Thaden, Jeremy J.

Abstract Background: Aortic valve stenosis (AS) commonly causes left ventricular (LV) pressure overload; thus, identifying patients with adverse remodeling/early LV dysfunction is critical. We compared 2-dimensional (2D) to 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic measures of LV myocardial deformation in patients with severe AS and studied the relation of LV preload and afterload (Zva) to myocardial deformation. Methods: We prospectively included 168 symptomatic patients (72±12 years) with severe AS and ejection fractions ≥50%. Strain parameters from those patients were compared with normal values found in the literature. 3D full-volume and 2D images were analyzed for global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS), global circumferential strain (GCS), systolic strain rate (SRs), basal rotation (Rotmax-B), apical rotation (Rotmax-A), and peak systolic twist (Twistmax). Results: 2D–GLS and 2D–GCS decreased significantly compared with normal values (P˂.001 and P=.02, respectively); 2D Rotmax-B and Twistmax increased (P˂.001 vs normal values). Agreement between 2D–GLS and 3D–GLS by concordance correlation coefficient was 0.49 (95% CI, 0.39-0.57) in patients with AS. Both 2D– and 3D–GLS correlated with valvulo-arterial impedance (Zva) (r=0.34, P<.001; and r=0.23, P=.003, respectively). Conclusion: In patients with severe AS, GLS and GCS decreased, and basal rotation and twist increased to maintain LV ejection fraction. 2D– and 3D–GLS had a relatively fair agreement. Both 2D– and 3D–GLS correlated modestly with Zva.

AbstractWe describe a case of a mass‐like echocardiographic density on a mechanical prosthetic aortic valve. We initially suspected a thrombus vs vegetation on transthoracic echocardiography, but after transesophageal echocardiography, the density was subsequently determined to be cavitation by reviewing the initial images in slow motion.

Background Mitral regurgitation is a heterogeneous disease. Determining which patients derive optimal outcomes from transcatheter edge‐to‐edge mitral valve repair (TMVR) remains challenging. We sought to determine whether baseline mitral valve anatomic characteristics are predictive of left atrial pressure (LAP) changes during TMVR with MitraClip. Methods and Results Consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation undergoing TMVR (n=112) underwent continuous intraprocedural LAP monitoring and retrospective echocardiographic analysis for specific mitral anatomic characteristics. Procedural success (optimal LAP reduction) was defined as ≥40% reduction in left atrial V‐wave pressure compared with baseline. Echocardiographic predictors of optimal LAP reduction and increased postprocedure mean diastolic gradient were evaluated. Mean age was 79±14 years, and 36 patients (32%) were women. Primary, mixed, and secondary mitral regurgitation were present in 78 patients (70%), 22 patients (20%), and 12 patients (10%), respectively. Baseline mean LAP and V‐wave were 22±6 and 38±13 mm Hg; after TMVR, these decreased to 19±5 and 27±10 mm Hg, respectively ( P <0.0001 for both). Independent predictors of optimal LAP reduction were the presence of a flail scallop, mitral regurgitation localized to a single scallop, and high‐quality 3‐dimensional echocardiographic imaging. Independent predictors of elevated postprocedure mean diastolic gradient were elevated preprocedure mean diastolic gradient, mitral annular calcification, and implantation of multiple clips. Conclusions Mitral valve pathoanatomic features, including a flail leaflet and single jet, are predictive of optimal LAP reduction with TMVR. High‐quality 3‐dimensional imaging may help select patients with the highest likelihood of optimal hemodynamic results with TMVR. These data expand current knowledge about patient selection for TMVR and deserve further study in larger cohorts.

Background— It is presumed that echocardiographic laboratory accreditation leads to improved quality, but there are few data. We sought to compare the quality of echocardiographic examinations performed at accredited versus nonaccredited laboratories for the evaluation of valvular heart disease. Methods and Results— We enrolled 335 consecutive valvular heart disease subjects who underwent echocardiography at our institution and an external accredited or nonaccredited institution within 6 months. Completeness and quality of echocardiographic reports and images were assessed by investigators blinded to the external laboratory accreditation status and echocardiographic results. Compared with nonaccredited laboratories, accredited sites more frequently reported patient sex (94% versus 78%; P <0.001), height and weight (96% versus 63%; P <0.001), blood pressure (86% versus 39%; P <0.001), left ventricular size (96% versus 83%; P <0.001), right ventricular size (94% versus 80%; P =0.001), and right ventricular function (87% versus 73%; P =0.006). Accredited laboratories had higher rates of complete and diagnostic color (58% versus 35%; P =0.002) and spectral Doppler imaging (45% versus 21%; P <0.0001). Concordance between external and internal grading of external studies was improved when diagnostic quantification was performed (85% versus 69%; P =0.003), and in patients with mitral regurgitation, reproducibility was improved with higher quality color Doppler imaging. Conclusions— Accredited echocardiographic laboratories had more complete reporting and better image quality, while echocardiographic quantification and color Doppler image quality were associated with improved concordance in grading valvular heart disease. Future quality improvement initiatives should highlight the importance of high-quality color Doppler imaging and echocardiographic quantification to improve the accuracy, reproducibility, and quality of echocardiographic studies for valvular heart disease.