"(Pseudo)cavities inside the heart: What may they unfold?"

Subvalvular aortic stenosis manifesting as a subaortic membrane predisposes to bacterial endocarditis, which typically affects the aortic valve (AoV) or, less frequently, the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). We present the case of a 60-year-old woman expressing an odd form of a subvalvular aortic membrane in conjunction with a left Valsalva sinus pseudoaneurysm as a result of an endocarditis complication.

Bicuspid aortic valve caused subaortic stenosis with bulging of valve calcification through subaortic area in a young patient.

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital cause for the development of aortic valve calcification and stenosis. Calcification cause valvular stenosis or valvular insufficiency due to coaptation failure. We report a unique case of calcification of bicuspid valve was extending to left ventricular outflow tract and attached to interventricular septum which caused subvalvular stenosis.

[Epidemiological, clinical and echographic profile of patients operated for subvalvular aortic stenosis in the region of Sfax (Tunisia) and factors associated with postoperative recurrence: an observational study]. / Profil épidémiologique, clinique et échographique des patients opérés pour un rétrécissement aortique sous-valvulaire dans la région de Sfax (Tunisie) et facteurs associés à la récidive post-opératoire: étude observationnelle.

Subvalvular aortic stenosis is difficult to manage due to the evolutionary unpredictability of stenosis and a high recurrence rate after surgical treatment. The purpose of this study is to describe the profile of patients undergoing surgery for the treatment of aortic subvalvular stenosis and to investigate factors associated with post-operative recurrence of the subaortic obstacle. We conducted an observational study of all patients operated for subvalvular aortic stenosis, whose data were collected in the Department of Cardiology of the Sfax University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2020. The study involved 28 patients, with predominance of male sex (64.29%, n=18). At diagnosis, the mean age was 6.82 (±4.84) years and 19 patients (67.85%) had symptoms. On echocardiography, maximal subaortic gradient ≥50 mmHg was found in 23 patients (82.14%). Cardiovascular malformations associated with subvalvular stenosis were found in 16 patients (57.14%). The average age of patients at the time of surgery was 10.43 (±7.08) years. Subaortic membrane resection was the most commonly used technique (46.4%, n=13). It was associated with septal myomectomy in 8 patients (28.6%). Postoperative mortality rate was zero. Residual gradient ≥30 mmHg was reported in 8 patients (28.6%) after surgery. Recurrences were observed in 7 patients (25%) of whom 6 underwent reintervention. In multivariate analysis, only postoperative residual gradient was significantly associated with recurrence (p=0.030, OR=33.785, 95% CI: 1.398-816.754). Despite old age at diagnosis and surgery, favorable short-term outcomes were reported, but recurrences were frequent in the long term. This highlights the role of regular, perioperative and postoperative, clinical and echographic monitoring of these patients.

Surgical Repair of Secondary Subaortic Stenosis in Congenital Heart Disease Without Initial Subaortic Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Secondary subaortic stenosis (SSS) is a rare heart disease of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). It usually occurs after cardiovascular correction with or without initial left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). Because most patients with SSS are asymptomatic, many do not realize the need for reoperation until the obstruction worsens. Few studies suggest the characteristics and reasons of SSS without initial SAS. We conducted a retrospective study to describe the characteristics and surgical outcomes of these patients. METHODS: In this study, we examined a single-center retrospective cohort of SSS patients without initial SAS undergoing resection from 2010 to 2019. Patients are defined as secondary subaortic obstruction requiring surgery after cardiovascular correction. Demographics, perioperative findings, and clinical data were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients had undergone secondary cardiac surgery for SSS without initial SAS during 10 years in our center. The median age at operation was 7.3 (4.0-13.5) years. In this study, the most commonly associated cardiac lesions were ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and coarctation arch hypoplasia (COA). The surgical techniques included membranous resection of five patients, fibromuscular resection of 17 patients, and reconstruction of the intraventricular baffle of one patient. The results of surgery in these patients are satisfied. The average LVOT gradient at the last follow up was 14.9 (7.8-26.2) mmHg. There was no operative mortality. Two patients had postoperative complications. The median follow-up period was 2.9 (1.1-4.3) years with one late death. Two patients (8.7%) had recurrence of stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary subaortic stenosis is an uncommon heart disease. The reason is related to several causes, including missed diagnosis, unnoticed abnormalities of LVOT, and further changes of geometric morphology by intracardiac surgery. The results of surgery in these patients are satisfied. However, the recurrence of stenosis is still frequent.

