A case of mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa aneurysm with unique flow patterns and long-term natural survival

Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa. A new comprehensive review

Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (P-MAIVF) is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening condition. Both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can detect P-MAIVF with sensitivity rates of 43 and 90 %, respectively. The typical finding of echocardiography is a pulsatile echo-free sac that expands in systole and collapses in diastole. Our review comprises 166 patients with P-MAIVF, including eight cases in our hospital and 158 cases from the literature. P-MAIVF is often associated with infection or surgical trauma. While it is likely to maintain an asymptomatic course, symptoms of shortness of breath, heart failure, valvular disease, chest pain, endocarditis, and cerebrovascular events are common clinical presentations. The recommended treatment is surgery. However, conservative therapy is an alternative approach for high-risk patients or when surgical treatment is refused. With the increasing incidence of cardiac surgery and infective endocarditis, a likely increment in the new diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm is expected.

Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF): A comprehensive review

Pseudoaneurysm in the region of the fibrous body between the mitral and aortic valve, the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF), is a rare complication. The authors provide a comprehensive review of all relevant English-language articles published from 1966 to December 2009. Pseudoaneurysm of the MAIVF was identified in 88 patients in the medical literature and one from the authors' institution (total reported cases, 89). Endocarditis and aortic valve surgery were the most frequently associated causative factors. Symptoms and signs of infection, chest pain, heart failure or shortness of breath, and cerebrovascular accidents accounted for 77% of clinical presentations. The formation of a fistulous tract, coronary artery compression, and death were important described complications. Patients with ring abscesses in the MAIVF region and those with prosthetic aortic valves and histories of endocarditis are at higher risk for developing pseudoaneurysm of the MAIVF. Transesophageal echocardiography was able to identify all cases in which it was used. Surgical correction is the treatment of choice.

Pseudoaneurysms of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa: survival without reoperation

BACKGROUND

the tissue spanning the mitral and aortic valves, the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF), may be the site of pseudoaneurysm formation in the setting of infective endocarditis or congenital heart disease, or after valve surgery. Because of potential complications of MAIVF pseudoaneurysms, patients with such lesions are often referred for surgical repair.

METHODS

we identified 3 individuals with MAIVF pseudoaneurysms who were followed without surgical intervention after diagnosis of the MAIVF pseudoaneurysm. The courses of these patients are presented below.

RESULTS

the MAIVF pseudoaneurysms were measured to be stable in size over several years among 3 patients. Dimensions were 5.3 × 2.3, 7.6 × 4.9, and 4.8 × 2.5 cm. Surgical repair was considered too high a risk in 2 of the individuals, and the third individual refused a third surgical intervention. Of the 3 patients, 2 remain asymptomatic. The third patient was 87 years old when her MAIVF pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed, and she died of noncardiac causes at age 92 years.

CONCLUSIONS

clinical surveillance and serial imaging of MIAVF pseudoaneurysms may be considered an alternative to surgical management in select individuals.

A case of echocardiographic evaluation of ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa by infective endocarditis

This report describes an unusual case of ruptured pseudoaneurysm (PSA) of mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF) caused by infective endocarditis. The PSA ruptured into the left sinus of Valsalva in addition to the left atrium, resulting in complicated shunting among the aorta, left ventricle and left atrium, leading to refractory heart failure. The transesophageal echocardiography provided the precise information concerning the anatomical detail of the PSA, which is crucial for the surgical repair. This is the first report describing a patient with PSA of MAIVF with two rupture sites.

Stroke in patient with an intervalvular fibrosa pseudoaneurysm and aortic pseudoaneurysm

We describe a case of an intervalvular fibrosa pseudoaneurysm associated with a cerebrovascular accident. This case in unusual as the likely source of embolic stroke was thrombus from within the pseudoaneurysm. Transesophageal echocardiography also demonstrated a communication between the intervalvular fibrosa and the proximal aorta.

Aneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa as a rare cause of angina pectoris: angiographic demonstration

Aneurysms of the mitral-aortic interventricular fibrosa (MAIF) are exceptionally rare complications, commonly following aortic valve endocarditis. This report describes the angiographic findings of such an aneurysm, in a patient who developed an uncommon symptomatology of unstable angina pectoris, caused by the aneurysm's expansion against the coronary arteries. Surgical treatment is also discussed.

Assessment of endocarditis and associated complications with transesophageal echocardiography

TEE offers many benefits in the evaluation of patients with IE. It provides increased sensitivity as compared to TTE in the detection of this disease, and is better able to identify and delineate many of the associated complications and hemodynamic aberrancies. TEE also has helped expand our knowledge of the pathophysiology and natural history of IE. Continued advances in the technology of TEE instrumentation undoubtedly will lead to further improvements in our ability to assess and to treat patients stricken with this serious infection. Nevertheless, IE continues to exact a significant toll on its victims, and our efforts to diagnose, to treat, and to prevent it must not weaken.