Multimodality Imaging of Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect: A Challenging Diagnosis in Adults

•

SVASD should be suspected in cases of unexplained RV volume overload.

•

Direct visualization of SVASD with TTE is difficult in adults compared with children.

•

TEE is helpful for diagnosing SVASD and associated pulmonary venous abnormalities.

•

Multimodal imaging techniques offer incremental value in the workup of SVASD.

Multiphase Assessment of Mitral Annular Dynamics in Consecutive Patients With Significant Mitral Valve Disease

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to clarify the dynamics of the mitral annulus throughout the cardiac cycle and its relevance to transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) sizing and case selection.

BACKGROUND

Limited data are available regarding the relevance of mitral annular (MA) and neo-left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) dynamics in the overall population presenting with significant mitral valve disease.

METHODS

Patients attending a combined surgical-transcatheter heart valve clinic for severe symptomatic mitral valve disease were assessed using multiphase computed tomography. The relative influence of MA and neo-LVOT dynamics to TMVR case selection was studied.

RESULTS

A total of 476 patients with significant mitral valve disease were evaluated. In 99 consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation, a 10-phase assessment showed that the mitral annulus was on average largest in late systole. On comparing maximal MA dimension with late systolic dimension, TMVR size assignment changed in 24.2% of patients. If the average MA perimeter was used to determine sizing, 48.5% were excluded because of MA dimension being too large; in a multiphase assessment of the neo-LVOT, an additional 16.2% were excluded on the basis of neo-LVOT dimension. In an expanded series of 312 consecutive patients, selection protocol influenced anatomical exclusion: a manufacturer-proposed early systolic approach excluded 69.2% of patients, whereas a late systolic approach excluded 82.7% of patients, the vast majority because of large mitral annuli.

CONCLUSIONS

Contemporary TMVR can treat only a minority of patients with severe mitral regurgitation, principally because of limitations of large MA dimension.

Aortic closure signal length on doppler echocardiography differentiates aortic patient-prosthesis mismatch from prosthetic stenosis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic potential of the aortic closure (A2) signal length on Doppler echocardiography in distinguishing aortic patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) from prosthetic stenosis among patients with elevated gradients over bioprosthetic valves.

METHODS

The A2 signal length was retrospectively measured for 150 patients with bioprosthetic aortic valves (50 with PPM, 50 with prosthetic stenosis, and 50 with normally functioning valves) from transthoracic echocardiograms performed at NYU Langone Health between 01/01/2012 and 08/01/2018.

RESULTS

Mean A2 signal length was shorter among patients with PPM (11.1 ms ± 5.2 ms), than among those with prosthetic stenosis (21.1 ms ± 6.0 ms), P < .001 and controls (21.7 ms ± 7.4 ms), P < .001. There was no difference in A2 signal length between prosthetic stenosis and controls. The A2 signal length yielded an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI 0.82-0.95) for predicting PPM over prosthetic stenosis.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with bioprosthetic aortic valves, the length of the A2 signal on Doppler echocardiography is shorter in PPM than in prosthetic stenosis and normally functioning valves. The A2 signal length may represent a novel metric to distinguish PPM from prosthetic stenosis.

Lung Ultrasound Imaging: A Primer for Echocardiographers

Lung ultrasound (LUS) has gained considerable acceptance in emergency and critical care medicine but is yet to be fully implemented in cardiology. Standard imaging protocols for LUS in acute care settings have allowed the rapid and accurate diagnosis of dyspnea, respiratory failure, and shock. LUS is greatly additive to echocardiography and is superior to auscultation and chest radiography, particularly when the diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure is in question. In this review, the authors describe LUS techniques, interpretation, and clinical applications, with the goal of informing cardiologists on the imaging modality. Additionally, the authors review LUS findings associated with various disease states most relevant to cardiac care. Although there is extensive literature on LUS in the acute care setting, there is a dearth of reviews directly focused for practicing cardiologists. Current evidence demonstrates that this modality is an important adjunct to echocardiography, providing valuable clinical information at the bedside.

Cor Pulmonale from Concomitant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Methamphetamine Use

•

HIV and frequent methamphetamine use are two known risk factors for PAH development.

•

HIV and methamphetamine are both associated with higher rates of mortality in PAH.

•

Echocardiography is an effective noninvasive modality for assessing PAH severity.

