Sitting maneuver to uncover latent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in patients without hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction [LVOTO; pressure gradient (PG) ≥30 mmHg] is observed in some patients without hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and it may develop especially in older patients without HCM (non-HCM). The aim of this study is to investigate if the Valsalva or an upright sitting maneuver can unveil latent LVOTO in patients with non-HCM.

METHODS

A total of 33 non-HCM patients with a late peaking or dagger-shaped pulsed Doppler waveform of the LVOT and PG <30 mmHg were included. The Doppler flow velocity of the LVOT was measured at rest, after the Valsalva and a sitting maneuver. Peak PG of ≥30 mmHg after either maneuver was defined as latent LVOTO. The angle between the left ventricular septum and the aorta in the parasternal long-axis view and the apical three-chamber view was measured.

RESULTS

Twenty (61 %) of the 33 patients (mean age 74 ± 9 years) were diagnosed with latent LVOTO. Of these, five (25 %) patients were diagnosed after both the Valsalva and sitting maneuver, and 15 (75 %) were diagnosed only after the sitting maneuver. The latent LVOTO group had a significantly smaller angle than the no-LVOTO group between the ventricular septum and the aorta in the parasternal long axis views (107 ± 8° vs. 117 ± 8°, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The sitting maneuver is better than the Valsalva maneuver in unveiling latent LVOTO in older, non-HCM patients.

Favorable Effects of Impella on Takotsubo Syndrome Complicated with Cardiogenic Shock

Reportedly, approximately 9.9%-12.4% of patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) are complicated with cardiogenic shock (CS) and its prognosis remains poor even with the support of conventional mechanical circulatory assist devices including intra-aortic balloon pumping and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Impella, a novel percutaneous left ventricular assist device, provides strong circulatory support together with the unloading of the left ventricle, and it is theoretically a promising mechanical circulatory assist device for TTS. In this case study, we report four consecutive patients with TTS complicated with CS who were successfully resuscitated using the Impella support.

Significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction secondary to systolic anterior motion in a patient without hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: An echocardiographic study

Dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) can be hemodynamically significant and can adversely affect the heart and quality of life. It is caused by systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the anterior mitral valve into the LVOT. The mechanism underlying SAM has been an area of special interest. However, SAM occurrence in the absence of septal hypertrophy is exceedingly uncommon. Here we present a case of a young male patient who sought medical care with a complaint of exertional dyspnea, New York Heart Association functional Class 2–3, and was found to have SAM and severe LVOTO at rest without hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Continuous wave Doppler signal showed a peak velocity of 4.96 m/s along the LVOT, with a pressure gradient at rest of 98.44 mmHg, calculated using the modified Bernoulli equation. The patient is not known to have any medical conditions, nor had a family history of cardiac condition or sudden death. Trans-thoracic echocardiography showed concentric remodeling of the LV without hypertrophy. Trans-esophageal echocardiography was performed for further assessment of the anatomy. The anterior mitral leaflet (AML) and posterior mitral leaflet (PML) lengths were 3.7 cm and 1.3 cm, respectively (normal AML < 3 cm; normal PML < 1.5 cm). In our patient, the LVOTO is significant enough to result in a decreased cardiac output, which explains the symptoms experienced, due to which he developed concentric remodeling. The only finding in this patient explaining SAM is an elongated AML.

The conversion to Rastelli's type operation from Patrick-McGoon's procedure of an adult with Taussig-Bing heart: a case report

A 23-year-old female of Taussig-Bing heart with antero-posterior relation of the great arteries was underwent Patrick-McGoon's intraventricular rerouting at 6 years old of age. The left ventricular outflow obstruction (peak pressure gradient of 100 mmHg) developed, and severe aortic valve regurgitation following bacterial endocarditis was noted. The conversion to Rastelli's type operation and aortic valve replacement were performed successfully at 23 years old of age. She is doing well without any significant left or right ventricular outflow obstruction at 7 years postoperatively.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction due to a left ventricular myxoma that was misidentified as an accessory mitral valve tissue

We report obstruction of the left ventricle outflow tract (LVOT) caused by cardiac myxoma that was misidentified as an accessory mitral valve tissue preoperatively. A 65-year-old woman presented with chest discomfort that persisted for 7 days. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a mobile, low-echogenic, balloon-shaped mass attached to the anterior mitral valve leaflet and papillary muscle, which was suspected to be an accessory mitral valve tissue. Because the mass caused LVOT obstruction and it could result in hemodynamic instability, emergency operation was performed. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed, and the mass had irregular margins and was pedunculated, with a stalk originating from the left ventricle (LV) wall and extending to the lateral chordae of the mitral valve. The surgeon excised the mass filled with the myxomatous mass, which was yellowish and gelatinous and had a stiff stalk, and histopathologic diagnosis confirmed a myxoma. Although mitral valve or LV myxomas are rare, TEE is a useful tool for distinguishing a myxoma from other intracardiac masses, such as vegetation or an accessory mitral valve tissue.

Pregnancy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with Severe Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) patients with severe left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction (those with a gradient of > 100 mm Hg) are at the highest risk of hemodynamic deterioration during pregnancy. Complications of HOCM include sudden cardiac death, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Physiological changes during pregnancy may induce these complications, affecting maternal and fetal health conditions. Therefore, close monitoring with appropriate management is essential for the well-being of both mother and fetus. We report on the case of a 27-year-old female patient with severe LVOT obstruction HOCM, pressure gradient (PG) of 125 mm Hg at resting, and 152 mm Hg induced by the Valsalva maneuver at 34 weeks gestation. This case showed how close monitoring using echocardiography and proper management during the course of pregnancy resulted in successful delivery in the patient with extremely high PG HOCM.

