Giant left atrial V-waves in post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect

Relationship between pulmonary capillary wedge V wave and transmitral and pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns in various heart diseases

BACKGROUND

A large V wave in a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) tracing is characteristic of mitral regurgitation. However, the V wave is often increased in patients without or with no significant mitral regurgitation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The V wave was in the PCWP tracing investigated in 65 patients using transmitral flow (TMF) and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) velocity patterns obtained by transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography. A large V wave was defined if the peak V wave minus the mean PCWP (V-mPCWP) was greater than 7 mmHg. Three study groups were formed: 15 patients with large V waves and significant mitral regurgitation, 15 patients with large V waves with no significant mitral regurgitation, and 35 patients with small V waves. The mPCWP and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were greatest in the group with large V waves and no significant mitral regurgitation. Peak early diastolic TMF and PVF velocities were significantly greater in the two groups with large V waves. The peak second systolic PVF velocity was lowest in the group with large V waves and significant mitral regurgitation, followed by the group with large V waves and no significant mitral regurgitation. The V-mPCWP was positively correlated with the peak early diastolic TMF and PVF velocities and negatively correlated with the peak second systolic PVF velocities. Additionally, mitral regurgitation severity in patients with large V waves and significant mitral regurgitation was positively correlated with the peak early diastolic TMF and PVF velocities and negatively correlated with the peak second systolic PVF velocity.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that large V waves in PCWP tracings appear not only in severe mitral regurgitation, but also in any condition with markedly elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Combined analysis of the TMF and PVF velocity patterns is helpful in determining the etiology of these hemodynamic abnormalities.

Hemodynamic profile of a post-infarct ventricular septal defect: left atrial a-waves rather than v-waves may be a prominent feature

The presence of prominent left atrial v-waves following interventricular septal rupture in acute myocardial infarction have been reported in the past. Hemodynamic profile obtained in one particular case highlighted some of the varying aspects of pressure wave, oxygen saturation, and compliance abnormalities that may also be present in such cases. The presence of large left atrial a-waves rather than v-waves was one of the findings.

Predictive value of prominent pulmonary arterial wedge V waves in assessing the presence and severity of mitral regurgitation

Indwelling pulmonary arterial catheters are often used to monitor and to guide therapy in critically ill patients. The magnitude of the V wave recorded from the pulmonary arterial wedge (PAW) position is sometimes used to assess the presence and severity of mitral regurgitation (MR). The present study was performed to assess the relation (or lack thereof) between a "prominent" PAW V wave and qualitative and quantitative estimates of MR. In 903 subjects (445 men and 458 women, aged 49 +/- 13 [mean +/- SD] years) referred for cardiac catheterization, an oximetrically confirmed PAW pressure was recorded with a large-lumen stiff catheter, and a left ventriculogram was recorded. In 646 of these subjects (328 men and 318 women, aged 50 +/- 13 years), forward cardiac output was measured by the Fick principle, and a regurgitant fraction was calculated. Prominent PAW V waves--as defined in several ways--were insensitive and had poor positive predictive value in identifying moderate or severe MR. At the same time, the absence of prominent PAW V waves was relatively specific for the absence of moderate or severe MR, and the negative predictive value of small V waves was very good. Thus, the prominence of a PAW V wave cannot be used to assess the presence or severity of MR.

Significance of diastolic pulmonary artery pressure peaks

We describe a patient undergoing elective surgery for treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in whom an abrupt change in the contour of the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) trace indicated the development of an intermediate (20 mm Hg) V wave in the pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) trace. As the PAP trace is displayed continuously, attention to its contour may allow for early detection of changes to the underlying PAWP trace.

Mechanical and electrical complications of acute myocardial infarction

Although much of the current enthusiasm in the management of acute myocardial infarction is related to revascularization strategies, mechanical and electrical complications continue to pose a major threat to recovery in some patients. Some of the major complications of acute myocardial infarction are cardiogenic shock, rupture of the free wall and pseudoaneurysm, rupture of the ventricular septum, acute mitral regurgitation, right ventricular myocardial infarction, infarct expansion or extension, pericarditis and tamponade, peri-infarction hypertension, and tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias. For each of these complications, general guidelines for diagnosis and management are offered. Early, aggressive, and judicious treatment of these complications may substantially decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with acute myocardial infarction.

Limitations of pulmonary wedge V waves in diagnosing mitral regurgitation

To study the usefulness of large V waves in pulmonary capillary wedge tracings in establishing the diagnosis of mitral regurgitation, data on 1,021 consecutive cardiac catheterizations were reviewed. Wedge tracings were obtained by Swan-Ganz catheterization in 208 patients, usually because of suspected valve disease. One hundred two patients had no trace of mitral regurgitation angiographically, 69 had mild to moderate and 37 had severe regurgitation. V waves were graded as trivial (less than 5), intermediate (5 to 10) or large (10 or more mm Hg above mean wedge pressure). Of 50 patients with large V waves, 18 (36 percent) had no or trace mitral regurgitation; these included 5 with mitral stenosis, 3 with a mitral valve prosthesis, 4 with coronary disease and congestive failure, 2 with aortic valve disease and congestive failure and 2 with a ventricular septal defect. Of 37 patients with severe mitral regurgitation, 16 (43 percent) had large and 12 (32 percent) had trivial V waves. Thus, mitral regurgitation is the most common cause of large V waves; however, large V waves are neither highly sensitive nor specific for severe regurgitation. Increased left atrial compliance may be associated with trivial V waves in the presence of severe regurgitation. Mitral obstruction, congestive heart failure and ventricular septal defect may all be associated with large V waves in the absence of significant mitral regurgitation.