Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Research Articles

Left Atrial Reduction Plasty: A Novel Technique

We describe a novel technique of left atrial volume reduction in a patient presenting with severe dyspnea from severe mitral insufficiency, giant left atrium, and compressive symptoms of dysphagia and dysphonia. Resection involved circumferential excision of the left atrium anterior to the pulmonary venous vestibule and posterior to the mitral valve and fossa ovalis, including the left atrial appendage. A chordal-sparing bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve annuloplasty, and coronary bypass were also performed. Significant reduction of left atrial volume by 50% was achieved and clinical resolution of compressive symptoms was seen at 6-month follow-up.

Spontaneous Ear Hemorrhage During Cardiac Surgery

A 79-year-old patient who underwent mitral valve replacement experienced prolonged elevated central venous pressure associated with poor venous return during a cardiopulmonary bypass. After the procedure, the patient was noted to have spontaneous bleeding from the left ear. Otolaryngologic examination in the operating room showed no trauma in the exterior auditory canal and suggested that the hemorrhage was related to a superior vena cava syndrome and anticoagulation during the cardiopulmonary bypass. Determinants and management considerations of poor venous return, including maintenance of cerebral perfusion pressure, are discussed.

Subacute Staphylococcus epidermidis Bacterial Endocarditis Complicated by Mitral-Aortic Intervalvular Fibrosa Pseudoaneurysm.

The patient is a 75-year-old man with a history significant for hypertension and congestive heart failure who underwent a bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement secondary to acute onset of aortic insufficiency. Cultures of the native valve were positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis sensitive to nafcillin and intravenous cefazolin was initiated. On postoperative day 24, he developed acute decompensated heart failure. A transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated a structurally abnormal mitral valve with severe regurgitation, anterior and posterior leaflet vegetations, and scallop prolapse. There was also evidence of a mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa pseudoaneurysm (P-MAIF) with systolic expansion and flow within the aneurysm. Antibiotic treatment was changed from cefazolin to vancomycin for presumed development of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus. He subsequently underwent a bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement and has restoration of health without sequella. This case highlights the development of a P-MAIF as a rare complication of both aortic or mitral valve replacement and infective endocarditis.

Early Degeneration of a Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Complicated by a Large Left Atrial Thrombus

The authors report the case of a patient with symptomatic early bioprosthetic mitral valve deterioration in the setting of calcium supplementation. This was further complicated by a large left atrial thrombus despite supratherapeutic anticoagulation and a previously oversewn left atrial appendage. As mechanical valves are less predisposed to calcification in comparison with bioprosthetic implants, the patient underwent a mechanical mitral valve replacement in addition to a left atrial thrombectomy.

Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in the Presence of a Mitral Prosthesis

We review our experience with transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (AVI) in patients with functioning mitral prostheses, and describe the technical considerations. Transcatheter AVI for aortic stenosis in patients with mitral prostheses is technically challenging. Ten patients (7 mechanical and 3 bioprosthetic mitral valves) received the Edwards SAPIEN balloon-expandable valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) during 2006 to 2010. All patients were declined conventional surgery and prospectively followed. The mean patient age was 77.6 ± 7.1 years (range: 67 to 88 years). The logistic EuroSCORE and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons-predicted operative mortality were 30.3 ± 18.6% (range: 11.4% to 70.4%), and 9.9 ± 4.8% (range: 4.6% to 18.7%), respectively. All valves were successfully implanted, with no 30-day mortality or mitral prosthetic dysfunction. Nine patients had none to mild residual aortic paravalvular leak. The overall survival was 60% at a mean follow-up of 12.2 ± 10.4 months (range: 2 to 33 months), with 4 nonvalve-related deaths. Seven patients improved to New York Heart Association functional class I to II. The mean transvalvular gradient and effective orifice area improved from 40.0 ± 17.4 mm Hg to 8.2 ± 2.1 mm Hg, and 0.6 ± 0.1 cm² to 1.3 ± 0.2 cm², respectively (p < 0.0001). The mitral bioprosthetic strut predisposes to device "shift" during deployment. An "unfavorable" mechanical mitral prosthetic cage or pivot strut can also cause shifts. Balloon shifts during valvuloplasty warn of a high likelihood of prosthesis shift. This report details the technical lessons learned thus far from our first 10 patients. Excellent procedural success and early outcomes in patients with functioning mitral prosthesis can be achieved.

