Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction and left atrium reverse remodeling after mitral regurgitation surgery

Participating in Sports After Mitral Valve Repair for Primary Mitral Regurgitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Participating in either competitive or leisure sports is restrictive after surgical mitral valve repair (MVR). In this study, we examine the impact of sports on outcomes after MVR.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Patients aged 18 to 65 years who underwent a first-time MVR for primary mitral regurgitation (MR) in a tertiary care center.

PATIENTS

One hundred twenty-one consecutive patients were included in the study. The exclusion criteria were as follows: other concomitant procedures, early perioperative death or repeat intervention, noncardiac death or endocarditis during follow-up, and general contraindications for normal physical activity.

ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS

Participation in sports was quantified by the number of hours per week during the past 6 months, classified according to the Mitchell classification and assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary composite endpoint was MVR failure defined as MR grade ≥2 or mean transmitral gradient ≥8 mm Hg, signs and symptoms of heart failure, or late-onset postoperative AF (>3 months).

RESULTS

The mean age was 50 ± 11 years, and there were 85 (71%) men. The median follow-up was 34 months [interquartile range (IQR): 20-50]. Fifty-six (46%) patients participated in sports regularly (median of 3 h/wk; IQR: 2-5). Twenty (17%) patients reached the primary composite endpoint with no correlation with participation in sports (P = 0.537), IPAQ categories (P = 0.849), in any of the Mitchell classification subgroups and a high level of participation in sports ≥6 hours (P = 0.679).

CONCLUSIONS

Sports seem to be unrelated to the worst outcome after MVR.

Left atrial reverse remodeling improves sinus restoration following mitral valve replacement: A case report

Introduction

Mitral stenosis is one of the most common abnormalities in rheumatic heart disease (RHD). These patients often experience atrial fibrillation, due to left atrial dilatation, causing a high risk of thromboembolic events; rhythm or heart rate control are thus important treatment strategies. In patients undergoing surgery, sinus rhythm restoration is not fully understood, and not all surgical patients return to sinus rhythm. We report an adult woman with mitral regurgitation who experienced sinus restoration after mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery.

Case presentation

A 44-year-old woman presented with chief complaints of orthopnea and shortness of breath during activity for 2 months. Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed atrial fibrillation with normal ventricular response, and echocardiography showed severe mitral stenosis with Wilkins score of 10 (3-2-3-2), moderate mitral and aortic regurgitation due to RHD, moderate tricuspid regurgitation with probable pulmonary hypertension, normal left ventricular systolic function, ejection fraction of 60.5% (biplane). MVR surgery was performed using a mechanical mitral valve. Postoperative ECG found sinus rhythm and first-degree AV block. Postoperative echocardiography found a decreased left Atrial volume index of 70.8 mL/m², indicating further remodeling of the patient's heart.

Conclusion

Sinus restoration sometimes occurs in patients after MVR. The correction procedure causes minimal anatomical changes, particularly the loss of non-conductive and pathological tissue, followed by hemodynamic changes that eventually lead to the left atrial reverse remodeling mechanism.

•

Mitral stenosis is one of the most common abnormalities in rheumatic heart disease.

•

Sinus restoration is sometimes found after mitral valve replacement.

•

Non-conductive tissue loss and improved hemodynamics can lead to sinus restoration.

Atrial Thrombosis Caused by a Dislocated Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device After Mitral Valve Replacement

A patient with a left atrial appendage occlusion device underwent mitral valve replacement. Later, the patient developed a left atrial thrombosis with thromboembolic myocardial infarction caused by a dislocation of the occlusion device. Exclusion of the device and non-device-based appendage occlusion may have prevented the patient from experiencing postoperative complications (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Echocardiographic and clinical outcome after mitral valve plasty with a minimal access or conventional sternotomy approach

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of minimal access mitral valve surgery (MAMVS) versus conventional surgery with or without concomitant tricuspid valve plasty (TVP) in consecutive patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) on clinical and echocardiographic outcome.

