Análisis de la la muerte súbita cardíaca por prolapso de la válvula mitral en una autopsia de una mujer sin antecedente de cardiopatía. Reporte de caso / Analysis of sudden cardiac death due to mitral valve prolapse in an autopsy of a woman with no history of heart disease. Case report

Resumen En Costa Rica, el Reglamento de la Autopsia Hospitalaria y Médico Legal establece que la autopsia médico legal es obligatoria para toda muerte súbita. La patología cardíaca es responsable aproximadamente del 80 % de las muertes súbitas que requieren una autopsia forense; el prolapso de la válvula mitral (degeneración mixomatosa de la válvula mitral) es una de las formas más comunes de valvulopatía cardíaca, es relativamente común (2%-3% de la población general), y a menudo se considera benigno, la tasa anual de muerte cardíaca súbita (MSC) en individuos con MVP (0,2%-0,4% /año) es aproximadamente el doble que el observado en la población general (0,1%-0,2% año).

Abstract In Costa Rica, the Hospital and Legal Autopsy Regulations establish that a legal medical autopsy is mandatory for all sudden deaths. Cardiac pathology is responsible for approximately 80% of sudden deaths requiring a forensic autopsy; Mitral valve prolapse (myxomatous mitral valve degeneration) is one of the most common forms of heart valve disease, is relatively common (2%-3% of the general population), and is often considered benign, the annual rate of Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in individuals with MVP (0.2%-0.4%/year) is approximately twice that observed in the general population (0.1%-0.2%/year).

Anomalía de Ebstein: a propósito de un caso / Ebstein anomaly: about a case

La anomalía de Ebstein es una cardiopatía congénita rara y poco frecuente caracterizada por el adosamiento de los velos valvulares tricuspídeos; en la etapa prenatal se estima que su incidencia corresponde a un 3% de todas las cardiopatías diagnosticadas. Se presenta el caso de un feto con diagnóstico de anomalía de Ebstein a quien se le realizó un diagnóstico prenatal adecuado, lo que permitió planificar el nacimiento neonatal con un equipo multidisciplinario integral. Debido a la rareza del diagnóstico prenatal de esta entidad, se describe el caso clínico y los hallazgos imagenológicos representativos.

Ebsteins anomaly is a rare and infrequent congenital heart disease characterized by the attachment of the tricuspid valve leaflets; in the prenatal stage it is estimated that its incidence corresponds to 3% of all diagnosed heart diseases. We present the case of a fetus diagnosed with Ebsteins anomaly who underwent an adequate prenatal diagnosis, which made it possible to plan the neonatal birth with a comprehensive multidisciplinary team. Due to the rarity of the prenatal diagnosis of this entity, the clinical case and the representative imaging findings are described.

Analysis of Cardiac Reverse Remodeling After Transcatheter Edge-to-edge Repair of Mitral Regurgitation due to Various Etiologies and Experience of Echocardiography Application / 中国循环杂志

Objectives:To evaluate the valvular and cardiac function,cardiac reverse remodeling at 6-month after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair(TEER)for patients with functional and degenerative mitral valve regurgitation,and summarize the experience of echocardiography application. Methods:The clinical data of 93 patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation(MR)treated with TEER and completed 6-month follow-up in Yunnan Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital from July 2022 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into functional mitral regurgitation(FMR)and degenerative mitral regurgitation(DMR)groups according to MR etiology.The valve characteristic parameters,as well as valvular function,chamber volume and cardiac functional parameters before and at 6 months after operation were compared.The key points of echocardiography application were summarized. Results:Among all patients,71 were FMR and 22 were DMR.There were differences in valve structure between the two groups.Mitral TEER were successfully accomplished and all patients completed 6-month follow-up.The key points of echocardiography application included:valve structure analysis,atrial septal puncture location,device delivery process monitoring and image optimization during clamping process.The mitral regurgitation grade and NYHA grade were significantly improved in all patients at 6 months after TEER(P<0.05),and the mean mitral valve pressure gradient was higher than that before operation(P<0.05).Left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV),left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV)and left atrial volume index in FMR group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while left ventricular and left atrial volume in DMR group remained unchanged(P>0.05).There were no significant changes in left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular global strain in both groups during the observation period(P>0.05).The changes of LVEDV and LVESV before and after operation were more significant in FMR group than those in DMR group(P<0.05). Conclusions:Mitral TEER can reduce the degree of regurgitation and improve cardiac function in the early postoperative period for moderate and severe MR patients with different etiologies.There are differences in preoperative valve structure and postoperative cardiac reverse remodeling between FMR and DMR patients.Echocardiography is an important imaging technique for the evaluation and monitoring process before,during and post mitral TEER.