A tale of two pressures: A case of pseudo‐prosthetic mitral valve stenosis

We present a case of an 83-year-old female with past medical history of rheumatic fever associated mitral stenosis for which she underwent mitral commissurotomy 25 years prior to presentation. Subsequently, she underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve replacement with a bio-prosthetic valve 8 years prior to presentation. Presently, she started experiencing worsening dyspnea and heart failure symptoms. Echocardiography showed mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with severe aortic stenosis and pulmonary hypertension. The bioprosthetic mitral valve was functioning normally. We performed right and left heart catheterization for evaluation. Peak aortic gradient was 50 mm Hg with a mean gradient of 39 mm Hg. Aortic valve area was calculated to be 0.31 cm(2). However, simultaneous measurement of left ventricular and wedge pressures showed a significant gradient of 11 mm Hg across the mitral valve with a calculated mitral valve area of 0.4 cm(2). Because of discordant information between echocardiographic and hemodynamic data, we proceeded with trans-septal puncture to directly measure left atrial pressures. Simultaneous left atrial and left ventricular pressure measurement demonstrated a mean gradient of 4 mm Hg across the mitral valve with an area calculated at 1.9 cm(2). We review the tracings in detail and discuss the pitfalls of using pulmonary capillary wedge pressure as a surrogate for left atrial pressure.

Reoperative Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Replacement for Bovine Pericardial Valve Thrombosis Secondary to Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

Bioprosthetic mitral valves rarely obstruct. We present an older woman who presented with rapidly progressive dyspnea 4 years after bovine mitral replacement. Investigations demonstrated severe mitral stenosis with large, obstructive masses within the previous mitral prosthesis and an elevated eosinophil count. She underwent urgent reoperative mitral replacement and tricuspid valve repair through a 4-cm right minithoracotomy under hypothermic, fibrillatory arrest. Pathologic analysis revealed eosinophilic infiltrates in the obstructive masses and normal endomyocardial biopsies. She made an uneventful recovery and was discharged on steroids to suppress the eosinophilia. Repeat echocardiography demonstrated a well-functioning porcine valve without leaflet restriction or obstruction.

Impact of prosthesis–patient mismatch after mitral valve replacement: a multicentre analysis of early outcomes and mid-term survival

BackgroundProsthesis–patient mismatch (PPM) is characterised by the effects of inadequate prosthesis size relative to body surface area (BSA). It is uncertain whether PPM after mitral valve replacement impacts upon clinical...

Degenerative processes in bioprosthetic mitral valves in juvenile pigs

BackgroundGlutaraldehyde-treated bioprosthetic heart valves are commonly used for replacement of diseased heart valves. However, calcification and wear limit their durability, and the development of new and improved bioprosthetic valve designs is needed and must be evaluated in a reliable animal model. We studied glutaraldehyde-treated valves 6 months after implantation to evaluate bioprosthetic valve complications in the mitral position in juvenile pigs.MaterialsThe study material comprised eight, 5-month old, 60-kg pigs. All pigs received a size 27, glutaraldehyde-treated, stented, Carpentier-Edwards S.A.V. mitral valve prosthesis. After six months, echocardiography was performed, and the valves explanted for gross examination, high resolution X-ray, and histological evaluation.ResultsFive pigs survived the follow-up period. Preexplant echocardiography revealed a median peak and mean velocity of 1.61 m/s (range: 1.17-2.00) and 1.20 (SD = ±0.25), respectively, and a median peak and mean pressure difference of 10.42 mmHg (range: 5.83-16.55) and 6.51 mmHg (SD = ±2.57), respectively. Gross examination showed minor thrombotic depositions at two commissures in two valves and at all three commissures in three valves. High resolution X-ray imaging revealed different degrees of calcification in all explanted valves, primarily in the commissural and belly areas. In all valves, histological evaluation demonstrated various degrees of fibrous sheath formation, limited immunological infiltration, and no overgrowth of host endothelium.ConclusionsBioprosthetic glutaraldehyde-treated mitral valves can be implanted into the mitral position in pigs and function after 6 months. Echocardiographic data, calcification, and histological examinations were comparable to results obtained in sheep models and human demonstrating the suitability of the porcine model.

