实时三维经食管超声心动图在二尖瓣成形术中的应用研究

目的 探讨术中实时三维经食管超声心动图(RT-3D TEE)判断二尖瓣病变区域的准确性,以及评价二尖瓣成形术效果的价值.方法 19例因二尖瓣反流(MR)拟接受二尖瓣成形术患者,采集术前、术后RT-3D TEE图像,将术前所见与术中发现进行比较,并在术后即刻评价手术疗效.结果 RT-3DTEE诊断二尖瓣叶病变与术中发现完全相符16例,3例不符合,其中1例术前诊断前叶中间段、后叶中间段脱垂,术中仅发现瓣环扩大,瓣膜黏液退行性变;1例术前诊断后叶后内段脱垂,术中发现后叶中间段及后内段腱索断裂;1例术前提示瓣环扩大,术中发现后叶中间段脱垂.2D TEE诊断二尖瓣病变与术中发现完全相符仅10例,且对二尖瓣脱垂患者难以明确脱垂的确切瓣区和范围.术后即刻观察成形术效果,其中18例RT-3DTEE显示微量至少量二尖瓣反流,1例术后仍为中重度反流,改行二尖瓣置换术,二尖瓣成形术的成功率为94.7%.结论 RT-3D TEE明显提高了二尖瓣反流病因及病变部位定位的诊断准确性,在二尖瓣成形术手术方案制定及疗效的即刻评估方面发挥了非常重要的作用.     

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography accurately predicts mitral valve anatomy and suitability for repair.

Mitral valve (MV) repair is the procedure of choice for MV prolapse or flail. However, valve repair is more technically demanding and requires a precise definition of MV morphology to determine the timing, complexity, and feasibility of repair. We prospectively examined 170 consecutive patients with MV prolapse or flail referred for MV repair. The MV valve was systematically assessed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. MV anatomy was independently assessed at the time of operation. Accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography in identifying MV segments ranged from 90% to 97%, and was best for the middle segment/scallop of either anterior or posterior leaflet. MV repair was successful in 91% of patients. Success rate was the lowest (78%) in the presence of extensive bileaflet disease involving at least 2 segments of each leaflet. Independent predictors of unsuccessful repair were central jet of mitral regurgitation, calcification or severe dilatation of the mitral annulus, and extensive leaflet disease with involvement of at least 3 segments.     

Evaluation of the aortic and mitral valves with cardiac computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) produces high-quality anatomical images of the cardiac valves and associated structures. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides images of valve morphology, and allows quantitative evaluation of valvular dysfunction and determination of the impact of valvular lesions on cardiovascular structures. Recent studies have demonstrated that cardiac CT and MRI are important adjuncts to echocardiography for the evaluation of aortic and mitral valvular heart diseases (VHDs). Radiologists should be aware of the technical aspects of cardiac CT and MRI that allow comprehensive assessment of aortic and mitral VHDs, as well as the typical imaging features of common and important aortic and mitral VHDs on cardiac CT and MRI.     

Advances in 3D echocardiography for mitral valve

The advent of real-time (RT) 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 2007 has enhanced our understanding of the location and extent of the pathology of the native, as well as prosthetic, mitral valve (MV), particularly for MV prolapse and the anatomy of perivalvular dehiscence with prosthetic MV. MV quantification programs provide precise assessment of many quantitative MV parameters allowing 3D echocardiography to determine and quantify the geometry of mitral apparatus, including mitral annulus and periannular region, leaflet volume and anatomy, tethering distances, and tenting volumes. The detailed, accurate and optimal RT spatial visualization of the MV with 3D TEE gives greater confidence to the echocardiographer, interventionalist and the surgeon alike, facilitating medical and surgical treatment decisions. This article highlights recent advances in RT 3D TEE and transthoracic echocardiography echocardiographic imaging of the MV.     

