Revealing Unforeseen Diagnostic Image Features With Deep Learning by Detecting Cardiovascular Diseases From Apical 4-Chamber Ultrasounds.

Background With the increase of highly portable, wireless, and low-cost ultrasound devices and automatic ultrasound acquisition techniques, an automated interpretation method requiring only a limited set of views as input could make preliminary cardiovascular disease diagnoses more accessible. In this study, we developed a deep learning method for automated detection of impaired left ventricular (LV) function and aortic valve (AV) regurgitation from apical 4-chamber ultrasound cineloops and investigated which anatomical structures or temporal frames provided the most relevant information for the deep learning model to enable disease classification. Methods and Results Apical 4-chamber ultrasounds were extracted from 3554 echocardiograms of patients with impaired LV function (n=928), AV regurgitation (n=738), or no significant abnormalities (n=1888). Two convolutional neural networks were trained separately to classify the respective disease cases against normal cases. The overall classification accuracy of the impaired LV function detection model was 86%, and that of the AV regurgitation detection model was 83%. Feature importance analyses demonstrated that the LV myocardium and mitral valve were important for detecting impaired LV function, whereas the tip of the mitral valve anterior leaflet, during opening, was considered important for detecting AV regurgitation. Conclusions The proposed method demonstrated the feasibility of a 3-dimensional convolutional neural network approach in detection of impaired LV function and AV regurgitation using apical 4-chamber ultrasound cineloops. The current study shows that deep learning methods can exploit large training data to detect diseases in a different way than conventionally agreed on methods, and potentially reveal unforeseen diagnostic image features.

Impaired Global Longitudinal Strain Is Associated with Cardiovascular Events in Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors.

Background: Treatment with thoracic irradiation for classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) leads to improved survival but also increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is usually assessed by echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), whereas global longitudinal strain (GLS) can detect early subclinical LV dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if conventional echocardiographic parameters and GLS are associated with cardiovascular events during long-term follow-up. Methods: 161 consecutive CHL patients treated with radiotherapy who underwent echocardiography > 10 years after diagnosis were assessed for eligibility. Multivariable cause-specific Cox regression was performed for a composite outcome of cardiac death and cardiovascular events and the competing outcome of noncardiac death. Results: 129 patients (61.2% female, N = 79) with a mean age of 46.3 ± 11.0 years at index visit were eligible for analysis. GLS was impaired in 51 patients (39.5%) and 10.9% had a LVEF of< 50%. The median E/e' was 9.2 [7.2;12.7]. Adjusted for confounders, GLS > −16% showed a significant association with a near four-fold risk of the composite endpoint (HR = 3.95, 95% CI: 1.83−8.52, p < 0.001). LVEF < 50% (HR = 2.99, p = 0.016) and E/e' (HR = 1.16, p < 0.001) also showed a significant relationship with the outcome. None of the aforementioned parameters were associated with the competing outcome. Conclusions: This study shows that LV dysfunction including impaired GLS in CHL survivors is associated with cardiovascular events and cardiac death.

Elevated resting heart rate is a marker of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in hodgkin lymphoma survivors.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic irradiation is one of the cornerstones of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treatment, which contributes to high rates of long-term survivorship, but begets a life-long increased risk of heart disease including heart failure. At the cardio-oncology (CO) clinic, persistent sinus tachycardia or elevated resting heart rate (RHR) is frequently observed in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between RHR and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. METHODS: In 75 HL survivors visiting our CO-clinic echocardiographic evaluation of LV systolic and diastolic function including global longitudinal strain (GLS) was performed to assess subclinical LV dysfunction. RESULTS: Median age of HL diagnosis was 24 [25th-75th percentile: [19], [29]] years with a 17 [12], [25] year interval to CO-clinic visit and 31 patients (41%) were male. Average RHR was 78 ± 14 bpm and 40% of patients (N = 30) had an elevated RHR defined as ≥ 80 bpm. While there was no difference in LV ejection fraction (55.6 ± 4.3 vs. 54.8 ± 6.6; p = 0.543), patients with elevated RHR had abnormal GLS (-15.9% vs. -18.3%, p = 0.045) and higher prevalence of diastolic dysfunction (73.3% vs. 46.7%; p = 0.022). GLS, E/e' ratio and presence of diastolic dysfunction were independently associated with RHR when correcting for age, sex and mantle field irradiation. A significant improvement was observed of the RHR-association model with solely extracardiac confounders when LV-function parameters were added to the model (F-statistic = 6.36, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates RHR as a possible marker for subclinical LV-dysfunction in HL survivors.

