Hiroto Utsunomiya

Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation Caused by Chronic Atrial Fibrillation: A Real-Time 3-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography Study

Background— Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with a structurally normal tricuspid valve (TV) may occur secondary to chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the clinical and echocardiographic differences according to functional TR subtypes are unclear. Therefore, characterization of functional TR because of chronic AF (AF-TR) remains undetermined. Methods and Results— To investigate the prevalence of AF-TR, 437 patients with moderate to severe TR underwent 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography. TR severity was determined by the averaged vena contracta width on apical and parasternal inflow views. The prevalence of AF-TR was 9.2%, whereas that of functional TR because of left-sided heart disease was 45.3%. Clinical features of AF-TR included advanced age, female sex, greater right atrial than left atrial enlargement and lower systolic pulmonary artery pressure compared with left-sided heart disease-TR with sinus rhythm (all P <0.05). In 3D TV assessment, patients with AF-TR had a larger TV annular area with weaker annular contraction (both P <0.001) but a smaller tethering angle ( P <0.001) despite a similar leaflet coaptation status compared with patients with left-sided heart disease-TR with sinus rhythm. On multivariable analysis, only the TV annular area in midsystole (coefficient, 0.059; 95% confidence interval, 0.041–0.078 per 100 mm2; P <0.001) was associated with TR severity in AF-TR. The annular area was more closely correlated with the right atrial volume than right ventricular end-systolic volume in AF-TR ( P <0.001). Conclusions— AF-TR is not rare and is associated with advanced age and right atrial enlargement. TV deformations and their association with right heart remodeling differ between AF-TR and left-sided heart disease-TR. Our results suggest that in patients with TR secondary to AF, TV annuloplasty should be effective because this entity has annular dilatation without leaflet deformation.Background— Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with a structurally normal tricuspid valve (TV) may occur secondary to chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the clinical and echocardiographic differences according to functional TR subtypes are unclear. Therefore, characterization of functional TR because of chronic AF (AF-TR) remains undetermined. Methods and Results— To investigate the prevalence of AF-TR, 437 patients with moderate to severe TR underwent 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography. TR severity was determined by the averaged vena contracta width on apical and parasternal inflow views. The prevalence of AF-TR was 9.2%, whereas that of functional TR because of left-sided heart disease was 45.3%. Clinical features of AF-TR included advanced age, female sex, greater right atrial than left atrial enlargement and lower systolic pulmonary artery pressure compared with left-sided heart disease-TR with sinus rhythm (all P<0.05). In 3D TV assessment, patients with AF-TR had a larger TV annular area with weaker annular contraction (both P<0.001) but a smaller tethering angle (P<0.001) despite a similar leaflet coaptation status compared with patients with left-sided heart disease-TR with sinus rhythm. On multivariable analysis, only the TV annular area in midsystole (coefficient, 0.059; 95% confidence interval, 0.041–0.078 per 100 mm2; P<0.001) was associated with TR severity in AF-TR. The annular area was more closely correlated with the right atrial volume than right ventricular end-systolic volume in AF-TR (P<0.001). Conclusions— AF-TR is not rare and is associated with advanced age and right atrial enlargement. TV deformations and their association with right heart remodeling differ between AF-TR and left-sided heart disease-TR. Our results suggest that in patients with TR secondary to AF, TV annuloplasty should be effective because this entity has annular dilatation without leaflet deformation.

Vena contracta analysis by color Doppler three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography shows geometrical differences between prolapse and pseudoprolapse in eccentric mitral regurgitation

Evaluation of eccentric mitral regurgitation (MR) remains extremely difficult and the role played by its etiology, functional or degenerative, is not well understood. This study aimed to demonstrate the value of three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) in the evaluation of eccentric MR identifying geometric differences in the vena contracta area between functional and degenerative etiologies.

Usefulness of 3D echocardiographic parameters of tricuspid valve morphology to predict residual tricuspid regurgitation after tricuspid annuloplasty

Aims Tricuspid valve (TV) annuloplasty is an effective treatment for tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, the impact of TV morphology on outcome of TV annuloplasty remains unknown. We sought to investigate the relationship between preoperative TV morphology and residual TR after annuloplasty. Methods and Results Two-dimensional transthoracic and three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography were performed in 97 patients with functional TR before and after surgery. 3D quantitative assessment including annular dimension, tenting height and volume, and lengths and tethering angles of the 3 leaflets was performed. The TV morphological score was derived from the preoperative 3D echocardiography to score a leaflet mobility, leaflet thickening, subvalvular thickening, and calcification. TR severity was determined by the averaged vena contracta measured from the apical and parasternal inflow views. Multivariable analysis revealed that a shorter total leaflet length (P = 0.007), larger tenting volume (P < 0.001), and higher TV morphological score (P < 0.001) were independently associated with residual TR. A TV-Echo score was determined as a sum of points based on receiver operator characteristics analysis: total leaflet length >61.0 mm, 61.0 to 53.5 mm, and <53.5 mm; tenting volume <2.3 mL, 2.3 to 3.5 mL, and >3.5 mL; and TV morphological score <7, 7 to 18, and >18; each variable was associated with 0 and 1 point and 2 points, respectively. The TV-Echo score ≥2 was associated with significant residual TR with a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 71.0%. Conclusion In addition to tethering and short length of the leaflets, TV morphological abnormality predicted residual TR after TV annuloplasty.