Magnetic resonance left ventricular hemodynamic analysis: a normal value study of two methods / 中国医师杂志

Objectives:To analyze the consistency of evaluating left ventricular hemodynamics (HDF) based on single plane and multi plane cine sequences of magnetic resonance mitral valve orifice.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on 48 healthy adults, and two methods were used to measure the mitral valve diameter and calculate HDF parameters. The first method was to measure the diameter of the mitral valve opening in the left ventricular three chamber cine sequence; The second method is to measure the mitral valve diameter using cine sequences of two chamber, three chamber, and four chamber hearts, and then take the average value. Paired t-tests were used to compare the differences in HDF measured by two methods, and Pearson correlation coefficient ( r), intra group correlation coefficient ( ICC), and Bland-Altman analysis were used to test the consistency and reproducibility of the two methods. Results:The root mean square (RMS) of longitudinal HDF calculated using single plane and multi plane mitral valve diameters were [(17.28±4.41)% vs (17.21±4.61)%] ( P=0.379) for the entire cardiac cycle, [(21.45±5.54)% vs (21.49±5.68)%] ( P=0.646) for systolic phase, and [(12.78±4.10)% vs (12.54±4.24)%] ( P=0.106) for diastolic phase, respectively. The difference in the calculation results of HDF parameters related to ventricular function was not statistically significant (all P>0.05), and there was good consistency ( r=0.924-0.996, ICC=0.924-0.995). The two HDF parameters related to atrial function were sensitive to the measurement method of mitral valve orifice diameter [RMS of longitudinal HDF during active atrial emptying: (3.26±1.51)% vs (3.32±1.55)%, P=0.006; longitudinal HDF pulse during active atrial emptying: (-2.60±1.28)% vs (-2.76±1.30)%, P<0.001]. Conclusions:The ventricular function related HDF parameters obtained from the analysis of mitral valve orifice diameter using single plane and multi plane methods have good consistency, and can be evaluated using relatively simple single plane methods for left ventricular HDF.

Application progresses of cardiovascular MRI in mitral valve diseases / 中国医学影像技术

In recent years,cardiovascular MRI(CMRI)technology has made significant advances,and multimodal CMRI imaging has been useful to display anatomical structure of the valves,to assess the severity of valvular disease,and to quantify the volume of cardiac chambers and myocardial fibrosis,as well as led to progress in judging mitral stenosis,mitral valve closure insufficiency,and risk stratification.Hence they have been widely used in the assessment of mitral valve lesions.The research progresses of CMRI for assessing mitral valve lesions were reviewed in this article.

Application of Chimney technique in mitral valve reoperation: A retrospective study in a single center / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To investigate and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Chimney technique in mitral valve reoperation. Methods The clinical data of mitral valve reoperation patients who underwent Chimney surgery in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from 2019 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 26 patients were collected, including 7 males and 19 females, aged 27-67 (53.46±11.18) years. All patients had previous mitral valve surgery, including 23 mitral valve replacements and 3 mitral valve repairs. All patients received Chimney technique using the ideal artificial sized mitral valve, and 1 patient died of neurological complications in hospital. The cardiopulmonary bypass time and the aortic cross-clamping time were 231.11±77.05 min and 148.50±52.70 min, respectively. The mean diameter of the implanted mitral valve prosthesis was 29.08±0.68 mm, which was statistically different from pre-replacement valve prosthesis size of 26.69±0.77 mm (P＜0.001). The mean transvalvular pressure gradient of the prosthetic mitral valve measured on postoperative echocardiography was 14.77±5.34 mm Hg, which was statistically different from preoperative value of 20.92±9.83 mm Hg (P=0.005). Conclusion The Chimney technique is safe and effective for reoperation in patients with small mitral annuli, which can not only reduce the risk of reoperation, but also obtain larger prosthetic valve implants with good hemodynamic characteristics and clinical outcomes.

A Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy after Elective Mitral Valve Repair / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We describe Takotsubo syndrome, which developed after elective mitral valve repair and tricuspid annuloplasty in a 76-year-old woman. A preoperative echocardiogram confirmed severe mitral regurgitation due to posterior leaflet prolapse, moderate tricuspid regurgitation, and normal left ventricular function. Mitral valve repair and tricuspid annuloplasty were performed. After uneventful weaning off cardiopulmonary bypass, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed adequate mitral leaflet function and normal left ventricular contractions. After being transferred to the intensive care unit, the patient's hemodynamic parameters progressively deteriorated. Transthoracic echocardiography showed akinesis and ballooning of the apex and hyperkinesis of the base, and the ejection fraction was 20% on postoperative day 1. The serum aminotransferase and CPK-MB levels increased on postoperative day 2. The left ventricular function did not improve despite supportive therapy with vasopressors. She developed cardiogenic cerebral infarction due to obstruction of the right middle cerebral artery on postoperative day 8. Endovascular thrombectomy was performed within 2 h of the onset of cerebral infarction. Thereafter, the patient gradually recovered and was discharged without any sequelae on postoperative day 31. The ejection fraction was 65% with normal left ventricular motion at discharge. An electrocardiogram revealed a deep negative T wave in II, III, aVF, and V3-V6. After 2 months, the electrocardiogram findings were normalized. Coronary lesions were not observed on pre- or postoperative coronary angiographies; therefore, we diagnosed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy after mitral valve repair. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should be considered as a possible complication of cardiac surgery, especially after mitral valve surgery.

Computer-Assisted Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation for Valve-in-Valve Procedures

ABSTRACT Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve is an alternative to high-risk reoperation on a failing bioprosthesis. It entails specific challenges such as left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We propose a patient-specific augmented imaging based on preoperative planning to assist the procedure. Valve-in-valve simulation was performed to represent the optimal level of implantation and the neo-left ventricular outflow tract. These data were combined with intraoperative images through a real-time 3D/2D registration tool. All data were collected retrospectively on one case (pre and per-procedure imaging). We present for the first time an intraoperative guidance tool in transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve procedure.

Infant Barlow's Disease in Association with Atrial Septal Defect

ABSTRACT Clinical data: Female, seven years old, referred to our service complaining about congestive heart failure symptoms due to mitral valve regurgitation and atrial septal defect. Technical description: Echocardiographic findings compatible with Barlow's disease and atrial septal defect, ostium secundum type. Operation: She was submitted to mitral valvuloplasty with chordal shortening and prosthetic posterior ring (Gregori-Braile®) along with patch atrioseptoplasty. Comments: Mitral valve regurgitation is a rare congenital heart disease and Barlow's disease is probably rarer. Mitral valve repair is the treatment of choice.

Comparison of the Effects of Full Median Sternotomy vs. Mini-Incision on Postoperative Pain in Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is not yet clear whether cardiac surgery by mini-incision (minimally invasive cardiac surgery [MICS]) is overall less painful than the conventional approach by full sternotomy (FS). A meta-analysis is necessary to investigate polled results on this topic. Methods: PubMed®/MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (or LILACS), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (or SciELO) were searched for all clinical trials, reported until 2022, comparing FS with MICS in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), mitral valve surgery (MVS), and aortic valve replacement (AVR), and postoperative pain outcome was analyzed. Main summary measures were the method of standardized mean differences (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and P-values (considered statistically significant when < 0.05). Results: In AVR, the general estimate of postoperative pain effect favored MICS (SMD 0.87 [95% CI 0.04 to 1.71], P=0.04). However, in the sensitivity analysis, there was no difference between the groups (SMD 0.70 [95% CI -0.69 to 2.09], P=0.32). For MVS, it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis with the included studies, because they had different methodologies. In CABG, the general estimate of the effect of postoperative pain did not favor any of the approaches (SMD -0.40 [95% CI -1.07 to 0.26], P=0.23), which was confirmed by sensitivity analysis (SMD -0.02 [95% CI -0.71 to 0.67], P=0.95). Conclusion: MICS was not globally less painful than the FS approach. It seems that postoperative pain is more related to the degree of tissue retraction than to the size of the incision.

