Post-operative echocardiographic evaluation of bioprosthetic mitral valve implantation in sheep.

The ovine model is generally considered to be the best for testing bioprosthetic heart valve durability. Although echocardiography is the method of choice for the interim evaluation of the valve, literature on sheep echocardiography is scarce. Within the context of a study on treatment of pericardial heart valve prostheses, 19 adolescent sheep underwent transthoracic echocardiography six days after mitral implantation of bioprosthetic valves. Echocardiographic examination was performed under mild anesthesia and animals were put in a right lateral decubitus position. Four images were obtained: right parasternal long axis four and five chamber views, right parasternal long axis view with left ventricular outflow, and right parasternal short axis view through the mitral valve. We measured aortic annulus and velocity time integral over the aortic valve to determine stroke volume, cardiac output and cardiac index. The mitral valve was evaluated through color Doppler imaging for valvular and paravalvular leakages. Pulsed wave spectral Doppler was used for the measurement of velocities, pressures and velocity time integrals. For the evaluation of valve stenosis deceleration time and pressure half-time were determined. Effective orifice area of the mitral valve was derived. And, although not measured, other structures could clearly be visualized: right and left ventricle and atrium, wall thicknesses, tricuspid valve. This study shows that echocardiography in sheep is feasible, and that right parasternal images, obtained in animals in a right lateral decubitus position, are well qualified for the interim evaluation of bioprosthetic valves implanted in the mitral position. Besides the implanted valve, other cardiac structures like atria and ventricles can be visualized and evaluated.

20 years of arterial switch operation for simple TGA.

BACKGROUND: Arterial switch operation became the golden treatment for simple transposition of the great arteries (sTGA). We describe our experience with the arterial switch operation regarding long-term outcome and the need for re-intervention. Nevertheless, supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (SPS) remains a concern in the long run. We assess the evolution of SPS over time and evaluate the effect of technical modifications on SPS during our experience. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 133 patients operated with ASO for TGA between October 1991 and November 2009. Last report method was used. We reviewed our pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery database to examine the echocardiographic data and electrocardiograms. A mean follow-up of 9.2 years (+/- 5.83 SD) was reached. RESULTS: One (0.8%) patient deceased postoperatively due to cardiogenic shock. The overall actuarial freedom from reoperation (open and percutaneous) was 88.1%, 78.5% and 76.9% at 1, 5 and 10 years. SPS needed to be treated in 17 patients. Valve regurgitation at final investigation was maximal moderate in 5 patients for the aortic valve, 10 for pulmonary valve and 3 in tricuspid valve. CONCLUSIONS: ASO shows excellent long-term results in sTGA with a very low morbidity and mortality and is therefore the procedure of choice. Re-intervention rate is determined by SPS. Since the extensive mobilization of the pulmonary arteries and the creation of a longer neo-pulmonary root, reduction in SPS was seen with no re-interventions in the second half of the group. To obtain a final comparison with the atrial switch operation, a longer Follow-up is necessary.

Evolving Bioprosthetic Tissue Calcification Can Be Quantified Using Serial Multislice CT Scanning.

Background. We investigated the value of serial multislice CT scanning for in vivo determination of evolving tissue calcification in three separate experimental settings. Materials and Methods. Bioprosthetic valve tissue was implanted in three different conditions: (1) glutaraldehyde-fixed porcine stentless conduits in pulmonary position (n = 6); (2) glutaraldehyde-fixed stented pericardial valves in mitral position (n = 3); and (3) glutaraldehyde-fixed pericardial tissue as patch in the jugular vein and carotid artery (n = 16). Multislice CT scanning was performed at various time intervals. Results. In stentless conduits, the distribution of wall calcification can be reliably quantified with CT. After 20 weeks, the CT-determined mean calcium volume was 1831 ± 581 mm³, with a mean wall calcium content of 89.8 ± 44.4 µ g/mg (r (2) = 0.68). In stented pericardial valves implanted in mitral position, reliable determination of tissue mineralization is disturbed by scattering caused by the (continuously moving) alloy of the stent material. Pericardial patches in the neck vessels revealed progressive mineralization, with a significant increase in mean HU and calcium volume at 8 weeks after implantation, rising up to a level of 131.1 ± 39.6 mm³ (mean calcium volume score) and a mean calcium content of 19.1 ± 12.3 µ g/mg. Conclusion. The process of bioprosthetic tissue mineralization can be visualized and quantified in vivo using multislice CT scanning. This allows determination of the kinetics of tissue mineralization with intermediate in vivo evaluations.

Extravascular migration of a guide wire with perforation of the heart eight months after percutaneous coronary intervention: consequence of a conservative approach.

Impingement of a guide wire is not unusual during complex percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. It is mostly retrieved by endovascular procedures. If not possible, conservative therapy is frequently the next option, leaving the guide wire in place. This case describes the consequence of such an approach 9 months after initial percutaneous coronary intervention. The guide wire migrated through the abdominal cavity and finally perforated the heart. We therefore defend a more aggressive approach if a guide wire is locked in or lost. Surgical retrieval seems to be the best choice. Fixation of the guide wire with a stent is an acceptable alternative in high-risk patients.