Validation and Feasibility of Echocardiographic Assessment of Systemic Right Ventricular Function: Serial Correlation With MRI.

Background: Inherent to its geometry, echocardiographic imaging of the systemic right ventricle (RV) is challenging. Therefore, echocardiographic assessment of systemic RV function may not always be feasible and/or reproducible in daily practice. Here, we aim to validate the usefulness of a comprehensive range of 32 echocardiographic measurements of systemic RV function in a longitudinal cohort by serial assessment of their correlations with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived systemic RV ejection fraction (RVEF). Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was performed. Adult patients with a systemic RV who underwent a combination of both CMR and echocardiography at two different points in time were included. Off-line analysis of echocardiographic images was blinded to off-line CMR analysis and vice versa. In half of the echocardiograms, measurements were repeated by a second observer blinded to the results of the first. Correlations between echocardiographic and CMR measures were assessed with Pearson's correlation coefficient and interobserver agreement was quantified with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: Fourteen patients were included, of which 4 had congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) and 10 patients had TGA late after an atrial switch operation. Eight patients (57%) were female. There was a mean of 8 years between the first and second imaging assessment. Only global systemic RV function, fractional area change (FAC), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were consistently, i.e., at both time points, correlated with CMR-RVEF (global RV function: r = -0.77/r = -0.63; FAC: r = 0.79/r = 0.67; GLS: r = -0.73/r = -0.70, all p-values < 0.05). The ICC of GLS (0.82 at t = 1, p = 0.006, 0.77 at t = 2, p = 0.024) was higher than the ICC of FAC (0.35 at t = 1, p = 0.196, 0.70 at t = 2, p = 0.051) at both time points. Conclusion: GLS appears to be the most robust echocardiographic measurement of systemic RV function with good correlation with CMR-RVEF and reproducibility.

CT Angiography of the Heart and Aorta in TIA and Ischaemic Stroke: Cardioembolic Risk Sources and Clinical Implications.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac emboli are important causes of (recurrent) ischaemic stroke. Aorta atherosclerosis might also be associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence. This study aimed to evaluate the yield and clinical implications of CT-angiography (CTA) of the heart and aorta in the diagnostic workup of transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or ischaemic stroke. METHODS: CTA of the heart and aortic arch was performed in TIA/ischaemic stroke patients, in addition to routine diagnostic workup. Occurrence of cardioembolic (CE) risk sources and complex aortic plaques were assessed. Implications of cardiac CTA for therapeutic management were evaluated RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included (TIA n = 33, ischaemic stroke n = 34) with a mean age of 68 years (range 51-89) and median NIHSS of 0 (interquartile range 0-2). CE risk sources were detected in 29 (43%) patients. An intracardiac thrombus was present in 2 patients (3%; TIA 0%; ischaemic stroke 6%). Medium/low-risk CE sources included mitral annular calcification (9%), aortic valve calcification (18%) and patent foramen ovale (18%). Complex aortic plaque was identified in 16 patients (24%). In two patients with an intracardiac thrombus, therapeutic management changed from antiplatelet to oral anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: CTA of the heart and aorta has a high yield for detection of embolic risk sources in TIA/ischaemic stroke, with clinical consequences for 6% of ischaemic stroke patients. Implementation of CTA of the heart and aorta in the acute stroke setting seems valuable, but cost-effectiveness of this approach remains to be determined.