Advances in 3D echocardiography for mitral valve

The advent of real-time (RT) 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 2007 has enhanced our understanding of the location and extent of the pathology of the native, as well as prosthetic, mitral valve (MV), particularly for MV prolapse and the anatomy of perivalvular dehiscence with prosthetic MV. MV quantification programs provide precise assessment of many quantitative MV parameters allowing 3D echocardiography to determine and quantify the geometry of mitral apparatus, including mitral annulus and periannular region, leaflet volume and anatomy, tethering distances, and tenting volumes. The detailed, accurate and optimal RT spatial visualization of the MV with 3D TEE gives greater confidence to the echocardiographer, interventionalist and the surgeon alike, facilitating medical and surgical treatment decisions. This article highlights recent advances in RT 3D TEE and transthoracic echocardiography echocardiographic imaging of the MV.     

Tricuspid valve prolapse: A common occurrence in the click-murmur syndrome

Isolated mitral valve prolapse (MVP) may represent one end of a spectrum of disease involving dysfunction of multiple cardiac valves. Eighty-nine consecutive patients with MVP diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) were prospectively studied specifically to determine the incidence of tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP) and its clinical correlations. Criteria for prolapse of the atrioventricular (A-V) valves by 2-D echo included extension of the valve leaflets behind an imaginary line defining the valve annulus. Forty-one of 82 patients with MVP had associated TVP. No significant differences existed between patients with isolated MVP and combined A-V valve prolapse with regard to sex, clinical history, symptoms, or physical examination. The parasternal long axis view was more sensitive than the apical four chamber view in diagnosing prolapse of either mitral or tricuspid valves. Thus, TVP is a frequent concomitant of MVP and occurs with equal frequency in both young and old patients.     

Cardiac CT for Guiding Mitral Valve Interventions

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this paper is to review the current role of contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography (CT) in the peri-procedural planning of mitral valve (MV) repair.

Recent Findings

Cardiac CT is increasingly implemented in the peri-interventional management of patients undergoing MV repair or MV replacement due to its widespread availability and its ability to provide detailed information on the complex cardiac and valvular anatomy.

Summary

The complex anatomy of the MV challenges the management of minimally invasive MV repair with respect to device sizing and procedural planning. Advances in CT have enabled cardiac CT to provide critical information for the pre-procedural planning and post-procedural follow-up of MV repair. Therefore, it represents a key element in the improvement of the post-procedural outcome, the efficiency of implanted devices, and the prevention as well as advanced diagnostics of post-procedural complications. However, particular expertise is required to select adequate imaging protocols, perform comprehensive post-processing features, and to achieve specific quantitative image evaluation.

     

Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse and Mild Mitral Regurgitation

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common disorder that, in general, has a good prognosis. Rare occasions of sudden death have been reported in patients with MVP and it is presumed that the basis of sudden death is arrhythmic. We report seven patients with moderate to severe MVP and malignant ventricular arrhythmias. All patients had trivial to mild mitral regurgitation and normal left ventricular function. Three patients presented with syncope, two with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and three with recurrent palpitations and presyncope. In a mean follow-up period of 2.5 years (range 6 months to 5 years), two patients died suddenly despite successful control of their nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) with sotalol as shown by ambulatory monitoring. Two patients, who had sustained VT despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy, had mitral valve surgery, however, monomorphic VT could be induced in both even after surgery. The arrhythmias in the remaining three patients are controlled on antiarrhythmic drugs. We conclude that a selected subset of patients with MVP, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, and miid mitral regurgitation are at risk of sudden death. Syncope, inferolateral repolarization changes, complex ventricular ectopy, and a markedly myxomatous valve may be pointers to higher risk of sudden death and mitral valve surgery may not provide control of ventricular arrhythmias.     

Mitral valve prolapse: comparison of diagnosis by physical examination and echocardiography

To determine how well physical examination findings suggestive of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) correlate with echocardiographic evidence of MVP, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of 104 patients referred to an Air Force Cardiology Clinic for echocardiography to rule out MVP. In each case, the referring physician's specialty and his findings on cardiac physical examination were recorded. All patients had M-mode echocardiography, and half of the patients had two-dimensional echocardiography. Sensitivities, specificities, and likelihood ratios for the physical examination were calculated using echocardiography as the comparison standard. The combination of a systolic click and a systolic murmur was the physical examination finding most predictive of echocardiographic MVP, with a positive likelihood ratio of 2.43. Other combinations of physical findings yielded likelihood ratios close to 1. No differences were found based on the specialty of the examining physician. We conclude that when practicing physicians find a systolic click and murmur, MVP is likely to be present on echocardiography, though one third of the patients will have normal echocardiograms. Other combinations of physical findings are of little help in predicting echocardiographic MVP.     

