New quantitative three-dimensional echocardiographic indices of mitral valve stenosis

The importance of concomitant mitral regurgitation for estimates of mitral valve area by pressure half time in patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease

AIMS

Aim was to study how concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) assessed by qualitative and quantitative methods influence mitral valve area (MVA) calculations by the pressure half time method (MVAPHT) compared to reference MVA (planimetry) in patients with rheumatic heart disease.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 72 patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease, MVAPHT was calculated as 220 divided by the pressure half time of the mitral early inflow Doppler spectrum. Direct measurement by planimetry was used as reference MVA and was mean (SD) 0.99 (0.69-1.99) cm2. Concomitant MR was present in 82%. MR severity was assessed qualitatively in all, semi-quantitatively by measuring the vena contracta width in 58 (81%), and quantitatively by calculation of the regurgitant volume in 28 (39%). MVA was significantly underestimated by MVAPHT, with increasing MR. In regression analyses MVAPHT underestimated MVA by 0.19 cm2 per higher grade of MR severity in qualitative assessment, and by 0.12-0.13 cm2 per mm larger vena contracta width and 10 ml larger regurgitant volume, respectively. The presented associations were more evident when i) MR severity was quantified compared to qualitative assessment and ii) reference measurements were made by three-dimensional transoesophageal recordings compared to transthoracic recordings.

CONCLUSION

MVAPHT underestimated mitral valve area compared to planimetry in patients with MS and concomitant MR. This study highlights the importance of taking the MR severity into account when evaluating MVA based on the PHT method. Direct measurements should be included in clinical decision making.

Surgical Echocardiography of the MV: Focus on 3D

The mitral valve remains a complex structure where multiple forms of pathology can be seen. Mitral regurgitation continues to be one of the most common valvular diseases in the industrialized world. While intraoperative 2-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography has been commonplace for some time, 3-dimensional technology has emerged and has shown great benefit for diagnosis and guidance during mitral valve surgery. In the hands of a trained sonographer, high-quality real-time images can easily be obtained and correlate well with gross anatomical findings. The use of multiple angled views and color Doppler within 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography has become a valuable asset in the understanding and interpretation of the mitral valve for surgical interventions.

Echocardiographic 3D-guided 2D planimetry in quantifying left-sided valvular heart disease

Echocardiographic 3D-guided 2D planimetry can improve the accuracy of valvular disease assessment. Acquisition of 3D pyramidal dataset allows subsequent multiplanar reconstruction with accurate orthogonal plane alignment to obtain the correct borders of an anatomic orifice or flow area. Studies examining the 3D-guided 2D planimetry approach in left-sided valvular heart disease were identified and reviewed. The strongest evidence exists for estimating mitral valve area in patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis and vena contracta area in patients with mitral regurgitation (both primary and secondary). 3D-guided approach showed excellent feasibility and reproducibility in most studies, as well as time efficiency and good correlation with reference and comparator methods. Therefore, 3D-guided 2D planimetry can be used as an important clinical tool in quantifying left-sided valvular heart disease, especially mitral valve disorders.

Recommendations on the Use of Echocardiography in Adult Hypertension: A Report from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)

Hypertension remains a major contributor to the global burden of disease. The measurement of blood pressure continues to have pitfalls related to both physiological aspects and acute variation. As the left ventricle (LV) remains one of the main target organs of hypertension, and echocardiographic measures of structure and function carry prognostic information in this setting, the development of a consensus position on the use of echocardiography in this setting is important. Recent developments in the assessment of LV hypertrophy and LV systolic and diastolic function have prompted the preparation of this document. The focus of this work is on the cardiovascular responses to hypertension rather than the diagnosis of secondary hypertension. Sections address the pathophysiology of the cardiac and vascular responses to hypertension, measurement of LV mass, geometry, and function, as well as effects of treatment.

Role of modern 3D echocardiography in valvular heart disease

Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography has been conceived as one of the most promising methods for the diagnosis of valvular heart disease, and recently has become an integral clinical tool thanks to the development of high quality real-time transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). In particular, for mitral valve diseases, this new approach has proven to be the most unique, powerful, and convincing method for understanding the complicated anatomy of the mitral valve and its dynamism. The method has been useful for surgical management, including robotic mitral valve repair. Moreover, this method has become indispensable for nonsurgical mitral procedures such as edge to edge mitral repair and transcatheter closure of paravaluvular leaks. In addition, color Doppler 3D echo has been valuable to identify the location of the regurgitant orifice and the severity of the mitral regurgitation. For aortic and tricuspid valve diseases, this method may not be quite as valuable as for the mitral valve. However, the necessity of 3D echo is recognized for certain situations even for these valves, such as for evaluating the aortic annulus for transcatheter aortic valve implantation. It is now clear that this method, especially with the continued development of real-time 3D TEE technology, will enhance the diagnosis and management of patients with these valvular heart diseases.

Clinical application of three-dimensional echocardiography: past, present and future

Significant advances in three-dimensional echocardiography have made this modality a powerful diagnostic tool in the cardiology clinic. It can provide accurate and reliable measurements of chamber size and function, including the quantification of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony to guide patient selection for cardiac resynchron-isation therapy. Furthermore, three-dimensional echocardiography offers novel views and comprehensive anatomic definition of valvular and congenital abnormalities, improving diagnosis and preoperative planning. In addition, it is extremely useful in monitoring the effectiveness of surgical or percutaneous transcatheter interventions. As its efficacy for more and more clinical applications is demonstrated, it is clear that three-dimensional echocardiography has become part of the routine clinical diagnostic armamentarium. In this article, we describe the development of three-dimensional echocardiography over the last decades, review the scientific evidence for its current clinical use and discuss potential future applications. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:18-24.).