Biomechanical evaluation of aortic regurgitation from cusp prolapse using an ex vivo 3D-printed commissure geometric alignment device.

BACKGROUND: Aortic regurgitation (AR) is one of the most common cardiac valvular diseases, and it is frequently caused by cusp prolapse. However, the precise relationship of commissure position and aortic cusp prolapse with AR is not fully understood. In this study, we developed a 3D-printed commissure geometric alignment device to investigate the effect of commissure height and inter-commissure angle on AR and aortic cusp prolapse. METHODS: Three porcine aortic valves were explanted from hearts obtained from a meat abattoir and were mounted in the commissure geometric alignment device. Nine commissure configurations were tested for each specimen, exploring independent and concurrent effects of commissure height and inter-commissure angle change on AR and aortic cusp prolapse. Each commissure configuration was tested in our 3D printed ex vivo left heart simulator. Hemodynamics data, echocardiography, and high-speed videography were obtained. RESULTS: AR due to aortic cusp prolapse was successfully generated using our commissure geometric alignment device. Mean aortic regurgitation fraction measured for the baseline, high commissure, low commissure, high commissure and wide inter-commissure angle, high commissure and narrow inter-commissure angle, low commissure and wide inter-commissure angle, low commissure and narrow inter-commissure angle, wide commissure, and narrow commissure configurations from all samples were 4.6 ± 1.4%, 9.7 ± 3.7%, 4.2 ± 0.5%, 11.7 ± 5.8%, 13.0 ± 8.5%, 4.8 ± 0.9%, 7.3 ± 1.7%, 5.1 ± 1.2%, and 7.1 ± 3.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AR was most prominent when commissure heights were changed from their native levels with concomitant reduced inter-commissure angle. Findings from this study provide important evidence demonstrating the relationship between commissure position and aortic cusp prolapse and may have a significant impact on patient outcomes after surgical repair of aortic valves.

Syndrome of ventricular septal defect and aortic regurgitation - A 22-year review of its management

Abstract Introduction: The presence of aortic regurgitation (AR) in the setting of ventricular septal defect (VSD) has always been a management challenge. Methods: This is a retrospective study looking at patients who underwent VSD closure with or without aortic valve intervention between January 1st, 1992 and December 31st, 2014 at the Institute Jantung Negara. This study looked at all cases of VSD and AR, where AR was classified as mild, moderate, and severe, the intervention done in each of this grade, and the durability of that intervention. The interventions were classified as no intervention (NI), aortic valve repair (AVr), and aortic valve replacement (AVR). Results: A total of 261 patients were recruited into this study. Based on the various grades of AR, 105 patients had intervention to their aortic valve during VSD closure. The rest 156 had NI. All patients were followed up for a mean time of 13.9±3.5 years. Overall freedom from reoperation at 15 years was 82.6% for AVr. Various factors were investigated to decide on intervening on the aortic valve during VSD closure. Among those that were statistically significant were the grade of AR, size of VSD, age at intervention, and number of cusp prolapse. Conclusion: We can conclude from our study that all moderate and severe AR with small VSD in older patients with more than one cusp prolapse will need intervention to their aortic valve during the closure of VSD.