经胸和经食管超声心动图在全机器人二尖瓣修复术中的应用

目的探讨经胸(TTE)和经食管(TEE)超声心动图在全机器人二尖瓣修复术中的作用。方法对22例于我科因重度二尖瓣反流行全机器人二尖瓣修复术患者的超声影像资料进行回顾性分析。在术前,应用TTE评价二尖瓣反流功能解剖(病因、反流发生机制及脱垂瓣叶部位)及反流严重程度。在术中,应用TEE于体外循环(CPB)转机前,进一步明确二尖瓣反流发生机制及脱垂瓣叶部位;建立外周CPB时,引导下、上腔静脉插管及升主动脉内心脏停搏液灌注针的放置;心脏复跳后,即刻评价有无残余二尖瓣反流。在患者出院前,应用TTE再次评价有无残余二尖瓣反流。结果在术前,TTE评价二尖瓣反流病因的准确度为100%;TTE诊断二尖瓣脱垂及其发生部位的准确度分别为100%和97.0%。在术中,TEE诊断二尖瓣脱垂及其发生部位的准确度与术前TTE相同;TEE可准确引导上、下腔静脉插管及升主动脉内心脏停搏液灌注针放置,其成功率为100%;心脏复跳后,TEE显示所有患者手术均成功,无残余二尖瓣反流和手术相关并发症。患者出院前TTE证实所有患者均无残余二尖瓣反流。结论术前TTE可准确评价二尖瓣反流功能解剖,为判断二尖瓣修复可行性及选择手术适应证提供有价值的信息。术中TEE可进一步明确二尖瓣反流功能解剖;准确引导上、下腔静脉内插管及升主动脉内灌注针的放置;即刻评价手术效果。因此,TTE和TEE在全机器人二尖瓣修复术中是不可缺少的检查手段。     

Seizures in Migraine: Warning of an Underlying Cerebral Infarction?

SYNOPSIS
Reports of an association between migraine and seizures have existed for a long time. A syndrome of basilar artery migraine, seizures and abnormal EEG's has also been published. We now report four patients with seizures and migraine in whom we feel the seizures were secondary to cerebral infarctions. Migraine was of the classical type in all patients and the auras were predominantly visual, Neurological symptoms associated with the cerebral infarctions were mild or transient and could have easily been dismissed as "complex migraine". CT scans showed cerebral infarctions involving the occipital cortex in all four cases. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in two cases and a bicuspid aortic valve in one case. In two cases, both with MVP, there were more than one cerebral infarctions.
Seizures may be an early warning of cerebral infarctions in patients with migraine and should alert the physician towards such a possibility.     

Baseline echocardiographic values for adult male rats.

BACKGROUND: Because of safety, repeatability, and portability, clinical echocardiography is well established as a standard for cardiac anatomy, cardiac function, and hemodynamics. Similarly, application of echocardiography in commonly used rat experimental models would be worthwhile. The use of noninvasive ultrasound imaging in the rat is a potential replacement for more invasive terminal techniques. Although echocardiography has become commonly used in the rat, normal parameters for cardiac anatomy and function, and comparison with established human values, have not been reported. METHODS: A total of 44 Sprague-Dawley male rats had baseline echocardiography replicating a protocol for clinical echocardiography. RESULTS: Complete 2-dimensional echocardiography for cardiac anatomy and function was obtained in 44 rats. Hemodynamic parameters could be recorded in 85% of rats. The ejection fraction and fractional shortening values of the left ventricle were similar to those reported for healthy human beings. Pulsed Doppler velocities of atrial systole for mitral valve inflow, pulmonary vein reversal, and Doppler tissue of the lateral mitral valve annulus also had similar means as healthy human beings. The calculated left ventricular mass was at the same order of magnitude as a proportion of body weight of rat to man. All other observations in the clinical protocol were different from those reported in healthy human beings. CONCLUSION: The use of echocardiography for assessment of cardiac anatomy, function, and hemodynamics can be consistently applied to the rat and replicates much of the information used routinely in human echocardiography.     

