|
|
||||||||||
|
J Am Coll Cardiol, 1998; 32:717-723 © 1998 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation |
a Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Cardiovascular Surgery, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
b Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Manuscript received October 31, 1997; revised manuscript received April 24, 1998, accepted May 8, 1998.
Address for correspondence: Dr. William K. Freeman, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905
freeman.william{at}mayo.edu
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Background. Recently, fluid dynamic simulation models have identified distinct patterns of mitral regurgitant flow disturbances in patients with mitral prosthetic hemolysis that were associated with high shear stress and may therefore produce clinical hemolysis. Rapid acceleration, fragmentation, and collision jets were associated with high shear stress and hemolysis whereas slow deceleration and free jets were not.
Methods. We reviewed serial echocardiographic studies of 13 consecutive patients with hemolytic anemia after mitral valve repair who were referred for mitral reoperation between January 1985 and December 1996 (group 1). Thirteen patients undergoing reoperation for mitral regurgitation after mitral valve repair but without hemolysis served as controls (group 2).
Results. The mitral regurgitant jet was central in origin in 12 group 1 patients and 9 group 2 patients (Fisher exact test, p = 0.3). The other patients had para-ring regurgitation. Group 1 patients had collision (n = 11), rapid acceleration (n = 2) or fragmentation (n = 1) jets whereas group 2 patients had slow deceleration (n = 11) or free jets (n = 2) (Fisher exact test, p < 0.0001). One patient with hemolysis had both collision and rapid acceleration jets. The "culprit" jet could be identified on the postbypass transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) study in only 1 patient at the time of initial mitral repair. Twelve group 1 patients underwent reoperation, with subsequent resolution of hemolysis in all patients. At reoperation, the initial repair was found to be intact in 8 (67%) patients.
Conclusion. Distinct patterns of flow disturbance associated with high shear stress were identified by color Doppler imaging in patients with hemolysis after mitral valve repair. The majority (92%) of these color flow disturbances were not present during intraoperative postbypass TEE study after initial mitral repair and subsequently developed in the early postoperative period.
| ||||||||||||
Although hemolytic anemia has also been reported after mitral valve repair (917), it is uncommon and not well described. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine, by serial two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography, the characteristics of mitral regurgitant flow and, hence, the mechanisms involved in hemolysis after mitral valve repair.
| Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The hemolytic nature of the anemia was established by a persistent severe anemia (hemoglobin
9.0 g/dL), an elevated reticulocyte count, elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase (
twice upper normal value), reduced serum haptoglobin (<10 mg/dL) and the presence of urine hemosiderin. Indirect hyperbilirubinemia was detected in all patients with hemolysis; an exact laboratory cutoff level was not utilized in this study. Furthermore, the diagnosis of valve-induced hemolysis was supported by typical findings in the peripheral blood film (fragmentation, schistocytosis and spherocytosis), and a negative direct Coombs test.
Thirteen patients undergoing reoperation for mitral regurgitation after mitral valve repair but without hemolysis served as controls (group 2).
The study was approved by the Mayo Foundation Institutional Review Board.
Echocardiographic examination. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were performed as previously described using various commercially available echocardiographic instruments (1821). For intraoperative transesophageal study, the probe was passed after induction of general anesthesia. The prebypass study was performed while the chest was opened and the postbypass study was performed immediately after successful weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. All studies were recorded on 3/4 in. videotape.