Safety and Efficacy of Transcatheter Occlusion of Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect with Aortic Valve Prolapse: A Six-Year Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: With the rapid development of transcatheter techniques and instruments, transcatheter occlusion for patients with perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pVSD) and aortic valve prolapse (AVP) was constantly being tried, while the efficacy and safety of pVSD with AVP remain controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of transcatheter occlusion of pVSD with AVP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 164 children with pVSD and AVP who underwent transcatheter occlusion between January 2013 and November 2014. AVP was divided into 3 degrees according to right coronary leaflet morphology at end-diastole during aortic root angiography. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected. RESULTS: There were 97 males and 67 females (median age, 40.0 (30.0-62.7) months; average weight, 16.94 ± 9.02 kg). Mild (n = 63), moderate (n = 89), and severe (n = 12) AVP success rates were 93.7%, 89.9%, and 58.3%, respectively. Immediately after procedure, there was no new-onset aortic regurgitation (AR) above trivial degree, residual shunt above mild degree, or complications requiring medication or operation, except for 1 patient who developed transient complete atrioventricular block. During follow-up, 1 mild AVP patient aggravated from mild to moderate AR and 1 moderate AVP patient aggravated from trivial to moderate AR. The new-onset AR in mild, moderate, and severe AVP was 2%, 1.8%, and 20%, respectively. AR disappeared in 17 patients. Residual shunt occurred in 9 patients after procedure, 4 of which disappeared during the follow-up period. No serious complications occurred in any patient during follow-up. Five-year cardiovascular event-free survival rates for mild, moderate, and severe AVP were 89.6%, 94.5%, and 80.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter occlusion of pVSD with mild and moderate AVP has a high success rate and few complications, which is safe and effective in long-term follow-up. Transcatheter occlusion of pVSD with severe AVP has low success rates and high AR incidence. Therefore, transcatheter occlusion of pVSD with AVP is recommended for mild to moderate, but not severe, AVP.

Syndrome of Ventricular Septal Defect and Aortic Regurgitation - A 22-Year Review of its Management.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of aortic regurgitation (AR) in the setting of ventricular septal defect (VSD) has always been a management challenge. METHODS: This is a retrospective study looking at patients who underwent VSD closure with or without aortic valve intervention between January 1st, 1992 and December 31st, 2014 at the Institute Jantung Negara. This study looked at all cases of VSD and AR, where AR was classified as mild, moderate, and severe, the intervention done in each of this grade, and the durability of that intervention. The interventions were classified as no intervention (NI), aortic valve repair (AVr), and aortic valve replacement (AVR). RESULTS: A total of 261 patients were recruited into this study. Based on the various grades of AR, 105 patients had intervention to their aortic valve during VSD closure. The rest 156 had NI. All patients were followed up for a mean time of 13.9±3.5 years. Overall freedom from reoperation at 15 years was 82.6% for AVr. Various factors were investigated to decide on intervening on the aortic valve during VSD closure. Among those that were statistically significant were the grade of AR, size of VSD, age at intervention, and number of cusp prolapse. CONCLUSION: We can conclude from our study that all moderate and severe AR with small VSD in older patients with more than one cusp prolapse will need intervention to their aortic valve during the closure of VSD.

Prognostic factors associated with postoperative adverse outcomes in patients with aortic valve prolapse.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Aortic valve (AV) cusp prolapse and subsequent aortic insufficiency (AI) are 2 of factors leading to left ventricular (LV) enlargement and decreased LV function. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) has been the standard surgical procedure for AI. However, few data is available on the prognosis of these patients undergoing AVR procedure, especially in Chinese population. The study aims to evaluate the potential risk factors affecting the mid-term adverse outcomes after AVR. METHODS: One hundred thirty-four patients (mean age: 46.7 years old) with AV cusp prolapse and severe AI who all received surgical aortic valve replacement were recruited in our hospital between January 1, 2009 and December 30, 2017. The clinical characteristics, echocardiography parameters, as well as operative parameters were obtained. The primary endpoint included death, heart failure development, and reoperation. RESULTS: There were 14 adverse events altogether with the primary endpoint during a median follow-up of 8.6 (6-10) months. The multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that baseline LVEDD (hazard rate, HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15, P = .021), moderate pulmonary hypertension (HR = 9.36, 95% CI: 1.81-48.28, P = .008), and the time of assisted mechanical ventilation (HR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01, P = .022) were independently associated with the primary endpoint. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed a significant worse survival free of the endpoint for patients with LVEDD≥70 mm, indexed LVEDD≥37.3 mm/m (the mean in this study), indexed LVESD≥25 mm/m or baseline LVEF <50% (all P<.05). CONCLUSION: Baseline enlarged LV dimensions, low LV function, moderate pulmonary hypertension, and prolonged assisted mechanical ventilation may predict the poor mid-term postoperative outcomes for AV cusp prolapse patients undergoing AVR procedure.