Aortocaval compression resulting in sudden loss of consciousness and severe bradycardia and hypotension during cesarean section in a patient with subvalvular aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Maternal cardiac arrest during cesarean section (CS) is an extremely rare but devastating complication. Preventing emergency events from developing into maternal cardiac arrest is one of the most challenging clinical scenarios. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old pregnant woman with subvalvular aortic stenosis who was scheduled for elective CS under epidural anesthesia, and experienced devastating supine hypotensive syndrome, but was successfully resuscitated after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of tilt position strictly or high-quality continue manual left uterine displacement (LUD) should be performed until the fetus is delivered, otherwise timely delivery of the fetus may be the best way to optimize the deadly condition.

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic predictors of recurrent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in children undergoing subaortic stenosis resection.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (iTEE) is used to assess for residual left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) after surgical resection of subaortic membrane causing subaortic stenosis (sub-AS). We aimed to identify the iTEE features associated with recurrence of LVOTO. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of children undergoing sub-AS resection from June 2006 to June 2014. Doppler assessment of the flow velocity and the anatomical features of the left ventricular outflow tract were analyzed from stored echocardiograms. Recurrent LVOTO was defined as an increase in the mean pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract of > 15 mm Hg on the most recent follow-up echocardiogram from the mean pressure gradient on the predischarge echocardiogram or as doubling of the mean pressure gradient to a value ≥20 mm Hg. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included, with median age at surgery was 8.1 years (range: 0.7-29 years) and median follow-up was 47 months (2-91 months). Ten patients (29%) had recurrent LVOTO, which was associated with a shorter distance between the narrowest diameter of the outflow tract and the aortic valve on iTEE [median 0.59 cm (range 0.39-0.74) vs 0.98 cm (0.75-1.5), P = .03]. No patients with more than mild residual LVOTO on iTEE regressed to mild or no LVOTO on follow-up echocardiograms. CONCLUSIONS: LVOTO recurrence after sub-AS resection is common, and residual LVOTO remains the same or increases over time. Proximity of the LVOTO to the aortic valve is a risk factor for recurrent LVOTO. These findings may be useful in counseling patients and to guide the frequency of postoperative follow-up.

Papel del colágeno miocárdico en la estenosis aórtica grave con fracción de eyección conservada y síntomas de insuficiencia cardiaca / Role of myocardial collagen in severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction and symptoms of heart failure

Introducción y objetivos: Se ha estudiado la localización anatómica, las propiedades biomecánicas y el fenotipo molecular del colágeno miocárdico tisular en 40 pacientes con estenosis aórtica grave, fracción de eyección conservada y síntomas de insuficiencia cardiaca. Métodos: Se obtuvieron 2 biopsias transmurales de la pared libre del ventrículo izquierdo. La fracción del volumen de colágeno (FVC) se cuantificó mediante rojo picrosirio y la rigidez, mediante el módulo elástico de Young (YEM) evaluado con microscopia de fuerza atómica en regiones misiales y no misiales. Las FVC de tipos I y III se cuantificaron mediante microscopia confocal en áreas con determinación del YEM. Resultados: Comparados con sujetos de control, la FVC misial y no misial y el cociente FVC no misial:misial (p < 0,05) estaban incrementados en los pacientes. El cociente entre la velocidad pico de la onda E mitral y la velocidad E del anillo lateral mitral de los pacientes se correlacionaba con la FVC no misial (r = 0,330; p = 0,046) y con el cociente FVC no misial:misial (r = 0,419; p = 0,012). El cociente FVCI:FVCIII y el YEM aumentaban (p ≤ 0,001) en regiones no misiales respecto de las misiales, con correlación entre ellos (r = 0,895; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: En la estenosis aórtica grave con fracción de eyección conservada y síntomas de insuficiencia cardiaca, la disfunción diastólica se asocia con un depósito no misial de colágeno aumentado, predominantemente de tipo I y con mayor rigidez. Las características del colágeno tisular pueden contribuir a la disfunción diastólica en estos pacientes (AU)

