Introdução: A plástica valvar mitral é o tratamento de escolha no tratamento da insuficiência mitral de etiologia degenerativa. Estudos recentes têm demonstrado que a utilização de anéis protéticos na plástica mitral altera a dinâmica do anel mitral e do fluxo intraventricular, podendo levar a disfunção ventricular esquerda. Entretanto, a literatura é escassa em relação à morfologia e à dinâmica do anel mitral após a plástica mitral sem a utilização de anéis protéticos, e a ressonância magnética cardiovascular (RMC) é uma ferramenta que pode ser utilizada na avaliação do anel mitral e do remodelamento do átrio e do ventrículo esquerdo. Objetivo: Avaliar as alterações morfofuncionais, a dinâmica do anel mitral e o remodelamento do átrio e ventrículo esquerdo, por meio da RMC, em indivíduos portadores de insuficiência mitral de etiologia degenerativa, submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico da valva mitral com a técnica do \"Duplo Teflon\". Métodos: No período de julho de 2014 a agosto de 2016, foram selecionados 36 pacientes consecutivos, com insuficiência mitral de etiologia degenerativa e prolapso da cúspide posterior. Três pacientes foram submetidos à troca valvar mitral e quatro não realizaram a RMC, de modo que 29 pacientes foram incluídos no protocolo e fizeram o seguimento proposto. Destes, 17 pacientes eram do sexo masculino (58,6%) e 12 do sexo feminino (41,4%), com idade média de 63,3 anos. Em relação à classe funcional (CF - NYHA), um paciente encontrava-se em CF I (3,4%), 5 pacientes em CF II (17,3%), 19 pacientes em CF III (65,5%) e 4 pacientes em CF IV (13,8%) no período pré-operatório. Os pacientes realizaram o exame de RMC no período pré-operatório, pós-operatório imediato (até 30 dias), 6 meses, um ano e dois anos após a cirurgia, utilizando um protocolo específico para avaliação da valva mitral. Foram obtidas as medidas da circunferência, dos diâmetros e da área do anel mitral em diferentes fases do ciclo cardíaco (diástole, sístole inicial, sístole média e sístole final). Foi analisado o remodelamento cardíaco, sendo utilizados como parâmetros as dimensões, volumes e fração de ejeção do átrio esquerdo e do ventrículo esquerdo, sendo os volumes indexados pela superfície corpórea. Utilizamos o teste de análise de variância de medidas repetidas para o estudo estatístico, sendo considerado estatisticamente significante P < 0,05. Resultados: Houve um óbito hospitalar (3,4%). Com dois anos de seguimento, houve significativa melhora da classe funcional (CF), com 18 pacientes em CF I (75%) e 6 em CF II (25%). Após dois anos, 18 pacientes apresentam insuficiência mitral discreta ou ausente (75%) e dois pacientes (8,3%) apresentam insuficiência mitral importante, um deles relacionado ao implante de marcapasso no pós-operatório tardio. Observamos uma redução significativa em todas as medidas da valva mitral. A média da circunferência sistólica do anel mitral foi reduzida de 13,28 ± 1,95 para 11,5 ± 1,59 cm e a circunferência diastólica foi reduzida de 12,51 ± 2,01 para 10,66 ± 2,09 cm no período pós-operatório imediato, medidas que se mantiveram estáveis após 2 anos (P < 0,001). A média da área máxima do anel mitral no pré-operatório, pós-operatório imediato, 6 meses, 1 ano e 2 anos foi 14,34 ± 4,03 cm, 10,72 ± 2,81 cm, 10,92 ± 3,03 cm, 10,98 ± 3,45 cm, 10,45 ± 3,17 cm, respectivamente. A média da área mínima do anel mitral no pré-operatório, pós-operatório imediato, 6 meses, 1 ano e 2 anos foi de 12,53 ± 3,68 cm2, 9,60 ± 2,44 cm2, 9,66 ± 2,9 cm2, 9,60 ± 3,73 cm2 , 9,23 ± 2,84 cm2, respectivamente. Houve uma redução significativa desses parâmetros no seguimento de dois anos (p < 0,001), e essa redução foi maior no diâmetro ântero-posterior do que no diâmetro médio-lateral. A contração ou variação da área valvar mitral durante o ciclo cardíaco foi de 23,31 ± 9,04%, 19,63 ± 7,01%, 23,75 ± 8,09%, 25,75 ± 11,27%, 22,66 ± 9,77% respectivamente no pré-operatório, pós-operatório imediato, 6 meses, 1 ano e 2 anos, sem diferença estatística (p = 0,572), o que significa que a contratilidade do anel foi preservada após a cirurgia. Observamos redução dos volumes ventriculares e atriais esquerdos no seguimento, sendo mais significativa a redução do índice do volume diastólico final do ventrículo esquerdo. Conclusão: