Effect of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty on pulmonary hypertension in mitral stenosis

Net atrioventricular compliance can predict persistent pulmonary artery hypertension after percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy

Background

Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS). Patients with similar mitral valve (MV) areas may have different pulmonary artery pressures. Net atrioventricular compliance (Cn) was found to play an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension.

Aim

To test the value of Cn in predicting persistent pulmonary artery hypertension (PPAH) after percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy (PMBC).

Patients and Methods

Eighty patients with severe MS, suitable for PMBC were included in the study. We excluded patients with contraindication to PMBC, atrial fibrillation, failure of PMBC, and restenosis. All patients had undergone electrocardiography, echocardiography with measurement of MV area, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP), and Cn, PMBC, and follow-up echocardiography.

Results

Patients were divided into two groups: Group I: Cn < 4.2 mL/mmHg (36 patients), Group II: Cn ≥ 4.2 mL/mmHg (44 patients). Group I patients had significantly higher SPAP, and significantly lower SPAP reduction. Sensitivity of Cn < 4.2 mL/mmHg in prediction of PPAH was 88.9%, specificity was 88.6%, and accuracy was 88.8%. Independent predictors for PPAH were baseline Cn (p = 0.0027), and Cn improvement after PMBC (p = 0.0085). There was a significant negative correlation between Cn and baseline SPAP (r = −0.349, p = 0.0015), and a significant positive correlation between Cn and percent SPAP reduction (r = 0.617, p < 0.00001).

Conclusion

Measuring Cn can predict PPAH in MS patients after PMBC. It also may add value in evaluating MS patients undergoing PMBC and may help in predicting their prognosis.

Right ventricular and septal function in patients with pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) exacerbates the functions of both ventricles. This prospective, randomised study was planned to investigate the effects of PHT on kinetics of both ventricles and the septum.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients were randomly selected among the patients who had been planned to undergo mitral valve replacement (MVR) because of isolated mitral stenosis and divided into two groups according to their preoperative pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) values. Blood pool gated single photon emission tomography (BPGS) and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. Ventricles' regional, global and functional parameters were also assessed by using pulsed wave Doppler tissue imaging (DTI).

RESULTS

Preoperative and postoperative PAP of the group 1 (PAP < 50 mmHg) were 40.0 ± 2.8 and 30.0 ± 2.6 mmHg (p = 0.03), group 2 (PAP ≥ 50 mmHg) were 71.9 ± 4.7 and 50.6 ± 3.5 mmHg (p < 0.05). The global right and left ventricle scores were decreased after the operation. The decrement was only significant in group 2. Considering the septal kinetics, right ventricle septal score was decreased from 7.6 to 3.3 (p < 0.05) in group 1, from 3.8 to 1.6 (p < 0.05) in group 2 postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Following MVR, a decrement in PAP values, and an improvement in ventricular function, especially in the right ventricular and septal kinetics were achieved. Furthermore, it was found that both DTI and BPGS techniques are beneficial to investigate the functional changes postoperatively and in the follow-up period of the patients who undergo mitral valve surgery.

Mitral stenosis

Mitral stenosis is a common disease that causes substantial morbidity worldwide. The disease is most prevalent in developing countries, but is increasingly being identified in an atypical form in developed countries. All treatments that increase valve area improve morbidity. Mortality improves with surgery; the benefit of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty to mortality might be similar to that of surgery but needs further study. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is the treatment of choice for patients in whom treatment is indicated, except for those with suboptimum valve morphology, and even these patients are sometimes treated with this procedure if surgery is not feasible or if surgical risk is prohibitive. We review the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment options for patients with mitral stenosis.

Factors determining normalization of pulmonary vascular resistance following successful balloon mitral valvotomy

Balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV) provides improvement in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in patients with severe mitral stenosis. Its normalization, however, remains questionable. We evaluated PVR before, after BMV, and at follow-up in 37 patients who had a previous successful BMV. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 had 21 patients with normalized PVR (<125 dynes/s/cm5) either after BMV or at follow-up, and group 2 had 16 patients with persistently abnormal PVR. Patients in group 2 were older than patients in group 1 (55+/-13 vs 43+/-14 years, p = 0.01) and had atrial fibrillation more frequently (10 [63%] vs 6 [29%], p = 0.04). Age, cardiac rhythm, mitral valve area, pulmonary bed gradient, pulmonary artery pressure, and PVR before the procedure were significant univariate predictors for normalization of PVR. Age, echocardiographic score, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and mitral regurgitation were all independent determinants of normalization of PVR in a multivariate logistic regression model. We conclude that PVR failed to return to normal in 16 patients (43%) after successful BMV; this can be predicted by baseline clinical and hemodynamic parameters.

Tricuspid valve disease. Clinical evaluation, physiopathology, and management

The tricuspid and mitral valves are homologous whose function depends on coordination among components. Isolated tricuspid valve abnormalities are relatively uncommon. Rheumatic disease, chemicals, immunologic and degenerative disorders alter leaflet anatomy and may result in either stenosis, insufficiency or a combination. More often, tricuspid disorders present as a component of congenital syndromes or secondary to pulmonary vascular or let heart disease which alter geometry and function of nonleaflet components.

Long-term outcome of cardiac surgery in patients with mitral stenosis and severe pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary hypertension increases perioperative risk in patients having mitral valve replacement, but most studies have included patients with mixed mitral valve disease and have not examined long-term outcome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively examined the results and predictors of outcome of cardiac surgery in 43 patients (age, 62 +/- 13 years [mean +/- SD]; 81% women) with a primary diagnosis of mitral stenosis and severe pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary artery systolic pressure > or = 60 mm Hg or mean pressure > or = 50 mm Hg). Patients with more than mild mitral regurgitation were excluded. Thirty-eight patients (88%) were in NYHA functional class III or IV, and 11 patients (26%) had an acute presentation requiring urgent surgery. Preoperative hemodynamics demonstrated a mean mitral valve area of 0.7 +/- 0.3 cm2, mean pulmonary artery pressure of 50 +/- 9 mm Hg, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 81 +/- 18 mm Hg. Other characteristics included right ventricular failure (18 patients), coronary artery disease (16 patients), and critical aortic stenosis (11 patients). Forty patients underwent mitral valve replacement with St Jude prostheses; 3 had open commissurotomy. Additional surgical procedures included aortic valve replacement (42%), coronary artery bypass graft surgery (26%), and tricuspid valvuloplasty (16%). There were 5 perioperative deaths (11.6%), and 7 other patients (16%) had major complications, including reoperation for hemorrhage, stroke, respiratory failure, myocardial infarction, or a > 30-day hospitalization. Univariate analysis of demographic, hemodynamic, and operative characteristics identified the following predictors of perioperative death (P < .05): acute presentation, clinical evidence of right ventricular failure, impaired left ventricular ejection fraction, and increased left ventricular diastolic pressure. Predictors of complications (P < .05) were acute presentation, ECG evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy, and elevated right ventricular systolic pressure. Multivariate analysis showed only acute presentation and right ventricular hypertrophy as predictors of perioperative death or major complications, respectively. Five- and 10-year actuarial survivals were 80% and 64%, respectively. The only predictor of long-term mortality was advanced age. Functional NYHA status was improved by one grade or more in 76% of survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients referred to a tertiary care hospital in the United States with mitral stenosis and severe pulmonary hypertension often have other associated cardiac diseases and comorbid conditions. Cardiac surgery can be successfully performed with an acceptable mortality, and risk factors for poor perioperative outcome can be identified by preoperative clinical characteristics. Younger patients have the best long-term survival, and most survivors experienced long-term improvement in functional status.