Introduction and objectives: We investigated the anatomical localization, biomechanical properties, and molecular phenotype of myocardial collagen tissue in 40 patients with severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction and symptoms of heart failure. Methods: Two transmural biopsies were taken from the left ventricular free wall. Mysial and nonmysial regions of the collagen network were analyzed. Myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF) was measured by picrosirius red staining. Young's elastic modulus (YEM) was measured by atomic force microscopy in decellularized slices to assess stiffness. Collagen types I and III were measured as CIVF and CIIIVF, respectively, by confocal microscopy in areas with YEM evaluation. Results: Compared with controls, patients exhibited increased mysial and nonmysial CVF and nonmysial:mysial CVF ratio (P < .05). In patients, nonmysial CVF (r = 0.330; P = .046) and the nonmysial:mysial CVF ratio (r = 0.419; P = .012) were directly correlated with the ratio of maximal early transmitral flow velocity in diastole to early mitral annulus velocity in diastole. Both the CIVF:CIIIVF ratio and YEM were increased (P ≤ .001) in nonmysial regions compared with mysial regions in patients, with a direct correlation (r = 0.895; P < .001) between them. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, in patients with severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction and symptoms of heart failure, diastolic dysfunction is associated with increased nonmysial deposition of collagen, predominantly type I, resulting in increased extracellular matrix stiffness. Therefore, the characteristics of collagen tissue may contribute to diastolic dysfunction in these patients (AU)

Valor diagnóstico y pronóstico del mapeo de T 1mediante RMC de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca y fracción de eyección conservada / Diagnostic and prognostic value of CMR T 1-mapping in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

La insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de eyección conservada (ICFEc) es un reto para la cardiología moderna. Aunque este síndrome, de prevalencia cada vez mayor, se asocia a resultados desfavorables, los ensayos de tratamientos no han logrado establecer terapias eficaces. Actualmente se investigan soluciones a este problema, como categorizar y caracterizar a los pacientes de manera más diversificada en un intento de individualizar los tratamientos. En este campo, las nuevas técnicas de imagen aportan información importante. La disfunción diastólica es la piedra angular del diagnóstico y la fisiopatología de la ICFEc, y se considera que puede tener origen en la fibrosis instersticial y la rigidez del miocardio secundaria a inflamación sistémica. Las técnicas de mapeo de T1 mediante resonancia magnética cardiaca (RMC) constituyen una nueva herramienta que permite el diagnostico no invasivo de la fibrosis miocárdica difusa en el espacio extracelular. Esta revisión ofrece una visión general sobre el potencial de caracterizar mediante RMC con mapeo T1 el miocardio de los pacientes con ICFEc, subrayar sus implicaciones diagnósticas y pronósticas y tratar de las direcciones futuras. Se concluye que la técnica de mapeo T1 mediante RMC podría ser un instrumento eficaz para la caracterización de los pacientes en estudios epidemiológicos, diagnósticos y terapéuticos amplios sobre ICFEc (AU)

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) presents a major challenge in modern cardiology. Although this syndrome is of increasing prevalence and is associated with unfavorable outcomes, treatment trials have failed to establish effective therapies. Currently, solutions to this dilemma are being investigated, including categorizing and characterizing patients more diversely to individualize treatment. In this regard, new imaging techniques might provide important information. Diastolic dysfunction is a diagnostic and pathophysiological cornerstone in HFpEF and is believed to be caused by systemic inflammation with the development of interstitial myocardial fibrosis and myocardial stiffening. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1-mapping is a novel tool, which allows noninvasive quantification of the extracellular space and diffuse myocardial fibrosis. This review provides an overview of the potential of myocardial tissue characterization with CMR T1 mapping in HFpEF patients, outlining its diagnostic and prognostic implications and discussing future directions. We conclude that CMR T1 mapping is potentially an effective tool for patient characterization in large-scale epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic HFpEF trials beyond traditional imaging parameters (AU)

Severe Valvular Aortic Stenosis and Fixed Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis: A Rare and Challenging Combination.

A 58-year-old man with a history of hypertension presented with accelerating angina. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a thickened aortic valve with pressure gradients and an estimated aortic valve area suggestive of mild aortic stenosis. Left heart catheterization demonstrated non-significant coronary artery disease. Pressure tracings showed a high left ventricular pressure and a mean gradient across the aortic valve of 69 mmHg. Subsequent transesophageal echocardiography revealed a subvalvular aortic stenosis that was secondary to the subaortic membrane, with severe valvular aortic stenosis. The patient underwent surgical resection of the subaortic membrane followed by bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement, with resolution of his symptoms. Video 1: Transesophageal echocardiography, five-chamber view, showing the calcified aortic valve and subaortic membrane. Video 2: Transesophageal echocardiography, long-axis view, showing aliasing of the aortic flow at valvular and subvalvular levels.