实时三维经食管超声心动图对二尖瓣脱垂的诊断价值

目的比较实时三维经食管超声心动图（RT-3D-TEE）与二维经胸超声心动图（2D-TTE）、二维经食管超声心动图（2D-TEE）对二尖瓣脱垂的诊断价值。 方法回顾性分析2018年1月至2020年12月于武汉亚洲心脏病医院因二尖瓣脱垂行外科手术治疗,并在术前进行了2D-TTE、2D-TEE和RT-3D-TEE的患者共370例。以术中诊断为“金标准”,计算3种检查方法对二尖瓣脱垂瓣叶定位、腱索及赘生物形成的诊断效能,对3种检查方法的敏感度、特异度及准确性进行比较,并采用Kappa检验分别对3种方法诊断结果与术中诊断结果的一致性进行分析。 结果370例患者中,术前2D-TTE诊断出二尖瓣脱垂361例,检出率97.5%;术前2D-TEE诊断368例,检出率99.4%;而RT-3D-TEE检出率达100%。RT-3D-TEE对瓣叶脱垂的分区定位的敏感度、特异度和准确性均高于2D-TTE（P均＜0.05）,对腱索断裂诊断的敏感度和准确性亦高于2D-TTE,差异有统计学意义（P均＜0.05）,且RT-3D-TEE对脱垂分区定位的准确性高于2D-TEE（P均＜0.05）。一致性分析结果显示,RT-3D-TEE各项指标与术中诊断均具有良好的一致性（Kappa值均＞0.75,P均＜0.05）。 结论RT-3D-TEE较2D-TTE、2D-TEE对二尖瓣脱垂区域的定位及相关病变的识别更准确,可为手术医师提供更为直观、精准的影像信息,帮助制定个性化治疗方案。     

Prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in primary fibromyalgia: a pilot investigation

Fifty patients with primary fibromyalgia and a negative cardiovascular symptom history underwent echocardiography to determine the prevalence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The mean age of the population was 40 +/- 13 years (14 men, 36 women). Mitral valve prolapse was detected in 75%; 33% with myxomatous mitral valve leaflets. The prevalence of MVP in this population is significantly higher (p less than 0.0001) than in the general population. Primary fibromyalgia and MVP may be part of a more generalized connective tissue abnormality characterized by distinct genetically determined variants.     

The application of official policy. Prophylaxis recommendations for patients with mitral valve prolapse

In 1977, the American Heart Association recommended that patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral insufficiency receive antibiotic prophylaxis prior to procedures that place them at risk for bacterial endocarditis. To study how clinicians conformed to this recommendation, the authors selected 126 patients with MVP admitted to a University Medical Center in 1978, the year following the official policy. Overall, only 47 patients (37%) had the antibiotic prophylaxis recommended. Furthermore, information that might have increased the certainty of diagnosis of MVP or the likelihood of mitral insufficiency did not influence the physician's decision: symptoms, previous history, procedures, sex, evidence for mitral insufficiency, other serious illnesses, or the use of cardiac medications. However, patients seen in consultation by a cardiologist were much more likely to have prophylaxis recommended (P less than 0.05). It was concluded that the application of an official policy about prophylaxis for a condition such as MVP, where the risks are uncertain, is likely to be guided by other factors, such as the opinions of local experts.     