Acute Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Stenosis in a Patient with HITS

Acute thrombosis involving the left atrium and a bioprosthetic valve during the early postoperative period is an extremely rare complication of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome (HITS). We present a patient with early bioprosthetic mitral valve stenosis complicated by HITS in a patient with severe mitral regurgitation, atrial fibrillation, and severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction After Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Replacement With Preservation of the Anterior Leaflet

A 79-year-old woman with a history of bioprosthetic aortic and mitral valve replacement with coronary artery bypass graft surgery presented with pulmonary edema 4 years after surgery. Transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography revealed an obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract caused by the bioprosthetic mitral valve. We present this case, accompanied by a review of the literature.

Transatrial Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve-in-Valve Implantation of Balloon Expandable Bioprosthesis

Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation into failing mitral and aortic bioprosthetic valves have been reported. This strategy avoids performing high-risk repeat cardiac surgery in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Tricuspid valve-in-valve implantation has not been described. We report a case of failing bioprosthetic tricuspid valve in a 48-year-old woman with carcinoid syndrome. We attempted a transatrial transcatheter approach and we successfully deployed a 26-mm Edwards Sapien balloon expandable bioprosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) into a severely stenotic tricuspid bioprosthesis. This case demonstrates the technical feasibility and safety of this approach. Therefore, tricuspid valve-in-valve implantation may be a viable treatment alternative in carefully selected patients.

E0488 Transcatheter closure of paraprosthetic valve leaks after surgical valve replacements

ObjectiveTo elucidate the techniques of transcatheter closure of paravalvular leak (PVL) by Amplatzer occluder, and evaluate its feasibility, effectiveness, and safety.Methods5 patients with PVL (4 males and 1 female), with...

Factors Affecting Survival After Mitral Valve Replacement in Patients With Prosthesis–Patient Mismatch

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch on long-term survival after mitral valve replacement. From 1992 to 2008, 765 patients underwent bioprosthetic (325; 42%) or mechanical (440; 58%) mitral valve replacement, including 370 (48%) patients older than 65 years of age. Prosthesis-patient mismatch was defined as severe (prosthetic effective orifice area to body surface area ratio <0.9 cm(2)/m(2)), moderate (0.9 to 1.2 cm(2)/m(2)), or absent (>1.2 cm(2)/m(2)). Multivariate analysis identified nine risk factors for late death including advanced age, earlier operative year, chronic renal insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, nonrheumatic origin, concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, lower body surface area, and more severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (lower effective orifice area to body surface area ratio; p < 0.05). For bioprosthetic recipients older than 65 years of age, survival at 5 and 10 years was 30% ± 7% and 0% ± 0% with severe mismatch compared with 43% ± 4% and 21% ± 5% for absent or moderate mismatch, respectively (p = 0.05). For mechanical recipients younger than 65 years of age, survival at 5 and 10 years was 77% ± 4% and 62% ± 6% with moderate or severe mismatch compared with 82% ± 3% and 66% ± 4%, respectively, without mismatch (p = 0.08). Severe mismatch adversely affected long-term survival for older patients receiving bioprosthetic valves. With mechanical valves, there was a trend toward impaired survival when mismatch was moderate or severe in younger patients. Thus, selection of an appropriate mitral prosthesis warrants careful consideration of age and valve type.

Giant left ventricular pseudoaneurysm

Left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm (PS) is an uncommon, often fatal complication associated with myocardial infarction, cardiothoracic surgery, trauma, and, rarely, infective endocarditis. A 28-year-old man with prior history of bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement presented with congestive heart failure and bacteremia with Abiotrophia granulitica. Transesophageal echocardiogram showed bioprosthesis dysfunction, large vegetations, mitral regurgitation, and probable PS. Cardiac and chest CT confirmed a PS communicating with the left ventricle Patient had pulseless electrical activity and died. Autopsy showed a giant PS with layered thrombus and pseudo-endothelialized cavity. Our case highlights the importance of multimodality imaging as an important tool in management of PS.

Bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis less than one year after replacement and an ablative MAZE procedure: a case report

Occurrence of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis less than a year after replacement is very uncommon. Here, we describe a case of a 57 year old male, who presented 10 months after receiving a bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement with a two week history of dyspnea on exertion, worsening orthopnea and decreased exercise tolerance. Echocardiography revealed severe mitral regurgitation (MR), thrombosis of the posterior mitral leaflet, left atrial (LA) mural thrombus and a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction of twenty-five percent. Given severe clot burden and decompensated heart failure (New York Heart Association - NYHA class III) repeat sternotomy was done to replace the bioprosthetic mitral valve and remove LA mural thrombus. MR was resolved postoperatively. This brief report further reviews promoting factors, established guidelines and management strategies of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis.

Echocardiographic Particle Image Velocimetry: A Novel Technique for Quantification of Left Ventricular Blood Vorticity Pattern

In this study, the functionality of echocardiographic particle imaging velocimetry (E-PIV) was compared with that of digital particle imaging velocimetry (D-PIV) in an in vitro model. In addition, its capability was assessed in the clinical in vivo setting to obtain the ventricular flow pattern in normal subjects, in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, and in patients with mechanical and bioprosthetic mitral valves. A silicon sac simulating the human left ventricle in combination with prosthetic heart valves, controlled by a pulsed-flow duplicator, was used as the in vitro model. Particle-seeded flow images were acquired (1) using a high-speed camera from the mid plane of the sac, illuminated by a laser sheet for D-PIV, and (2) using a Siemens Sequoia system at a frame rate of 60 Hz for E-PIV. Data analysis was performed with PIVview software for D-PIV and Omega Flow software for E-PIV. E-PIV processing was then applied to contrast echocardiographic image sets obtained during left ventricular cavity opacification with a lipid-shelled microbubble agent to assess spatial patterns of intracavitary flow in the clinical setting. The velocity vectors obtained using both the E-PIV and the D-PIV methods compared well for the direction of flow. The streamlines were also found to be similar in the data obtained using both methods. However, because of the superior spatial resolution of D-PIV, some smaller scale details were not revealed by E-PIV. The application of E-PIV to the human heart resulted in reproducible flow patterns in echocardiographic images taken within different time frames or by independent examiners. The E-PIV technique appears to be capable of evaluating the major flow features in the ventricles. However, the bounded spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging limits the small-scale features of ventricular flow to be revealed.

Late Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Thrombosis: A Link With Postoperative Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia?

Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is considered extremely unlikely, thus usually allowing patients to avoid long-term anticoagulation. The authors report the case of a patient with late bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis associated with a history of postoperative heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The patient successfully underwent mitral valve replacement.

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Replacement Using the Valve-in-valve Technique

A 90-year-old woman with two previous mitral valve replacements, presented with pulmonary edema due to mitral regurgitation from degeneration of her bioprosthetic mitral valve. A minimally invasive approach was used to replace the bioprosthetic mitral valve. During surgery, the bioprosthetic valve was noted to be too adherent to the endocardium of the left atrium, making removal of the prosthesis not only difficult, but also potentially harmful. The new bioprosthetic valve was instead placed using a valve-in-valve approach.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction by a Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve

Echocardiography has long been the mainstay of noninvasive cardiac diagnostic imaging; however, newer imaging modalities have proven useful in cases where echocardiography has been nondiagnostic. We present a case of a 42-year-old woman with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, who despite septal myectomy and bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement, continued to have persistent symptoms of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation did not demonstrate the etiology of the patient's symptoms. The cause of our patient's symptoms was clarified using cardiac computed tomography, which revealed a strut from the bioprosthetic mitral valve protruding into the left ventricular outflow tract. Although this clinical phenomenon has previously been described, we will discuss the role of cardiac imaging with computed tomography in this setting.