Observamos uma redução significativa do anel mitral após a cirurgia, em todas as medidas obtidas, com estabilidade da plástica mitral em 2 anos de seguimento e preservação da contração dinâmica do anel neste período / Introduction: Mitral valve repair is the treatment of choice for mitral regurgitation of degenerative etiology. Recent studies have shown that the use of prosthetic rings in mitral valve repair alters the dynamics of the mitral annulus and intraventricular flow, which may lead to left ventricular dysfunction. However, the literature is scarce in relation to the morphology and dynamics of the mitral annulus after mitral repair without the use of prosthetic rings, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a tool that can be used in the evaluation of the mitral annulus and the remodeling of the left atrium and left ventricle. Objective: To evaluate the morphological changes and the dynamics of the mitral valve and the remodeling of the left atrium and left ventricle, by CMR, in patients with mitral insufficiency of degenerative etiology who underwent mitral valve surgery with the Double Teflon technique. Methods: From July 2014 to August 2016, 36 consecutive patients with mitral insufficiency of degenerative etiology and prolapse of the posterior leaflet were selected. Three patients underwent mitral valve replacement and four did not perform the CMR, so that 29 patients were included in the protocol and did the proposed follow-up. Of these, 17 patients were male (58.6%) and 12 were female (41.4%), with a mean age of 63.3 years. In relation to functional class (NYHA), one patient was in Class I (3.4%), 5 patients in Class II (17.3%), 19 patients in Class III (65.5%) and 4 patients in Class IV (13.8%) in the preoperative period. Patients underwent CMR examination in the preoperative period, immediate postoperative (up to 30 days), 6 months, one year and two years after surgery, using a specific protocol for mitral valve evaluation. Measurements of the circumference, diameters and mitral ring area were obtained in different phases of the cardiac cycle (diastole, initial systole, mean systole and final systole). Cardiac remodeling was analyzed, and the dimensions, volumes and ejection fraction of the left atrium and left ventricle were used as parameters, and the volumes were indexed by the body surface. We used the analysis of variance of repeated measures for the statistical analysis, being considered statistically significant P < 0.05. Results: There was one hospital death (3,4%). After two years of follow-up, there was a significant improvement in functional class, with 18 patients in Class I (75%) and 6 in Class II (25%). After two years, 18 patients had mild or absent mitral insufficiency (75%) and two patients (8.3%) had important mitral regurgitation, one of them related to late postoperative pacemaker implantation. We observed a significant reduction in all measures of the mitral valve. The mean systolic circumference of the mitral annulus was reduced from 13.28 ± 1.95 to 11.5 ± 1.59 cm and the diastolic circumference was reduced from 12.51 ± 2.01 to 10.66 ± 2.09 cm in the immediate postoperative period, measures that remained stable after 2 years (P < 0.001). The mean maximal area of the mitral annulus in the preoperative, immediate postoperative, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years was 14.34 ± 4.03 cm, 10.72 ± 2.81 cm, 10.92 ± 3,03 cm, 10.98 ± 3.45 cm, 10.45 ± 3.17 cm, respectively. The mean minimal area of the mitral annulus in the preoperative, immediate postoperative, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years was 12.53 ± 3.68 cm2, 9.60 ± 2.44 cm2, 9.66 ± 2.9 cm2, 9.60 ± 3.73 cm2, 9.23 ± 2.84 cm2, respectively. There was a significant reduction of these parameters at two-year follow-up (p < 0.001), and this reduction was greater in the antero-posterior diameter than in the midlateral diameter. The contraction or variation of the mitral valve area during the cardiac cycle was 23.31 ± 9.04%, 19.63 ± 7.01%, 23.75 ± 8.09%, 25.75 ± 11.27%, 22.66 ± 9.77% respectively in the preoperative, postoperative, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, without statistical difference (p = 0.572), which means that the contractility of the ring was preserved after surgery. We observed reduction of left ventricular and left atrial volumes in the follow-up, being more significant the reduction of the left ventricle end-diastolic volume index. Conclusion: We observed a significant reduction of the mitral annulus after surgery, in all the measurements obtained, with stability of the mitral repair in 2 years of follow-up and preservation of the dynamic contraction of the ring in this period

