Quantitative evaluation of mitral valve structure and function in patients with mitral valvuloplasty by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the variation of preoperative and postoperative structure and function of mitral valve after mitral valve annuloplasty(MVP) for mitral valve prolapse by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(RT-3D TEE). Methods Thirty patients with mitral valve prolapse for MVP were studied, the minimum area of the three-dimensional view of the annulus(A3Dmin), three dimensional circumference(C3D), anterolateal-to-posteromedial diameter(DAlPm), anterior-to-posteior diameter(DAP), height (H), the ratio of annulus height to anterolated-to-posteromedial diameter(H/DAlPm), aorto-mitral angle(θ), the ellipticity of the the anterior-to-posterior diameter and anterolateal-to-posteromedial diameter of the annulus(E2D), the three-dimensional exposed area of the leaflet(A3DE), prolapse height(HProl), prolapse volume(VProl), non-planarity angle(θNPA) were evaluated by RT-3D TEE before and after operation. Coaptation area(CoapA), coaptation index(CPI), annulus systolic function index were calculated. Results Compared with the preoperation, A3Dmin, C3D, DAlPm, DAP, H, H/DAlPm, A3DE, HProl, VProl, θNPA of postoperative were reduced, E2D, CoapA, CPI, annulus systolic function index of the postoperation increased, the difference of above parameters were statistically significant (P<0.05). CPI and annulus systolic function index were negatively correlated with the area of valve regurgitation area before and aftere operation (r=-0.79, P<0.01; r=-0.67, P<0.01). Furthermore, CPI was closely correlated with annulus systolic function index (r=0.63, P<0.01). Conclusions After MPV, mitral valve three-dimensional structural parameters are significantly changed, CPI and annulus systolic function are improved. CPI is closely correlated with annulus systolic function, and RT-3D TEE can quantitatively evaluate the structure and function of mitral valve before and after MPV.