Image-based ring size prediction for mitral valve repair

OBJECTIVES

Annuloplasty rings are routinely used in mitral valve repair (MVr). However, accurate annuloplasty ring size selection is essential to obtain a favorable outcome. Moreover, ring sizing can be challenging in some patients and is highly influenced by surgeons' experience. This study investigated the utility of three-dimensional mitral valve (3D-MV) reconstruction models to predict annuloplasty ring size for MVr.

METHODS

A total of 150 patients undergoing minimally invasive MVr with annuloplasty ring due to Carpentier type II pathology and who were discharged with none/trace residual MR were included. 3D-MV reconstruction models were created with a semi-automated software package (4D MV Analysis; Tomtec Imaging Systems, Munich, Germany) to quantitate MV geometry. To predict the ring size, univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Between 3D-MV reconstruction values and implanted ring sizes, the highest correlation coefficients were provided by commissural width (CW) (0.839; p < 0.001), intertrigonal distance (ITD) (0.796; p < 0.001), annulus area (0.782; p < 0.001), anterior mitral leaflet area (0.767; p < 0.001), Anterior-posterior diameter (0.679; p < 0.001) and AML length (0.515; p < 0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, only CW and ITD were found to be independent predictors of annuloplasty ring size (R2=0.743; p < 0.001). The highest level of agreement was achieved with CW and ITD, and 76.6% of patients received a ring with no greater than one ring size difference from the predicted ring sizes.

CONCLUSIONS

3D-MV reconstruction models can support surgeons in the decision-making process for annuloplasty ring sizing. The present study may be a first step towards accurate annuloplasty ring size prediction using multimodal Machine Learning decision support.