Our 10-Year Experience with Atrial Myxomas: Is Concurrent Valve Intervention Really Warranted?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Primary cardiac myxomas are rare tumors. Concurrent valvular lesion is a common finding on evaluation which is thought to be due to annular dilatation secondary to tumor movement across the valve, functional obstruction across the valve, and severe pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic obstruction. A common belief among surgeons is that excision of myxoma leads to abatement of symptoms, and further valve intervention may not be warranted. Methods: A 10-year retrospective descriptive study was designed to analyze patients who underwent excision of cardiac myxoma at our center. Data was analyzed regarding presenting features, echocardiographic findings of myxoma and valve morphology, intraoperative assessment, and postoperative outcome with/without valve repair/replacement in all patients. Results: A total of 22 patients underwent surgery for myxoma. Six patients underwent successful mitral valve repair with ring annuloplasty, two had moderate mitral regurgitation, three had severe mitral regurgitation, and one patient had no mitral regurgitation on preoperative assessment, but moderate mitral regurgitation was found intraoperatively. Four of these patients had no residual mitral regurgitation in follow-up period while two had mild residual mitral regurgitation. One patient had severe mitral stenosis of concurrent rheumatic etiology and successfully underwent mitral valve replacement. Conclusion: Cardiac myxomas are rare benign tumors commonly associated with mitral valve insufficiency. Mitral valve should be assessed intraoperatively after excision of mass as preoperative assessment might often be insufficient. Concomitant mitral valve intervention might be needed with a case-specific tailored approach, and mitral valve repair with ring annuloplasty offers best surgical outcome in such cases.

Comparison of Early and Mid-Term Outcomes After Classic and Modified Morrow Septal Myectomy in Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

ABSTRACT Introduction: The aim of our study is to compare the early and mid-term outcomes of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who underwent classic and modified Morrow septal myectomy. Methods: Between 2014 and 2019, 48 patients (24 males; mean age 49.27±16.41 years) who underwent septal myectomy were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups - those who underwent classic septal myectomy (n=28) and those who underwent modified septal myectomy (n=20). Results: Mitral valve intervention was higher in the classic Morrow group than in the modified Morrow group, but there was no significant difference (P=0.42). Mortality was found to be lower in the modified Morrow group than in the classic Morrow group (P=0.01). In both groups, the mean immediate postoperative gradient was significantly higher than the mean of the 3rd and 12th postoperative months. The preoperative and postoperative gradient difference of the modified Morrow group was significantly higher than of the classic Morrow group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Classic Morrow and modified Morrow procedures are effective methods for reducing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The modified Morrow procedure was found to be superior to the classic Morrow procedure in terms of reducing the incidence of mitral valve intervention with the reduction of the left ventricular outflow tract gradient.

Prognostic Impact of Residual Moderate Mitral Regurgitation Following Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

ABSTRACT Introduction: The impact of mitral regurgitation (MR) on valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (VIV-TAVI) in patients with failed bioprostheses remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of residual moderate MR following VIV-TAVI. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 127 patients who underwent VIV-TAVI between March 2010 and November 2021. At least moderate MR was observed in 51.2% of patients before the procedure, and MR improved in 42.1% of all patients. Patients with postoperative severe MR, previous mitral valve intervention, and patients who died before postoperative echocardiography were excluded from further analyses. The remaining 114 subjects were divided into two groups according to the degree of postprocedural MR: none-mild MR (73.7%) or moderate MR (26.3%). Propensity score matching yielded 23 pairs for final comparison. Results: No significant differences were found between groups before and after matching in early results. In the matched cohort, survival probabilities at one, three, and five years were 95.7% vs. 87.0%, 85.0% vs. 64.5%, and 85.0% vs. 29.0% in the none-mild MR group vs. moderate MR-group, respectively (log-rank P=0.035). Among survivors, patients with moderate MR had worse functional status according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class at follow-up (P=0.006). Conclusion: MR is common in patients with failed aortic bioprostheses, and improvement in MR-status was observed in over 40% of patients following VIV-TAVI. Residual moderate MR after VIV-TAVI is not associated with worse early outcomes, however, it was associated with increased mortality at five years of follow-up and worse NYHA class among survivors.

