Aortic valve fenestrations: Macroscopic assessment and functional anatomy study.

Aortic valve fenestrations are defined as a loss of aortic valve leaflet tissue. They are a common but overlooked finding with unclear significance. The aim of this study was to investigate the varied functional anatomies of aortic valve fenestrations. A total of 400 formalin-fixed autopsied human hearts were macroscopically assessed and the function of the aortic valve of 16 reanimated human hearts were imaged using Visible Heart® methodologies. Aortic valve leaflet fenestrations were present in 43.0% of autopsied hearts (in one leaflet in 24.0%, in two leaflets 16.0%, in all leaflets 3.0%). Fenestrations were mostly present in left (25.5%) followed by right (23.3%) and noncoronary leaflet (16.3%). In 93.8% of cases, the fenestrations form clusters and were mainly located at the free edge of the leaflet in the commissural area (95.4%). Hearts with aortic valve fenestrations had significantly larger aortic valve diameters and aortic valve areas (p < 0.001). The average surface area sizes of fenestrations were 23.8 ± 16.6 mm2 , and the areas were largest for left followed by right and noncoronary leaflet fenestrations (p < 0.001). The fenestration areas positively correlated with donor age (r = 0.31; p = 0.02). Significant hypermobility and subjective weakening of the leaflet adhesion levels of the fenestrated regions were observed. In conclusion, fenestrations of the aortic leaflets are frequent, and their sizes may be significant. They occur in all age groups, yet their size increase with aging. Fragments of leaflets with fenestrations show different behaviors during the cardiac cycle versus unchanged areas.

Computationally Assessed 3D Anatomical Proximities and Spatial Relationships Among the Tricuspid Valve Annulus, Right Coronary Artery, and Triangle of Koch: Implications for Transcatheter Tricuspid Annuloplasty Repair.

Background: Transcatheter-based annuloplasty therapies for tricuspid regurgitation have demonstrated significant development over recent years. However, the tricuspid valve and neighboring vasculature and conductive tissue regions can present anatomical and device deployment challenges. This present study investigated the anatomical dimensions and spatial relationships of the cardiac structures essential to percutaneous annuloplasty procedures: the tricuspid annulus (TA), right coronary artery (RCA), and triangle of Koch border region. Methods: Measurements were derived from computational three-dimensional reconstructions of static magnetic resonance imaging scans of perfusion-fixed human hearts (n = 82) with preserved right-sided heart anatomies. This specimen set included heart samples presenting with prediagnosed atrioventricular valvular regurgitation. Results: Our anatomical assessments demonstrated that the TA to RCA proximities were intensified with the presence of atrioventricular valvular regurgitation, compared with healthy heart specimens. The minimal distances were frequently located between the lateral and posterior annular points. This annular region corresponds to the RCA distal segments and posterior descending branch origins. Greater portions and incidences of the RCA coursing parallel or inferior to the TA plane were recorded for these diseased hearts. Patient demographic variables (gender, age, and body mass index) were insignificant determinants of change for a majority of our results. Conclusions: These three-dimensional reconstructions provide insights to guide the development and future iterations of transcatheter tricuspid valve annuloplasty systems with regards to device anchoring, annular geometry, tissue proximities, and implantation considerations.

3D printed patient-specific aortic root models with internal sensors for minimally invasive applications.

Minimally invasive surgeries have numerous advantages, yet complications may arise from limited knowledge about the anatomical site targeted for the delivery of therapy. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure for treating aortic stenosis. Here, we demonstrate multimaterial three-dimensional printing of patient-specific soft aortic root models with internally integrated electronic sensor arrays that can augment testing for TAVR preprocedural planning. We evaluated the efficacies of the models by comparing their geometric fidelities with postoperative data from patients, as well as their in vitro hemodynamic performances in cases with and without leaflet calcifications. Furthermore, we demonstrated that internal sensor arrays can facilitate the optimization of bioprosthetic valve selections and in vitro placements via mapping of the pressures applied on the critical regions of the aortic anatomies. These models may pave exciting avenues for mitigating the risks of postoperative complications and facilitating the development of next-generation medical devices.

