Tissue tracking technologies such as speckle tracking echocardiography and feature tracking cardiac magnetic resonance have enhanced the noninvasive assessment of myocardial deformation in clinical research and clinical practice. The widespread enthusiasm for using tissue tracking techniques in research and clinical practice stems from the ready applicability of these technologies to routine echocardiographic or cardiac magnetic resonance images. The technology is common to both modalities, and derived parameters to describe myocardial mechanics are the similar, albeit with different accuracies. We provide an overview of the normal values and reproducibility of the clinically applicable parameters, together with their clinical validation. The use of these technologies in different clinical scenarios, and the additive value to current imaging diagnostics are discussed.

Tissue Tracking Technology for Assessing Cardiac Mechanics: Principles, Normal Values, and Clinical Applications

The assessment of myocardial function in the context of valvular heart disease remains highly challenging. The myocardium deforms simultaneously in 3 dimensions, and global left ventricular (LV) function parameters such as volume and ejection fraction may remain compensated despite the changes in myocardial deformation properties. Current guidelines recommend valve replacement/repair in the presence of symptoms or reduced LV ejection fraction, but the resolution of symptoms or recovery of LV function post-surgery may not be reliably predicted. A wealth of evidence currently suggests that LV dysfunction is frequently subclinical despite normal ejection fraction. It may precede the onset of symptoms and portend a poor outcome due to progressive myocardial remodeling and dysfunction during the post-operative period. The advent of novel tissue-tracking echocardiography techniques has unleashed new opportunities for the clinical identification of early abnormalities in LV function. This review gathers and summarizes current evidence regarding the use of these techniques to assess myocardial deformation in patients with valvular heart disease.

LV Mechanics in Mitral and Aortic Valve Diseases: Value of Functional Assessment Beyond Ejection Fraction

Importance Myocardial deformation or strain by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has become an established echocardiographic modality for the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of cardiac dysfunction. Current literature supports the incremental value of strain in diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognostication of a multitude of cardiac disease states. Observations Strain has been studied across the clinical spectrum from common to obscure pathologic conditions. This review presents the current literature evaluating characteristic strain patterns across this clinical spectrum, discusses prognostic implications, and provides a case series of classic strain polar maps, which are also known as bull’s-eye plots. Conclusions and Relevance Characteristic bull’s-eye patterns can be used to guide patient evaluation and management.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Echocardiographic Strain.

Aim To assess the effect of balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) on global and regional ventricular functions using 2D strain.

Methods and results Thirty-two patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and 30 healthy subjects underwent full echocardiographic examinations, including left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) regional and global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurements. In MS patients, measurements were repeated within 24 h and 3 months after BMV. Patients with MS had lower LV and RV GLS compared with control group (−16.5 ± 2.7% vs. −21.0 ± 1.5) and (−18.3 ± 4.7 vs. −19.8 ± 1.3), respectively. Significant decrease was noted in the basal and septal segments compared with the apical LV segments and RV free wall. BMV resulted in significant improvement in LV and RV GLS within 24 h post-BMV compared with baseline values ( P = 0.0001 and 0.0002, respectively), an improvement which was maintained after 3 months. There was significant positive correlation between both LV and RV GLS at baseline and mitral valve mean pressure gradient and RV systolic pressure and significant inverse correlation between LV GLS and MVA.

Conclusion MS patients have subclinical LV and RV systolic dysfunction by GLS despite normal ejection fraction and fractional area change. BMV results in marked improvement in LV and RV GLS immediately post-BMV with trend towards normalization at follow-up after 3 months. A mixed aetiology theory involving a myocardial as well as a haemodynamic factor is believed to be the cause for this subclinical biventricular dysfunction and its improvement at short-term follow-up post-BMV.

Immediate and short-term effect of balloon mitral valvuloplasty on global and regional biventricular function: a two-dimensional strain echocardiographic study

Background The discrepancy between planimetered mitral valve area (MVA) and mean diastolic pressure gradient (MDPG) has not been studied extensively in patients with mitral stenosis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate differences in characteristics and outcomes after mitral valve replacement (MVR) between low- and high-MDPG groups in patients with very severe mitral stenosis (VSMS). The hypothesis was that the low-MDPG group would have different characteristics and would be associated with poor clinical outcomes after MVR. Methods In total, 140 patients who underwent isolated MVR because of pure VSMS (planimetered MVA ≤ 1.0 cm 2 ) were retrospectively reviewed, and follow-up echocardiography was performed for ≥12 months after MVR. Patients were divided into two groups according to preoperative MDPG (low gradient [LG], Results There were 82 patients (59%) in the LG group and 58 patients (41%) in the HG group. The LG group was older and demonstrated a higher prevalence of female gender, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation ( P 2 , P −1 , P P P  = .004), even though preoperative functional class was similar between the groups. Conclusions Compared with those with HG VSMS, patients with LG VSMS were older, more often female, and more frequently had diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation. They also had greater impairment of isovolumic relaxation, less favorable left atrial reverse remodeling, and a greater risk for persistent symptoms after MVR. These data might suggest other concurrent mechanisms for left atrial enlargement and symptom development in LG VSMS, such as atrial fibrillation and diastolic dysfunction, as well as valvular stenosis.

Differences in Characteristics, Left Atrial Reverse Remodeling, and Functional Outcomes after Mitral Valve Replacement in Patients with Low-Gradient Very Severe Mitral Stenosis

Background Previous studies have reported abnormal left ventricular (LV) contraction in patients with mitral stenosis (MS). The aim of this study was to explore the serial changes in LV mechanics in patients with severe MS undergoing balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) to understand the reversibility and determinants of abnormal LV contractile function. Methods Fifty-seven patients with severe MS and 19 healthy controls underwent echocardiographic examinations, including two-dimensional speckle-tracking-based LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain measurements. In patients with MS, the same measurements were repeated 72 hours after BMV. Results In comparison with controls, patients with MS had faster heart rates and lower LV end-diastolic volumes and LV ejection fractions ( P  = .008). The magnitudes of both GLS and global circumferential strain were reduced in patients with MS ( P P Conclusions LV deformation is reduced in patients with severe MS and is related to the hemodynamic severity of MS. BMV results in rapid improvement of LV deformation, which is correlated with serial improvement in LV diastolic loading. These findings suggest that reduced LV diastolic filling rather than an irreversible myocardial structural abnormality contributes predominantly to reduced LV mechanical performance in patients with MS.

Effects of Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty on Left Ventricular Deformation in Patients with Isolated Severe Mitral Stenosis: A Speckle-Tracking Strain Echocardiographic Study

Seven cases of MVR have been performed in this newly opened tertiary Care Centre till now. We present an unusual case of a 52 year old female who underwent MVR and developed hyperbilirubinaemia on 2nd postoperative day. This laso revrted the next day without any permanant sequelae. Our patient was asymptomatic through the process.

https://vjim.org/view-pdf/?&article=3a8ce866e276edb473aa6a785fea1d8dgi7m6iwYRk0=

Sunil Washimkar

Papers

Effects of Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty on Left Ventricular Deformation in Patients with Isolated Severe Mitral Stenosis: A Speckle-Tracking Strain Echocardiographic Study

An Unusual Case of Hyperbilirubinaemia Post Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery in a Tertiary Care Centre