Relationship of left atrial appendage function to left ventricular function.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of left atrial appendage function to left ventricular function and to analyze, if left ventricular dysfunction predisposed to left atrial appendage thrombus formation even in the presence of sinus rhythm. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was conducted in 78 patients with a mean age of 53+/-8.5 years, all of whom were in sinus rhythm. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed to record the left atrial appendage emptying and filling velocity and to look for the presence of spontaneous echo contrast and thrombus. Patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (Group I--left ventricular ejection fraction < 35%) and patients with moderate left ventricular dysfunction (Group II--left ventricular ejection fraction 35-45%) had lower left atrial appendage emptying velocity (33.6+/-16 and 39.7+/-19.5 cm/s, respectively) and filling velocity (41+/-14.7 and 41+/-17 cm/s, respectively) when compared to patients with preserved systolic function (Group II--left ventricular ejection fraction >45%), who had emptying and filling velocity of 55+/-16 and 56+/-15 cm/s, respectively (p <0.05). Twelve out of 32 (38%) patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (Group I) and 7 out of 25 (28%) patients with moderate left ventricular dysfunction (Group II) had presence of left atrial appendage thrombus as compared to none of the patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (Group III) (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with left ventricular dysfunction also had left atrial appendage dysfunction as evidenced by lower emptying and filling velocities and had increased incidence of thrombus formation.

Aortic valve disease and left dominant coronary system a significant association.

OBJECTIVES: To study the dominance of coronary artery distribution in patients with aortic valve disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prevalence of left dominant coronary artery system in patients with aortic valve disease was compared with patients without aortic valve disease undergoing coronary angiography. Group 1 consisted of 237 patients with symptomatic aortic valve disease and Group 2 consisted of 241 consecutive patients without aortic valve disease undergoing cardiac catheterisation. RESULTS: Forty two patients in Group 1 and 20 patients in Group 2 (p < 0.01) showed a left dominant pattern of supply. Fifteen patients in Group 1 and eight patients in Group 2 showed a co-dominant pattern of supply (p = NS). Among patients in Group 1, there was no significant difference in the increased prevalence of left dominant system between patients with congenital or acquired aortic valve disease or between the different categories of aortic valve lesions. CONCLUSION: Patients with aortic valve disease show a statistically significant higher prevalence of left dominant pattern of blood supply. This higher prevalence of left dominance is seen in all categories of aortic valve lesions, namely, predominant aortic stenosis, predominant aortic regurgitation and in combined aortic stenotic and regurgitant lesions.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy for significant calcific mitral stenosis: utility of the stepwise balloon dilatation technique and follow-up results.

The present study examined the utility of the stepwise balloon dilatation technique in 41 patients with significant calcific mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC). Thirty-five patients (85.4%) had a successful procedure; one patient developed cardiac tamponade and underwent mitral valve replacement. The mitral valve area increased from 0.9 +/- 0.2 cm2 to 1.7 +/- 0.3 cm2 following PTMC. Increase in mitral regurgitation (MR) was seen in 11 patients (26.8%). All patients showed improvement in functional class of > or =1 level following PTMC, which was sustained in 34 patients at follow-up. At a mean follow-up period of 20 +/- 12 months (range 3-51 months) in 35 patients, 26 patients (74.3%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional Class I, 8 patients (22.9%) were in NYHA Class II, and 1 patient (2.8%) was in NYHA Class III. The cumulative 4-year cardiac event-free survival rate was 81.8%. However, patients with grade 4+ calcification had only 50% event-free survival rate. At follow-up, an increased incidence of cardiac events was seen in female patients as compared with male patients (83.3% versus 16.7%). Restenosis was seen in 3 patients (8.6%). One patient underwent repeat PTMC 37 months after the initial procedure. There was no incidence of death or mitral valve replacement at follow-up. We conclude that the stepwise balloon dilatation technique can be safely and effectively applied for patients with significant calcific mitral stenosis to achieve an optimal mitral valve area with low incidence of significant increase in MR. Favorable long-term benefits also accrue in the form of improved functional status and low incidence of repeat procedures (repeat PTMC or mitral valve replacement). The majority of patients (74.3%) were in NYHA functional class I without medication. Patients with grade 4+ calcification show less benefit from PTMC and may be considered for mitral valve replacement. Cardiac events occur more frequently in female patients than in male patients during follow-up.

Angioplasty and stenting of solitary supra-aortic artery and aortoplasty by kissing balloon technique.

A child presented with symptoms of compromise to cerebral blood flow and cardiac failure. On diagnostic angiography, he was found to have a discrete coarctation and related ostial stenosis of the left subclavian artery, which acted as the sole source of cerebral blood flow. The subclavian lesion was initially dilated with a 6 mm x 50 mm balloon. The discrete coarctation was then dilated with an 8 mm x 50 mm balloon. Since significant residual stenosis was present at the subclavian origin, it was stented with a 20 mm Palmaz-Schatz stent (Cordis Corporation, Miami Lakes, Florida). Since the coarcted segment required further dilatations, the kissing balloon technique was used, wherein the 6 mm balloon was placed extending from the left subclavian lesion distally to the related aortic lesion proximally, along with another 10 mm balloon in the aorta. The end result was acceptable and the patient's symptoms improved significantly after the procedure.

Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Commissurotomy for Post-Surgical Mitral Restenosis: Acute Outcome and Analysis of Factors Influencing Results.

The present study examined the utility of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) for post-surgical mitral restenosis (Group I, n = 71 patients), and the factors influencing the outcome of the procedure. The results of PTMC were also compared with a group of patients (Group II, n = 70 patients), who underwent PTMC for de novo mitral stenosis. Both the groups were matched for age, pre-procedure mitral valve area and echocardiographic score. PTMC was successful in 60 patients (85%) in group I and in 68 patients (97%) in group II (p < 0.05). However, the final mitral valve area achieved was similar between the two groups (1.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.2 sq.cm, p = NS). Patients in group I had significantly greater mitral valve calcification (0.6 +/- 0.8 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.6, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis of results in patients with post-surgical restenosis revealed that only basal mean pulmonary artery pressure and basal cardiac index correlated significantly with increase in valve area. Mitral valve leaflet mobility, thickness and subvalvular deformity did not correlate significantly with the increase in mitral valve area. CONCLUSION: PTMC is a safe procedure for post-surgical mitral restenosis with negligible complication, with a higher success and significantly lower complication rate than that reported for repeat surgical commissurotomy. Although patients with surgical restenosis had a greater degree of calcification of mitral valve leaflets; only basal mean pulmonary artery pressure and cardiac index significantly influenced the increase in mitral valve area. Increased fibrosis of mitral leaflet following surgery probably adversely influences the results of PTMC for post-surgical mitral restenosis.

Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Commissurotomy Without Heparin.

Six-hundred twenty-nine patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis in normal sinus rhythm underwent percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) by the standard Inoue balloon technique. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography, when necessary, transesophageal echocardiogram was done before PTMC to exclude left atrial clot. In all cases, the PTMC procedure was completed without administration of heparin. There was no incidence of embolism either in the immediate post-procedure period or at a median follow-up of 3 months. There were no femoral artery or venous complications in any of the cases. We conclude that the conventional use of heparin during PTMC may not be required in patients with sinus rhythm and no left atrial clot.