography may also be useful for evaluating changes in severity of MR and for the assessment of dynamic changes in pulmonary artery systolic pressures.     

Evaluation of mitral regurgitation by Doppler echocardiography

The diagnosis and assessment of mitral regurgitation has been one of the main challenges for cardiac ultrasound. Imaging techniques (M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography) provide direct morphologic and etiologic information of the evaluation of patients with suspected mitral regurgitation. The advent of cardiac Doppler increased tremendously the ability to evaluate mitral regurgitation noninvasively. Continuous-wave and pulsed Doppler have been found to be sensitive and specific in the detection of mitral regurgitation. The introduction of color flow Doppler simplified enormously the assessment of patients with suspected mitral regurgitation. The maximal regurgitant area and maximal regurgitant area corrected for left atrial size have become the most commonly used parameters to evaluate mitral regurgitation by color flow Doppler in the clinical setting. However, the color regurgitant jet area is highly dependent on anatomical, hemodynamic, and equipment factors. A new method, based on the proximal isovelocity surface area, is being evaluated and appears to be relatively independent of equipment factors. Transesophageal echocardiography has been shown to be exquisitely sensitive in the detection of mitral regurgitation. Quantitation of mitral regurgitation by transesophageal echocardiography is currently based on the maximal regurgitant area and this parameter appears to correlate closely with the angiographic degree of mitral regurgitation. Pulmonary venous flow analysis had been used in conjunction with color flow mapping for the evaluation of mitral regurgitation by transesophageal echocardiography. The presence of reversed systolic flow has been shown to be sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of severe mitral regurgitation. Patients with clinically difficult surface studies, flail mitral valve leaflets, and prosthetic mitral valve are best evaluated by the transesophageal approach with interrogation of pulmonary venous flow.     

Severe tricuspid regurgitation due to entrapment of the anterior leaflet of the valve by a permanent pacemaker lead: role of real time three-dimensional echocardiography

Pacemaker leads may impair tricuspid valve coaptation and they are a well-known cause of mild tricuspid regurgitation. Occasionally, right ventricular leads worsen tricuspid regurgitation over time and patients develop late-onset symptoms of right-sided heart failure. The exact mechanism of this clinical entity is rarely identifiable by 2D-echocardiography only. This case report details a patient with severe tricuspid regurgitation secondary to immobilization of the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve by a permanent ventricular pacing lead. The mechanism of regurgitation was clarified by real time three-dimensional echocardiography that showed the location of the ventricular lead and its interference with the tricuspid valve.     

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.     

Quantification of mitral regurgitation by live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic measurements of vena contracta area

We evaluated 44 consecutive patients who underwent standard two-dimensional (2D) and live three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), as well as left heart catheterization with left ventriculography. Mitral regurgitant vena contracta area (VCA) was obtained by 3D TTE by systematic and sequential cropping of the acquired 3D TTE data set. Assessment of mitral regurgitation (MR) by ventriculography was compared to measurements of VCA by 3D TTE and to 2D TTE measurements of MR jet area to left atrial area (RJA/LAA), RJA alone, vena contracta width (VCW), and calculated VCA. VCA from 3D TTE closely correlated with angiographic grading (rs=0.88) with very little overlap. VCA of <0.2 cm2 correlated with mild MR, 0.2-0.4 cm2 with moderate MR, and >0.4 cm2 with severe MR by angiography. Ventriculographic grading also correlated well with 2D TTE measurements of RJA/LAA (rs=0.79) and RJA alone (rs=0.76) but with more overlap. Assessment of VCW and calculated VCA by 2D TTE agreed least with ventriculography (rs=0.51 and rs=0.55, respectively). Live 3D TTE color Doppler measurements of VCA can be used for quantitative assessment of MR and is comparable to assessment by ventriculography.     

Usefulness of live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the identification of individual segment/scallop prolapse of the mitral valve

In this report, we present 34 patients in whom surgical intervention was undertaken for severe mitral insufficiency due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Location and severity of MVP and regurgitation were assessed preoperatively by live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and closely agreed with the surgical findings.     

