Eroded Valves,Recurrent Pleural Effusions,and Ultimately Heart–Liver Transplant

A patient with eroded tricuspid and pulmonic valves, who eventually developed elevated right atrial and systemic venous pressure that led to hepatic cirrhosis and recurrent pleural effusion, is presented. The complex issues involved over a long period in this patient, who ultimately required combined heart and liver transplant, are discussed.     

Impact of severe tricuspid regurgitation on accuracy of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure measured by Doppler echocardiography: Analysis in an unselected patient population

Pulmonary arterial pressure is an important index in cardiovascular disorders, especially for pulmonary hypertension (PH). Doppler echocardiography (DE) is widely used as a noninvasive method to assess pulmonary arterial pressure. However, recent studies have found several hemodynamic factors that affect its accuracy in estimating systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP). But the effect of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) has not been investigated. Therefore, our study is aimed to determine whether the severity of TR will affect the accuracy of sPAP measured by DE in an unselected patient population. We retrospectively studied 177 patients who underwent DE and right heart catheterization (RHC) examinations. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to the severity of TR (mild, moderate, and severe). The discrepancy in sPAP measured by DE and RHC was calculated and compared in each group. Determinants of discordant results between two methods were also evaluated. Age, gender, interval between DE and RHC, sequence of DE and RHC were similar among groups (all P>.05). Differences in sPAP, RAP, and tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TR‐PG) were similar in group 1 and 2 (all P>.05), while all significantly higher in group 3 (all P<.05). The difference in sPAP between DE and RHC was affected independently by severe TR and severe PH (both P<.05). Severe TR and severe PH affect the accuracy of sPAP measured by DE. Modification of echocardiographic sPAP measurements by taking into consideration of these factors may lead to reduced systemic errors.     

Three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography incremental value in a rare case of a bileaflet tricuspid valve

Detailed assessment of the tricuspid valve using two‐dimensional echocardiography is always challenging, as only two of three leaflets can be seen at a time. Three‐dimensional echocardiography can provide the enface view of the tricuspid valve that allows simultaneous visualization of all of the three leaflets. In a 42‐year‐old male patient scheduled for pulmonary endarterectomy, 3DTEE showed that the tricuspid valve is bileaflet, with one septal and another lateral leaflet. There were two commissures, one of them is anteriorly positioned and the other one is posterior. Our findings were confirmed intra‐operatively by direct surgical visualization of the tricuspid valve.     

再次三尖瓣置换术的危险因素及疗效

目的 回顾性分析再次三尖瓣置换患者的资料并进行随访,明确手术的危险因素及长期疗效.方法 选择2000年至2010年在广东省人民医院行再次三尖瓣置换术的患者19例,男6例,女13例,年龄(41.5±11.5)岁.第一次手术时置换人工机械瓣12例,置换人工生物瓣7例.再次手术:单纯行三尖瓣置换16例,三尖瓣置换加二尖瓣成形1例,三尖瓣置换加主动脉瓣探查1例,三尖瓣置换加二尖瓣成形及Bentall术1例.置换机械瓣和生物瓣患者两次手术间隔时间分别为6个月～17年和2个月～13年,中位时间分别为5年和7年.结果 再次手术植入生物瓣12例,植入双叶机械瓣7例.手术死亡2例(10.5％),分别死于多脏器功能衰竭和金葡菌败血症.存活出院的17例患者随访时间为(5.2±2.9)年,时间范围为8个月至12年.随访期间死亡2例,1例于术后半年死于消化道出血,另1例于术后2年死于右心功能衰竭.再次手术后出现Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞植入永久性起搏器1例,需要长期服用强心利尿药物治疗5例.与存活组相比,死亡组心胸比与右心室直径明显增大,差异有统计学意义[0.7±0.17 vs.0.6±0.65,P=0.023;(67±7.7) mm vs.(54±8.8) mm,P=0.021].存活组与死亡组年龄、两次手术间隔时间、左心室射血分数、心功能分级、肺动脉压和血清肌酐、总胆红素浓度等比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 三尖瓣人工瓣膜功能障碍积极行再次手术治疗可获得满意的治疗效果,心胸比＞0.7、右心室扩大右心功能不全是三尖瓣再次置换术的独立危险因素.     

Surgical Repair for Aortic Valve Fibro-elastoma: a Case Report

Valvular cardiac tumours are rare but account for a high prevalence of stroke or sudden death. We report a case of an incidental finding on echocardiography screening of a 65-year-old man. He was admitted to the emergency department for an episode of sinus bradycardia due to B-blocker overdose. Diagnosis of fibro-elastoma was rapidly suspected and the patient underwent surgery in order to prevent embolization. Epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.