Abstract Background The nonplanar, saddle-shaped structure of the mitral annulus has been well established through decades of anatomic and echocardiographic study. Its relevance for mitral annular ...assessment for transcatheter mitral valve implantation is uncertain. Objective Our objectives are to define the methodology for CT-based simplified “D-shaped” mitral annular assessment for transcatheter mitral valve implantation and compare these measurements to traditional “saddle-shaped” mitral annular assessment. Methods The annular contour was manually segmented, and fibrous trigones were identified using electrocardiogram-gated diastolic CT data sets of 28 patients with severe functional mitral regurgitation, yielding annular perimeter, projected area, trigone-to-trigone (TT) distance, and septal-lateral distance. In contrast to the traditional saddle-shaped annulus, the D-shaped annulus was defined as being limited anteriorly by the TT distance, excluding the aortomitral continuity. Hypothetical left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) clearance was assessed. Results Projected area, perimeter, and septal-lateral distance were found to be significantly smaller for the D-shaped annulus (11.2 ± 2.7 vs 13.0 ± 3.0 cm2 ; 124.1 ± 15.1 vs 136.0 ± 15.5 mm; and 32.1 ± 4.0 vs 40.1 ± 4.9 mm, respectively; P < .001). TT distances were identical (32.7 ± 4.1 mm). Hypothetical LVOT clearance was significantly lower for the saddle-shaped annulus than for the D-shaped annulus (10.7 ± 2.2 vs 17.5 ± 3.0 mm; P < .001). Conclusion By truncating the anterior horn of the saddle-shaped annular contour at the TT distance, the resulting more planar and smaller D-shaped annulus projects less onto the LVOT, yielding a significantly larger hypothetical LVOT clearance than the saddle-shaped approach. CT-based mitral annular assessment may aid preprocedural sizing, ensuring appropriate patient and device selection.
BACKGROUND Mortality risk prediction tools have been developed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, however, it is unknown whether these models accurately estimate mortality in systemic ...sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Methods: Four baseline risk prediction models—the Composite Physiologic Index, the Interstitial Lung Disease-Gender, Age, Physiology Index, the du Bois index, and the modified du Bois index—were calculated for patients recruited from a specialized SSc-ILD clinic. Each baseline model was assessed using logistic regression analysis with 1-year mortality as the outcome variable. Discrimination was quantified using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Calibration was assessed using the goodness-of-fit test. The incremental prognostic ability of additional predictor variables was determined by adding prespecified variables to each baseline model. Results: The 156 patients with SSc-ILD completed 1,294 pulmonary function tests, 725 6-min walk tests, and 637 echocardiograms. Median survival was 15.0 years from the time of SSc-ILD diagnosis. All baseline models were significant predictors of 1-year mortality in SSc-ILD. The modified du Bois index had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84, compared with 0.77 to 0.81 in the other models. Calibration was acceptable for the modified du Bois index, but was poor for the other models. All baseline models include FVC and 6-min walk distance was identified as an additional independent predictor of 1-year mortality. Conclusions The modified du Bois index has good discrimination and calibration for the prediction of 1-year mortality in SSc-ILD. FVC and 6-min walk distance are important independent predictors of 1-year mortality in SSc-ILD. CHEST 2015; 148(5):1268-1275
Abstract Background There is concern regarding the administration of iodinated contrast to patients with impaired renal function because of the increased risk of contrast-induced nephropathy. ...Objective Evaluate image quality and feasibility of a protocol with a reduced volume of iodinated contrast and utilization of dual-energy coronary CT angiography (DECT) vs a standard iodinated contrast volume coronary CT angiography protocol (SCCTA). Methods A total of 102 consecutive patients were randomized to SCCTA (n = 53) or DECT with rapid kVp switching (n = 49). Eighty milliliters and 35 mL of iodinated contrast were administered in the SCCTA and DECT cohorts, respectively. Two readers measured signal and noise in the coronary arteries; signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. A 5-point signal/noise Likert scale was used to evaluate image quality; scores of <3 were nondiagnostic. Agreement was assessed through kappa analyses. Results Demographics and radiation dose were not significantly different; there was no difference in CNR between both cohorts ( P = .95). A significant difference in SNR between the groups ( P = .02) lost significance ( P = .13) when adjusted for body mass index. The median Likert score was inferior for DECT for reader 1 (3.6 ± 0.6 vs 4.3 ± 0.6; P < .001) but not reader 2 (4.1 ± 0.6 vs 4.3 ± 0.5; P = .06). Agreement in diagnostic interpretability in the DECT and SCCTA groups was 91% (95% confidence interval, 86%–100%) and 96% (95% confidence interval, 90%–100%), respectively. Conclusion DECT resulted in inferior image quality scores but demonstrated comparable SNR, CNR, and rate of diagnostic interpretability without a radiation dose penalty while allowing for >50% reduction in contrast volume compared with SCCTA.
Posterolateral rotator instability (PLRI) is the most common pattern of recurrent elbow instability, and current imaging to aid PLRI diagnosis is limited. Thus, we sought to define use of ultrasound ...(US) to determine normal lateral ulnohumeral joint measurements, with and without posterolateral drawer testing to provide an insight into how US may aid diagnosis.