Application of Cut-and-Sew Technique in Thoracoscopic Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery and Concomitant Maze Procedure

ABSTRACT Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is one of the common complications of mitral valve disease. Currently, in the absence of freezing equipment, it's still impossible to fully conduct a minimally invasive Cox-maze IV procedure to treat atrial fibrillation. Methods: We analyzed the clinical data of 28 patients who underwent thoracoscopic minimally invasive mitral valve full maze surgery in our hospital from October 2021 to September 2022; 13 patients were male and 15 were female, three suffered from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and 25 suffered from permanent atrial fibrillation; average age was 61.88±8.30 years, and mean preoperative left atrial diameter was 47.12±8.34 mm. Isolation of left atrial posterior wall (box lesion) was completed in all patients by cut-and-sew technique and bipolar clamp ablation. Results: For these subjects, the median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 169 (109.75-202.75) minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 106 (77.75-125.50) minutes, and ventilator assistance time was 6.5 (0-10) hours. Among them, eight subjects had the endotracheal tubes removed immediately after surgical operation. Three subjects were in the blanking period; two subjects still had atrial fibrillation at three months after operation, one of whom resumed sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion therapy; and all the remaining 23 subjects had sinus rhythm. Conclusion: The minimally invasive cut-and-sew technique for electrical isolation of left pulmonary veins can improve sinus conversion rate of patients suffering from both mitral valve disease and atrial fibrillation. In selected subjects, it is safe and has good results in the short-term postoperative period.

Características clínicas de pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular isquémico y fibrilación auricular internados en hospital de referencia durante el periodo 2021 a 2022

Introducción: se ha demostrado que uno de cada tres accidentes cerebrovasculares (ACV) isquémicos es consecuencia de una fibrilación auricular (FA) no conocida y, por ende, no tratada. Por eso es de vital importancia el diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno de la FA, ya que el ACV isquémico es un motivo frecuente de ingreso hospitalario. Objetivos: determinar las características clínicas de pacientes con ACV isquémico y FA internados en el Hospital XX, durante los años 2021 y 2022. Metodología: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, de corte transversal, retrospectivo. Se incluyeron pacientes de ambos sexos, mayores de edad, con FA y ACV isquémico confirmados por electrocardiograma y tomografía. Las variables se obtuvieron de los expedientes clínicos. La investigación fue aprobada por el comité de ética de la Universidad Nacional de Itapúa. Resultados: se estudiaron 113 pacientes. La edad media fue 69 ± 10 años, el 54,87% (62) fueron varones. Entre los factores de riesgo, 96,46% eran conocidos con hipertensión arterial y 61,06% con diabetes mellitus. En 24 (21%) pacientes se realizó ecocardiograma y 14 tenían dilatación auricular, con una media de 44 ± 8 mm, y 11 de éstos tenían estenosis mitral. La media de frecuencia cardiaca era 92 ± 18 latidos/min. El ictus isquémico se presentó como debut en 52,21% y de éstos solo 7,08% se conocían portadores de FA. Entre los portadores conocidos de FA 7,08% recibían anticoagulación con acenocumarol. No se encontraron pacientes en tratamiento con otros anticoagulantes. Conclusión: el 22,12% de los pacientes con ACV isquémico estaban diagnosticados con FA. Aproximadamente, un tercio de los pacientes con FA bajo el régimen de anticoagulación no alcanzaron rangos terapéuticos ni una frecuencia cardiaca controlada.

