Current methods to assess mitral annular calcification and its risk factors

High Mitral Annulus Calcium Score in Pre-Operative Chest Computerized Tomography and Adverse Outcomes in Mitral Valve Surgery

Background

Severe mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is believed to bear high operative and post-operative risk during mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery, including longer surgery time, post-surgical valvular leaks and increased rate of embolic phenomena. We hypothesized that quantification of mitral calcium in pre-operative chest computerized tomography (CCT), performed to assess aortic root before cross-clamping may help in risk assessment of adverse intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing MVR.

Methods

We included patients who underwent MVR between the years 2015 and 2018 at Poriya medical center. Preoperative CCT was performed using Philips iCT 256 and Agatston mitral annulus calcium score (MACS) was retrospectively calculated using Philips Intellispace portal version 8.0. Patients were divided into MACS quintiles; 1-3 quintiles were grouped (Low MACS) and compared to the 4-5 quintiles (High MACS) group for demographic, clinical operative and post-operative parameters.

Results

A total of 66 patients had MVR, out of which 61% were males, with mean age of 64±9. Concomitant coronary or valvular procedures were done in 60% of patients. The median MACS was 43. High MACS (≥854) was not associated with longer bypass or cross clamp times. No differences in the MVR results were found between the groups. There were 6 post-operative embolic events; 1 mesenteric and 5 cerebral, which were not associated with MACS.

Conclusion

MACS did not seem to be related to adverse outcomes in MVR. Due to a low event rate and probable pre-selection of patients without extreme mitral annulus calcifications our results should be confirmed in larger prospective study.