ObjectiveTo evaluate myocardial segmental motion function in left ventricular of patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis by using the technology of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 14 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis between October and November 2014 in our hospital as a trial group. There were 4 males and 10 females with a mean age of 50.9±9.0 years ranging from 34 to 64 years. We chose 11 healthy individuals as a control group. There were 7 males and 4 females with a mean age of 49.5±9.7 years ranging from 32 to 67 years. Both the two groups were subjected to myocardial performance evaluation using two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) to examine the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), longitudinal strain, circumferential strain, area strain, and lateral strain of each left ventricular myocardial segments. Result RT-3DE detected that the trial group had significantly lower values of LVEF, LVEDV and LVESV than those of the control group (P < 0.05). RT-3DE also revealed that the trial group had a significantly weaker longitudinal strain than the control group (P < 0.05). ConclusionRT-3DE is an accurate technology for assessing myocardial motion and function in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease.
Abstract： Objective To summarize our experience and clinical outcomes of preservation of posterior leaflet and subvalvular structures in mitral valve replacement（MVR）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1 035 patients who underwent MVR in Beijing An Zhen Hospital from January 2006 to March 2011. There were 562 male patients and 473 female patients with their age of 37-78（53.84±13.13）years old. There were 712 patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease and 323 patients with degenerative valve disease, 389 patients with mitral stenosis and 646 patients with mitral regurgitation. No patient had coronary artery disease in this group. For 457 patients in non-preservation group, bothleaflets and corresponding chordal excision was performed, while for 578 patients in preservation group, posterior leafletand subvalvular structures were preserved. There was no statistical difference in demographic and preoperative clinical characteristics between the two groups. Postoperative mortality and morbidity, and left ventricular size and function were compared between the two groups. Results There was no statistical difference in postoperative mortality（2.63% vs. 1.21%, P =0.091）and morbidity （8.53% vs. 7.44%, P=0.519）between the non-preservation group and preservation group, except that the rate of left ventricular rupture of non-preservation group was significantly higher than that of preservation group（1.09% vs. 0.00%, P=0.012）. The average left ventricular end-diastolic dimension （LVEDD）measured by echocardiography 6 months after surgery decreased in both groups, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The average left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 6 months after surgery was significantly improved compared with preoperative average LVEF in both groups. The average LVEF 6 months after surgery in patients with mitral regurgitation in the preservation group was significantly higher than that in non-preservation group （56.00%±3.47% vs. 53.00%±3.13%，P =0.000）, and there was no statistical difference in the average LVEF 6 months after surgery in patients with mitral stenosis between the two groups（57.00%±5.58% vs. 56.00%±4.79%，P =0.066）. Conclusion Preservation of posterior leaflet and subvalvular structures in MVR is a safe and effective surgical technique to reduce the risk of left ventricle rupture and improve postoperative left ventricular function．
Objective To evaluate the short-term outcome and influence of atrial fibrillation ablation and mitral valve replacement for patients with mitral valve stenosis and atrial fibrillation. Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted for 44 patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis and atrial fibrillation who experienced mitral valve replacement with or without surgical atrial fibrillation ablation procedure in our hospital from January 2016 to June 2017. Eighteen patients experienced mitral valve replacement and surgical atrial fibrillation ablation procedure (a group 1), and the other 26 patients experienced mitral valve replacement without surgical atrial fibrillation ablation procedure (a group 2). In th group 1, there were 4 males and 14 females, aged 43-67 (55.67±7.56) years, and in the group 2 there were 6 males and 20 females, aged 40-72 (54.81±8.81) years. The patients’ data, preoperative echocardiography, surgery procedures, perioperative events, echocardiography and electrocardiogram at postoperative three months were collected to evaluate the short-term outcome and influence of surgical atrial fibrillation ablation procedure for those patients. Results There was no statistical difference in the operation duration (P=0.867) and ICU stay (P=0.550) between the two groups. But the group 1 had longer extracorporeal circulation duration (P=0.006) and aorta arrest duration (P=0.001) than the group 2. No patient died perioperatively and one patient from the group 1 experienced reoperation because of too much chest tube drainage. At three months after operation, echocardiography and electrocardiogram examination showed that 16 patients in the group 1 and 2 patients in the group 2 had sinus rhythm. There was no statistical difference between postoperative and preoperative examination about variation in left ventricle ejection fraction, pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, left atrial diameter and left ventricular end diastolic diameter between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion Atrial fibrillation ablation does not increase the risk of mitral valve replacement for patients who have mitral valve stenosis and atrial fibrillation. The rate of converting to sinus rhythm is high, but additional atrial fibrillation ablation procedure does not have positive or negative influence on short-term recovery of cardiac structure and function after operation.