Exercise haemodynamics after restrictive mitral annuloplasty for functional mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: Restrictive mitral annuloplasty (RMA) can provide a durable solution for functional mitral regurgitation (MR), but might result in obstruction to antegrade mitral flow. Aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of change in mitral valve area (MVA) during exercise after RMA, to relate the change in MVA to left ventricular (LV) geometry and function, and to assess its haemodynamic and clinical impact. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bicycle exercise echocardiography was performed in 32 patients after RMA. Echocardiographic data at rest and during exercise were compared with preoperative echocardiographic data. Clinical endpoints were collected following the study visit. MVA increased during exercise in 25 patients (1.6 ± 0.4 cm2 to 2.0 ± 0.6 cm2, P < 0.001), whereas MVA decreased in 7 patients (1.8 ± 0.5 cm2 to 1.5 ± 0.4 cm2, P = 0.020). Patients with an increased MVA showed a significant reduction in LV volumes at rest compared to preoperatively, and an increase in stroke volume and cardiac output (CO) during exercise. In patients with decreased MVA, LV reverse remodelling was absent and myocardial flow reserve limited. Patients with decreased exercise MVA had a higher increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) with respect to CO and worse survival 36 months after the study visit (69±19% vs. 92±5%, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Both increased and decreased MVA were observed during exercise echocardiography after RMA for functional MR. Change in MVA was related to the extent of LV geometrical and functional changes. A decreased MVA during exercise was associated with a higher increase in mean PAP with respect to CO, and worse survival.

Reinterventions after freestyle stentless aortic valve replacement: an assessment of procedural risks.

OBJECTIVES: Repeat aortic valve interventions after previous stentless aortic valve replacement (AVR) are considered technically challenging with an increased perioperative risk, especially after full-root replacement. We analysed our experience with reinterventions after stentless AVR. METHODS: A total of 75 patients with previous AVR using a Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis (31 subcoronary, 15 root-inclusion and 29 full-root replacement) underwent reintervention in our centre from 1993 until December 2018. Periprocedural data were retrospectively collected from the department database and follow-up data were prospectively collected. RESULTS: Median age was 62 years (interquartile range 47-72 years). Indications for reintervention were structural valve deterioration (SVD) in 47, non-SVD in 13 and endocarditis in 15 patients. Urgent surgery was required in 24 (32%) patients. Reinterventions were surgical AVR in 16 (21%), root replacement in 51 (68%) and transcatheter AVR in 8 (11%) patients. Early mortality was 9.3% (n = 7), but decreased to zero in the past decade in 28 patients undergoing elective reoperation. Per indication, early mortality was 9% for SVD, 8% for non-SVD and 13% for endocarditis. Aortic root replacement had the lowest early mortality rate (6%), followed by surgical AVR (13%) and transcatheter AVR (25%, 2 patients with coronary artery obstruction). Pacemaker implantation rate was 7%. Overall survival rate at 10 years was 69% (95% confidence interval 53-81%). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat aortic valve interventions after stentless AVR carry an increased, but acceptable, early mortality risk. Transcatheter valve-in-valve procedures after stentless AVR require careful consideration of prosthesis leaflet position to prevent obstruction of the coronary arteries.

Long-term outcome after atrial correction for transposition of the great arteries.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed adult survival and morbidity patterns in patients who underwent atrial correction according to Mustard or Senning for transposition of the great arteries (TGA). METHODS: In 76 adult patients with TGA (59% male) after atrial correction, long-term survival and morbidity were investigated in three periods: early (<15 years postoperatively), midterm (15-30 years postoperatively) and late (>30 years postoperatively). RESULTS: The Mustard technique was performed in 41 (54%) patients, and the Senning technique was performed in 35 (46%) patients aged 3.1 (IQR: 2.1-3.8) and 1.0 (IQR: 0.6-3.1; p<0.01) years, respectively. Adult survival was 82% at 39.7 (IQR: 35.9-42.4) years postoperatively and exceeded 50 years in four patients. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) occurred in 51% of patients. The incidences of ventricular arrhythmia (0%, 8% and 13%; p<0.01), heart failure (0%, 5% and 19%; p<0.01) and surgical reinterventions (0%, 5% and 11%; p=0.01) increased from early to late follow-up. At last follow-up, RV function was depressed in 31 (46%) patients, and New York Heart Association functional class was ≥2 in 34 (48%) patients. Bradyarrhythmia, SVT and ventricular arrhythmia were associated with depressed RV function (OR: 4.47, 95% CI 1.50 to 13.28, p<0.01; OR: 3.74, 95% CI 1.26 to 11.14, p=0.02; OR: 14.40, 95% CI 2.80 to 74.07, p<0.01, respectively) and worse functional capacity (OR: 2.10, 95% CI 0.75 to 5.82, p=0.16; OR: 2.87, 95% CI 1.06 to 7.81, p=0.04; OR: 8.47, 95% CI 1.70 to 42.10, p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In adult patients with TGA, survival was 82% at 39.7 (IQR: 35.9-42.4) years after atrial correction. Morbidity was high and included SVT as most frequent adverse event. Ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure and surgical reinterventions were common during late follow-up. Adverse events were associated with depressed right ventricle function and reduced functional class.