Sudden Death Due to Unusual Complication of Takayasu Arteritis: An Autopsy Case.

Takayasu arteritis is an uncommon inflammatory disease with usually a good prognosis. However, sometimes, the evolution can be fatal essentially by a coronary arteries involvement. We present a case of a 19-year-old woman who died suddenly from cardiogenic shock complicating an unknown Takayasu arteritis.At the autopsy, the aorta showed a significant thickening of the wall. The coronary arteries were slightly thickened and did not show any occlusion. Microscopic examination of the aorta showed an abundant granulomatous and a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. Microscopic sections of other internal organs showed signs of cardiac hypertrophy and an extensive edema of the lung. Death was attributed to acute heart failure complicating a supravalvular aortic stenosis secondary to unknown Takayasu arteritis.Takayasu arteritis can be life-threatening by an occlusion of the ascending aorta and its major branches, without any coronary arteries involvement.

Clinically asymptomatic myocardial bridging in a child with familial subaortic stenosis.

Myocardial bridging is usually seen in the setting of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or left ventricular hypertrophy. It is rarely reported in an asymptomatic patient with an otherwise structurally normal heart. Familial subaortic stenosis is also a rare entity, and its mode of inheritance is still unknown. Here, we described the case of a 13-year-old asymptomatic girl with a positive family history of sudden cardiac death and subaortic stenosis who was diagnosed with severe myocardial bridging concomitant with familial subaortic stenosis.

Congenital discrete subaortic stenosis in pregnancy: case report and literature review.

Today's growing numbers of pregnant patients with congenital heart defects presents challenges for cardiologists treating adult patients. The case is presented of a 19-year-old woman who was admitted with a threatened miscarriage in the third trimester and was diagnosed with an incomplete atrioventricular canal, cleft mitral valve with severe regurgitation, and severe congenital subaortic stenosis caused by a subaortic membrane. She was managed conservatively, delivered via cesarean section, and then underwent surgical repair of all defects with good outcome. Here, a review is provided of the literature on the natural course, complications, and treatment strategies of subaortic stenosis, together with a summary of recommendations for the management of the condition.

Pseudoaneurisma da fibrosa intervalvar mitro-aórtica secundário ao tratamento de estenose subvalvar aórtica em túnel / Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic Intervalvular fibrosa after operation for congenital subaortic stenosis

Criança com 12 anos de idade, encaminhada para ecocardiografia transtorácica e transesofágica 2D e 3D para controle pós-operatório de correção de estenose subaórtica, que evidenciou um grande pseudoaneurisma da fibrosa intervalvar mitro-aórtica, associado à perfuração da base do folheto anterior da valva mitral. Tratava-se de um caso de coartação da aorta (CoAo) neonatal associada à comunicação interventricular (CIV), que necessitou de múltiplas intervenções cirúrgicas na infância devido ao não tratamento adequado das estruturas predisponentes de estenose subvalvar aórtica. Neste relato, são discutidas as particularidades anatômicas que predispõem a lesões obstrutivas esquerdas e a provável causa de desenvolvimento dessas lesões iatrogênicas.

Twelve year-old child referred for echocardiographic evaluation after surgical treatment of subaortic stenosis. Transthoracic and transesofageal (2D and real time 3D) showed a large pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa associated with a small perforation at the base of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. She had neonatal coarctation of the aorta associated with ventricular septal defect and required multiple surgical procedures in infancy due to an inappropriate treatment of the predisposing anatomical structures of subvalvular aortic stenosis. In this report, the mechanisms of these iatrogenic lesions and the abnormal anatomical features that predispose to left sided obstructive lesions are discussed.

