Structural Heart Imaging Using 3-Dimensional Intracardiac Echocardiography: JACC Cardiovascular Imaging Position Statement.

3-dimensional (3D) intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is emerging as a promising complement and potential alternative to transesophageal echocardiography for imaging guidance in structural heart interventions. To establish standardized practices, our multidisciplinary expert position statement serves as a comprehensive guide for the appropriate indications and utilization of 3D-ICE in various structural heart procedures. The paper covers essential aspects such as the fundamentals of 3D-ICE imaging, basic views, and workflow recommendations specifically tailored for ICE-guided structural heart procedures, such as transeptal puncture, device closure of intracardiac structures, and transcatheter mitral and tricuspid valve interventions. Current challenges, future directions, and training requirements to ensure operator proficiency are also discussed, thereby promoting the safety and efficacy of this innovative imaging modality to support expanding its future clinical applications.

The added value of three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in mitral annular disjunction: a case report.

Background: Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) refers to the arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse (MVP) syndrome associated with ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Although the pathophysiology of this disease is still under investigation, specific imaging criteria that establish the diagnosis have been recognized. In this article, we demonstrate most of these criteria using three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D-TTE) and provide added value in the management of MAD syndrome. Case presentation: A 50-year-old male patient with recent syncope and a history of mitral regurgitation (MR) and MAD was admitted to our clinic for further investigation. According to our protocol, the patient underwent a complete 3D-TTE, laboratory blood exams, and 24 h ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG). Our investigation confirmed the presence of MAD syndrome with bileaflet prolapse, severe MR, and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, necessitating an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and surgical mitral valve repair. The 3D-TTE analysis of the mitral valve demonstrated mitral annular systolic expansion and systolic flattening of the saddle-shaped annulus and quantified the extent of the disjunction arc. Additionally, four-dimensional (4D) strain analysis of the left ventricle revealed the presence of fibrosis of the posteromedial papillary muscle and basal inferolateral wall, which are variables that are required for the diagnosis and therapeutic management of MAD syndrome. Conclusions: 3D-TTE and 4D strain offer valuable insights for diagnosing and managing patients with MAD syndrome. This method seems to correlate well with the other imaging modalities and could be included in the management protocol of MAD syndrome.

Mortality Associated With Proportionality of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation After Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair: North American Mitraclip for Functional Mitral Regurgitation Registry.

The association, if any, between the effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) to left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) ratio and 1-year mortality is controversial in patients who undergo mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (m-TEER) with the MitraClip system (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA). This study's objective was to determine the association between EROA/LVEDV and 1-year mortality in patients who undergo m-TEER with MitraClip. In patients with severe secondary (functional) mitral regurgitation (MR), we analyzed registry data from 11 centers using generalized linear models with the generalized estimating equations approach. We studied 525 patients with secondary MR who underwent m-TEER. Most patients were male (63%) and were New York Heart Association class III (61%) or IV (21%). Mitral regurgitation was caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy in 51% of patients. EROA/LVEDV values varied widely, with median = 0.19 mm2/ml, interquartile range [0.12,0.28] mm2/ml, and 187 patients (36%) had values <0.15 mm2/ml. Postprocedural mitral regurgitation severity was substantially alleviated, being 1+ or less in 74%, 2+ in 20%, 3+ in 4%, and 4+ in 2%; 1-year mortality was 22%. After adjustment for confounders, the logarithmic transformation (Ln) of EROA/LVEDV was associated with 1-year mortality (odds ratio 0.600, 95% confidence interval 0.386 to 0.933, p = 0.023). A higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score was also associated with increased mortality. In conclusion, lower values of Ln(EROA/LVEDV) were associated with increased 1-year mortality in this multicenter registry. The slope of the association is steep at low values but gradually flattens as Ln(EROA/LVEDV) increases.

Echocardiographic Outcomes With Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation in Prohibitive Surgical Risk Patients.