3-Dimensional printing to predict paravalvular regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: There is no effective method to predict paravalvular regurgitation prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed pre-TAVR computed tomography (CT) scans of 20 patients who underwent TAVR for severe, calcific aortic stenosis and subsequently printed 3-dimensional (3D) aortic root models of each patient. Models were printed using Ninjaflex thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) (Ninjatek Manheim, PA) and TPU 95A (Ultimaker, Netherlands) on Ultimaker 3 Extended 3D printer (Ultimaker, Netherlands). The models were implanted at nominal pressure with same sized Sapien balloon-expandable frames (Edwards Lifesciences, CA) as received in-vivo. Ex-vivo implanted TAVR models (eTAVR) were scanned using Siemens SOMATOM flash dual source CT (Siemens, Malvern, PA) and then analyzed with Mimics software (Materialize NV, Leuven, Belgium) to evaluate relative stent appositions. eTAVR were then compared to post-TAVR echocardiograms for each patient to assess for correlations of identified and predicted paravalvular leak (PVL) locations. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients (70% male) were included in this study. The median age was 77.5 (74-83.5) years. Ten patients were characterized to elicit mild (9/10) or moderate (1/10) PVL, and 10 patients presented no PVL. In patients with echocardiographic PVL, eTAVR 3D model analyses correctly identified the site of PVL in 8/10 cases. In patients without echocardiographic PVL, eTAVR 3D model analyses correctly predicted the lack of PVL in 9/10 cases. CONCLUSION: 3D printing may help predict the potential locations of associated PVL post-TAVR, which may have implications for optimizing valve selection and sizing.

Right Atrioventricular Valve Leaflet Morphology Redefined: Implications for Transcatheter Repair Procedures.

OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to comprehensively detail the right atrioventricular valve functional leaflet anatomies. BACKGROUND: The rapid development of both surgical and percutaneous repair techniques for tricuspid regurgitation has renewed interest in variations in the morphology of the right atrioventricular valve. METHODS: The functioning right atrioventricular valves of 40 reanimated human hearts were imaged using Visible Heart methodologies. Hearts were then perfusion-fixed and dissected, uniquely allowing for the comparative assessments of functional versus fixed valve anatomies from the same set of donor hearts. RESULTS: The right atrioventricular valves have "3-leaflet" configurations in 57.5% and "4-leaflet" configurations in the remaining hearts. For 4-leaflet valves, extra leaflets were commonly observed in the most inferior regions of the annuli. No difference in valve perimeters between 2 valve types were observed (112.2 vs. 117.1 mm; p = 0.14). In 3-leaflet valves, septal, mural, and superior leaflets occupied 32.2 ± 6.5%, 15.9 ± 5.5%, and 25.5 ± 6.2% of the annulus, respectively, whereas in the 4-leaflet arrangements, these values were 27.0 ± 5.8% (septal), 12.0 ± 4.5% (inferior), 13.7 ± 9.4% (mural), and 19.8 ± 6.1% (superior). The muroseptal/inferoseptal commissures were usually located in the cavotricuspid regions, whereas the inferomural and superomural commissures were in the right atrial appendage vestibule area. CONCLUSIONS: The right atrioventricular valve has 4 functional leaflets in more than 40% of cases. The authors found that the inferomural region is the most variable area of the valve and believe that anatomic variation is an important consideration for planned interventions.

The fixation tines of the Micra™ leadless pacemaker are atraumatic to the tricuspid valve.

BACKGROUND: Today, there is no manufacturer-supplied retrieval tool for the Micra™ pacemaker (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA); therefore, off-the-shelf catheters have been employed for retrievals. The proximal retrieval feature of the Micra™ can be snared and the device is then retracted from the myocardium, pulling the device through the tricuspid valve. This study characterizes the potential risks of Micra™ nitinol tine engagement with the tricuspid sub-valvular apparatus. METHODS: Fresh human hearts nonviable for transplant (n = 10) were obtained from our regional organ procurement agency (LifeSource, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Micra™ fixation tines were affixed to a linear force transducer. Tines were then engaged in tricuspid chordae tendineae to conduct a constant velocity tensile test. Each test was run until tines disengaged from the chordae tendineae or until they released from the valve apparatus. Subsequently, biomechanical failure properties of the valve apparatus and isolated chordae tendineae were determined using a series of uniaxial tensile tests. RESULTS: There were no chordal ruptures observed during our Micra™ tine extraction testing. Chordal failure required 15.0 times the force of extracting a single engaged tine, and 9.0 times the force of extracting two engaged tines. The uniaxial stresses required for isolated chordal failure averaged 17.4 N/mm2 ; failure strains exceeded 150% resting chordal length. CONCLUSIONS: The forces required to rupture tricuspid chordae tendineae significantly exceeded the forces potentially imposed on the chordae during Micra™ device retrievals. We conclude that the fixation tines of the Micra™ device are unlikely to damage the tricuspid apparatus during either implant or retrieval.