Sixty elbows were evaluated in thirty healthy volunteers. The lateral ulnohumeral gap (LUHG) was measured with US in the resting position while the posterolateral drawer stress test maneuver was applied. Joint laxity was calculated as the difference between maximum stress and average rest measurements. Two independent readers assessed each elbow with comparison performed between stress and rest positions.
Differences in the LUHG were evident between stress and rest conditions (reader 1: P < .0001 and reader 2: P = .0002). At rest, median LUHG values were 2.31 mm and 2.05 mm for readers 1 and 2 respectively, while at stress 2.88 mm and 2.9 mm for readers 1 and 2. Median joint laxity was 0.8 mm for reader 1 and 1.1 mm for reader 2. Pearson correlation was r = 0.457 (absolute intraclass correlation coefficient ICC = 0.608) while under stress and r = 0.308 (absolute intraclass correlation coefficient ICC = 0.417) at rest. Median joint laxity demonstrated a Pearson correlation of r = 0.161 and absolute intraclass correlation coefficient ICC = 0.252.
This study demonstrates a dynamic US assessment for PLRI, which aimed to assess the usefulness and feasibility of a laxity measurement after the application of a posterolateral drawer stress maneuver in a healthy population. Although establishing concordance between readers in measuring an LUHG under stress, the utility of a laxity measurement alone is not clear as correlation of measurements is not excellent; hence, an upper limit of normal for the ulnohumeral gap under stress may be more useful. Further evaluation of this technique is required in patients with PLRI.
Abstract Background A detailed assessment of calcium within the aortic root may provide important additional information regarding the risk of aortic root injury during transcatheter heart valve ...replacement (TAVR). Objective We sought to delineate the effect of calcium volume and distribution on aortic root injury during TAVR. Methods Thirty-three patients experiencing aortic root injury during TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve were compared with a control group of 153 consecutive TAVR patients without aortic root injury (as assessed by post-TAVR multidetector CT). Using commercial software to analyze contrast-enhanced pre-TAVR CT scans, calcium volume was determined in 3 regions: (1) the overall left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), extending 10 mm down from the aortic annulus plane; (2) the upper LVOT, extending 2 mm down from the annulus plane; and (3) the aortic valve region. Results Calcium volumes in the upper LVOT (median, 29 vs 0 mm3 ; P < .0001) and overall LVOT (median, 74 vs 3 mm3 ; P = .0001) were higher in patients who experienced aortic root injury compared with the control group. Calcium in the aortic valve region did not differ between groups. Upper LVOT calcium volume was more predictive of aortic root injury than overall LVOT calcium volume (area under receiver operating curve AUC, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.69–0.86 vs AUC, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.62–0.82; P = .010). Upper LVOT calcium below the noncoronary cusp was significantly more predictive of aortic root injury compared to calcium underneath the right coronary cusp or the left coronary cusp (AUC, 0.81 vs 0.68 vs 0.64). Prosthesis oversizing >20% (likelihood ratio test, P = .028) and redilatation (likelihood ratio test, P = .015) improved prediction of aortic root injury by upper LVOT calcium volume. Conclusion Calcification of the LVOT, especially in the upper LVOT, located below the noncoronary cusp and extending from the annular region, is predictive of aortic root injury during TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve.
Abstract Objectives The aims of this study were to determine D-shaped mitral annulus (MA) dimensions in control subjects without significant cardiac disease and in patients with moderate to severe ...mitral regurgitation (MR) being considered for transcatheter mitral therapy and to determine predictors of annular size, using cardiac computed tomography. Background The recently introduced D-shaped method of MA segmentation represents a biomechanically appropriate approach for annular sizing prior to transcatheter mitral valve implantation. Methods Patients who had retrospectively gated cardiac computed tomography performed at our institution (2012 to 2014) and were free of significant cardiac disease were included as controls (n = 88; 56 ± 11 years of age; 47% female) and were compared with patients with moderate or severe MR due to functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) (n = 27) or mitral valve prolapse (MVP) (n = 32). MA dimensions (projected area, perimeter, intercommissural, and septal-to-lateral distance), maximal left atrial (LA) volumes, and phasic left ventricular volumes were measured. Results MA dimensions were larger in patients with FMR or MVP compared with controls (area index 4.7 ± 0.6 cm2 /m2 , 6.0 ± 1.3 cm2 /m2 , and 7.3 ± 1.7 cm2 /m2 ; perimeter index 59 ± 5 mm/m2 , 67 ± 9 mm/m2 , and 75 ± 10 mm/m2 ; intercommissural distance index 20.2 ± 1.9 mm/m2 , 21.2 ± 3.1 mm/m2 , and 24.7 ± 3.2 mm/m2 ; septal-to-lateral distance index 14.8 ± 1.6, 18.1 ± 3.3, and 19.5 ± 3.4 mm/m2 in controls and patients with FMR and MVP, respectively; p < 0.05 between controls and MR subgroups). Absolute MA area was 18% larger in patients with MVP than patients with FMR (13.0 ± 2.9 cm2 vs. 11.0 ± 2.3 cm2 ; p = 0.006). Although LA and left ventricular volumes were both independently associated with MA area index in controls and patients with MVP, only LA volume was associated with annular size in patients with FMR. Conclusions Moderate to severe MR was associated with increased MA dimensions, especially among patients with MVP compared with control subjects without cardiac disease. Moreover, unlike in controls and patients with MVP, annular enlargement in FMR was more closely associated with LA dilation.
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