Right heart chamber geometry and tricuspid annulus morphology in patients undergoing mitral valve repair with and without tricuspid valve annuloplasty

According to current recommendations, patients could benefit from tricuspid valve (TV) annuloplasty at the time mitral valve (MV) surgery if tricuspid regurgitation is severe or if tricuspid annulus (TA) dilatation is present. Therefore, an accurate pre-operative echocardiographic study is mandatory for left but also for right cardiac structures. Aims of this study are to assess right atrial (RA), right ventricular (RV) and TA geometry and function in patients undergoing MV repair without or with TV annuloplasty. We studied 103 patients undergoing MV surgery without (G1: 54 cases) or with (G2: 49 cases) concomitant TV annuloplasty and 40 healthy subjects (NL) as controls. RA, RV and TA were evaluated by three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography. Comparing the pathological to the NL group, TA parameters and 3D right chamber volumes were significantly larger. RA and RV ejection fraction and TA% reduction were lower in pathological versus NL, and in G2 versus G1. In pathological patients, TA area positively correlated to systolic pulmonary pressure and negatively with RV and RA ejection fraction. Patients undergoing MV surgery and TV annuloplasty had an increased TA dimensions and a more advanced remodeling of right heart chambers probably reflecting an advanced stage of the disease.     

Recent developments in percutaneous mitral valve treatment

In recent years, various percutaneous techniques have been introduced for the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR), including direct leaflet repair, annuloplasty and left ventricular remodeling. Percutaneous mitral repair targets both primary degenerative and secondary mitral valve regurgitation and may be considered in selected high-surgical-risk patients. The assessment of mitral functional anatomy by echocardiography and computed tomography is crucial when selecting the appropriate repair strategy, according to the regurgitant valve lesion and the surrounding anatomy. The ongoing clinical use of new devices in annuloplasty and percutaneous mitral valve replacement is a promising new scenario in the treatment of MR that goes beyond the conventional surgical approach.     

经食管实时三维超声定量评价二尖瓣瓣环在功能性与器质性二尖瓣反流时的形态变化

目的使用经食管实时三维超声(RT-3D-TEE)对比分析正常二尖瓣瓣环与缺血性心肌病、二尖瓣脱垂(器质性瓣膜病)所致中度以上二尖瓣反流(MR)时二尖瓣瓣环的形态及变化规律,探讨不同病因致二尖瓣反流时瓣环变化规律,为外科二尖瓣成形术提供依据。方法对入选10例正常人(对照组)、8例缺血性心肌病(缺血组)及8例二尖瓣脱垂伴中度以上二尖瓣反流病例(脱垂组)进行经食管实时三维超声心动图检查,获取完整心动周期内的实时三维图像,并使用3D-QLAB软件后处理分析二尖瓣瓣环的不同参数。结果 (1)缺血组与对照组在瓣环投影面积变化率、瓣环周长变化率及高度变化率方面差异有统计学意义(P0.05),但在瓣环最大投影面积、瓣环最大高度、瓣环最大周长及瓣环最大内径(前后径及左右径)方面差异无统计学意义;(2)二尖瓣脱垂组与对照组在各瓣环参数方面差异无统计学意义。结论经食管实时三维超声心动图定量评价二尖瓣瓣环形态及运动变化规律是可行的。缺血性二尖瓣反流与二尖瓣脱垂患者二尖瓣瓣环形态运动变化规律有明显不同,RT-3D-TEE能够定量评价二尖瓣瓣环形态及运动变化规律,为外科二尖瓣成形术提供依据。     

Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography performed according to the guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography in patients with mitral valve prolapse, flail, and endocarditis: diagnostic accuracy in the identification of mitral regurgitant defects by correlation with surgical findings.

Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography is a useful tool to study mitral regurgitation. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography performed according to the guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography. We used 4 midesophageal and 2 transgastric views in 313 patients with degenerative lesions, endocarditic lesions, or both to identify regurgitant defects, comparing transesophageal echocardiography results with surgical findings. The overall diagnostic accuracy using individual scallops was 97.2% (P <.00001) with a sensitivity of 96.6% and a specificity of 97.6%. Considering the single sections of the mitral valve, an accuracy of 98%, 97.1%, and 98%, was found, respectively, for the lateral, middle, and medial third of the anterior leaflet. For the posterior leaflet, the accuracy was 98% for the lateral scallop, 98.4% for the middle, and 96.1% for the medial. This strategy provides good accuracy in diagnosing both simple and challenging mitral-valve lesions and its widespread use should be recommended.