METHODS

One-hundred-and-twenty patients operated for MR (91 conventional and 29 MAMVS) were followed by echocardiography and quality of life assessment before and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Patients in the MAMVS group were younger, more often in NYHA functional class I-II and had lower NT-proBNP levels. Only four patients (all in the conventional group) underwent mitral valve replacement. There were no significant differences in complications between MAMVS and conventional surgery. At 6 months, comparable MR reduction and left ventricular remodeling data were seen, left atrial remodeling was most prominent in the MAMVS group, 71 [55-90] to 43 [35-58] versus 69 [53-89] to 49 [41-70] mL/m² in the conventional group (P<0.05). Significant improvement for all quality of life domains were seen, except for pain, with no intergroup differences. Twenty-seven (23%) patients underwent concomitant TVP, all in the conventional group. Tricuspid regurgitation decreased after concomitant TVP (P<0.001), whereas in patients with no TVP no significant changes occurred. At 6 months tricuspid regurgitation grade was comparable in patients with TVP versus patients without need for TVP.

CONCLUSIONS

MR severity reduced significantly, with no difference between conventional surgery and MAMVS in reducing MR, with superior left atrial remodeling in the MAMVS group. In-hospital complications and NYHA class and quality of life assessment were not different between conventional surgery and MAMVS.

Effects of Decreased Annular Height and Annular Saddle-Shaped Non-Planarity in Degenerative Severe Mitral Regurgitation with Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: Real-Time 3D Transesophageal Echocardiography

Background

The extent of mitral annular (MA) remodeling and dysfunction is correlated with the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) as well as left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) dilation. MA dysfunction may be a useful prognostic factor for operative timing and MR recurrence after successful mitral valve (MV) repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate additive prognostic factors of MA non-planarity using real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (RT3D-TEE) analysis in patients with chronic severe MR and preserved LV systolic function.

Methods

Forty-seven patients with chronic severe MR and preserved LV systolic function scheduled for MV repair were prospectively enrolled. Echocardiographic studies were performed before surgery and postoperatively within 2 weeks and at least 6 months after surgery. RT3D-TEE was performed before the operation and immediately post-operative.

Results

Mean age was 55.4 ± 15.1 years and 24 were male. Annulus height/body surface area (BSA) obtained via RT3D-TEE was correlated with the degree of postoperative LA remodeling. Patients were divided into two groups by average baseline annulus height/BSA. Patients with normal annular height had a smaller postoperative LV end-diastolic dimension, LV end-systolic dimension and LA volume index than patients with decreased annular height. Preoperative annulus height/BSA values strongly predicted postoperative LA remodeling.

Conclusion

MA height may be a useful prognostic factor for determining the timing of surgery in patients with chronic primary MR. Annulus height/BSA assessed via RT3D-TEE may provide additional information predictive of postoperative LA remodeling after successful MV repair.

Time course of left atrial reverse remodelling after mitral valve surgery and the impact of left ventricular global longitudinal strain in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate the time course of left atrial (LA) reverse remodelling (LARR) after mitral valve (MV) surgery in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and examine the impact of left ventricular (LV) mechanical function on LARR.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients (73 males, age 54 ± 16 years) with chronic severe MR undergoing MV surgery were analysed. All patients underwent two-dimensional, Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiography before and after surgery (1 week, 6 months and 12 months).

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in LA volume from 137.8 ± 85.5 to 89.7 ± 54.6 ml (-32.1 ± 16.7%, P < 0.001) at 1 week after surgery. LA volume further decreased to 77.4 ± 52.4 ml (-9.9 ± 13.4%, P < 0.001) at 6 months but increased to 79.7 ± 62.4 ml (3.6 ± 11.9%, P = 0.002) at 12 months after surgery. Patients with good LARR (a reduction of ≥25% in LA volume) showed lower LV global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) than those with poor LARR (P = 0.032). In simple correlation, age (r = 0.19, P = 0.026), preoperative LA volume (r = -0.28, P = 0.001) and preoperative LV-GLS (r = 0.28, P = 0.001) showed significant correlations with the % change in LA volume, whereas no correlations were observed with preoperative LV ejection fraction, global circumferential and radial strain. In multivariate analyses, preoperative LV-GLS (β = 0.24, P = 0.014) was an independent determinant for early LARR along with age and preoperative LA volume.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of LARR after MV surgery occurred during the early postoperative period. LV-GLS, age and LA volume at surgery determined the degree of early LARR after MV surgery in patients with chronic severe MR.