BACKGROUND: The CLASP IID randomized trial (Edwards PASCAL TrAnScatheter Valve RePair System Pivotal Clinical Trial) demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the PASCAL system for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) in patients at prohibitive surgical risk with significant symptomatic degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR). OBJECTIVES: This study describes the echocardiographic methods and outcomes from the CLASP IID trial and analyzes baseline variables associated with residual mitral regurgitation (MR) ≤1+. METHODS: An independent echocardiographic core laboratory assessed echocardiographic parameters based on American Society of Echocardiography guidelines focusing on MR mechanism, severity, and feasibility of M-TEER. Factors associated with residual MR ≤1+ were identified using logistic regression. RESULTS: In 180 randomized patients, baseline echocardiographic parameters were well matched between the PASCAL (n = 117) and MitraClip (n = 63) groups, with flail leaflets present in 79.2% of patients. Baseline MR was 4+ in 76.4% and 3+ in 23.6% of patients. All patients achieved MR ≤2+ at discharge. The proportion of patients with MR ≤1+ was similar in both groups at discharge but diverged at 6 months, favoring PASCAL (83.7% vs 71.2%). Overall, patients with a smaller flail gap were significantly more likely to achieve MR ≤1+ at discharge (adjusted OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50-0.99). Patients treated with PASCAL and those with a smaller flail gap were significantly more likely to sustain MR ≤1+ to 6 months (adjusted OR: 2.72 and 0.76; 95% CI: 1.08-6.89 and 0.60-0.98, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The study used DMR-specific echocardiographic methodology for M-TEER reflecting current guidelines and advances in 3-dimensional echocardiography. Treatment with PASCAL and a smaller flail gap were significant factors in sustaining MR ≤1+ to 6 months. Results demonstrate that MR ≤1+ is an achievable benchmark for successful M-TEER. (Edwards PASCAL TrAnScatheter Valve RePair System Pivotal Clinical Trial [CLASP IID]; NCT03706833).

Exercise Stress Echocardiography of the Right Ventricle and Pulmonary Circulation.

BACKGROUND: Exercise echocardiography is used for assessment of pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function, but limits of normal and disease-specific changes remain insufficiently established. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore the physiological vs pathologic response of the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation to exercise. METHODS: A total of 2,228 subjects were enrolled: 375 healthy controls, 40 athletes, 516 patients with cardiovascular risk factors, 17 with pulmonary arterial hypertension, 872 with connective tissue diseases without overt pulmonary hypertension, 113 with left-sided heart disease, 30 with lung disease, and 265 with chronic exposure to high altitude. All subjects underwent resting and exercise echocardiography on a semirecumbent cycle ergometer. All-cause mortality was recorded at follow-up. RESULTS: The 5th and 95th percentile of the mean pulmonary artery pressure-cardiac output relationships were 0.2 to 3.5 mm Hg.min/L in healthy subjects without cardiovascular risk factors, and were increased in all patient categories and in high altitude residents. The 5th and 95th percentile of the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio at rest were 0.7 to 2.0 mm/mm Hg at rest and 0.5 to 1.5 mm/mm Hg at peak exercise, and were decreased at rest and exercise in all disease categories and in high-altitude residents. An increased all-cause mortality was predicted by a resting tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to systolic pulmonary artery pressure <0.7 mm/mm Hg and mean pulmonary artery pressure-cardiac output >5 mm Hg.min/L. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise echocardiography of the pulmonary circulation and the right ventricle discloses prognostically relevant differences between healthy subjects, athletes, high-altitude residents, and patients with various cardio-respiratory conditions. (Right Heart International NETwork During Exercise in Different Clinical Conditions; NCT03041337).

