BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. METERIAL AND METHOD: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8+/-15.7 (11~66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacterium, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6+/-23.3 (1~97) months. RESULT: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 13 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.
Aneurysm, Infected ; Aortic Valve ; Brain ; Brain Abscess ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Classification ; Corynebacterium ; Emergencies ; Endocarditis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mediastinitis ; Methods ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Mitral Valve* ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Postoperative Complications ; Renal Insufficiency ; Spleen ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus ; Survival Rate ; Vascular System Injuries

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas (CPF) are benign cardiac tumors and usually discovered incidentally during echocardiography. This report describes the case of a 68-year-old man, referred to cardiology for multiple masses of the left ventricle and left atrium. The transthoracic echocardiography revealed multiple oscillating masses in the left ventricle and aortic valve, non-mobile mass in the left atrium with severe mitral stenosis and moderate aortic regurgitation. The patient underwent surgical resection of the masses with valve replacements. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of CPF in the left ventricle and aortic valve, thrombus in the left atrium.
Aged ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cardiology ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Thrombosis*

Introducing some advantages of cardiac ultrasound (through chest wall and trans-esophagus) in diagnosis of mitral stenosis. In Vietnam, Some kinds of cardiac ultrasound were applied since 1973 including M-mode ultrasound, 2D ultrasound, Doppler, and color ultrasound. Internal treatment and surgical treatment (including in closed or opened cardiac surgery, percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy) are very efficient
Mitral Valve Stenosis ; ultrasonography ; Heart Diseases ; diagnosis ; Therapeutics

BACKGROUND: The previous reports have demonstrated that coronary artery flow profiles might change in patients with aortic valve disease. Our objective was to assess phasic coronary artery flow and velocity characteristics and coronary flow reserve in patients with severe aortic vale disease. METHOD: We studied six patients (4 men and 2 women, mean age 61.3+/-6.3 years) with aortic regurgitation and seven patients (3 men and 4 women, mean age 66.3+/-10.3 years) with aortic stenosis. Coronary flow velocity was measured at the proximal portion of left anterior descending artery with 0.014-inch Doppler tipped guide wire and intracoronary injection of adenosine. Nineteen patients (11 men and 8 women, mean age 52+/-9.8 years) with normal coronary artery were served as normal control. Result: The velocity-time integral of systolic coronary flow (SPVi) was significantly higher in patient with severe aortic regurgitation than control (21.1+/-5 vs 9.4+/-3.1, p<0.05, respectively) and ratio of diastlic to systolic the velocity-time integrals (DSiR) was significantly lower in patient with severe aortic regurgitation than control subject (1.5+/-0.5 vs 3.7+/- 0.8 p<0.05, respectively). Patients with severe aortic stenosis had significantly higher velocity-time integral of diastolic coronary flow (DPVi) than control subject (17+/-9.7 vs 8.8+/-3.0 p<0.05, respectively) and slighly higher DSiR than control subject (4.0+/- 2.5 vs 3.7+/-0.8 p<0.05, respectively). Coronary flow reserve was significantly decreased in patient with aortic valve disease compared with control subject (2.1+/-0.8 vs 3.2+/-0.4 p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Coronary flow reserve decreased significantly in patients with AR and with AS compared with normal control. Coronary blood flow profiles in patients with AR was characterized by systolic flow predominance and reduced diastolic flow whereas patients with AS was a tendency toward decreased systolic flow and increased diastolic flow.
Adenosine ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Aortic Valve* ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous echo contrast(SEC) is known to predict the increased incidence of thromboembolism in a variety of heart diseases. Transesophageal echocardiography can be useful for the detection of SEC due to proximity of the probe to the left atrium. We performed this study (1) to evaluate the incidence of SEC in mitral stenosis and its relation to the past history of thromboembolism and (2) to characterize the echocardiographic and hemodynamic indices in patients with SEC compared with those without SEC. METHODS: Transesophageal and thransthoracic echocardiographies were done in 89 patients with mitral stenosis. Biplane probe was used in transesophageal echocardiography. In 47patients cardiac catheterization and angiography were performed. RESULTS: (1) SEC was found in 56 out of 89 patients(63%), and left atrial thrombus was found in 32 patients. (2) Left atrial dimension was larger in patients with SEC than in patients without SEC(57.3%+/-8.4mm vs 49.3+/-6.8mm, p<0.05) and mitrial valve area was smaller in patients with SEC than in patients without SEC(0.85+/-0.27cm2 vs 0.97+/-0.24cm2) (3) Association of SEC to thrombi or previous history of arterial embolism showed a high sensitivity and negative predictive value. CONCLUSION: SEC was an useful finding to predict the increased risk of thromboembolism in patients with mitral stenosis. Patients with SEC had severe mitral stenosis than patients without SEC.
Angiography ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Embolism ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis

A 38-year-old man visited our emergency department presenting with a 6-day persistent fever. The man had undergone an orthodontic procedure 7 days prior to the visit. He had a fever with a temperature of 38.2degrees C and a diastolic murmur (grade III) was detected at the left sternal border. Reddish-brown lines beneath the nails were present, and raised lesions which were red and painful were detected on the soles of the patient's feet. Laboratory findings showed an elevated inflammatory marker. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms, showed a bicuspid aortic valve, and moderate aortic regurgitation and vegetation were noted. Treatment with antibiotics was given, but 4 days later, a 12 lead electrocardiogram revealed complete atrioventricular (AV) block. Immediately, a temporary pacemaker was inserted, and the following day an aortic valve replacement was performed. Intraoperative findings revealed a fistula around the AV node. He has suffered no subsequent cardiac events during the follow-up.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Atrioventricular Block ; Atrioventricular Node ; Bicuspid ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Endocarditis ; Fever ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Heart Murmurs ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Nails