Redo Valve-Sparing Root Replacement for Delayed Cusp Derangement From Ventricular Septal Defect.

A 28-year-old man with ventricular septal defect, double-chambered right ventricle with associated right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and anomalous right coronary artery underwent resection of the double-chambered right ventricle, transaortic ventricular septal defect repair, and unroofing of anomalous right coronary artery. Two years later, he returned with delayed presentation of ventricular septal defect flow funnel-related aortic cusp prolapse and symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation. He underwent reoperative valve-sparing aortic root replacement and aortic cusp repair with an excellent outcome.

Echocardiographic findings of cardiovascular involvement in Behçet's disease and post-operative complications after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the spectrum of echocardiographic findings in patients with cardiovascular involvement in Behçet's disease (BD) and followed up the post-operative complications. METHODS: We enrolled 26 BD patients who underwent first cardiac surgery in Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China. Medical records and echocardiographic findings were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: The 26 patients consisted of 4 women and 22 men. 22 (84.6%) of the patients were diagnosed with moderate/severe aortic regurgitation (AR). Some distinctive echocardiographic features with AR were observed, including prolapse of aortic cusps, vegetation-like mobile lesions, an echo-free space mimicking aortic root abscess and aortic aneurysm formation. 3 (11.5%) of the patients were diagnosed with isolated descending aortic aneurysm. 1(3.8%) of the patients was diagnosed with pulmonary artery aneurysm. BD was preoperatively diagnosed by clinicians in 20 patients. And 6 patients were diagnosed post-operatively by clinicians. In a total of 26 patients, post-operative complications occurred in 8 (30.7%) patients. The complications occurred in the 6 patients diagnosed post-operatively and 2 patients diagnosed pre-operatively. The post-operative complications of these patientsincluded aortic paravalvular leakage, coronary-graft anastmotic leakage and mitral paravalvular leakage. CONCLUSIONS: The most common echocardiographic feature of cardiovascular involvement in BD is severe aortic regurgitation with prolapse of aortic cusps, vegetation-like mobile lesions, an echo-free space mimicking aortic root abscess or aortic aneurysm formation. Accurate preoperative diagnosis of BD is beneficial to the choice of immunosuppressive therapy before and after surgery, which is likely to reduce postoperative complications especially for patients with severe lesions.

Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect in aortic valve prolapse and aortic regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: To report intermediate follow-up result of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) in presence of aortic valve prolapse (AVP) with or without aortic regurgitation (AR). METHOD: This is a retrospective review of 19 patients with VSD with AVP with AR who underwent transcatheter closure in between September 2011-July 2014. Mean age was 8 years (1-16 years, standard deviation [SD] 4.08 years) and mean weight was 26.03kg (9-81.5kg, SD 16.57kg). Among them 2 had subarterial VSD, 6 had subaortic VSD and 11 had perimembranous VSD. All of them had mild AVP and 13 of them had AR (trivial or mild). Median VSD size was 4.3mm (4-6mm). Transcatheter closure was done either by retrograde technique using the Amplatzer Duct Occluder-II in 17 patients or antegrade technique using the Duct Occluder-I in 2 cases. Mean follow-up period was 18 months (12-36 months). RESULT: Immediate major complications were encountered in 2 (10.5%) cases. Significant aggravation of device related AR was seen in one case & device embolised to right pulmonary artery in another case and both of them were managed surgically. During follow up, 1 child had significant additional VSD requiring device closure. One child developed moderate AR, requiring surgery. None of the other had shown any increase in severity of AR. CONCLUSION: Device closure of VSD in presence of mild AVP and mild AR appears to be safe. Longer follow-up is necessary to draw final conclusion.