Introduction: It has been shown that one in three ischemic cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) is a consequence of unknown and, therefore, untreated atrial fibrillation (AF). That is why timely diagnosis and treatment of AF is of vital importance since ischemic stroke is a frequent reason for hospital admission. Objectives: To determine the clinical characteristics of patients with ischemic stroke and AF hospitalized at Hospital XX, during 2021 and 2022. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out. Male and female adult patients, with AF and ischemic stroke confirmed by electrocardiogram and tomography were included. The variables were obtained from the clinical records. The research study was approved by the ethics committee of the National University of Itapúa. Results: One hundred thirteen patients were studied. The mean age was 69 ± 10 years, and 54.87% (62) were men. Among the risk factors, 96.46% were known to have arterial hypertension, and 61.06% were known to have diabetes mellitus. An echocardiogram was performed in 24 (21%) patients, 14 had atrial dilation, with a mean of 44 ± 8 mm, and 11 of these had mitral stenosis. The mean heart rate was 92 ± 18 beats/min. Ischemic stroke occurred as a debut in 52.21% and of these, only 7.08% were known to have AF. Among known AF carriers, 7.08% received anticoagulation with acenocoumarol. No patients were found being treated with other anticoagulants. Conclusion: AF was diagnosed in 22.12% of patients with ischemic stroke. Approximately one-third of AF patients on anticoagulation regimens did not achieve therapeutic ranges or a controlled heart rate.

Cambios en el perfil epidemiológico de la Endocarditis Infecciosa con indicación quirúrgica entre 1983 y 2020

Introducción y objetivos: Describir los cambios en las características clínicas de los pacientes operados por endocarditis infecciosa (EI) en el centro-sur de Chile durante las últimas cuatro décadas. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de la serie de pacientes con diagnóstico de EI con indicación de cirugía de un hospital público chileno entre 1983 y 2020. La cohorte (n = 306) se dividió en cuatro grupos según el periodo de la cirugía: 1983-1990 (n = 50), 1991-2000 (n = 53), 2001-2010 (n = 44) y 2011-2020 (n = 159). Se compararon variables sociode-mográficas y clínicas entre los grupos utilizando la prueba de Kruskal-Wallis e independencia de Chi-cuadrado. Se calcularon supervivencias acumuladas que se compararon con la prueba de Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon. Resultados: Se observó un aumento de la edad al momento del diagnóstico (p < 0,001), de la frecuencia de comorbilidades (p < 0,001), de la presentación clínica compatible con lesión renal aguda (p < 0,001), de la afectación independiente de la válvula mitral (p < 0,001), de la positividad de los cultivos (p < 0,012) y de la supervivencia acumulada (p = 0,015). Hubo una disminución del tiempo desde el inicio de síntomas hasta el diagnóstico (p = 0,003), en la presentación clínica compatible con insuficiencia cardíaca (p < 0,001), la afectación independiente de la válvula aórtica (p < 0,001) y la indicación quirúrgica por gran vegetación (p < 0,001). Conclusiones: El perfil de la EI de los pacientes atendidos en un hospital público del centro-sur de Chile ha experimentado cambios significativos durante las últimas cuatro décadas.

Aim: To describe the changes observed in operated patients with infective endocarditis (IE) in the south-central region of Chile during the last four decades. Methods: Case series study. The target population was patients diagnosed with IE and indication for valve surgery between 1983 and 2020 from a Chilean public hospital. The universe (n = 306) was divided into four groups according to the period of valve surgery. Sociodemographic and clinical variables between these groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests for independence. Cumulative survivals were calculated and compared using the Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test. Results: Age at diagnosis (p < 0.001), frequency of comorbidities (p < 0.001), clinical presentation compatible with acute kidney injury (p < 0.001), independent mitral valve involvement (p < 0.001), positivity of microbiological cultures (p < 0.012) and cumulative survival (p = 0,015) increased. The delay from symptom onset to diagnosis (p = 0.003), clinical presentation compatible with heart failure (p < 0.001), independent involvement of the aortic valve (p < 0.001), and surgical indication for large vegetation (p < 0.001) decreased. Conclusions: The IE profile of patients seen in a public hospital in the south-central region of Chile has undergone significant changes during the last four decades.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation: Implications of Interventional Technique and 3D Echocardiography for Complex Valve?in?Valve Paravalvular Leak