As the most commonly diseased valve of the heart, the mitral valve has been the subject of extensive research for many years. Prior research has focused on the development of surgical repair techniques and mainly consists of in vivo clinical studies into the efficacy and long-term effects of different procedures. There is a need for a means of studying the mitral valve ex vivo, incorporating patient data and the effects of different repair techniques on the valve prior to surgery. In this study, a method was developed for reconstructing the mitral valve from patient-specific data. Three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TTE and 3D-TEE) were used to obtain ultrasound images from a normal subject and a patient with mitral valve regurgitation. Geometric information was extracted from the images defining the primary structures of the mitral valve and a special program in MATLAB was created to automatically construct a finite element model of a valve. A dynamic finite element analysis solver, LS-DYNA 971, was used to simulate the dynamics of the valves and the non-linear, anisotropic behaviour of biological tissue. The two models were successful in simulating the dynamics of the mitral valve, with the subject model displaying normal function and the patient model showing the dysfunction displayed in the ultrasound images. A method was then developed to modify the original patient model, in a way that maintains its patient-specific nature, to model mitral valve repair. Four mitral valve repair techniques were simulated using the patient model: the annuloplasty ring, the double-orifice Alfieri stitch, the paracommissural Alfieri stitch, and the quadrangular resection. The former was coupled with the other three techniques, as is standard protocol in mitral valve repair. The effects of these techniques on the mitral valve were successfully determined, with varying degrees of improvement in valve function.

As the most commonly diseased valve of the heart, the mitral valve has been the subject of extensive research for many years. Prior research has focused on the development of surgical repair techniques and mainly consists of in vivo clinical studies into the efficacy and long-term effects of different procedures. There is a need for a means of studying the mitral valve ex vivo, incorporating patient data and the effects of different repair techniques on the valve prior to surgery. In this study, a method was developed for reconstructing the mitral valve from patient-specific data. Three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TTE and 3D-TEE) were used to obtain ultrasound images from a normal subject and a patient with mitral valve regurgitation. Geometric information was extracted from the images defining the primary structures of the mitral valve and a special program in MATLAB was created to automatically construct a finite element model of a valve. A dynamic finite element analysis solver, LS-DYNA 971, was used to simulate the dynamics of the valves and the non-linear, anisotropic behaviour of biological tissue. The two models were successful in simulating the dynamics of the mitral valve, with the subject model displaying normal function and the patient model showing the dysfunction displayed in the ultrasound images. A method was then developed to modify the original patient model, in a way that maintains its patient-specific nature, to model mitral valve repair. Four mitral valve repair techniques were simulated using the patient model: the annuloplasty ring, the double-orifice Alfieri stitch, the paracommissural Alfieri stitch, and the quadrangular resection. The former was coupled with the other three techniques, as is standard protocol in mitral valve repair. The effects of these techniques on the mitral valve were successfully determined, with varying degrees of improvement in valve function.