Aortic valve prolapse misdiagnosed as aortic sinus aneurysm in patients with ventricular septal defect. Analysis of the echocardiographic findings.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively analyzed the preoperative echocardiographic findings of 9 patients with doubly committed ventricular septal defect (VSD) associated with aortic valve prolapse and to summarize the reasons for misdiagnosis. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Yijishan Hospital, Wannan, Anhui, Chinabetween June 2005 and May 2015. Using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 92 patients were diagnosed with doubly committed VSD associated with rupture of an aortic sinus aneurysm. The operative findings proved to be in accordance with the echocardiographic findings in 83 patients. Nine patients were confirmed as showing doubly committed VSD associated with perforation of a prolapsed aortic valve. We primarily discussed the 9 patients who were misdiagnosed by TTE. Results: Aneurysm-like protrusions could be detected by 2-dimensional TTE in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in 9 patients. All of the aneurysm-like protrusions were confirmed by surgery as over-enlarged right coronary leaflets bulging into the RVOT. Conclusion:Occasionally, in patients with doubly committed VSD, aortic valve prolapse can be misdiagnosed as an aortic sinus aneurysm. To reduce the misdiagnosis rate and to provide a more precise preoperative diagnosis, multi-section, and multi-angle observation of these diseases should be performed.

Measurement of Aortic Valve Coaptation and Effective Height Using Echocardiography in Patients with Ventricular Septal Defects and Aortic Valve Prolapse.

Decreased coaptation height in adults has been identified as a marker of early valve failure. We evaluated aortic valve coaptation and effective height in healthy children and in children with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) with aortic cusp prolapse (ACP), using echocardiography. We included 45 subjects with VSD with ACP, 27 did not develop aortic regurgitation (AR) by ACP and 18 developed AR by ACP, and 83 healthy children as controls. Aortic root anatomy was estimated using the parasternal long-axis view. We measured the diameter of aortic valve (AV), coaptation height (CH), and effective height (EH) of the aortic valve. We defined the ACH (CH/AV ratio) and AEH (EH/AV ratio) indices as follows: [Formula: see text]. There were significant differences in ACH and AEH between the groups (control vs VSD with ACP vs VSD with ACP and AR, median ACH [%], 35.1 vs 32.0 vs 22.1; median AEH [%], 52.0 vs 48.0 vs 34.4, respectively; P < 0.01]). Intra-cardiac repair (ICR) was performed in 15 cases. Significant increases were observed in ACH and AEH before and after ICR (median ACH [%], before: 27.0, after: 32.7, P < 0.05; median AEH (%), before 38.5, after 45.8, P < 0.05). Measurement of ACH and AEH may allow direct and non-invasive assessment of the severity of VSD with ACP, which could aid clinicians in determining the need and timing for surgical intervention.

Aortic Valve Prolapse and Aortic Regurgitation During Long-Term Follow Up in Children with Ventricular Septal Defect.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve prolapse (AVP) and aortic regurgitation (AR) can develop in a subset of patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD). The incidence and progression of AVP and AR with VSD at long-term follow up was evaluated. METHODS: The records of 2,275 patients with isolated VSD who had been diagnosed using echocardiography at the present authors' institution between 1988 and 2014 were reviewed. RESULTS: AVP was detected in 178 patients (7.8%), using echocardiography. Of 178 patients with AVP, AR was detected in 124 (AR incidence 5.4%). A total of 142 patients was followed medically during a median of 10 years after AVP had appeared. Initially, no AR was noted in 66 of these patients, trivial AR in 41, mild AR in 30, moderate in three, and severe in two. Trivial AR developed in 20 and mild in eight of 66 patients who had no AR. In 18 of 61 patients (29.5%), trivial AR progressed to mild during a median of 3.6 years, and in five of 18 patients (27.7%) mild AR progressed to moderate during a median of 2.3 years. Postoperatively, AR improved in 17 patients, remained unchanged in 12, and worsened in four at between two months and 16.5 years of follow up (median 6.6 years). CONCLUSIONS: Frequent (six-month) echocardiographic evaluation in patients with perimembraneous or muscular outlet VSD after AVP and AR development may be useful. In addition, surgical intervention in patients with perimembraneous or muscular outlet VSD, AVP and mild AR may prevent the worsening of AR.