Mitral stenosis includes mitral stenosis due to rheumatic fever and non-rheumatic valve stenosis characterized by degenerative changes. Rheumatic mitral stenosis is common in developing countries and occurs in young adults, while degenerative mitral stenosis is common in developed countries and increases in incidence with aging. Mitral stenosis of different etiologies can lead to changes in heart structure and function, which affects the quality of life and prognosis of patients, so lifelong management of mitral stenosis is crucial. This article provides a comprehensive reference for clinicians in the management of mitral stenosis, with a detailed overview of the emerging prevalence features, imaging diagnosis, and treatment methods.
Objective To investigate the effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance for patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis during pregnancy. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted to include pregnant women who were diagnosed with moderate to severe mitral stenosis and underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance in Fuwai Hospital from August 2018 to June 2022, and their baseline characteristics, surgical outcomes, echocardiographic results, and follow-up results were analyzed. Results A total of 3 pregnant women aged 30-35 years, with gestational age of 19-26 weeks, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class Ⅲ were included. All the procedures were successfully performed. The mitral valve orifice area increased from 0.9 cm2 preoperatively to 2.1 cm2 postoperatively. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient decreased from 15.0 mm Hg preoperatively to 6.7 mm Hg postoperatively. No perioperative adverse events occurred. The follow-up time ranged from 3 to 48 months. All patients delivered uneventfully and returned to normal life, with maternal-fetal safety. Conclusion Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance is a feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis in pregnancy, with satisfactory maternal-fetal outcomes.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes of left ventricular morphology and contractile function of patients with mitral stenosis and small left ventricle after mitral valve replacement. MethodsStudies on the changes of left ventricular morphology and contractile function of patients with mitral stenosis and small left ventricle after mitral valve replacement were searched from the databases of Wangfang, VIP, CNKI, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, and Cochrane Library from establishment to January 2015. Quality of articles was evaluated. Relevant data were extracted from eligible studies to conduct meta-analysis. Mean differences (MD) of left ventricle end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) between the preoperative and the postoperative value from eligible studies were analyzed and pooled, and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. R2.15.3 software was applied for statistical analysis. ResultsEight eligible studies involving 446 patients were analyzed in the study. The quality of included literature was high. The results of meta-analysis showed that LVEDVI and LVEDD increased by 14.51 ml/m2 with 95%CI -22.78 to -6.25 (P<0.01) and 4.88 mm with 95%CI -10.85 to 1.09 (P=0.11) respectively at 2 weeks postoperatively compared with preoperative value. LVEF decreased by 3.05% with 95%CI -3.02% to 9.12% (P=0.32) while LVFS increased by 1.16% with 95%CI -4.83% to 2.50% (P=0.53) at 2 weeks postoperatively. Compared with preoperative value, LVEDVI and LVEDD markedly increased by 16.11 ml/m2 with 95%CI -20.32 to -11.90 (P<0.01) and 10.56 mm with 95%CI -11.52 to -9.60 (P<0.01) respectively at 6 months postoperatively. LVEF and LVFS increased by 7.69% with 95%CI -17.18% to 1.8% (P=0.11) and 6.21% with 95%CI -10.07% to -2.36% (P<0.01) respectively at 6 months postoperatively compared with preoperative value. ConclusionLeft ventricular morphology and contractile function of patients with mitral stenosis and small left ventricle recovers well after mitral valve replacement.
Objective To investigate the correlation between the left atrial hydrodynamic change and atrial fibrillation (AF) in the patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Methods According to cardiac rhythm before operation, 49 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis accompanying chronic AF were divided into two groups,group A: AF, 25 cases; group B: sinus rhythm, 24 cases. Control group : 29 healthy volunteers were examined. By using echocardiography, left atrial hydrodynamics were tested, and repeated 6-8 months after the operation. Results Left atrial stress (LAS), left atriala area (LAA) and left atrial volume(LAV) in group A after operation was much lower than before operation, LAS after operation in group B was also lower than before operation(Plt;0.01). Before operation, LAS in group A was significantly lower than that in group B, LAA and LAVwere larger. After operation, LAA and LAV in group A were significantly larger than those in group B(Plt;0.01). LAS, LAA and LAV in group A and group B before and after operation were higher than those in control group. Conclusion Left atrial hydrodynamic enviroment in patients with mitral stenosis has not reached normal even after valve replacement, LAS may be an important factor of causing AF.