Familial hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with the GLA E66Q mutation and zebra body

Background

Fabry disease is caused by mutations in the α-galactosidase A (GLA) gene, which is located in X-chromosome coding for the lysosomal enzyme of GLA. Among many gene mutations, E66Q mutation is under discussion for its pathogenicity because there is no clinical report showing pathological evidence of Fabry disease with E66Q mutation.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old Japanese female was referred to our hospital for chest discomfort on effort. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with LV outflow obstruction. Maximum LV outflow pressure gradient was 87 mmHg, and Valsalva maneuver increased the pressure gradient up to 98 mmHg. According to medical interview, one of her younger sister and a nephew died suddenly at age 42 and 36, respectively. Another younger sister also presented LV hypertrophy with outflow obstruction. Maximum LV outflow pressure gradient was 100 mmHg, and the E66Q mutation was detected similar to the case. Endomyocardial biopsy specimens presented vacuolation of cardiomyocytes, in which zebra bodies were detected by electron microscopic examination. Although the enzymatic activity of GLA was within normal range, the c. 196G>C nucleotide change, which lead to the E66Q mutation of GLA gene, was detected. We initially diagnosed her as cardiac Fabry disease based on the findings of zebra body. However, immunostaining showed few deposition of globotriaosylceramide in left ventricular myocardium, and gene mutations in the disease genes for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), MYBPC3 and MYH6, were detected. Although the pathogenicity of the E66Q mutation cannot be ruled out, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) was more reasonable to explain the pathophysiology in the case.

Conclusions

This is the confusable case of HOCM with Fabry disease with the GLA E66Q mutation. We have to take into consideration the possibility that some patients with the E66Q mutation may have similar histological findings of Fabry disease, and should be examed the possibility for harboring gene mutations associated with HCM.

A rare combination of undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy revealed by intraoperative anaphylaxis resulting in acute left ventricular outflow obstruction and cardiac arrest

A 75-year-old female presented for left total hip reimplantation and suffered pulseless electrical activity arrest upon lateral positioning and administering vancomycin. Resuscitation was achieved according to Advanced Cardiac Life Support protocol. Post-event echocardiography showed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with asymmetrical septal thickening, an under-filled left ventricle, dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction, and severe mitral regurgitation related to systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve. Laboratory analysis showed a tryptase level of 209 ng/mL. After multispecialty evaluation, it was concluded that the patient's arrest was due to vancomycin anaphylaxis in the setting of previously undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy leading to acute left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. After medical optimization of the patient's cardiomyopathy and an evaluation of potential intraoperative allergic triggers, the patient underwent a successful hip reimplantation without incident. This case presents a novel combination of events leading to intraoperative cardiac arrest. Rapid identification and an understanding of the cause(s) of cardiac arrest in this setting are critical for effective perioperative care.

Echocardiographic assessment of takotsubo cardiomyopathy: beyond apical ballooning

It has been >25 years since the first report of the takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). Although left ventriculography was originally used to depict its typical and impressive wall motion abnormality mimicking "takotsubo", or octopus pot, echocardiography plays a pivotal role in detecting not only its left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormality, apical ballooning, but also various other findings. First of all, apical ballooning is not an essential finding for TC anymore. Mid-ventricular LV asynergy with or without apical involvement is a basic pattern of the LV wall motion abnormality. Distribution and time course of the asynergy may be best detected by echocardiography and echo provides useful information to differentiate between TC and acute coronary syndrome or acute myocarditis. In addition to the wall motion assessment, echo detects complications of TC such as systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflet with or without LV outflow obstruction, mitral regurgitation, LV thrombus, right ventricular (RV) involvement. In particular, RV involvement is not an uncommon finding and is associated with worse short-term as well as long-term prognosis. Finally, coronary flow measurements and speckle tracking by echo may offer additional and useful information about pathophysiology and prognosis of TC. In conclusion, echocardiography is a standard imaging modality for detecting various dynamic findings beyond apical ballooning in patients with TC.

Asymptomatic and isolated accessory mitral valve tissue in an adult

Accessory mitral valve (AMV) tissue is a congenital anomaly that occurs in association with other congenital anomalies, and is an uncommon cause of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. It is usually detected in early childhood when accompanied by symptoms of obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract, and is rarely diagnosed in adults. We present a case of a 53-year-old man who was referred to our institution for evaluation of a systolic heart murmur. Echocardiography disclosed a diagnosis of AMV tissue. This case was uncommon because of the lack of severe obstruction of left ventricular outflow, cardiac symptoms, or other cardiac anomalies. We were able to carry out surgical resection of AMV tissue to avert possible progression of aortic insufficiency and the risk of a cerebrovascular embolization. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and postoperative echocardiography showed no residual accessory mitral tissue.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2013: Current speculations and future perspectives

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most variable cardiac disease in terms of phenotypic presentation and clinical outcome, represents the most common inherited cardiomyopathic process with an autosomal dominant trait of inheritance. To date, more than 1400 mutations of myofilament proteins associated with the disease have been identified, most of them “private” ones. This striking allelic and locus heterogeneity of the disease certainly complicates the establishment of phenotype-genotype correlations. Additionally, topics pertaining to patients’ everyday lives, such as sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification and prevention, along with disease prognosis, are grossly related to the genetic variation of HCM. This review incorporates contemporary research findings and addresses major aspects of HCM, including preclinical diagnosis, genetic analysis, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and SCD. More specifically, the spectrum of genetic analysis, the selection of the best method for obstruction alleviation and the need for a unique and accurate factor for SCD risk stratification are only some of the controversial HCM issues discussed. Additionally, future perspectives concerning HCM and myocardial ischemia, as well as atrial fibrillation, are discussed. Rather than enumerating clinical studies and guidelines, challenging problems concerning the disease are critically appraised by this review, highlighting current speculations and recommending future directions.