Mitral valve anatomy and function

Comprehensive Analysis of Cardiovascular Diseases: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and AI Innovations

Cardiovascular diseases are some of the underlying reasons contributing to the relentless rise in mortality rates across the globe. In this regard, there is a genuine need to integrate advanced technologies into the medical realm to detect such diseases accurately. Moreover, numerous academic studies have been published using AI-based methodologies because of their enhanced accuracy in detecting heart conditions. This research extensively delineates the different heart conditions, e.g., coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, mitral valve prolapse/mitral regurgitation, and myocardial infarction, and their underlying reasons and symptoms and subsequently introduces AI-based detection methodologies for precisely classifying such diseases. The review shows that the incorporation of artificial intelligence in detecting heart diseases exhibits enhanced accuracies along with a plethora of other benefits, like improved diagnostic accuracy, early detection and prevention, reduction in diagnostic errors, faster diagnosis, personalized treatment schedules, optimized monitoring and predictive analysis, improved efficiency, and scalability. Furthermore, the review also indicates the conspicuous disparities between the results generated by previous algorithms and the latest ones, paving the way for medical researchers to ascertain the accuracy of these results through comparative analysis with the practical conditions of patients. In conclusion, AI in heart disease detection holds paramount significance and transformative potential to greatly enhance patient outcomes, mitigate healthcare expenditure, and amplify the speed of diagnosis.

Revealing Mitral Valve Cleft Using Real-Time 3-Dimensional Echocardiography in Children with Mitral Regurgitation

Mitral valve cleft (MVC) is the most common cause of congenital mitral regurgitation (MR). MVC may be located on the anterior or posterior leaflets. We evaluated children with moderate-to-severe MR using 3D transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) to diagnose MVC and determine the location, shape and size of MVC. Twenty-one patients under 18 years of age with moderate-to-severe MR without symptoms who were suspected of having MVC were included in the study. The patients' history and clinical data were obtained from the medical records. 2D and 3D imaging were performed with a high-quality machine (EPIQ CVx). A vena contracta (VC) of colour Doppler regurgitated jet 3-7 and ≥ 7 mm defined moderate-to-severe regurgitation. An isolated anterior leaflet cleft (ALC) was detected in four patients, an isolated posterior leaflet cleft (PLC) in 12 patients, and both an ALC and PLC in five patients. VC was larger in patients with ALCs than PLCs (8.85 mm vs. 6.64 mm). Global LV longitudinal strain was better in the ALC group than in the PLC and both-posterior-and anterior MVC groups (- 24.7, - 24.3, and - 24%, respectively). Global circumferential strain was better in the ALC group (- 28.9%) and reduced in the bi-leaflet MVC group (- 28.6%). 3DTTE for visualisation of the MV can be successfully implemented in children and should be proposed during follow-up. AMVC and bi-leaflet MVC results in severe regurgitation and bi-leaflet MVC may be the reason for systolic dysfunction determined before clinically proven symptoms in the future.

Recommendations for Special Competency in Echocardiographic Guidance of Structural Heart Disease Interventions: From the American Society of Echocardiography

Transcatheter therapies for structural heart disease continue to grow at a rapid pace, and echocardiography is the primary imaging modality used to support such procedures. Transesophageal echocardiographic guidance of structural heart disease procedures must be performed by highly skilled echocardiographers who can provide rapid, accurate, and high-quality image acquisition and interpretation in real time. Training standards are needed to ensure that interventional echocardiographers have the necessary expertise to perform this complex task. This document provides guidance on all critical aspects of training for cardiology and anesthesiology trainees and postgraduate echocardiographers who plan to specialize in interventional echocardiography. Core competencies common to all transcatheter therapies are reviewed in addition to competencies for each specific transcatheter procedure. A core principle is that the length of interventional echocardiography training or achieved procedure volumes are less important than the demonstration of procedure-specific competencies within the milestone domains of knowledge, skill, and communication.

Monitoring of mitral- and tricuspid valve interventions with CardioMEMS: Insights beyond imaging

BACKGROUND

Mitral- and tricuspid regurgitation are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and are increasingly treated interventionally. CardioMEMS is a transcutaneously implanted pressure sensor placed in the pulmonary artery that allows invasive measurement of pulmonary artery pressure and cardiac output.

