Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (P-MAIVF) is a rare but potentially fatal entity. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment are particularly important to decrease risk of mortality. The purpose of this study was to explore the echocardiographic characteristics and outcome of P-MAIVF and to evaluate the potential application of three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography in the evaluation of P-MAIVF. Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were retrospectively evaluated in 9 patients with P-MAIVF, 5 of them assessed by 3D echocardiography. P-MAIVF was identified on echocardiography and located in the posterior aspect of the aortic root, expanding in systole and collapsing in diastole. Of the 9 cases examined, 8 were associated with endocarditis and 1 was caused by radio frequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Five cases were associated with bicuspid aortic valve, and rupture of P-MAIVF was identified in 3 patients. The morphology of P-MAIVF was clearly demonstrated on 3D echocardiography in 5 cases. In conclusion, echocardiography provides a useful tool in the diagnosis of P-MAIVF. Color Doppler flow imaging can ease identification of the ostium in cases of ruptured pseudoaneurysms. Three-dimensional echocardiography shows the relationship between P-MAIVF and the adjacent anatomic structures.
1 September 2014 in Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
Objectives: This study sought to echocardiographic manifestations and the related risk factors affecting the prognosis of isolated congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA). Methods: A total of 143 patients (≥18 years of age) were diagnosed with isolated CCTGA at Anzhen Hospital. The patients were classified as the operation group and the non-operation group depending on whether they had undergone tricuspid valve surgery. The echocardiographic data and follow-up were compared, and the primary outcomes examined were defined as death or heart transplantation. Results: The average age of 143 patients with isolated CCTGA was 39.93 ± 13.50 years. Tricuspid valve surgery was performed in 31 patients with isolated CCTGA, and 112 patients did not undergo tricuspid valve surgery. The incidence of tricuspid valve structural changes in the operation group was 39.1%, and this group had higher numbers of patients with right ventricular diastolic diameter, right ventricular systolic diameter, left atrial dimensions, and regurgitation before surgery compared with the non-operation group (p < 0.05). Follow-up results showed no significant difference in the number of death/heart transplantations, and the incidence of systemic ventricular ejection fraction (SVEF) < 40% between the two groups. The survival rate of the surgery group was higher than that of the non-surgery group, although not statistically significant (p = 0.123). Age, right ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and decreased SVEF at the first diagnosis are independent predictive risk factors for major adverse outcomes. Conclusions: Adult patients with isolated CCTGA may have structural abnormalities in their tricuspid valves. There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse outcomes, morphological right ventricular systolic dysfunction, and survival between the surgery group and the non-surgery group. However, this study is a retrospective study, and the sample size of the surgical group is relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the research conclusions. In the future, a prospective, large-scale study will be conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of tricuspid valve surgery on such patients.