Transfemoral tricuspid valve replacement and one-year outcomes: the TRISCEND study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: For patients with symptomatic, severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), early results of transcatheter tricuspid valve (TV) intervention studies have shown significant improvements in functional status and quality of life associated with right-heart reverse remodelling. Longer-term follow-up is needed to confirm sustained improvements in these outcomes. METHODS: The prospective, single-arm, multicentre TRISCEND study enrolled 176 patients to evaluate the safety and performance of transcatheter TV replacement in patients with ≥moderate, symptomatic TR despite medical therapy. Major adverse events, reduction in TR grade and haemodynamic outcomes by echocardiography, and clinical, functional, and quality-of-life parameters are reported to one year. RESULTS: Enrolled patients were 71.0% female, mean age 78.7 years, 88.0% ≥ severe TR, and 75.4% New York Heart Association classes III-IV. Tricuspid regurgitation was reduced to ≤mild in 97.6% (P < .001), with increases in stroke volume (10.5 ± 16.8 mL, P < .001) and cardiac output (0.6 ± 1.2 L/min, P < .001). New York Heart Association class I or II was achieved in 93.3% (P < .001), Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score increased by 25.7 points (P < .001), and six-minute walk distance increased by 56.2 m (P < .001). All-cause mortality was 9.1%, and 10.2% of patients were hospitalized for heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: In an elderly, highly comorbid population with ≥moderate TR, patients receiving transfemoral EVOQUE transcatheter TV replacement had sustained TR reduction, significant increases in stroke volume and cardiac output, and high survival and low hospitalization rates with improved clinical, functional, and quality-of-life outcomes to one year. Funded by Edwards Lifesciences, TRISCEND ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04221490.

ACC/AHA and ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the Management of Valvular Heart Diseases: JACC Guideline Comparison.

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is common and poses important challenges from the standpoints of diagnosis and therapeutic management. Clinical practice guidelines have been developed to help health care professionals to overcome these challenges and provide optimal management to patients with VHD. The American College of Cardiology, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, and the European Society of Cardiology, in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, recently updated their guidelines on the management of VHD. Although these 2 sets of guidelines are generally concordant, there are some substantial differences between these guidelines, which may have significant implications for clinical practice. This review prepared on behalf of the EuroValve Consortium describes the consistencies and discrepancies between the guidelines and highlights the gaps in these guidelines and the future research perspectives to fill these gaps.

Isoproterenol-Assisted Differentiation Between Sludge and Organized Thrombus to Guide Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is contraindicated in presence of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus. It is often difficult to separate LAA sludge from an organized thrombus on transesophageal echocardiography. The inability to differentiate sludge from thrombus leads to patients not receiving LAAO despite contraindication to long-term anticoagulation. Retrospective 6-month follow-up outcomes are reported on patients undergoing LAAO in presence of LAA sludge cleared by isoproterenol. This study showed no increased risk of transient ischemic attack/stroke in the 6 months following LAAO in the presence of LAA sludge, which was cleared with isoproterenol. This study suggests a role for isoproterenol in differentiating sludge from thrombus.

Histopathological maladaptive changes in the explanted human mitral leaflets correlate with changes in echocardiographic leaflet morphology and the severity of ischaemic mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: Several changes of the mitral valve (MV) morphology have been previously documented in ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) upon macro and microscopic examination. This study aimed to correlate echocardiographic MV thickening with IMR severity and to delineate the histopathological basis of valve thickening from the explanted leaflets. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty patients were included in the echo-group; of these, 48 patients (19.2%) underwent surgical mitral valve replacement (MVR), including them in the histology-group. By echocardiography, the thickness of the anterior and posterior leaflet was more extensive in moderate to severe IMR, P < 0.001. Histology-group: patients were divided into two groups based on the median thickness: those with cusp thickness <0.42 cm in Group 1, and ≥0.42 cm in Group 2. The thickness of the base and cusp was more significant in Group 2, P < 0.05 in both. Group 2 biopsies were characterized by involvement of the three leaflet segments, myxoid tissue, and fibrosis deposition. Thicker leaflets were associated with a greater degree of mitral regurgitation (MR), P < 0.0001. In the echo-group, a median leaflet thickness of 3.5 mm of the anterior and posterior MV was independently associated with moderate to severe ischaemic MR [odds ratio (OR) 2.88, P < 0.01] and (OR 10.8, P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: In ischaemic MR, the thicker the cusps, the worse the MR. Leaflet thickening was due to the myxoid and fibrosis deposition and was detected by echocardiography. Therefore, this method can be helpful in the evaluation of valve remodelling.

Effects of MitraClip Therapy on Mitral Flow Patterns and Vortex Formation: An In Vitro Study.