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged as a feasible alternative to surgical reoperation in failed bioprostheses and rings. Residual mitral regurgitation following TMVR can present as a valve?in?valve paravalvular leak (PVL) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Current therapies for valve?in?valve PVL are limited. We present a case of a symptomatic patient with severe valve?in?valve PVL after TMVR for a previous surgical bioprosthesis leak, who then underwent a second TMVR as a valve?in?valve?in?valve implantation with a 29 mm Edwards? SAPIEN 3 valve via transseptal approach using three?dimensional (3D) echocardiography. This unique case highlights the complexity of this clinical entity and recognizes 3D transesophageal echocardiography as a valuable tool to guide valve?in?valve PVL closures.echocardiography

The Effect of Postoperative Hepatic Fibrosis Factors on Morbidity in Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery: A Single Center Ten Years� Experience

Background: Previous studies have shown that hepatic fibrosis indices and rates can be used to predict cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Our aim with this study was to investigate the effect of aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio and fibrosis?4 (FIB?4) index calculated with ALT, AST, and platelet biomarkers, which are simple, fast, and relatively inexpensive and were used in previous studies to predict cardiovascular disease prognosis, on the prediction of postoperative morbidity and early mortality after mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery. Methods: By scanning the hospital electronic health record system, 116 patients who underwent isolated MVR or MVR + tricuspid valve intervention were identified from 178 patients who underwent MVR with the standard sternotomy procedure between 2011 and 2021. The study was completed with 81 of these patients. Patients were divided into AST/ALT <2 (Group 1) and >2 (Group 2). In addition, the same patients were divided into FIB?4 index <3.25 (Group 3) and >3.25 (Group 4), and a total of four groups were formed. Results: The mean age of Group 2 was significantly higher than Group 1 (P = 0.049). In addition, the mean age of Group 4 was significantly higher than Group 3 (P = 0.003). Postoperative complications did not differ between Groups 1 and 2 (P > 0.05). While noninvasive mechanincal ventilation (NIMV) requirements did not differ between Groups 3 and 4 (P > 0.05), MV duration and intensive care unit stay were significantly longer in Group 4 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The AST/ALT ratio, which has been shown to be a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in various studies, was not useful in predicting mortality and morbidity in our study. However, a high FIB?4 index, another hepatic fibrosis index, was found to be associated with increased perioperative bleeding, duration of mechanical ventilation, and cardiac intensive care unit stay, which are important criteria in the prediction of morbidity in cardiovascular surgery.

Stenosing Intracardiac Mass of the Mitral Valve: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Benign intracardiac tumours are the most common of the 5% of primary tumours and account for 90% of intracardiac tumours. Myxoma, which is the main benign tumour, rarely localizes to the mitral valve, in the order of 1-5%, associated with severe symptoms and enormous complications. The objective is to report a rare and severe case of mitral valve myxoma resulting in severe obstruction of the valve orifice. Presentation of Case: A 65-year-old Moroccan woman, without profession, the diabetic patient presented with progressive dyspnoea, in whom transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) completed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a cerebro-throracoabdominopelvic Positron emission tomography-scan (PET-scan) showed a cauliflower-shaped mass embedded in the small mitral valve, evoking the diagnosis of myxoma, confirmed by the anatomopathological examination. A lumpectomy with mitral valve plasty was performed in association with coronary artery bypass surgery for a tri truncal lesion. The evolution was marked by an improvement in the clinical and echographic state. Discussion: Myxoma is the first benign tumour encountered in women between the 3rd and 6th decade, whose diagnosis is evoked by a TTE, better by a TEE or more, by a computed tomography (CT scan) or even a cardiac MRI which specifies the visualization of the soft parts with all the internal details of the myxoma, whose confirmation is carried out on the histopathological analysis of the operating room. Conclusion: The management was based on complete resection of the tumor associated with mitral valve plasty.