Twenty-year experience with stentless biological aortic valve and root replacement: informing patients of risks and benefits.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide predictive data on the performance of the Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis that can be used to support and improve the shared decision-making process of prosthetic valve choice for aortic valve replacement. METHODS: Between 1993 and 2014, 604 patients received the Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis (143 subcoronary, 58 root inclusion and 403 full-root replacement). Perioperative data were collected retrospectively, and follow-up data were collected prospectively from 2015. Follow-up was 96% complete (median 4.3 years), with 114 (19%) patients having a follow-up period exceeding 10 years. A competing risks regression model was developed to predict the probability of mortality, structural valve deterioration (SVD) and reoperation for other causes than SVD. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 64 years, 91 (15%) patients had undergone previous aortic valve replacement and 351 (58%) underwent concomitant procedures. The 15-year probability of SVD, reoperation for other causes and death were 16.9%, 8.1% and 47.7%, respectively. Linearized occurrence rates for prosthesis endocarditis, thromboembolic events and bleeding were 0.5%, 0.9% and 0.1% per patient-year, respectively. The constructed predictive model, including age, renal function and implantation technique as significant covariates, had good to fair predictive performance up to 19 years. CONCLUSIONS: The Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis is an efficient prosthesis for aortic valve replacement or root replacement, with low incidences of SVD and valve-related events at long-term follow-up. The predictive model designed in this study can be used to fully inform patients about their expected individual trajectory after implantation of this prosthesis. This improves the shared decision-making process between patients and clinicians.

MUSCLEMOTION: A Versatile Open Software Tool to Quantify Cardiomyocyte and Cardiac Muscle Contraction In Vitro and In Vivo.

RATIONALE: There are several methods to measure cardiomyocyte and muscle contraction, but these require customized hardware, expensive apparatus, and advanced informatics or can only be used in single experimental models. Consequently, data and techniques have been difficult to reproduce across models and laboratories, analysis is time consuming, and only specialist researchers can quantify data. OBJECTIVE: Here, we describe and validate an automated, open-source software tool (MUSCLEMOTION) adaptable for use with standard laboratory and clinical imaging equipment that enables quantitative analysis of normal cardiac contraction, disease phenotypes, and pharmacological responses. METHODS AND RESULTS: MUSCLEMOTION allowed rapid and easy measurement of movement from high-speed movies in (1) 1-dimensional in vitro models, such as isolated adult and human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes; (2) 2-dimensional in vitro models, such as beating cardiomyocyte monolayers or small clusters of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes; (3) 3-dimensional multicellular in vitro or in vivo contractile tissues, such as cardiac "organoids," engineered heart tissues, and zebrafish and human hearts. MUSCLEMOTION was effective under different recording conditions (bright-field microscopy with simultaneous patch-clamp recording, phase contrast microscopy, and traction force microscopy). Outcomes were virtually identical to the current gold standards for contraction measurement, such as optical flow, post deflection, edge-detection systems, or manual analyses. Finally, we used the algorithm to quantify contraction in in vitro and in vivo arrhythmia models and to measure pharmacological responses. CONCLUSIONS: Using a single open-source method for processing video recordings, we obtained reliable pharmacological data and measures of cardiac disease phenotype in experimental cell, animal, and human models.