MitraClip transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is used to treat mitral regurgitation (MR). While MR is reduced, diastolic left ventricular flows are altered. An in vitro left heart simulator was used to assess a porcine mitral valve in the native, MR, and MR plus MitraClip cases. Velocity, vorticity, and Reynolds shear stress (RSS) were quantified by particle image velocimetry. Peak velocity increased from 1.20 m/s for native to 1.30 m/s with MR. With MitraClip, two divergent jets of 1.18 and 0.61 m/s emerged. Higher vorticity was observed with MR than native and lessened with MitraClip. MitraClip resulted in shear layer formation and downstream vortex formation. Native RSS decreased from 33 Pa in acceleration to 29 Pa at peak flow, then increased to 31 Pa with deceleration. MR RSS increased from 27 Pa in acceleration to 40 Pa at peak flow to 59 Pa during deceleration. MitraClip RSS increased from 79 Pa in acceleration to 162 Pa during peak flow, then decreased to 45 Pa during deceleration. After MitraClip, two divergent jets of reduced velocity emerged, accompanied by shear layers and recirculation. Chaotic flow developed, resulting in elevated RSS magnitude and coverage. Findings help understand consequences of MitraClip on left ventricular flow dynamics.

Multi-modality imaging assessment of native valvular regurgitation: an EACVI and ESC council of valvular heart disease position paper.

Valvular regurgitation represents an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Imaging is pivotal in the evaluation of native valve regurgitation and echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for this purpose. The imaging assessment of valvular regurgitation should integrate quantification of the regurgitation, assessment of the valve anatomy and function, and the consequences of valvular disease on cardiac chambers. In clinical practice, the management of patients with valvular regurgitation largely relies on the results of imaging. It is crucial to provide standards that aim at establishing a baseline list of measurements to be performed when assessing native valve regurgitation. The present document aims to present clinical guidance for the multi-modality imaging assessment of native valvular regurgitation.

Routine Use of Contrast on Admission Transthoracic Echocardiography for Heart Failure Reduces the Rate of Repeat Echocardiography during Index Admission.

BACKGROUND: The authors retrospectively evaluated the impact of ultrasound enhancing agent (UEA) use in the first transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) examination, regardless of baseline image quality, on the number of repeat TTEs and length of stay (LOS) during a heart failure (HF) admission. METHODS: There were 9,115 HF admissions associated with admission TTE examinations over a 4-year period (5,337 men; mean age, 67.6 ± 15.0 years). Patients were grouped into those who received UEAs (contrast group) in the first TTE study and those who did not (noncontrast group). Repeat TTE examinations were classified as justified if performed for concrete clinical indications during hospitalization. RESULTS: In the 9,115 admissions for HF (5,600 in the contrast group, 3,515 in the noncontrast group), 927 patients underwent repeat TTE studies (505 in the contrast group, 422 in the noncontrast group), which were considered justified in 823 patients. Of the 104 patients who underwent unjustified repeat TTE studies, 80 (76.7%) belonged to the noncontrast group and 24 to the contrast group. Also, UEA use increased from 50.4% in 2014 to 74.3%, and the rate of unjustified repeat studies decreased from 1.3% to 0.9%. The rates of unjustified repeat TTE imaging were 2.3% and 0.4% (in the noncontrast and contrast groups, respectively), and patients in the contrast group were less likely to undergo unjustified repeat examinations (odds ratio, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.12-0.29; P < .0001). The mean LOS was significantly lower in the contrast group (9.5 ± 10.5 vs 11.1 ± 13.7 days). The use of UEA in the first TTE study was also associated with reduced LOS (linear regression, ß1 = -0.47, P = .036), with 20% lower odds for odds of prolonged (>6 days) LOS. CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of UEA in the first TTE examination for HF irrespective of image quality is associated with reduced unjustified repeat TTE testing and may reduce LOS during an index HF admission.

Comprehensive Assessment of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Using Cardiac MRI.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) burden is increasing. Its diagnostic process is challenging and imprecise due to absence of a single diagnostic marker, and the multiparametric echocardiography evaluation needed. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) is a limited marker of LV function; thus, allocating HF phenotypes based on LVEF can be misleading. HFpEF encompasses a broad spectrum of causes, and its diagnostic criteria give a central role to echocardiography, a first-line technique with inherent limitations related to ultrasound capabilities. Conversely, cardiac magnetic resonance provides superior anatomic and functional assessment, enabling tissue characterization, offering unprecedented diagnostic precision.