[Hemodynamic monitoring - imaging procedures / cardiac ultrasound]. / Hämodynamisches Monitoring - Bildgebende bzw. Ultraschallverfahren.

Echocardiography as an imaging method in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine has enabled a new dimension of hemodynamic monitoring: the direct visualization of the cardiac function and its disruptions. Preconditions for a broad application in this area was the development of mobile, high-definition ultrasonic devices and the origination of focused examination techniques. A successful application of this method requires the respective know-how of the examiner, in order to take relevant decisions and avoid misdiagnoses. The following article shows the advantages and limitations of echocardiography in the diagnosis of hemodynamic instability. For TTE and TEE focused examination techniques are illustrated and evaluated with regards to their applicability to hemodynamic monitoring. Furthermore, the requirements on devices and education of the examiner are discussed.

Augmentation of the posterior mitral leaflet in secondary mitral valve insufficiency, mid-term results.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluate the mid-term results of mitral valve (MV) repair with patch augmentation of the posterior leaflet in secondary mitral regurgitation. METHODS: Patients were included after diagnosis of a severe symptomatic secondary MV insufficiency with grade III and IV according to the Carpentier classification IIIb. Indication for a patch augmentation technique was a dilatation of the left ventricle leading to a displacement of the papillary muscles, causing restricted leaflet motion and a marked leaflet tenting height. Data were collected prospectively between December 2011 and March 2020. RESULTS: In total, 174 patients (mean age: 65 ± 12 years) received an MV repair with patch augmentation of the posterior leaflet and a true-sized remodelling annuloplasty (mean size 30.8 mm). Causes of the MV incompetence were dilatative cardiomyopathy in 126 patients and ischaemic myocardial disease in 48 patients. Concomitant bypass surgery was performed in 28 patients, and the tricuspid valve was repaired in 68 patients. The mean follow-up was 40 ± 28.2 months. There was no 30-day mortality. In-hospital mortality was 1.2% (n = 2); late mortality was 10.9% (n = 19). At 8 years, overall survival was 62.48%, freedom from moderate or severe recurrent mitral regurgitation was 91.9% and freedom from reoperation due to MV insufficiency was 97.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Augmentation of the posterior MV leaflet in addition to remodelling annuloplasty is a safe and reproducible mitral reconstruction technique that renders sustainable MV competence.

Mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral valve regurgitation.

In industrialized countries, the most common etiology of mitral regurgitation (MR) is degenerative mitral valve (MV) disease. The natural history of severe degenerative MR is poor. However, its appropriate and timely correction is associated with a life expectancy similar to that of the normal population. Surgical MV repair is the gold-standard treatment. This review will focus on the most recent evidence with a specific emphasis on surgical indications, timing of treatment, contemporary surgical techniques, Heart Teams, and Centers of Excellence.

Totally endoscopic set-up for mitral valve repair.

Minimally invasive mitral surgery is increasingly recognized as routine. We describe here the financially economical set-up for totally endoscopic surgery, which also represents currently the smallest surgical access, limited only by prosthesis and retractor size. This allows the full range of repairs to be performed. Cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass is performed via the groin. A cosmetic, periareolar (in males) or inframammary fold (in females) incision is made and the chest entered on bypass. An aortic cross-clamp and crystalloid cardioplegia are used via the aortic root prior to atriotomy and surgical repair. This method gives the highest level of cosmesis available and minimal discomfort, without compromising on the extremely good published results.

Rate of repair in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

BACKGROUND: Valve repair has been shown to be the method of choice in the treatment of patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation. Minimally invasive surgery has raised skepticism regarding the rate of repair especially for supposedly complex lesions, when anterior leaflet involvement or bileaflet prolapse is present. We sought to review our experience of all our patients presenting with degenerative mitral valve regurgitation and operated on minimally invasively. METHOD: From September 2006 to December 2012, 842 patients (mean age 56.12±11.62 years old) with degenerative mitral valve regurgitation and anterior leaflet (n=82, 9.7%), posterior leaflet (n=688, 81.7%) and bileaflet (n=72, 8.6%) prolapses were operated on using a minimally invasive approach. RESULTS: 836 patients had a valve repair (99.3%) and received a concomitant ring annuloplasty (mean size, 33.7; range, 28-40). Six patients (0.7%) underwent valve replacement. Two patients had a re-repair due to MR progression or infective endocarditis. Thirty-day mortality was 0.2% (two patients). There were 60 major adverse events (MAE) (7.1%). CONCLUSIONS: A minimally invasive approach allows repair of almost all degenerative valves with good short-term outcomes in a tertiary referral center, when using proven and efficient surgical techniques.

Transesophageal echocardiography for detection of a papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve.

Papillary fibroelastoma (PF) is a benign cardiac tumor, typically attached to the cardiac valves. It is usually found incidentally at autopsy or surgery. It is rarely symptomatic, but can cause myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and systemic embolism, even in young patients, and sometimes results in sudden death. We report on a case of a PF attached to the nodulus arantii of the left coronary cusp in a 56-year-old woman. She was referred to our institution due to a non ST-elevation myocardial infarction diagnosed by troponin positive-test. No other embolic source was identified. Diagnosis was obtained by two-dimensional echocardiography and confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. After complete surgical removal of the tumor, we reconstructed the left coronary cusp with autologous pericardium. The histology revealed the diagnosis of a PF. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography confirmed complete restoration of aortic valve cusp coaptation. The clinical course was uneventful.

Toward a new paradigm for the reconstruction of posterior leaflet prolapse: midterm results of the "respect rather than resect" approach.

BACKGROUND: The aim of mitral valve reconstruction is restoration of good coaptation surface. Resection of the prolapsed area has been the accepted technique to repair prolapse of the posterior leaflet (PPL). However, as leaflet tissue is the basic component of coaptation surface, the logical corrective approach was thought to be the transformation of the posterior leaflet into a smooth vertical buttress without resection, the "respect rather than resect" approach. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2004, 225 patients underwent a PPL repair for severe mitral regurgitation with the respect rather than resect approach, in which the prolapse was corrected with artificial chordae. In 193 patients, the prolapse was limited to the posterior leaflet; in the remaining 32 patients, both leaflets were involved. All patients received ring annuloplasty. Associated procedures included myocardial revascularization (21 patients) and tricuspid repair (19 patients). Patient demographics were as follows: mean age, 60.7 +/- 12.9 years; male, 150 (67%); asymptomatic, 102 (45%). RESULTS: Three patients died postoperatively (1.3%). Survival at 10 years (88% +/- 6%) was similar to expected survival rate (97% +/- 2% for asymptomatic patients and 82% +/- 10% for symptomatic patients (p < 0.005)). Ten patients were reoperated on, for a freedom from reoperation rate of 93% +/- 3% at 10 years. At echocardiographic follow-up, 172 patients of 195 (88%) showed mitral regurgitation of 1 or less; and 195 of 203 patients (96%) were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II. CONCLUSIONS: The respect rather than resect approach is safe, effective, and durable, and increases technical repair possibilities. Surgical strategy focuses on restoration of surface coaptation instead of location and extent of leaflet resection.