Stress echocardiography and outcomes after cardiac surgery in patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation

Background Ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is a frequent complication of coronary artery disease. This is generally associated with double mortality rates. Poor prognosis could be observed despite successful cardiac surgery. There is a gap about predictors of further negative outcomes after surgical treatment. Owing to the dynamic nature of IMR, we hypothesize that multiparametric stress echocardiography (SE) would be helpful in assessing risk stratification. Aim: To evaluate the relationship between multiparametric SE parameters and outcomes after cardiac surgery in patients with IMR. Methods We prospectively enrolled 30 patients (62.7±8.5 yrs, 18 men), who have severe IMR by ESC classification, referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with or without mitral surgery. Before cardiac surgery, the patients performed semi-supine bicycle multiparametric SE. Wall motion abnormalities, systolic and diastolic volumes of left ventricle, B-lines (lung congestion feature), left atrium volume, pulmonary pressure, mitral regurgitation volume, and effective regurgitation orifice area (EROA) were assessed before and during exercise. Ejection fraction (EF) and left contractile reserve were calculated. All-cause death was an endpoint. Results All patients had indications for CABG due to severe three-vessel disease. Before exercising, EF was 42±12%, end-diastolic volume was 167±49 ml, systolic volume of left ventricle was 86±39 ml, left atrium was 103±37 ml, global longitudinal strain was 12±4%, index of wall motion abnormality was 1.83±0.48, EROA was 0.39±0.22 cm2, regurgitation volume was 58±27 ml, systolic pulmonary pressure was 43±16 mmHg, and B-lines were 2.4±2. During exercise, EF was 44±17%, end-diastolic volume was 148±54 ml, systolic volume of left ventricle was 98±44 ml, index of wall motion abnormality was 2.30±0.49, EROA was 0.45±0.2 cm2, regurgitation volume was 70±32 ml, systolic pulmonary pressure was 51±14 mmHg, and B-lines were 5.4±3.3. A median follow-up time was 332 days (224–335). ROC analysis demonstrated that left ventricle end-diastolic volume during exercise (the cut-off value 192 ml, area under the ROC curve 0.77, p<0.03), EROA during exercise (the cut-off value 0.37 cm2, the area 0.86, p<0.0003), regurgitant volume during stress (the cut-off value 82 ml, the area 0.79, p<0.02), the difference between stress and rest B-lines (the cut-off value 6 lines, the area 0.83, p<0.0001), the difference between stress and rest EROA (the cut-off value 0.15 cm2, the area 0.77, p=0.05) were associated with death. Conclusion The stress echocardiographic parameters were associated with increased mortality after cardiac surgery in patients with IMR over the 1-year follow-up. B-lines (objective evidence of severe congestive heart failure), EROA, regurgitation volume (severity of mitral regurgitation during exercise) were all associated with worse outcome. These preliminary results should be confirmed in the larger studies. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

How to Evaluate the Pulmonary Valve and Right Ventricular Outflow Tract in Prone Position during Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

In the COVID-19 pandemic, we performed a series of echocardiograms using subcostal views. After placing a patient in a prone position during invasive mechanical ventilation, the echocardiogram transducer was placed under the patient in the left subcostal position. This performance allowed us to evaluate the function of the pulmonary valve and estimate pulmonary pressure. This is a complement to the monitoring with a transthoracic echocardiogram in the prone position.

The effects of interventional mitral valve repair using the MitraClip System on the results of pulmonary function testing, pulmonary pressure and diffusing capacity of the lung

Background The study analyzes changes in lung function, pulmonary pressure and diffusing capacity of the lung in patients with mitral valve regurgitation (MR) treated by MitraClip implantation. Methods A total of 43 patients (19 women and 24 men with an average age of 78.0 ± 6.6 years) who were able to perform pulmonary function testing including diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), vital capacity (VC), total lung capacity (TLC), residual volume (RV) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) before and 6 weeks after MitraClip implantation participated in this study. Furthermore, clinical and echocardiographic parameters including systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left atrial diameter (LAD) measurements were recorded in all patients. Results The procedure was performed successfully in all 43 patients leading to a reduction of MR in 97.7% of cases. One patient died on day 4 after the intervention most likely due to pulmonary artery embolism. Six weeks after the implantation 79.1% of patients showed a MR of at most mild to moderate. Furthermore, we could demonstrate a significant reduction of systolic pulmonary artery pressure during follow-up (from 48.8 ± 11.4 mmHg to 42.9 ± 9.0 mmHg (t(41) = − 2.6, p = 0.01). However, no changes in LVEF were detected. Comparing pre and post implant lung function tests, no significant alterations were seen for VC, TLC, DLCO and FEV1. Though, in a subgroup of patients with moderate to severe preexisting deterioration of DLCO at the baseline (max. 50%) the MitraClip procedure resulted in a significant improvement in DLCO (37.8% ± 9.0 to 41.6% ± 10.0, p < 0.001). Conclusions Treatment of MR with the MitraClip system successfully reduces MR severity in the vast majority of patients. Consecutively, a reduction in pulmonary pressure could be observed, however no changes in LVEF were obvious. Lung function tests remained unaltered during follow-up. However, in a subgroup of patients with severe preexisting deterioration of DLCO the MitraClip procedure resulted in a significant improvement in DLCO. Trial registration Name of the registry: Die Auswirkung der interventionellen Mitralklappenreparatur mit MitraClip-System auf die Ergebnisse der Lungenfunktionsmessung. Trial registration number DRKS00022435; Date of registration: 09/07/2020 'Retrospectively registered'; URL of trial registry record: https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00022435.

Elevated Pulmonary Pressure Noted on Echocardiogram: A Simplified Approach to Next Steps

An elevated right ventricular/pulmonary artery systolic pressure suggestive of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common finding noted on echocardiography and is considered a marker for poor clinical outcomes, regardless of the cause. Even mild elevation of pulmonary pressure can be considered a modifiable risk factor, informing the trajectory of patients' clinical outcome. Although guidelines have been published detailing diagnostic and management algorithms, this echocardiographic finding is often underappreciated or not acted upon. Hence, patients with PH are often diagnosed in clinical practice when hemodynamic abnormalities are already moderate or severe. This results in delayed initiation of potentially effective therapies, referral to PH centers, and greater patient morbidity and mortality. This mini‐review presents a succinct, simplified case‐based approach to the “next steps” in the work‐up of PH, once elevated pulmonary pressures have been noted on an echocardiogram. Our goal is for clinicians to develop a good overview of diagnostic approach to PH and recognition of high‐risk features that may require early referral.