[Quadricuspid Aortic Valve: Report of a Case].

A 69-year-old woman with general fatigue was admitted to our hospital for further examination of mediastinal lymph node swelling. Mediastinal lymph node sampling was planned. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe aortic regurgitation, and aortic valve replacement combined with mediastinal lymph node sampling was performed. Following lymph node sampling, the ascending aorta was opened, and the aortic valve was found to be quadricuspid. An accessory cusp was existed between the left coronary cusp and the non coronary cusp. Aortic valve replacement was successfully performed. A quadricuspid aortic valve is a very rare anomaly.

Transcatheter Closure of Intracristal Ventricular Septal Defect With Mild Aortic Cusp Prolapse Using Zero Eccentricity Ventricular Septal Defect Occluder.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure is a well-established therapy for patients with perimembranous ventricular septal defects (VSDs), but with limited experience in intracristal VSDs (IVSDs) with aortic cusp prolapse (ACP). METHODS AND RESULTS: From 2012 to 2014, we reviewed 38 patients with IVSDs complicated with mild ACP who underwent device closure, and, in light of the findings, assessed the effect of transcatheter intervention on preoperative mild ACP. The zero eccentric VSD occluder was chosen for closure (Shanghai Shape Memory Alloy Ltd, Shanghai, China). The mean defect was 4.8±1.6 mm (range, 2-8) as measured by transthoracic echocardiography and the mean device size was 10.1±2.1 mm (range, 4-14). Placement of the device was successful in 35 patients (92.1%). In the remaining 3 patients (7.9%), major complications occurred and they were converted to surgical intervention: severe aortic regurgitation (AR) in 2 patients and occluder dislodgement in 1 patient. During the follow-up (median 14.2 months; range, 3-24), no deaths, residual shunt, late-onset AR, heart block, or device failure occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The mid-term prognostic results of high success rate and low complications rate in this study are inspiring. Transcatheter closure of IVSD with mild ACP can be performed safely and effectively as an alternative to surgery in selected patients.

Long-Term Results after Aortic Valve-Sparing-Reimplantation Operation (David) in Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The aortic valve-sparing reimplantation operation (David) is increasingly used in patients with aortic root aneurysm and intact cusps. David's procedure is also feasible in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BA), though few long-term data are available. METHODS: An analysis was conducted of the long-term echocardiographic data from patients with BAV who had undergone David's procedure at early and long-term follow up (FU) examinations. RESULTS: Between 1994 and 2010, a total of 30 patients with BAV underwent David's procedure at the authors'institution. There were no in-hospital or late deaths, and the mean long-term FU was 6.64 ± 3.54 years (range: 3.2-20.1 years). The mean aortic regurgitation (AR) grade was increased from 0.26 ± 0.37 at early FU to 0.70 ± 0.80 at long-term FU (p = 0.013). Four patients (13%) had to be reoperated after 10.00 ± 4.74 years (range: 5.49-17.06 years) due to aortic stenosis (n = 1) and aortic insufficiency (n = 3); the latter three patients had a significant prolapse of both the fused and the non-coronary cusp of reconstruction. CONCLUSION: The mean AR grade was increased significantly but was ≤ I-II in 59% of patients and ≤ II in 93% of patients after a mean FU of 6.6 years. Patients with prolapsing non-coronary leaflet at reconstruction seemed vulnerable to recurrent AR. Among patients, survival was excellent, and the reoperation rate and hemodynamics acceptable. Long-term follow up data are necessary to further refine the surgical techniques employed and to improve the results achieved.