Quantitative assessment of mitral valve and annular geometry in the ischemic and non-ischemic mitral regurgitation by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography

Abstract

Objective To quantitatively assess the geometry configuration of mitral valve and annulus in the ischemic mitral regurgitation(IMR) and non-ischemic mitral regurgitation(NIMR) by real-time threedimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D-TEE),and provide a basis for surgical cardiac surgery.Methods 98 patients undergone RT-3D-TEE examination were enrolled in this study,and were divided into three groups:IMR group (n =43),NIMR group (n =33),and no mitral regurgitation group (control group,n =22).Full-volume 3D dynamic images of mitral annulus and valve were obtained.The images were off-line analyzed using Qlab 7.0 MVQ workstation,and the geometry indexes:area of leaflets (A3DE),area of anterior leaflet (A3DE Ant),area of posterior leaflet (A3DE Post),perimeter of annulus (C3D),anterolateral to posteromedial diameter of annulus (DAlPm),anterior to posterior diameter of annulus (DAP),annulus height (H),maximal prolapse height (HProl),maximal tenting height (HTent),volume of leaflet prolapse (Vprol),volume of the leaflets tent (Vtent),Aortic orifice to mitral plane angle (θ),angle of anterior leaflet (θAnt),non-planar angle of leaflets (θNPA),angle of posterior leaflet (θPost)and other mitral valve leaflets and annulus,were derived and statistically analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,significant increases of A3DE,A3DE Ant,DAP and θPost,and decreases of θ and θNPA were demonstrated in IMR group,the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Significant increases of A3DE,A3DE Ant,DAP,HProl,Vprol and θNPA,and decreases of θ,θAnt and θPost were explored in NIMR group,the differences were statistically significant (P ＜0.05).Compared with NIMR group,a reduction of A3DE,A3DE Ant,DAP,HProl and θNPA,and increases of θAnt and θPost were found in IMR group and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜0.05).Conclusions Both IMR group and NIMR group could lead to mitral annulus dilatation,leaflets area increase,and mitral annulus geometry change,the overall mitral annulus tends to flatten were more obvious in the NIMR group than those in IMR group.The prolapse is more prominent in NIMR group than those in IMR Group.The difference of mitral annulus geometry between IMR group and NIMR group indicates that the damage of the mitral leaflets and annulus might be more serious in NIMR group. Key words: Echocardiography, transesophageal ; Mitral valve insufficiency ; Mitral valve