Switch arterial paliativo como primer tiempo hacia Fontan en pacientes con fisiología univentricular y estenosis subaórtica / Palliative arterial switch as first-line treatment before the fontan procedure in patients with single-ventricle physiology and subaortic stenosis

Introducción y objetivos. Para la paliación inicial de pacientes con fisiología univentricular, discordancia ventriculoarterial y estenosis subaórtica, se utilizan diversas técnicas. La cirugía tipo Fontan depende de una correcta paliación inicial que evite la aparición de estenosis subaórtica (además de hipertrofia ventricular y disfunción diastólica). Métodos. Presentamos a 7 pacientes con fisiología univentricular, transposición y estenosis subaórtica, con bajo gasto sistémico e hiperaflujo pulmonar, de 21–383 (mediana, 75) días de edad y 3,4–9,6 (mediana, 4,2) kg de peso. Todos fueron tratados mediante switch arterial paliativo, «cambiando» su estenosis subaórtica por una estenosis subpulmonar. En 6 casos se asoció cirugía de arco aórtico; en 4, septectomía auricular y en 1, resección de membrana subaórtica. Resultados. Un paciente falleció en el postoperatorio; otro sufrió recoartación, tratada mediante angioplastia; 3 pacientes han alcanzado el estadio de Glenn y 2, el de Fontan. La función ventricular es correcta en todos ellos. Conclusiones. La fisiología de ventrículo único con transposición y estenosis subaórtica se puede tratar inicialmente mediante un switch paliativo. Esta compleja técnica inicial presenta buenos resultados y permite la progresión futura hacia Glenn y Fontan (AU)

Introduction and objectives. There are several techniques for the palliative treatment of patients with single-ventricle physiology, ventriculoarterial discordance and subaortic stenosis. The Fontan procedure relies on optimal initial palliation to avoid the development of subaortic stenosis (as well as ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction). Methods. We present seven patients with single-ventricle physiology, transposition of the great arteries and subaortic stenosis, with low systemic output and high pulmonary flow, aged 21 to 383 days (median, 75) and weighing between 3.4 and 9.6 kg (median, 4.2). All were treated with a palliative arterial switch, thus “switching” their subaortic stenosis to subpulmonary stenosis. Six patients also underwent aortic arch surgery, 4 an atrial septectomy, and 1 a subaortic membrane resection. Results. One patient died after surgery, another developed recoarctation, which was treated with an angioplasty, 3 patients reached the Glenn stage and 2 the Fontan stage. All had good ventricular function. Conclusions. A palliative switch is an effective initial treatment for single-ventricle physiology with transposition of the great arteries and subaortic stenosis. This complex initial technique produces good results and allows the patient to progress to the Glenn or Fontan stage (AU)

In vivo suppression of microRNA-24 prevents the transition toward decompensated hypertrophy in aortic-constricted mice.

RATIONALE: During the transition from compensated hypertrophy to heart failure, the signaling between L-type Ca(2+) channels in the cell membrane/T-tubules and ryanodine receptors in the sarcoplasmic reticulum becomes defective, partially because of the decreased expression of a T-tubule-sarcoplasmic reticulum anchoring protein, junctophilin-2. MicroRNA (miR)-24, a junctophilin-2 suppressing miR, is upregulated in hypertrophied and failing cardiomyocytes. OBJECTIVE: To test whether miR-24 suppression can protect the structural and functional integrity of L-type Ca(2+) channel-ryanodine receptor signaling in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In vivo silencing of miR-24 by a specific antagomir in an aorta-constricted mouse model effectively prevented the degradation of heart contraction, but not ventricular hypertrophy. Electrophysiology and confocal imaging studies showed that antagomir treatment prevented the decreases in L-type Ca(2+) channel-ryanodine receptor signaling fidelity/efficiency and whole-cell Ca(2+) transients. Further studies showed that antagomir treatment stabilized junctophilin-2 expression and protected the ultrastructure of T-tubule-sarcoplasmic reticulum junctions from disruption. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-24 suppression prevented the transition from compensated hypertrophy to decompensated hypertrophy, providing a potential strategy for early treatment against heart failure.

Surgical management of subaortic stenosis.

A 63-year-old male patient with subaortic stenosis (Pmax 105 mmHg, Pmean 55 mmHg) and an aneurysm of the ascending aorta was referred to our hospital due to progressive angina pectoris. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated high and turbulent subaortic flow velocities. A calcified subaortic membrane was identified. The membrane was removed and the aneurysm was treated with a Bentall procedure. The patient recovered smoothly from surgery and was doing well 6 months after discharge.

Acceso aórtico directo para implante transcatéter de la válvula aórtica autoexpandible CoreValve ®: serie de dos casos / Direct transaortic access for transcatheter aortic valve implantations with the self-expanding CoreValve ® prosthesis: a series of 2 cases

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Sustitución simultánea de toda la aorta torácica / Simultaneous replacement of complete thoracic aorta

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