Computed tomography is better than echocardiography in predicting balloon-expandable transcutaneous implantation valve size in a real-world clinical practice single-center study.

AIMS: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the standard of care for selected patients with severe aortic stenosis. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and transoesophageal 2D/3D (two-dimensional/three-dimensional) echocardiography (ECHO) are used for aortic annulus (AA) sizing. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of AA sizing by ECHO versus MDCT for Edwards Sapien balloon expandable valve in a single center. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from 145 consecutive patients with TAVR (Sapien XT or Sapien S3) were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 139 (96%) patients had favorable outcomes after TAVR (at most mild aortic regurgitation and only one valve implanted). The 3D ECHO AA area and area-derived diameter were smaller than the corresponding MDCT parameters (464 ± 99 vs. 479 ± 88 mm2 , p < .001, and 24.2 ± 2.7 vs. 25.0 ± 5.5 mm, p = .002, respectively). The 2D ECHO annulus measurement was smaller than both the MDCT and 3D ECHO area-derived diameters (22.6 ± 2.9 vs. 25.0 ± 5.5 mm, p = .013, and 22.6 ± 2.9 vs. 24.2 ± 2.7 mm, p < .001, respectively) but larger than the minor axis diameter of the AA derived from MDCT and 3D ECHO by multiplanar reconstruction (p < .001). The 3D ECHO circumference-derived diameter was also smaller than the MDCT circumference-derived diameter (24.3 ± 2.5 vs. 25.0 ± 2.3, p = .007). The sphericity index by 3D ECHO was smaller than that by MDCT (1.2 ± .1 vs. 1.3 ± .1, p < .001). In up to 1/3 of the patients, 3D ECHO measurements would have predicted different (generally smaller) valve size than was the valve size implanted with favorable result. The concordance of the implanted valve size with the recommended size based on preprocedural MDCT and 3D ECHO AA area was 79.4% versus 61% (p = .001), and for the area-derived diameter, the concordance was 80.1% versus 61.7% (p = .001). 2D ECHO diameter concordance was similar to MDCT (78.7%). CONCLUSIONS: 3D ECHO AA measurements are smaller than MDCT measurements. If 3D ECHO-based parameters alone are used to size the Edwards Sapien balloon expandable valve, then the selected valve size would have been smaller than the valve size implanted with favorable result in 1/3 of the patients. MDCT preprocedural TAVR assessment should be the preferred method over 3D ECHO in routine clinical practice to determine Edwards Sapien valve size.

Trans-aortic left ventricular thrombo-embolectomy following COVID-19 infection.

Left ventricular thrombosis is a known complication of myocardial infarction. COVID 19 has been shown to produce a procoagulant state resulting in venous and less commonly arterial thrombosis. Here, we describe a patient who presented with a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), in the context of a COVID 19 infection. This NSTEMI resulted in the formation of a large pedunculated apical thrombus, which was initially managed conservatively, however ultimately required surgical thromboembolectomy. Access to the left ventricle was gained via the transaortic route in order to avoid ventriculotomy in a patient with a reduced LV systolic function. Post-operative imaging confirmed complete resection of thrombus.

Echocardiography - techniques and pitfalls whilst diagnosing persistent (patent) foramen ovale as a risk factor in divers with a history of decompression sickness.

The case of a diver with a history of decompression sickness (DCS) after recreational scuba diving is presented. Cutis marmorata, a subtype of cutaneous DCS, has been consistently associated with the presence of a persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO) as a risk factor. Diagnostic uncertainty arose when transthoracic echocardiography with antecubital injection of agitated saline bubbles (ASBs) did not show any significant shunt, but the presence of a large Eustachian valve was counteracted by intra-femoral injection of ASBs, showing a large PFO with spontaneous shunting. The importance of proper echocardiography techniques prior to resorting to intra-femoral injection of ASBs to counteract the haemodynamic effects of the Eustachian valve is emphasised.

Multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance surveillance of acute cardiac allograft rejection and characterisation of transplantation-associated myocardial injury: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Serial surveillance endomyocardial biopsies are performed in patients who have recently undergone heart transplantation in order to detect acute cardiac allograft rejection (ACAR) before symptoms occur, however the biopsy process is associated with a number of limitations. This study aimed to prospectively and longitudinally evaluate the performance of multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for detecting and monitoring ACAR in the early phase post-transplant, and characterize graft recovery following transplantation. METHODS: All patients receiving a heart transplant at a single UK centre over a period of 25 months were approached within one month of transplantation. Multiparametric CMR was prospectively performed on the same day as biopsy on four separate occasions (6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks and 20 weeks post-transplant). CMR included assessment of global and regional ventricular function, myocardial tissue characterization (T1 mapping, T2 mapping, extracellular volume, LGE) and pixel-wise absolute myocardial blood flow quantification. CMR parameters were compared with biopsy findings. As is standard, grade 2R or higher ACAR was considered significant. RESULTS: 88 CMR-matched biopsies were performed in 22 patients. Eight (9%) biopsies in 5 patients demonstrated significant ACAR. Significant ACAR was associated with a reduction in circumferential strain (-12.7±2.5% vs. -13.7±3.6%, p=0.047) but there was considerable overlap between groups. Whilst trends were observed between ACAR and proposed CMR markers of oedema, particularly after adjusting for primary graft dysfunction, differences were not significant. Significant improvements were seen in markers of graft structure and contractility, oedema and microvascular function over the period studied, although few parameters normalised. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel insight into the myocardial injury associated with transplantation, and its recovery, however multiparametric CMR was not able to accurately detect ACAR during the early phase post-transplantation.

Multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance assessment of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for detecting cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) using contemporary invasive epicardial artery and microvascular assessment techniques as reference standards, and to compare the performance of CMR with that of angiography. BACKGROUND: CAV continues to limit the long-term survival of heart transplant recipients. Coronary angiography has a Class I recommendation for CAV surveillance and annual or biannual surveillance angiography is performed routinely in most centers. METHODS: All transplant recipients referred for surveillance angiography at a single UK center over a 2-year period were prospectively screened for study eligibility. Patients prospectively underwent coronary angiography followed by coronary intravascular ultrasound, fractional flow reserve, and index of microcirculatory resistance. Within 1 month, patients underwent multiparametric CMR, including assessment of regional and global ventricular function, absolute myocardial blood flow quantification, and myocardial tissue characterization. In addition, 10 healthy volunteers underwent CMR. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were recruited, median 7.1 years (interquartile range: 4.6 to 10.3 years) since transplantation. The CMR myocardial perfusion reserve was the only independent predictor of both epicardial (ß = -0.57, p < 0.001) and microvascular disease (ß = -0.60, p < 0.001) on stepwise multivariable regression. The CMR myocardial perfusion reserve significantly outperformed angiography for detecting moderate CAV (area under the curve, 0.89 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79 to 1.00] vs. 0.59 [95% CI: 0.42 to 0.77], p = 0.01) and severe CAV (area under the curve, 0.88 [95% CI: 0.78 to 0.98] vs. 0.67 [95% CI: 0.52 to 0.82], p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CAV, including epicardial and microvascular components, can be detected more accurately using noninvasive CMR-based absolute myocardial blood flow assessment than with invasive coronary angiography, the current clinical surveillance technique.

Quantification of left ventricular indices from SSFP cine imaging: impact of real-world variability in analysis methodology and utility of geometric modeling.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of "real-world" practice variation in the process of quantifying left ventricular (LV) mass, volume indices, and ejection fraction (EF) from steady-state free precession cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) images. The utility of LV geometric modeling techniques was also assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of short-axis- versus long-axis-derived LV base identification, simplified versus detailed endocardial contouring, and visual versus automated identification of end-systole were evaluated using CMR images from 50 consecutive, prospectively recruited patients. Additionally, the performance of six geometric models was assessed. Repeated measurements were performed on 25 scans (50%) in order to assess observer variability. RESULTS: Simplified endocardial contouring significantly overestimated volumes and underestimated EF (-6 ± 4%, P < 0.0005) compared to detailed contouring. A mean difference of -34g (P < 0.0005) was observed between mass measurements made using short-axis- versus long-axis-derived LV base positioning. A technique involving long-axis LV base identification, signal threshold-based detailed endocardial contouring, and automated identification of end-systole had significantly higher observer agreement. Geometric models showed poor agreement with conventional analysis and high variability. CONCLUSION: Real-world variability in CMR image analysis leads to significant differences in LV mass, volume and EF measurements, and observer variability. Appropriate reference ranges should be applied. Use of geometric models should be discouraged.

Comparison of local sine wave modeling with harmonic phase analysis for the assessment of myocardial strain.

PURPOSE: To compare local sine-wave modeling (SinMod) with harmonic phase analysis (HARP), for assessment of left ventricular (LV) circumferential strain (εcc) from tagged cardiovascular magnetic resonance images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mid-ventricular spatial modulation of magnetization was performed in 60 participants (15 each with hypertrophic, dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy and 15 healthy controls) at 1.5 Tesla. Global and segmental peak transmural εcc were measured using HARP and SinMod. Repeated measurements were performed on 25% of examinations to assess observer variability. Effect of contrast was assessed in 10 additional patients. RESULTS: SinMod showed a high level of agreement with HARP for global εcc (mean difference -0.02, 95% limits of agreement -6.46 to 6.43%). Agreement was much lower for segmental εcc. Both methods showed excellent observer agreement for global εcc (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.75). Observer agreement for segmental εcc was also excellent with SinMod, but was significantly lower with HARP. Analysis time was significantly shorter using SinMod. Pre- and postcontrast εcc measurements were not significantly different using either technique, although postcontrast measurements showed greater variability with HARP. CONCLUSION: SinMod and HARP-based measurements of global εcc have a high level of agreement, but segmental agreement is substantially lower. SinMod has generally lower observer variability, is faster and is less affected by contrast, but requires further validation.