METHODS

This proof-of-concept study aimed to observe hemodynamic changes as determined by CardioMEMS after transcatheter atrioventricular valve interventions, assess the additional value of CardioMEMS on top of echocardiography, and investigate a potential effect of CardioMEMS on outcome. Patients treated with transcatheter mitral- or tricuspid valve interventions (mitral: TMVR, tricuspid: TTVR) or bicaval valve implantation (bi-CAVI) were recruited. All patients were followed for 12 months.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients were included (4 with CardioMEMS, 32 controls). Patients with CardioMEMS were monitored prior to intervention and 3-12 months thereafter (one received TMVR, one bi-CAVI, one both TMVR and TTVR, and one isolated TTVR). CardioMEMS group: In both patients with TMVR and in the patient with bi-CAVI, mean pulmonary artery pressures decreased (all p < .001) and cardiac output increased significantly (both TMVR p < .001 and bi-CAVI p = .006) while functional parameters, echocardiography, and NT-proBNP were difficult to interpret, unreliable, or both. Changes after TTVR remained inconclusive.

CONCLUSION

Invasive monitoring using CardioMEMS provides important information after mitral- and tricuspid valve interventions. Such data pave the way for a deeper understanding of the prerequisites for optimal patient selection and management for catheter-based interventions.

Manual zur Indikation und Durchführung spezieller echokardiographischer Anwendungen

Das zweite Manual zur Indikation und Durchführung der Echokardiographie bezieht sich auf spezifische Anwendungen der Echokardiographie und besondere Fragestellungen bei speziellen Patientengruppen. Dabei stehen v. a. praktische Aspekte im Vordergrund. Methodisch etabliert sind die transösophageale Echokardiographie, die Stressechokardiographie und die Kontrastechokardiographie. Bei nahezu allen echokardiographischen Untersuchungen spielen aktuell 3‑D-Echokardiographie und Deformationsbildgebung eine Rolle. Das gesamte Spektrum der echokardiographischen Möglichkeiten wird derzeit in Notfall- und Intensivmedizin, bei der Überwachung und Führung von Katheterinterventionen, bei strukturellen Herzerkrankungen, bei herzchirurgischen Operationen, bei der Nachsorge von kardialen Unterstützungssystemen, bei kongenitalen Vitien im Erwachsenenalter und bei der Versorgung von hochinfektiösen Patienten in Pandemiezeiten angewandt. Die diagnostischen Fortschritte der konventionellen und modernen echokardiographischen Anwendungen stehen im Fokus dieses Manuals. Die 3‑D-Echokardiographie zur Charakterisierung der kardialen Morphologie und die Deformationsbildgebung zur Objektivierung der kardialen Funktion sind bei vielen Indikationen im klinischen Alltag etabliert. Die Stressechokardiographie zur Ischämie‑, Vitalitäts- und Vitiendiagnostik, die Bestimmung der koronaren Flussreserve und die Kontrastechokardiographie bei der linksventrikulären Wandbewegungsanalyse und kardialen Tumordetektion finden zunehmend klinische Anwendung. Wie für die konventionelle Echokardiographie im ersten Manual der Echokardiographie 2009 beschrieben, erfordert der Einsatz moderner echokardiographischer Verfahren die standardisierte Dokumentation und Akquisition bestimmter Bildsequenzen bei optimierter Geräteeinstellung, da korrekte und reproduzierbare Auswertungen nur bei guter Bildqualität möglich sind.

Additive value of 3D-echo in prediction of immediate outcome after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Background

Results of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) are basically dependent on suitable patient selection. Currently used two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography (2DE) scores have many limitations. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (3DE)-based scores were developed for better patient selection and outcome prediction. We aimed to compare between 3D-Anwar and 2D-Wilkins scores in mitral assessment for BMV, and investigate the additive value of 3DE in prediction of immediate post-procedural outcome. Fifty patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis and candidates for BMV were included. Patients were subjected to 2D- and real-time 3D-transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before and immediately after BMV for assessing MV area (MVA), 2D-Wilkins and 3D-Anwar score, commissural splitting, and mitral regurgitation (MR). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was also undertaken immediately before and intra-procedural. Percutaneous BMV was performed by either multi-track or Inoue balloon technique.

Results

The 2DE underestimated post-procedural MVA than 3DE (p = 0.008). Patients with post-procedural suboptimal MVA or significant MR had higher 3D-Anwar score compared to 2D-Wilkins score (p = 0.008 and p = 0.03 respectively). The 3D-Anwar score showed a negative correlation with post-procedural MVA (r = − 0.48, p = 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for both scores revealed superior prediction of suboptimal results by 3D-Anwar score (p < 0.0001). The 3DE showed better post-procedural posterior-commissural splitting than 2DE (p = 0.004). Results of both multi-track and Inoue balloon were comparable except for favorable posterior-commissural splitting by multi-track balloon (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

The 3DE gave valuable additive data before BMV that may predict immediate post-procedural outcome and suboptimal results.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s43044-019-0019-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Diagnosis of Isolated Cleft Mitral Valve Using Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of isolated cleft mitral valve (MV; no concomitant congenital heart disease or degenerative MV disease) with significant mitral regurgitation (MR) diagnosed using two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) has been reported to be very low. Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has enabled a more comprehensive visualization of the MV and detailed understanding of the mechanisms of MR and can potentially reveal isolated cleft MV that is not recognized with 2DE. The aim of this study was to determine, using 3DE, the prevalence, location, and associated MV annular and left ventricular characteristics of isolated cleft MV, in the absence of associated congenital heart disease, in patients with significant MR.