Deep Learning-Based Automated Echocardiographic Quantification of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Point-of-Care Solution

BACKGROUND

We have recently tested an automated machine-learning algorithm that quantifies left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) from guidelines-recommended apical views. However, in the point-of-care (POC) setting, apical 2-chamber views are often difficult to obtain, limiting the usefulness of this approach. Since most POC physicians often rely on visual assessment of apical 4-chamber and parasternal long-axis views, our algorithm was adapted to use either one of these 3 views or any combination. This study aimed to (1) test the accuracy of these automated estimates; (2) determine whether they could be used to accurately classify LV function.

METHODS

Reference EF was obtained using conventional biplane measurements by experienced echocardiographers. In protocol 1, we used echocardiographic images from 166 clinical examinations. Both automated and reference EF values were used to categorize LV function as hyperdynamic (EF>73%), normal (53%-73%), mildly-to-moderately (30%-52%), or severely reduced (<30%). Additionally, LV function was visually estimated for each view by 10 experienced physicians. Accuracy of the detection of reduced LV function (EF<53%) by the automated classification and physicians' interpretation was assessed against the reference classification. In protocol 2, we tested the new machine-learning algorithm in the POC setting on images acquired by nurses using a portable imaging system.

RESULTS

Protocol 1: the agreement with the reference EF values was good (intraclass correlation, 0.86-0.95), with biases <2%. Machine-learning classification of LV function showed similar accuracy to that by physicians in most views, with only 10% to 15% cases where it was less accurate. Protocol 2: the agreement with the reference values was excellent (intraclass correlation=0.84) with a minimal bias of 2.5±6.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

The new machine-learning algorithm allows accurate automated evaluation of LV function from echocardiographic views commonly used in the POC setting. This approach will enable more POC personnel to accurately assess LV function.

Two cases of acute endocarditis misdiagnosed as COVID-19 infection

The COVID‐19 pandemic has presented countless new challenges for healthcare providers including the challenge of differentiating COVID‐19 infection from other diseases. COVID‐19 infection and acute endocarditis may present similarly, both with shortness of breath and vital sign abnormalities, yet they require very different treatments. Here, we present two cases in which life‐threatening acute endocarditis was initially misdiagnosed as COVID‐19 infection during the height of the pandemic in New York City. The first was a case of Klebsiella pneumoniae mitral valve endocarditis leading to papillary muscle rupture and severe mitral regurgitation, and the second a case of Streptococcus mitis aortic valve endocarditis with heart failure due to severe aortic regurgitation. These cases highlight the importance of careful clinical reasoning and demonstrate how cognitive errors may impact clinical reasoning. They also underscore the limitations of real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for SARS‐CoV‐2 testing and illustrate the ways in which difficulty interpreting results may also influence clinical reasoning. Accurate diagnosis of acute endocarditis is critical given that surgical intervention can be lifesaving in unstable patients.

Point-of-care ultrasound during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multidisciplinary approach between intensivists and echocardiographers

Purpose

The coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) led to a large influx of critically ill patients and altered echocardiography laboratory workflow. We developed a point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) first approach to patients requiring echocardiography and describe our workflow and findings.

Methods

We performed a single‐center retrospective analysis of all POCUS studies performed on critically ill patients with COVID‐19. Sonography was performed by intensivists, uploaded and archived, and rapidly reviewed by echocardiographers. We evaluated each study based on the number of views obtained. Additionally, we provide a description of the workflow during the COVID‐19 surge at a tertiary care hospital in New York City.

Results

Fifty patients had POCUS studies performed by intensivists and reviewed by echocardiographers obviating the need for sonographer‐performed studies. Of the 48 cardiac POCUS studies, 17% of patients had 4 of 4 standard views available while 53% had 3 of 4 standard views. The parasternal long‐axis view was obtained on 81%, subxiphoid view on 79%, apical 4‐chamber view on 71%, and parasternal short‐axis view on 63% of patients.

Conclusions

Our POCUS workflow allowed intensivists to perform cardiac sonography for rapid bedside diagnosis of pathology with immediate interpretation performed by echocardiographers. At least 3 views were obtained in the majority of cases.

