PURPOSE: Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and myocardial dyssynchrony commonly occur in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The aim of this study was to elucidate changes in FMR in relation to those in left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony as well as geometric parameters of the mitral valve (MV) in DCM patients during dobutamine infusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine DCM patients (M:F=15:14; age: 62+/-15 yrs) with FMR underwent echocardiography at baseline and during peak dose (30 or 40 ug/min) of dobutamine infusion. Using 2D echocardiography, LV end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume (LVESV), ejection fraction (EF), and effective regurgitant orifice area (ERO) were estimated. Dyssynchrony indices (DIs), defined as the standard deviation of time interval-to-peak myocardial systolic contraction of eight LV segments, were measured. Using the multi-planar reconstructive mode from commercially available 3D image analysis software, MV tenting area (MVTa) was measured. All geometrical measurements were corrected (c) by the height of each patient. RESULTS: During dobutamine infusion, EF (28+/-8% vs. 39+/-11%, p=0.001) improved along with significant decrease in cLVESV (80.1+/-35.2 mm3/m vs. 60.4+/-31.1 mm3/m, p=0.001); cMVTa (1.28+/-0.48 cm2/m vs. 0.79+/-0.33 cm2/m, p=0.001) was significantly reduced; and DI (1.31+/-0.51 vs. 1.58+/-0.68, p=0.025) showed significant increase. Despite significant deterioration of LV dyssynchrony during dobutamine infusion, ERO (0.16+/-0.09 cm2 vs. 0.09+/-0.08 cm2, p=0.001) significantly improved. On multivariate analysis, DeltacMVTa and DeltaEF were found to be the strongest independent determinants of DeltaERO (R2=0.443, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Rather than LV dyssynchrony, MV geometry determined by LV geometry and systolic pressure, which represents the MV closing force, may be the primary determinant of MR severity.
Aged ; Dobutamine/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve/*anatomy & histology/drug effects/*physiopathology ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency/*physiopathology ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/*physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the short and long-term outcome post percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) in mitral valve stenosis patients with different mitral valve morphology.

METHODSMitral valve morphology was graded according to the Wilkins scoring system, 385 eligible patients were divided into echocardiographic scores > 8 group (n = 125) and ≤ 8 group (n = 260). Patients were followed up after PBMV according to the improved Inoue method.

RESULTSPBMV was successful in 370 patients, the success rate of PBMV in > 8 group was significantly lower than in ≤ 8 group (92.8% vs. 97.7%, P < 0.05). Hemodynamic parameters improved significantly in both groups (all P < 0.05) at 6 months post PBMV. Compared to pre-PBMV, improvement on left atrial mean pressure [(14.22 ± 5.02) mm Hg vs. (15.44 ± 5.19) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa)], pulmonary artery systolic pressure [(26.13 ± 9.27) mm Hg vs. (31.93 ± 9.98) mm Hg], mitral valve gradient [(9.21 ± 4.11) mm Hg vs. (10.16 ± 4.21) mm Hg] and area of mitral valve orifice [(1.02 ± 0.15) cm(2) vs. (1.20 ± 0.22) cm(2)] post PBMV was less in > 8 group (116 cases) than those in ≤ 8 group (254 cases, all P < 0.05). Three hundreds and fifty three patients were followed up for (78 ± 20) months. Echocardiographic parameters post PBMV improved significantly in both groups compared with the pre-PBMV values during follow-up (all P < 0.05). However, left atrial mean pressure, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, mitral valve gradient and area of mitral valve orifice in > 8 group (108 cases) improved less than those in ≤ 8 group (245 cases) [(13.28 ± 5.06) mm Hg vs. (14.77 ± 5.17) mm Hg, (21.19 ± 9.17) mm Hg vs. (28.92 ± 9.91) mm Hg, (7.30 ± 4.40) mm Hg vs. (9.16 ± 4.28) mm Hg, (0.92 ± 0.17) cm(2) vs. (1.07 ± 0.20) cm(2); all P < 0.05]. The incidence of mitral restenosis was also significantly higher in > 8 group than in ≤ 8 group (20.4% vs. 8.2%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe mitral valve morphology played a key role on the outcome post PBMV in patients with mitral valve stenosis. Patients with lower echocardiographic scores benefit more from PBMV than patients with higher echocardiographic scores.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Balloon Valvuloplasty ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONPapillary muscle rupture and dysfunction can lead to complications of prolapsed mitral valve and mitral regurgitation. Multiple operative procedures of the papillary muscles, such as resection, repositioning and realignment, are carried out to restore normal physiological function. Therefore, it is important to know both the variations and the normal anatomy of papillary muscles.

METHODSThis study was carried out on 116 human cadaveric hearts. The left ventricles were opened along the left border in order to view the papillary muscles. The number, shape, position and pattern of the papillary muscles were observed.

RESULTSIn this series, the papillary muscles were mostly found in groups instead of in twos, as is described in standard textbooks. Four different shapes of papillary muscles were identified - conical, broad-apexed, pyramidal and fan-shaped. We also discovered various patterns of papillary muscles.

CONCLUSIONNo two mitral valve complexes have the same architectural arrangement. Each case seems to be unique. Therefore, it is important for scientists worldwide to study the variations in the mitral valve complex in order to ascertain the reason behind each specific architectural arrangement. This will enable cardiothoracic surgeons to tailor the surgical procedures according to the individual papillary muscle pattern.

Adult ; Anatomy ; methods ; Cadaver ; Chordae Tendineae ; anatomy & histology ; Heart ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; pathology ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; physiopathology ; Models, Anatomic ; Papillary Muscles ; pathology ; Thoracic Surgery ; methods

Echocardiography ; methods ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; surgery ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

This study evaluated pulsed TDI variables including the isovolumic time interval and duration of the major wave in a population of large healthy dogs. Longitudinal myocardial motion at the septal mitral annulus was evaluated with pulsed TDI in 45 healthy adult dogs. Maximal myocardial velocities, isovolumic time intervals, and duration of the myocardial waves were measured. The correlation between time intervals and velocity variables was also investigated. The mean maximal systolic velocity was 6.92 +/- 1.78 cm/sec, the mean early diastolic velocity (Em) was 6.58 +/- 1.81 cm/sec, the mean late diastolic velocity (Am) was 5.10 +/- 2.00 cm/sec, the mean isovolumic contraction time (IVCT) was 53.61 +/- 95.13 msec, and the mean isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was 26.74 +/- 57.24 msec. The early diastolic mitral inflow velocity (E)/Em ratio was 10.94 +/- 3.27 while the Em/Am ratio was 1.40 +/- 0.40. There was a negative correlation between Am duration and Am amplitude, and a positive correlation between the IVRT and Em/Am ratio (p < 0.05). The normal LV parameter using pulsed TDI method could be used as the reference range for identifying myocardial dysfunction in dogs.
Animals ; Dogs/*anatomy & histology ; Female ; Heart Ventricles/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Mitral Valve/*ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed/methods/*veterinary