Long-Term Follow-Up After the Ross Procedure: A Single Center 22-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze long-term outcomes after the Ross procedure, focusing on autograft function and risk of reoperation in time. METHODS: Between February 1994 and February 2016, 154 patients underwent the Ross (n = 105) and Ross-Konno (n = 49) procedure at our institution and were included in this study. Data were collected retrospectively from patients' medical records or through telephone contact. Competing risks analyses were performed to determine incidences of death and reoperation. A multistate model was constructed to provide insights in the clinical trajectory after operation. RESULTS: Median age was 12 years, 74% were pediatric patients, and 66% had previous surgical procedures. There were 8 (5%) early deaths, 6 of whom underwent the Ross-Konno procedure, and 10 (7%) late deaths. Survival rates at 15 and 20 years were 86% in the total cohort and 91% in the isolated Ross subgroup. Linearized occurrence rates of endocarditis and valve thrombosis, thromboembolism, and bleeding events combined were 0.30% per patient-year and 0.15% per patient-year, respectively. Cumulative incidences of all-cause reoperation at 15 and 20 years were 35.2% and 45.3%, respectively. Twenty-six patients needed autograft reoperation, 20 due to dilatation. Cumulative incidences of autograft reoperation at 15 and 20 years were 20.1% and 31.1%, respectively. At latest echocardiogram, 4 patients had moderate aortic regurgitation and none had stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The Ross procedure can be performed safely in young patients with low number of valve-related events. Autograft function remains stable in the first decade after operation, but autograft dilatation in the second decade necessitates reintervention.

Left Atrial Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Cryptogenic Stroke: Novel Insights from Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial strain analysis by speckle-tracking echocardiography, which can detect subtle abnormalities in left atrial (LA) function, may offer unique insights into LA pathophysiology in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether LA reservoir strain by speckle-tracking echocardiography, as a measure of LA compliance, is impaired in patients with CS and no history of atrial fibrillation. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study of 742 patients (mean age, 59 ± 13 years; 54% men; 371 with CS and 371 control subjects) was conducted. LA reservoir strain was quantified using speckle-tracking echocardiography. RESULTS: LA strain was significantly lower among patients with CS than control subjects (30 ± 7.3% vs 34 ± 6.7%, P < .001). Current smoking (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% CI, 1.7-4.0; P < .001), systolic blood pressure (OR, 1.17 per 10 mm Hg increase; 95% CI, 1.06-1.29; P = .001), antihypertensive treatment (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.30-0.66; P < .001), larger indexed left ventricular end-systolic volume (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07; P = .02), higher E/E' ratio (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11; P = .01), mitral regurgitation (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.7; P = .003), and lower LA reservoir strain (OR, 1.07 per 1% reduction; 95% CI, 1.05-1.10; P < .001) were independently associated with CS. Importantly, LA reservoir strain conferred incremental discriminatory value in the identification of patients with CS (likelihood ratio P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Subtle LA dysfunction, as assessed by LA reservoir strain with speckle-tracking echocardiography, is associated with CS independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. These findings suggest a potential role for LA strain to risk-stratify patients in the prevention of stroke.

Pump Speed Optimization in Stable Patients with a Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Optimal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) functioning and preservation of right ventricular (RV) function are major survival determinants in destination therapy (DT)-LVAD recipients. Currently, the indication for routine pump speed optimization in stable patients and its effect on RV function at follow-up remain underexplored. Hemodynamically stable patients (N = 17, age 61 [interquartile range {IQR} 51-66] years; 13 [77%] male) underwent a routine speed ramp test. Echocardiographic images were obtained at incremental speed settings to determine optimal pump speed. In 8 patients (47%), LVAD speed could be optimized. In these patients, RV fractional area change (26% [IQR 23-31] to 35% [IQR 27-45], p = 0.04) and RV longitudinal peak systolic strain (-13% [IQR -16 to -9] to -17% [IQR -18 to -11], p = 0.02) at 3 months follow-up improved without RV dilatation. Furthermore, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level decreased (3,162 [IQR 1,336-4,487] ng/L to 2,294 [IQR 1,157-3,810] ng/L, p = 0.02). No significant follow-up changes were found in patients without indication for speed adjustment. In conclusion, routine evaluation of optimal LVAD speed reveals the potential of speed optimization in a substantial proportion of stable LVAD-DT patients and can improve RV function.

Follow-up after tricuspid valve surgery in adult patients with systemic right ventricles.