Assessment of mitral valve volume by quantitative three-dimensional echocardiography in patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis

Background: Thickening of mitral leaflets in rheumatic mitral valve stenosis is well described in necropsy studies; however, volume computation of the thickening mitral leaflets has not been attempted. Atrial fibrillation is one of the complications of rheumatic mitral stenosis. Quantitative assessment of thickened mitral valve and its relation to clinical complications is clinically desirable. Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to compare measurement of mitral valve volume in normal subjects and in patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. Methods: An HP Sonos 2500 echocardiography system with 5 MHz multiplane transesophageal transducer was used for data acquisition, and TomTec Echoscan computer setup was used to off-line volume computation. Study subjects included 10 normal subjects (mean age 44.8 years) and 36 patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis (22 female, 14 male) with an age range of 25 to 69 years (mean age 47 $pL 9.6 years). Mitral valve volumes were compared between the normal subjects and patients with mitral valve stenosis, and further comparison was made between the sinus rhythm (SR) and atrial fibrillation (AF) groups in patients with mitral valve stenosis. In all study subjects, the mitral valve area (MVA) was determined by two-dimensional echocardiography. Results: Quantitative three-dimensional (3-D) echocardiography showed that mitral valve volume was significantly larger in patients with mitral valve stenosis than in normal subjects (9.0 $pL 2.2 and 4.5 $pL 0.7 ml, respectively, p<0.001). When patients with mitral valve stenosis were divided into the SR and AF groups, mitral valve volume was found to be significantly larger in the AF group than in the SR group (9.76 $pL 2.2 ml.and 7.72 $pL 1.5 ml, respectively, p < 0.01) and patients in the AF group tended to be older (p < 0.05) with larger left atrial diameter (LAD) (p<0.01). However, MVA between the two groups showed no statistical significance (1.1 $pL 0.43 and 1.0 $pL 0.34 cm², respectively, p >0.2). When the study subjects were divided into two groups (< 50 and > 50 years) according to age, the comparison of mitral valve volume between these two groups (9.37 $pL 2.18 and 8.56 $pL 2.14 ml, p >0.2) showed no statistical significance. Conclusions: Quantitative 3-D echocardiography can be applied for the measurement of mitral valve volume in vivo. Patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis with atrial fibril lation have a propensity to have a larger mitral valve volume and are older than the patients with sinus rhythm; however, the age per se does not seem to be a cause for larger mitral valve volume.     

冠状动脉旁路移植术同期二尖瓣成形治疗缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全疗效观察

目的 观察总结缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全行二尖瓣成形同期冠状动脉旁路移植术患者早期预后,分析其危险因素。 方法 回顾性研究2012年1月至2015年10月因缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全于我院行冠状动脉旁路移植术同期二尖瓣成形的患者。入组患者33例,二尖瓣成形环应用于所有患者,所有患者均采用二尖瓣硬质成形环。入组患者平均年龄为58.3±7.7岁,51.5%术前心功能分级大于2级,术前左心室舒张末径为58.0±4.7mm,射血分数为52.3%±11.4%。终点事件为术后死亡、二尖瓣再次手术、术后出现二尖瓣中量以上返流需手术干预、心力衰竭。 结果 对所有患者术后随访资料进行分析,平均随访时间为20.3±8.5月。单因素分析显示二尖瓣瓣环扩张(p<0.05)、心功能大于2级(p<0.05)以及室壁瘤(p<0.05)是与终点事件发生相关的危险因素。多因素分析显示瓣环扩张(p<0.05)、心房颤动(p<0.05)和主动脉阻断时间(p<0.05)是影响早期预后的独立危险因素,术前瓣环扩张的患者较无瓣环扩张者有着更高的终点事件发生率[HR, 5.64; 95%CI, (1.20, 28.05); p<0.05]。 结论 对于因缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全行二尖瓣成形术合并冠状动脉旁路移植术的患者,二尖瓣瓣环扩张、心房颤动和较长的主动脉阻断时间是影响其早期预后的独立危险因素,术前瓣环扩张的患者较无瓣环扩张者有着更高的终点事件发生率。