Geometric changes in ventriculoaortic complex after transcatheter aortic valve replacement and its association with post-procedural prosthesis–patient mismatch: an intraprocedural 3D-TEE study

Aims Prosthesis–patient mismatch (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) leads to increased mortality. However, its peri-procedural determinants remain unknown. We investigated geometric changes in aortic annulus (AoA) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) during TAVR by three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) and its association with post-procedural PPM. Methods and results A total of 131 patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent intraprocedural 3D-TEE during balloon-expandable TAVR. The severity of PPM was graded using the indexed effective orifice area calculated by Doppler echocardiography at discharge, with moderate defined as ≥0.65 and ⩽0.85 cm2/m2 and severe defined as <0.65 cm2/m2. 3D planimetered AoA area decreased after TAVR (P< 0.001), whereas the LVOT increased (P= 0.004). The eccentricity of both AoA and LVOT decreased after TAVR (both, P< 0.001). At discharge, the incidence of overall and severe PPM was 44 and 12%, respectively. Patients with PPM had a larger body surface area, smaller aortic valve area, and less frequent balloon dilation (all P< 0.05). Patients with PPM had a lower post-TAVR AoA area/pre-TAVR AoA area (91 ± 8 vs. 95 ± 7%, P= 0.001) than those without PPM. The post-TAVR AoA area/pre-TAVR AoA area was independently associated with overall PPM (odds ratio, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.06–3.05; P= 0.031) and severe PPM (odds ratio, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.05–5.36; P= 0.04). Additionally, a cut-off value of this ratio >86.3% had a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 44% for the prevention of severe PPM. Conclusion 3D-TEE can evaluate geometric changes in AoA and LVOT during balloon-expandable TAVR and predicts post-procedural PPM.

Evaluation of vegetation size and its relationship with septic pulmonary embolism in tricuspid valve infective endocarditis: A real time 3DTEE study

Tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (TVIE) causes septic pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the impact of vegetation size on PE is not fully elucidated.

Comparison of mitral valve geometrical effect of percutaneous edge-to-edge repair between central and eccentric functional mitral regurgitation: clinical implications

AIMS Percutaneous edge-to-edge repair alters mitral valve (MV) geometry in functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). We sought to characterize MV morphology in patients with central and eccentric FMR, compare the geometrical effect of MitraClip therapy, and elucidate different mechanisms of MR improvement according to FMR subtypes. METHODS AND RESULTS Seventy-six symptomatic patients with Grade 3 to 4+ FMR (central, n = 39; eccentric, n = 37) underwent three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography during MitraClip implantation. We defined procedural success as a reduction of MR by ≥1 grade with having a residual mitral regurgitation (MR) of ≤ grade 2+. Procedural success rate was similar between central and eccentric FMR (77% vs. 78%, P = 0.55). After MitraClip, the reduction in anterior-posterior diameter did not differ between FMR subtypes, but patients with eccentric FMR had a greater reduction in the averaged tethering angle difference (P < 0.001) with less reduction in tenting volume and height (both P < 0.001) than did patients with central FMR. On multivariable analysis, in central FMR, MR reduction post-clip was associated with shortening in anterior-posterior diameter [coefficient 0.388, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.216-0.561; P < 0.001] and an increase in coaptation area (coefficient 0.117, 95% CI 0.039-0.194; P = 0.004), whereas in eccentric FMR MR reduction was mainly associated with a decrease in the averaged tethering angle difference (coefficient 0.050, 95% CI 0.021-0.078; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION MV geometrical effect and its association with MR improvement after MitraClip therapy differ according to FMR subtypes. Our results indicate the MR jet direction and the leaflet tethering pattern may be considered in the strategy for percutaneous treatment for FMR.

FREQUENCY AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF FUNCTIONAL TRICUSPID REGURGITATION IN PATIENTS WITH ISOLATED CHRONIC ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) may cause functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR). The present transthoracic echocardiography study aimed to investigate the frequency of FTR in AF and to define its echocardiographic features. From our echocardiography database, we searched for and reviewed