OBJECTIVES: In patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) or after atrial (Mustard or Senning) correction for transposition of the great arteries (acTGA), the right ventricle (RV) supports the systemic circulation. The tricuspid valve (TV) (systemic atrioventricular valve) is prone to regurgitation in these patients and this is associated with impending RV failure and decreased survival. This study evaluates mid-term functional improvements, echocardiographic findings and survival after TV surgery in this patient group. METHODS: From July 1999 to November 2014, 26 patients (mean age 37.1 ± 12.3 years, 14 females) with ccTGA (n = 15) or acTGA (n = 11) had TV surgery. All patients had RV dysfunction and more-than-moderate TV regurgitation (TR); 14 underwent TV replacement (TVR) and 12 had valvuloplasty (TVP). Main outcomes were New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, TR and RV dysfunction at 1 year postoperatively and at latest follow-up. Complications and freedom from the composite end-point of death or recurrent TR were analysed. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 5.9 years (range, 0-16.1 years). Mean NYHA functional class significantly improved to 1.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-2.1] at 1 year (P= 0.004) and was 2.1 (95% CI: 1.7-2.6) at latest follow-up (P= 0.14). TV competence significantly improved to a mean TR grade of 1.1 (95% CI: 0.5-1.7) at latest follow-up (P< 0.001). The mean grade for RV function at latest follow-up was 2.7 (95% CI: 2.3-3.0). Most encountered postoperative complications were arrhythmias and temporary haemodynamic instability due to low cardiac output. Early mortality was 11.5% (n = 3); late mortality was 15.4% (n = 4). Estimated freedom from the composite end-point of death or recurrent TR was 76.9% (95% CI: 55.7-88.9%) at 1 year and 64.8% (95% CI: 43.2-79.9%) at 5 years. In TVP patients, TV function at 1 year and at latest follow-up was significantly worse than in TVR patients (P< 0.001 and P= 0.003, respectively). Also, TVP patients had a significantly lower composite end-point survival curve compared with TVR patients (P= 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: In this patient group, TV surgery showed stabilization of RV function and improvement of NYHA functional class for at least several years. In this series, TVR appears superior to TVP with respect to occurrence of recurrent TR. Early and late mortality after TV surgery is substantial, and we believe that patients with significant TR should be referred earlier for surgery for better outcome.

Stentless bioprostheses: a versatile and durable solution in extensive aortic valve endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: Infective endocarditis of the aortic valve with local aortic root destruction requires radical resection of infected tissues and subsequent reconstruction of periannular structures and the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). Homografts or stentless bioprostheses are recommended for use in this specific patient group. The Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis is a porcine aortic root prosthesis, which approaches the surgical versatility of the homograft, but has the advantage of ready availability and uniform quality. We assessed clinical and echocardiographic outcome following the use of this prosthesis in extensive aortic valve endocarditis. METHODS: Between June 2000 and December 2014, 55 Freestyle prostheses were implanted for aortic valve endocarditis involving the root in 54 patients (74% male). The mean age at operation was 61 ± 13 years. The mean EuroSCORE II was 20.1 ± 13.5. Twenty-nine (54%) patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis. The median follow-up time after surgery was 3.5 years, ranging from 0 to 15 years. RESULTS: Early and late mortality were 11% (6 patients) and 14% (7 patients), respectively. Estimated overall survival at 1 and 5 years was 83 and 70%, respectively. There was no survival difference between patients with native or prosthetic valve endocarditis. One patient underwent reoperation for recurrent endocarditis 2.3 years after the initial procedure. No other prosthesis failure occurred. At a median follow-up of 3.3 years, mean gradient over the prosthesis was 4.3 ± 2.3 mmHg. No patient had more than mild aortic regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: The Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis is a valuable option to reconstruct the LVOT after debridement in extensive aortic valve endocarditis. It is readily available with a versatility and clinical outcome comparable with that of homografts. Although early mortality remains considerable in this high-risk group of patients, late survival is good with low rates of recurrence of endocarditis, immediate local control and good haemodynamic performance on echocardiography.

