Intraoperative Echocardiographic Assessment of Mitral Valve Area After Degenerative Mitral Valve Repair: A Call for Guidelines or Recommendations

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Successful Mitral Valve Repair or Need for a Second Pump Run in the Operating Room

Detailed preoperative and intraoperative echocardiographic assessment of the mitral valve apparatus is critical for a successful repair. The recent advent of 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography has added an extra pivotal role to transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of mitral apparatus and mitral regurgitation. Because surgeons must rapidly decide whether cardiopulmonary bypass should be continued to be weaned off or a second pump run should be selected, the echocardiographer conducting intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is required to be trained according to a certain algorithm. This review summarizes the current clinical role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in mitral valve repair in the operating room.

Anesthetic Considerations for Patients With Mitral Stenosis Undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplant

A 70-year-old male presented for an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) with co-existing moderate-severe mitral valve stenosis. The hemodynamic goals of managing mitral stenosis posed a significant additional challenge to this patient's care. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was critical in guiding volume status and resuscitation. In addition, the patient's valvulopathy guided our vasoactive medication selection and arrhythmia prevention. In this article, we describe the multidisciplinary discussions regarding preoperative valvular intervention as well as the intraoperative techniques used to preserve cardiac output while avoiding coagulopathy and arrhythmias. We discuss the pathophysiology of valvular disease in the context of liver failure and the guidelines by which this disease process is classified. In addition, we discuss the benefits and limitations of intraoperative TEE in evaluating this unique physiology.

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography following mitral valve repair: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine the recent evidence and search for novel assessments on intraoperative TEE following mitral valve repair that can impact short and long-term outcomes.

METHODS

The Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE databases were searched from January 1, 2008, until January 27, 2021, for studies on patients with severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation (MR) undergoing Mitral Valve (MV) repair surgery with intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) performed after the repair. Additional searches were conducted using Google search engine, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

After reviewing 302 records, 8 retrospective and 22 prospective studies were included (n = 30). Due to clinical and methodological diversity, these studies are noncomparable and data were not amenable to quantitative synthesis.

CONCLUSION

Although technological advances allowed the objective assessment of geometric and dynamic alterations of the MV, the impact of the use of these technologies on short- or long-term outcomes was not studied. There is uncertainty and conflicting evidence on the ideal method and metrics to evaluate MV patency post-repair. Few isolated studies validated methods to assess coaptation surface and LV function post-repair.

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Assessment of the Repaired Mitral Valve: A Proposed Decision Pathway

The indications for mitral valve repair extend across the entire spectrum of degenerative mitral valve disease, ranging from fibroelastic degeneration to Barlow's disease. Collaboration between the surgeon and anesthesiologist is essential for ensuring optimal results. Echocardiographic assessment of the repair can be challenging but is essential to the success of the procedure, as even mild residual mitral regurgitation can portend poor patient outcomes. In addition to determining the severity of residual regurgitation, the anesthesiologist must elucidate the mechanism of disease in order to inform appropriate re-intervention measures. Finally, there are unique complications of mitral valve surgery for the anesthesiologist to understand and assess by echocardiography. This review describes a systematic pathway for a comprehensive intraoperative assessment of the mitral valve following surgical repair.

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Successful Mitral Valve Repair or Need for a Second Pump Run in the Operating Room

Detailed preoperative and intraoperative echocardiographic assessment of the mitral valve apparatus is critical for a successful repair. The recent advent of 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography has added an extra pivotal role to transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of mitral apparatus and mitral regurgitation. Because surgeons must rapidly decide whether cardiopulmonary bypass should be continued to be weaned off or a second pump run should be selected, the echocardiographer conducting intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is required to be trained according to a certain algorithm. This review summarizes the current clinical role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in mitral valve repair in the operating room.