Unusual Cause of Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation: Tricuspid Leaflet Annular Tear Following Remote Motor Vehicle Accident

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is an uncommon and underdiagnosed complication of blunt chest trauma. Typical mechanisms include torn chordae, papillary muscle rupture, and radial leaflet tear. We describe an unusual case of traumatic TR due to circumferential avulsion of the anterior tricuspid leaflet from the tricuspid annulus and the crucial role of multimodality imaging in its diagnosis and treatment. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with minimal contrast in chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with renal insufficiency have poor short-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

METHODS

Retrospective chart review identified 575 consecutive patients not on hemodialysis who underwent TAVR between September 2014 and January 2017. Outcomes were defined by VARC-2 criteria. Primary outcome of all-cause mortality was evaluated at a median follow-up of 811 days (interquartile range 125-1,151).

RESULTS

Preprocedural glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was ≥60 ml/min in 51.7%, 30-60 ml/min in 42.1%, and < 30 ml/min in 6.3%. Use of transfemoral access (98.8%) and achieved device success (91.0%) did not differ among groups, but less contrast was used with lower GFR (23 ml [15-33], 24 ml [14-33], 13 ml [8-20]; p < .001). Peri-procedural stroke (0.7%, 2.1%, 11.1%; p < .001) was higher with lower GFR. Core lab analysis of preprocedural computed tomography scans of patients who developed a peri-procedural stroke identified potential anatomic substrate for stroke in three out of four patients with GFR 30-60 ml/min and all three with GFR <30 ml/min (severe atheroma was the most common subtype of anatomical substrate present). Compared to GFR ≥60 ml/min, all-cause mortality was higher with GFR 30-60 ml/min (HR 1.61 [1.00-2.59]; aHR 1.61 [0.91-2.83]) and GFR <30 ml/min (HR 2.41 [1.06-5.48]; aHR 2.34 [0.90-6.09]) but not significant after multivariable adjustment. Follow-up echocardiographic data, available in 63%, demonstrated no difference in structural heart valve deterioration over time among groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with baseline renal insufficiency remain a challenging population with poor long-term outcomes despite procedural optimization with a transfemoral-first and an extremely low-contrast approach.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Incomplete Surgical Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage on Follow-up Transesophageal Echocardiogram

Objectives

In patients with atrial fibrillation, incomplete left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is associated with an increased risk for cardio-embolic events compared to complete closure. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for incomplete surgical closure of the LAA in the modern surgical era.

Methods

Records of 74 patients with surgical LAA closure who underwent follow-up transesophageal echocardiogram for any reason between 2010 and 2016, were assessed for incomplete closure. Complete closure was defined by absence of Doppler or color flow between the left atrial appendage and the left atrial body in more than 2 orthogonal views.

Results

Surgical LAA closure was incomplete in 21 patients (28%) and complete in 53 patients (72%). All included cases were completed via oversewing method with a double layer of running suture with or without excision of the LAA. While no individual demographic, echocardiographic, or surgical feature was significantly different between groups, incomplete closure of the LAA was more prevalent in patients with two or more of the risk factors; female sex, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (OR 5.1, 95%Cl 1.5-17).

Conclusions

A significant rate of incomplete surgical LAA closure still exists in the modern surgical era, and the presence of multiple risk factors associate an increased risk of incomplete closure.

Clot in Transit on Transesophageal Echocardiography in a Prone Patient with COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

•The risk for thromboembolic events in COVID-19 is substantial. •PE should be considered in cases of clinical deterioration. •Management of CIT is controversial.

A case of nonvalvular endocarditis with biventricular apical infected thrombi

We report what appears to be the first case of biopsy-proven nonvalvular endocarditis with biventricular apical infected thrombi. A 47-year-old man presented with hypoxic respiratory failure from a multilobar pneumonia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed biventricular apical masses suggestive of nonvalvular endocarditis with infected thrombi. Given concern for ongoing septic embolization to the lungs and brain despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the masses were surgically resected. Culture and histopathology confirmed MRSA-positive infected thrombi. In this case report, we highlight the differential diagnosis of apical masses and the role of multimodality imaging.

Multimodality imaging: Bird's eye view from the 2019 American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions

The 2019 American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions displayed innovation in many areas for the evaluation and management of cardiovascular disease from preventive evaluation and care to advanced interventions. Imaging played a central role in these developments with a highlight of the conference being the imaging research presented. This review will summarize key imaging studies which were presented at this scientific meeting which will lead to innovation in the evaluation and management of cardiovascular disease. Experts in nuclear imaging (DW/MA), echocardiography (MS), cardiac magnetic resonance (SL), and cardiac computed tomography (RB) selected abstracts which they found to be of particular interest to the multimodality imaging audience and were integrated into this review (LP).