Detection of subtle left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with significant aortic regurgitation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: speckle tracking echocardiographic analysis.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to characterize left ventricular (LV) mechanics in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with moderate-to-severe or severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and preserved ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction) using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). The association between baseline LV strain and development of indications for surgery in asymptomatic patients was also evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 129 patients with moderate-to-severe or severe AR and LVEF >50% (age 55 ± 17 years, 64% male, 53% asymptomatic at baseline) were included. Standard echocardiography and 2D-STE were performed at baseline. Compared with asymptomatic patients, symptomatic patients had significantly impaired LV longitudinal (-14.9 ± 3.0 vs. -16.8 ± 2.5%, P < 0.001), circumferential (-17.5 ± 2.9 vs. -19.3 ± 2.8%, P = 0.001), and radial (35.7 ± 12.2 vs. 43.1 ± 14.7%, P = 0.004) strains. Among 49 asymptomatic patients who were followed up, 26 developed indications for surgery (symptoms onset or LVEF ≤50%). These patients had comparable LV volumes, LVEF, and colour Doppler assessments of AR jet at baseline, but more impaired LV longitudinal (P = 0.009) and circumferential (P = 0.017) strains compared with patients who remained asymptomatic. Impaired baseline LV longitudinal (per 1% decrease, HR = 1.21, P = 0.04) or circumferential (per 1% decrease, HR = 1.22, P = 0.04) strain was independently associated with the need for surgery. CONCLUSION: Multidirectional LV strain was more impaired in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients with moderate-to-severe or severe AR, despite preserved LVEF. In asymptomatic AR patients, longitudinal and circumferential strains identified patients who would require surgery during follow-up.

Re-entry using anatomically determined isthmuses: a curable ventricular tachycardia in repaired congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is an important cause of late morbidity and mortality in repaired congenital heart disease. The substrate often includes anatomic isthmuses that can be transected by radiofrequency catheter ablation similar to isthmus block for atrial flutter. This study evaluates the long-term efficacy of isthmus block for treatment of re-entry VT in adults with repaired congenital heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (49±13 years; 74% male) with repaired congenital heart disease who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of VT in 2 centers were included. Twenty-two (65%) had a preserved left and right ventricular function. Patients were inducible for 1 (interquartile range, 1-2) VT, median cycle length: 295 ms (interquartile range, 242-346). Ablation aimed to transect anatomic isthmuses containing VT re-entry circuit isthmuses. Procedural success was defined as noninducibility of any VT and transection of the anatomic isthmus and was achieved in 25 (74%) patients. During long-term follow-up (46±29 months), all patients with procedural success (18/25 with internal cardiac defibrillators) were free of VT recurrence but 7 of 18 experienced internal cardiac defibrillator-related complications. One patient with procedural success and depressed cardiac function received an internal cardiac defibrillator shock for ventricular fibrillation. None of the 18 patients (12/18 with internal cardiac defibrillators) with complete success and preserved cardiac function experienced any ventricular arrhythmia. In contrast, VT recurred in 4 of 9 patients without procedural success. Four patients died from nonarrhythmic causes. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with repaired congenital heart disease with preserved ventricular function and isthmus-dependent re-entry, VT isthmus ablation can be curative.