METHODS

A total of 1,092 patients with unexplained moderate or greater MR on two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography who were referred for three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography between 2005 and 2017 (n = 626) were retrospectively studied. Left ventricular dimensions and function were determined, and quantitative MR assessment and three-dimensional analysis of the MV annulus was performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients (prevalence 3.3%) were diagnosed with isolated cleft MV using three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography but not 2DE. The majority of these patients (n = 16) were noted to have anterior cleft MVs, with most located in the mid-A1 (n = 10) or mid-A3 (n = 5) scallops. Posterior clefts were less common (n = 5) and occurred at the site of the natural scallop indentations (three between P1 and P2 and two between P2 and P3). Among patients with either anterior or posterior MV cleft, there were no differences in left ventricular ejection fraction or three-dimensional MV geometry (annular distance, height, circumference, and area). There was a trend toward worse MR severity in patients with anterior cleft MV.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with otherwise unexplained significant MR referred for transesophageal echocardiography, 3DE uncovered a considerably higher prevalence of isolated cleft MV than previously reported by 2DE, with the majority located in the anterior MV. Although the annular geometry was similar between patients with anterior and posterior cleft MVs, a trend toward more severe MR in anterior clefts may reflect underlying abnormalities in the embryologic development of the anterior MV leaflet. Evaluation of MV pathology is improved by 3DE, which should be used routinely in the setting significant MR.

Trans-catheter mitral valve implantation for mitral regurgitation: clinical case description and literature review

Trans-catheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is actually the most attractive technique for treating patients with severe mitral regurgitation, who are denied surgical therapy. Recently, trans-catheter implantation of aortic biological prosthesis in mitral position has been done in compassionate cases, and very few experiences of TMVI in native non-calcified valves have been recently reported in very-high-risk patients, mainly with functional mitral regurgitation.Here, we report our case of TMVI using the second-generation CardiAQ prostheisis (CardiAQ Valve Technologies, Irvine, California, USA), reviewing the current state of the art.

Isolated cleft of both the anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets

A 37 year-old female patient in whom the transthoracic echocardiography examination revealed dilatation of left heart chambers with left ventricular ejection fraction of 30% and moderate-to-severe mitral valve regurgitation was admitted to our hospital. On 2DTEE examination, mitral valve was normal; however, on 3D images, clefts of both anterior and posterior leaflets were revealed. Isolated cleft mitral valve without any other feature of atrioventricular septal defect is uncommon. 2D echocardiography has limited capability in defining the complex 3D anatomic characteristics of the cleft. 3DTEE allows to visualize the cleft position, morphology, and size, and it is important for surgical planning.

Role of three-dimensional echocardiography in structural complications after acute myocardial infarction

Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is a unique cardiovascular imaging modality in terms of: ability to provide realistic anatomical views of cardiac structures in the beating heart and possibility to visualize cardiac structures from any desired perspective. Therefore, 3DE is emerging as an accurate imaging modality for a prompt diagnosis and detailed anatomical description of structural complications (SC) of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We report 3 emblematic cases which show how both the transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) 3D imaging can provide precise anatomic information useful to address management of SC in AMI patients: (1) detailed assessment of size, location, and morphology of an apical ventricular septal defect (VSD) obtained with 3DTTE was pivotal in referring the patient to percutaneous closure of it; (2) size and location of a complex inferior VSD with irregular margins advised against percutaneous closure; and (3) 3DTEE assisted surgeons to choose between reparative or replacement surgery for an acute mitral regurgitation due to complete papillary muscle rupture.

The clinical benefits of adding a third dimension to assess the left ventricle with echocardiography

Three-dimensional echocardiography is a novel imaging technique based on acquisition and display of volumetric data sets in the beating heart. This permits a comprehensive evaluation of left ventricular (LV) anatomy and function from a single acquisition and expands the diagnostic possibilities of noninvasive cardiology. It provides the possibility of quantitating geometry and function of LV without preestablished assumptions regarding cardiac chamber shape and allows an echocardiographic assessment of the LV that is less operator-dependent and therefore more reproducible. Further developments and improvements for widespread routine applications include higher spatial and temporal resolution to improve image quality, faster acquisition, processing and reconstruction, and fully automated quantitative analysis. At present, three-dimensional echocardiography complements routine 2DE in clinical practice, overcoming some of its limitations and offering additional valuable information that has led to recommending its use for routine assessment of the LV of patients in whom information about LV size and function is critical for their clinical management.