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the short- and long-term clinical outcomes and valvular changes after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) in Sejong Hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Four hundred sixty-seven patients received PMV (Ed-already defined above) using the Inoue Balloon at Sejong hospital from 1990 to 2002. Short and long-term results, restenosis-free survival rate and prognostic factors for each result were analyzed by Chi-square, Cox regression analysis, Life table method and Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: After PMV, mitral valve area increased from 0.94+/-0.21 cm2 to 1.76+/-0.37 cm2 and the success rate (MVA>1.5 cm2 or increased by at least 50% without the development of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation) was 78.9%. Age (< or =50 years, p=0.018), echo score (< or =9, p=0.05) and pre-procedural mitral valve area (MVA, > or =1.1 cm2, p=0.001) were independent favorable prognostic factors for short-term result. As for the development of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation, pre-procedural MVA (< or =1.0 cm2, p=0.031) and echo score (>9, p=0.043) were independent predictive factors. Median restenosis-free survival was 82.98 months and the restenosis-free survival rate was 70.9% at 3 years post-PMV, 48.1% at 6 years and 29.6% at 10 years. The independent prognostic factor for restenosis-free survival rate was left atrial dimension (LAD< or =60 mm, p=0.015). In addition, echo score (< or =8, p=0.412), pre-procedural MVA (> or =1.0 cm2, p=0.24) and ejection fraction (EF> or =55%, p=0.146) had an effect on the good long-term results of PMV from multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: PMV was a very successful treatment method for mitral stenosis. Pre-procedural MVA was a representative predictive factor for short and long-term outcomes and the development of mitral regurgitation.
Balloon Valvuloplasty ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Life Tables ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate

Mitral valve perforation is a rare cause of severe mitral regurgitation, which occurs most commonly as a secondary involvement of aortic valve endocarditis. The probable mechanisrns are direct extension of the infection from the aortic valve, infected aortic regurgitant jet striking the ventricular surfaces of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa(MAIVF) and the anterior mitral leaflet(AML). Early recognition of these subaortic complications in patients with aortic valve endocarditis is important because (1) these complications may produce severe mitral regurgitation and hemodynamic collapse, (2) the presence of severe mitral valve involvement may present as primary mitral valve disease, (3) these complications can be overlooked during aortic valve replacement, and (4) cause difficulty in valve replacement and high mortality. We report two cases of AML perforation observed in patients with bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis.
Aortic Valve* ; Bicuspid* ; Endocarditis* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mortality ; Strikes, Employee

BACKGROUND: The presence of diastolic mitral regurgitation has been described in patients with complete atrioventricular(AV) block, aortic valve regurgitation, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy, and in patients with long diastolic filling period in atrial fibrillation. However, because of rare incidence and difficulty in making diagnosis of this phenomenon, the frequency and hemodynamic effects of diastolic AV valve regurgitation(DAVVR) and relationship of electrocardiographic(ECG) parameters with DAVVR in patients with complete heart block have not been reported in Korea. METHODS: To evaluate the frequency, hemodynamic effects of DAVVR and relation of ECG parameters with DAVVR in patients with complete AV block, we studied 14 consecutive patients with complete AV block by means of two dimensional and Doppper echocardiography. RESULTS: The DAVVR was observed in all cases of complete AV block except 3 cases on temporary pacemaker. The peak velocy of diastolic mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitaton were 105+/-23cm/sec and 98+/-30cm/sec, respectively. The peak and mean pressure gradient of diastolic mitral regurgitation were 4.7+/-1.7mmHg and 3.1+/-1.5mmHg respectively, and the peak and mean pressure gradient of diastolic tricuspid regurgitation were 4.1+/-2.6mmHg and 2.7+/-2.1mmHg, respectively. There was regular interval between p-wave of ECG and onset of diastolic AV valve regurgitation, which was 215+/-12msec, Diastolic AV valve regurgitation disappeared immediately after recovery of complete AV block to sinus rhythm or insertion of DDD-type permanent pacemaker in all cases. CONCLUSION: In Conclusion, the DAVVR was observed in all cases of complete AV block except cases on temporary pacemaker insertion and its hemodynamic effect was mild. There was regular interval between p-wave of ECG and the onset of diastolic AV valve regurgitation.
Aortic Valve ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrioventricular Block* ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Block ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Tricuspid Valve ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

A retrospective descriptive study on 46 patients comorbid rheumatic valvular heart and cerebrovascular ischemic stroke at Viet Tiep Hai Phong Hospital in 2004. Results: this condition appears more common in women than in men (71.74% vs 28.16%), average age 52.70± 0.45. 95.65% of patients are over 30 years old. Most of patients had heart failure at grade NYHA III (89.13%). Causes of cerebrovascular ischemia were simple or combined mitral valve stenosis (100%). 73.91% of patients had first cerebrovascular stroke and 100% patients had sudden hemiplegia. Cerebrovascular stroke in patients with rheumatic heart valvular disease had more atria fibrillation in sinus rhythm (82.61% vs 17.39%). 82.35% patients with acute CVA had been treated by low molecular weight Heparin for 5-7 days in combination with anti-vitamin K. 91.30% patients used anti-vitamin K for the rest of their life. After treatment, clinical condition was improved: 8.69% hemiplegic patients recovered completely, 47.83% recovered partly and 43.48% had no improvement. Mortality rate of CAV was 0%
Heart Valve Diseases ; Stroke