Prognostic variables for clinical outcomes in valvular heart disease patients with moderate to severe secondary tricuspid regurgitation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Secondary tricuspid regurgitation (STR) is frequently seen in cardiology practice. Currently, few data are available on the prognostic variables associated with moderate or severe STR on death and progression to valve surgery. Hence, the study aim was to identify these prognostic variables. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with at least moderate STR were identified from an ongoing database and followed until death, any valvular heart surgery, or the end of the study. Clinical and echocardiographic variables including age, gender, coronary artery disease, device implantation (defibrillator or pacemaker), pulmonary disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, right ventricular size, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), STR severity and concomitant valve disease were recorded. End-points were death and valve surgery. RESULTS: The average age of the 92 study participants was 68 +/- 16 years. During a mean follow up of 43 +/- 24 months, there were 13 deaths (14%) and 12 surgeries (13%). In multivariate analysis, both an elevated RVSP and device implantation were significant predictors of death (p = 0.0038 and 0.0487, respectively). Only an elevated RVSP was predictive of surgery (p = 0.05) and surgery-free survival (p = 0.0005). A RVSP > 48 mmHg had a hazard ratio of 3.93 (p = 0.0012) and a high diagnostic accuracy for predicting death, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73. CONCLUSION: In patients with valvular heart disease and at least moderate STR, an elevated RVSP of at least 48 mmHg was associated with significantly increased mortality and decreased surgery-free survival.

Relationship of myocardial mechanics and regional volume change in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

The contraction and rotation of left ventricular (LV) segments in a synchronous fashion is vital for cardiac pump function. However, no data exist regarding the relationship of LV segmental mechanics and regional volume change in patients with LV systolic dysfunction. Thirty-two patients with EF < 50% and fifty-two normal subjects were enrolled. The radius strain and rotation were assessed in six segments at three short axis views using speckle tracking imaging. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of the strain peak time index (SPTI%) and the rotation peak time index (RPTI%) for each view were calculated as representing myocardial segmental synchrony. The mean and the SD of the 4-D mini-volume time index (VMTI, %) from 16 regions were calculated as representing regional volume change using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). The SD for each time index was averaged as the systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI) in both groups. The differences of the SPTI and the RPTI to the VMTI (T(sv) and T(rv)) were calculated as dyssynchrony between myocardial segmental mechanics and regional volume change. The time interval of the RPTI between apical and basal rotation (T(abrot)) was also calculated. The relationship of T(sv), T(rv) and T(abrot) to LV ejection fraction (EF) was then analyzed. In patients with LV systolic dysfunction, both peak strain and peak rotation occurred later than the regional minimum volume (55.3 ± 11.1% vs. 45.9 + 5.5%; 50.4 ± 8.7% vs. 45.9 ± 5.5% (both P < 0.05) as compared with normal subjects (41.1 ± 6.6% vs. 40.3 ± 3.8%; 44.1 ± 7.5% vs. 40.3 ± 3.8%). The SDI in each time index is also significantly wider than in normal subjects (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a negative correlation between T(sv), T(rv) and T(abrot) with EF, respectively (P < 0.05). In patients with abnormal LV systolic function the rotation occurs significantly later than regional volume change as compared with normal subjects. There is a negative correlation between this time delay and LVEF. Thus, the relationship of myocardial segmental change and regional volume change could provide insight into intraventricular dyssynchrony in patients with LV systolic dysfunction.

Giant left ventricular pseudoaneurysm.

Left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm (PS) is an uncommon, often fatal complication associated with myocardial infarction, cardiothoracic surgery, trauma, and, rarely, infective endocarditis. A 28-year-old man with prior history of bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement presented with congestive heart failure and bacteremia with Abiotrophia granulitica. Transesophageal echocardiogram showed bioprosthesis dysfunction, large vegetations, mitral regurgitation, and probable PS. Cardiac and chest CT confirmed a PS communicating with the left ventricle Patient had pulseless electrical activity and died. Autopsy showed a giant PS with layered thrombus and pseudo-endothelialized cavity. Our case highlights the importance of multimodality imaging as an important tool in management of PS.

Echocardiography in stress cardiomyopathy and acute LVOT obstruction.

Widespread use of echocardiography has contributed to more frequent recognition of takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy. Initial presentation is similar to acute coronary syndrome and the acute course can be complicated by heart failure, arrhythmias, dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, hypotension and death. We briefly review the clinical presentation and propose a unified diagnostic algorithm for cardiologists acutely managing this cardiac emergency. We highlight the central role of echocardiography and emphasize the nuances of this peculiar acute cardiomyopathy from an echocardiographers' perspective.