Impact of right ventricular dyssynchrony on left ventricular performance in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension has been associated with right ventricular (RV) dyssynchrony which may induce left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and dyssynchrony through ventricular interdependence. The present study evaluated the influence of RV dyssynchrony on LV performance in patients with pulmonary hypertension. One hundred and seven patients with pulmonary hypertension (age 63 ± 14 years, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure 60 ± 19 mmHg) and LV ejection fraction (EF) >35% were evaluated. Ventricular dyssynchrony was assessed with speckle tracking echocardiography and defined as the standard deviation of the time to peak longitudinal strain of six segments of the RV (RV-SD) and the LV (LV-SD) in the apical 4-chamber view. Mean RV-SD and LV-SD assessed with longitudinal strain speckle tracking echocardiography were 51 ± 28 and 47 ± 21 ms, respectively. The patient population was divided according to the median RV-SD value of 49 ms. Patients with RV-SD ≥49 ms had significantly worse NYHA functional class (2.7 ± 0.7 vs. 2.3 ± 0.7, p = 0.004), RV function (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion: 16 ± 4 vs. 19 ± 4 mm, p < 0.001), LVEF (50 ± 10 vs. 55 ± 8%, p = 0.001), and larger LV-SD (57 ± 18 vs. 36 ± 18 ms, p < 0.001). RV-SD significantly correlated with LV-SD (r = 0.55, p < 0.001) and LVEF (r = -0.23, p = 0.02). Multiple linear regression analysis showed an independent association between RV-SD and LV-SD (ß = 0.35, 95%CI 0.21-0.49, p < 0.001). RV dyssynchrony is significantly associated with LV dyssynchrony and reduced LVEF in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on the sequence of mechanical activation assessed by two-dimensional radial strain imaging.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) induces left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling by synchronizing LV mechanical activation. We evaluated changes in segmental LV activation after CRT and related them to CRT response. A total of 292 patients with heart failure (65 ± 10 years, 77% men) treated with CRT underwent baseline echocardiographic assessment of LV volumes and ejection fraction. Time-to-peak radial strain was measured for 6 midventricular LV segments with speckle-tracking strain imaging. Moreover, the time difference between the peak radial strain of the anteroseptal and the posterior segments was calculated to obtain LV dyssynchrony. After 6 months, LV volumes, segmental LV mechanical activation timings, and LV dyssynchrony were reassessed. Response to CRT was defined as ≥15% decrease in LV end-systolic volume at 6-month follow-up. Responders (n = 177) showed LV resynchronization 6 months after CRT (LV dyssynchrony from 200 ± 127 to 85 ± 86 ms; p <0.001) by earlier activation of the posterior segment (from 438 ± 141 to 394 ± 132 ms; p = 0.001) and delayed activation of the anteroseptal segment (from 295 ± 155 to 407 ± 138 ms; p <0.001). In contrast, nonresponders (n = 115) experienced an increase in LV dyssynchrony 6 months after CRT (from 106 ± 86 to 155 ± 112 ms; p = 0.001) with an earlier activation of posterior wall (from 391 ± 139 to 355 ± 136 ms; p = 0.039) that did not match the delayed anteroseptal activation (from 360 ± 148 to 415 ± 122 ms; p = 0.001). In conclusion, responders to CRT showed LV resynchronization through balanced lateral and anteroseptal activations. In nonresponders, LV dyssynchrony remains, by posterior wall preactivation and noncompensatory delayed septal wall activation.

Association between multilayer left ventricular rotational mechanics and the development of left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The identification of patients at risk for developing left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has crucial prognostic implications. The aims of this study were (1) to investigate the relationship between peak subepicardial and subendocardial twist and infarct transmurality, as assessed using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and (2) to evaluate the association between peak subepicardial and subendocardial twist and LV remodeling 6 months after AMI. METHODS: A total of 213 patients with ST-segment elevation AMIs who underwent three-dimensional echocardiography for LV volumes and functional assessment and two-dimensional speckle-tracking analysis for the evaluation of LV twist (subendocardial vs subepicardial) were retrospectively included. A subgroup of 40 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging within 2 months for infarct size quantification. RESULTS: Peak subepicardial twist was strongly related to infarct size (number of segments with transmural scar: r(2) = 0.526, P < .001; total scar score: r(2) = 0.515, P < .001) compared with peak subendocardial twist (number of segments with transmural scar: r(2) = 0.379, P < .001; total scar score: r(2) = 0.331, P < .001). In the overall population, 44 patients (21%) developed significant LV remodeling at 6-month follow-up (LV end-systolic volume increase ≥ 15%). These patients showed significantly more impaired peak subepicardial and subendocardial twist at baseline compared with patients without LV remodeling (4.5 ± 1.3° vs 9.4 ± 3.5°, P < .001; 7.0 ± 3.2° vs 12.9 ± 5.8°, P < .001, respectively). Importantly, peak subepicardial twist (odds ratio, 0.241; 95% confidence interval, 0.134-0.431; P < .001) and peak troponin T (odds ratio, 1.152; 95% confidence interval, 1.006-1.320; P = .041) were independently associated with the development of LV remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: Peak subepicardial twist strongly reflects infarct transmurality as assessed with magnetic resonance imaging and is independently associated with LV remodeling after AMI.