As the most commonly diseased valve of the heart, the mitral valve has been the subject of extensive research for many years. Prior research has focused on the development of surgical repair techniques and mainly consists of in vivo clinical studies into the efficacy and long-term effects of different procedures. There is a need for a means of studying the mitral valve ex vivo, incorporating patient data and the effects of different repair techniques on the valve prior to surgery. In this study, a method was developed for reconstructing the mitral valve from patient-specific data. Three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TTE and 3D-TEE) were used to obtain ultrasound images from a normal subject and a patient with mitral valve regurgitation. Geometric information was extracted from the images defining the primary structures of the mitral valve and a special program in MATLAB was created to automatically construct a finite element model of a valve. A dynamic finite element analysis solver, LS-DYNA 971, was used to simulate the dynamics of the valves and the non-linear, anisotropic behaviour of biological tissue. The two models were successful in simulating the dynamics of the mitral valve, with the subject model displaying normal function and the patient model showing the dysfunction displayed in the ultrasound images. A method was then developed to modify the original patient model, in a way that maintains its patient-specific nature, to model mitral valve repair. Four mitral valve repair techniques were simulated using the patient model: the annuloplasty ring, the double-orifice Alfieri stitch, the paracommissural Alfieri stitch, and the quadrangular resection. The former was coupled with the other three techniques, as is standard protocol in mitral valve repair. The effects of these techniques on the mitral valve were successfully determined, with varying degrees of improvement in valve function.

Among the four valves of the heart, the aortic valve (AV) is frequently affected by disease. When progressive dilatation of the valve produces a leak when the valve should close (regurgitation), repair may be possible. AV repair is a desirable option because, contrary to AV replace-ment using a prosthesis, it does not require life-long anticoagulation treatment, and retains the original tissues that naturally combat structural degradation. All the AV repair procedures developed by cardiac surgeons require a good stabilization of the ventriculo-aortic junction (VAJ) diameter, through annuloplasty or reimplantation, for long-term success. In the present work, a preliminary design for a new type of annuloplasty ring is proposed that surgeons could tailor to the each valve’s shape and suture inside the VAJ. The design consists in wrapping a commonly available surgical biomaterial into a ring of controlled radial flexibility. For sizing and material selection, several models of increasing complexity were created to account for the anisotropic, hyperelastic nature of all the materials involved. First, an analytical model was programmed in MATLAB to assess the radial flexibility of annuloplasty rings formed with different biomaterials and select those that could match the physiological VAJ radial flexibility between systolic and diastolic pressures. The same program was also used to reproduce the experimental radial and longitudinal stretches of the human VAJ from 0 to 140 mmHg pressures. The analytical models were used to calibrate the parameters of independent finite element (FE) models of the VAJ and ring. Finally, the FE approach was extended to simulate the ring after suturing inside the VAJ, to determine the radial flexibility of the assembly under pulsatile pressure. Supple Peri-Guard® bo-vine pericardium patches used in transverse orientation emerged as the best currently available material option for the proposed ring, although a material providing more physiological radial flexibility would be desirable.

Résumé - Les données concernant la prise en charge chirurgicale de la maladie tricuspidienne reposent sur des études de cohortes à petite échelle et peu d’entre elles se sont intéressées aux résultats échocardiographiques et aux facteurs de risque de mortalité et de morbidité. Une étude de cohorte rétrospective descriptive et analytique fut effectuée pour analyser l’expérience de l’Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal concernant la chirurgie de la VT. Les données ont été récoltées à l’aide des dossiers médicaux. Durant la période 1977-2008, 792 PVT et 134 RVT furent effectués (âge médian : 62 ans). La mortalité opératoire était de 13,8%. Les taux de survie actuarielle à 5, à 10 et à 15 ans étaient respectivement de 67±2%, de 47±2% et de 29±2%. Au dernier suivi, de l’IT ≥3/4 était présente chez 31% des patients du groupe PVT et chez 12% des patients du groupe RVT (p<0,001). La classe fonctionnelle NYHA s’est améliorée significativement au dernier suivi par rapport à la période pré-opératoire (p<0,001). L’analyse de propension montre que par rapport à une PVT, un RVT est associé significativement à des taux de mortalité opératoire et tardive accrus, mais à moins d’IT ≥2/4 ou ≥3/4 lors du suivi. Cette étude montre que malgré le risque chirurgical substantiel associé à la chirurgie de la VT, les patients bénéficient d’une amélioration fonctionnelle significative. Les facteurs de risque de mortalité et de morbidité sont décrits et des études de sous-groupes sur la chirurgie tri-valvulaire et la chirurgie isolée de la VT sont exposées. / Abstract - Data regarding surgical management of tricuspid valve disease are based on small cohort studies, and only few of them report echocardiographic results or risk factors for mortality and morbidity. A retrospective descriptive and analytic cohort study was performed in order to analyze the Montreal Heart Institute experience regarding tricuspid valve surgery. Data was extracted from the medical files of patients. During the 1977-2008 period, 792 tricuspid valve repairs and 134 tricuspid valve replacements were performed (median age of patients: 62 years). Operative mortality was 13.8%. Actuarial survival rates at 5, 10, and 15 years were 67±2%, 47±2%, and 29±2%, respectively. At last follow-up, 31% of patients who underwent repair and 12% of patients who underwent replacement had tricuspid regurgitation ≥3/4 (p<0,001). NYHA functional class improved significantly at last follow-up compared to baseline (p<0,001). Propensity score analysis showed that a replacement was associated with increased operative and late mortality rates compared to repair, but with less tricuspid regurgitation ≥2/4 or ≥3/4 at follow-up. The study shows that despite substantial mortality rates, patients experience a significant functional improvement following tricuspid valve surgery. Risk factors for mortality and morbidity are described, and sub-group analyses for triple valve surgery and for isolated tricuspid valve surgery are exposed.

Résumé - Les données concernant la prise en charge chirurgicale de la maladie tricuspidienne reposent sur des études de cohortes à petite échelle et peu d’entre elles se sont intéressées aux résultats échocardiographiques et aux facteurs de risque de mortalité et de morbidité. Une étude de cohorte rétrospective descriptive et analytique fut effectuée pour analyser l’expérience de l’Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal concernant la chirurgie de la VT. Les données ont été récoltées à l’aide des dossiers médicaux. Durant la période 1977-2008, 792 PVT et 134 RVT furent effectués (âge médian : 62 ans). La mortalité opératoire était de 13,8%. Les taux de survie actuarielle à 5, à 10 et à 15 ans étaient respectivement de 67±2%, de 47±2% et de 29±2%. Au dernier suivi, de l’IT ≥3/4 était présente chez 31% des patients du groupe PVT et chez 12% des patients du groupe RVT (p<0,001). La classe fonctionnelle NYHA s’est améliorée significativement au dernier suivi par rapport à la période pré-opératoire (p<0,001). L’analyse de propension montre que par rapport à une PVT, un RVT est associé significativement à des taux de mortalité opératoire et tardive accrus, mais à moins d’IT ≥2/4 ou ≥3/4 lors du suivi. Cette étude montre que malgré le risque chirurgical substantiel associé à la chirurgie de la VT, les patients bénéficient d’une amélioration fonctionnelle significative. Les facteurs de risque de mortalité et de morbidité sont décrits et des études de sous-groupes sur la chirurgie tri-valvulaire et la chirurgie isolée de la VT sont exposées. / Abstract - Data regarding surgical management of tricuspid valve disease are based on small cohort studies, and only few of them report echocardiographic results or risk factors for mortality and morbidity. A retrospective descriptive and analytic cohort study was performed in order to analyze the Montreal Heart Institute experience regarding tricuspid valve surgery. Data was extracted from the medical files of patients. During the 1977-2008 period, 792 tricuspid valve repairs and 134 tricuspid valve replacements were performed (median age of patients: 62 years). Operative mortality was 13.8%. Actuarial survival rates at 5, 10, and 15 years were 67±2%, 47±2%, and 29±2%, respectively. At last follow-up, 31% of patients who underwent repair and 12% of patients who underwent replacement had tricuspid regurgitation ≥3/4 (p<0,001). NYHA functional class improved significantly at last follow-up compared to baseline (p<0,001). Propensity score analysis showed that a replacement was associated with increased operative and late mortality rates compared to repair, but with less tricuspid regurgitation ≥2/4 or ≥3/4 at follow-up. The study shows that despite substantial mortality rates, patients experience a significant functional improvement following tricuspid valve surgery. Risk factors for mortality and morbidity are described, and sub-group analyses for triple valve surgery and for isolated tricuspid valve surgery are exposed.