Utilization of Two- and Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography in Successfully Guiding Transcatheter Mitral Valve in Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve/Mitral Ring Implantation without Complications in Patients with Thrombus in Left Atrium/Left Atrial Appendage.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to describe, for the first time to our knowledge, the utilization of both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in successfully performing transcatheter mitral valve (MV) in bioprosthetic MV/MV annulopasty ring implantation using the apical approach in 12 patients (pts) with co-existing left atrial appendage (LAA) and/or LA (left atrium) body thrombus, which is considered a contraindication for this procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: All pts were severely symptomatic with severe bioprosthetic MV stenosis/regurgitation except one with a previous MV annuloplasty ring and severe native MV stenosis. Thrombus in LAA and/or LA body was noted in all by 2D and 3DTEE. All were at high/prohibitive risk for redo operation and all refused surgery. Utilizing both 2D and 3DTEE, especially 3DTEE, guidewires and the prosthesis deployment system could be manipulated under direct vision into the LA avoiding any contact with the thrombus. The procedure was successful in all with amelioration of symptoms and no embolic or other complications over a mean follow-up of 21 months. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the feasibility of successfully performing this procedure in pts with thrombus in LAA and/or LA body without any complications.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of the aortic valve and the aorta.

We describe the role of three-dimensional echocardiography in the assessment of the aortic valve and the aorta. The manuscript is heavily illustrated with figures and movie clips.

Incremental value of live/real-time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography over the two-dimensional technique in the assessment of left ventricular endocardial rupture with myocardial dissection and contained apical epicardial rupture following myocardial infarction.

We report the incremental value of live/real-time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) over two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DTTE) in making a definitive diagnosis of left ventricular endocardial rupture with myocardial dissection and contained apical epicardial rupture in an elderly male patient presenting with acute myocardial infarction. To the best of our knowledge, this has not been described previously.

Incremental value of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography over the two-dimensional technique in the assessment of a partially detached MitraClip.

We describe an elderly male patient with two MitraClip devices, one fixed and the other detached, in whom live/real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3DTEE) provided incremental value and additional information compared to two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE). 3DTEE offered the ability to comprehensively assess the mitral valve (MV) utilizing full volume and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) modes. 3DTEE proved useful in assessing the position of the properly attached and the partially detached MitraClip, including assessment of orifice size and degree of mitral regurgitation (MR). In addition, trapping of MV chordae by both clips was noted in the 3DTEE image dataset and confirmed at the time of surgery. Chordal trapping was not detected by 2DTEE. 3DTEE proved useful in more accurately estimating the severity of residual MR with the MitraClips in place since the regurgitant jet vena contracta (VC) could be viewed en face and VC area measured by planimetry in the correct imaging plane as compared to limited linear images from 2DTEE.

Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic finding of left atrial compression resulting from blunt trauma to the thoracic spine.

We present an adult female in whom two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated encroachment of the thoracic spine on the left atrium (LA) resulting in a very small, compressed LA cavity by a prominent thoracic spine shadow. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest showed compression of the LA produced by localized anterior deformation of the thoracic spine which had resulted from blunt injury to her spine following a fall from a swing several years previously.