We reviewed all serial echocardiographic studies (including the intraoperative transesophageal studies at the initial mitral valve repair and transthoracic and/or transesophageal studies at the time of diagnosis of hemolytic anemia) of all patients in group 1. The serial transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic studies of group 2 were similarly analyzed. All studies were retrospectively reviewed by two experienced echocardiographers (TCY, WKF) and the following features noted: 1) Severity of residual mitral regurgitation: this was classified semiquantitatively into 4 grades as previously described (22,23). 2) Site of mitral regurgitation: defined as central or para-ring depending on its site of origin with reference to the annuloplasty ring and mitral leaflets. 3) Characteristics of mitral regurgitant jet: this was classified as previously described (8) into the following patterns. a) Fragmentationthe regurgitant jet is divided by a solid structure such as a suture, ruptured chord or dehisced annuloplasty ring. b) Collisionthere is sudden deceleration of the regurgitant jet due to direct impact on a solid structure such as an annuloplasty ring or pledget, which sharply alters the trajectory of the jet. c) Rapid accelerationa regurgitant jet originates from a small orifice (<2 mm in diam.) such as a leaflet perforation or narrow region of para-ring dehiscence, with no direct impact on a solid structure. d) Free jetthe regurgitant jet (generally with a central trajectory) originates from a wide orifice (>2 mm in diam.) and is not constrained by a solid structure until it extends to the dome of the left atrium. e) Slow decelerationan eccentric regurgitant jet originates from a large eccentric orifice and adheres to the left atrial wall from its point of origin.
Statistical analysis. Continuous variables are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The unpaired t test was used to compare continuous variables between the two groups, and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables which are not normally distributed. For noncontinuous variables, the chi-square test or Fisher exact test were used where appropriate to test for a difference between the two groups with regard to severity, site and characteristics of regurgitation jets. Statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05.
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
|
Further details regarding the initial mitral repair procedure, and subsequent findings and intervention at reoperation are listed in Table 2 for group 1 patients. The median time interval between initial repair and diagnosis of hemolytic anemia was 2.9 months (range = 25 days to 6.8 months). Twelve patients underwent reoperation, with resolution of hemolytic anemia in all patients after surgery. At reoperation, the initial repair was found to be grossly intact in 8 patients and disrupted in 4. The causes of recurrent mitral regurgitation in the 8 patients with an intact site of initial repair included ruptured chordae tendineae to anterior leaflet in 3, perforation of the base of the anterior leaflet in 1, a redundant anterior leaflet that was not repaired initially in 1 and was indeterminate in 3 patients. Causes of mitral regurgitation in patients with disrupted initial repair included dehiscence of the annuloplasty ring in 2 patients and disruption of chordal repair in 2 patients. Incomplete endothelialization of the prosthetic material employed in the initial mitral repair was discovered in 11 (92%) patients reoperated for hemolysis.
|
Characteristics of mitral regurgitation. The characteristics of mitral regurgitation on echocardiography are shown in Table 3. Mitral regurgitation was mild to moderate in 5 and severe in 8 group 1 patients, and was severe in all group 2 patients. The regurgitant jet was central in 12 patients in group 1 and 9 patients in group 2 (Fisher exact test, p = 0.3). The other patients had para-ring mitral regurgitation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Mitral regurgitant flow patterns associated with hemolysis. In vitro studies have demonstrated that shear forces >3000 dynes/cm2 are associated with significant red cell destruction (24). A recent report by Garcia et al. provided new insights into the pathophysiology of mitral prosthetic hemolysis (8). Using fluid dynamic simulation models, they showed that rapid acceleration, fragmentation and collision jets were associated with high shear stress and may therefore produce hemolysis, whereas free and slow deceleration jets were not. However, their study included only 3 patients with hemolytic anemia after mitral valve repair.
This study was therefore conducted to determine the hydrodynamic mechanisms involved in the occurrence of hemolysis after mitral valve repair as assessed by serial two-dimensional and color flow Doppler echocardiography. We found that clinically significant hemolysis in patients after mitral valve repair is associated with distinct patterns of regurgitant flow that have been shown (8) to be associated with high shear stress: collision, rapid acceleration and fragmentation. Conversely, all control patients without hemolysis had free or slow deceleration jets. Our findings suggest that hemolysis after mitral valve repair is due to the high shear stress produced by the regurgitant jet and can occur even when the site of initial repair remains intact. In our series, the initial repair was intact in 8 patients (67%) and hemolysis was due to high shear stress produced as a result of collision of the regurgitant jet with the annuloplasty ring, rapid acceleration of the jet through a small perforation in the anterior mitral leaflet. Thus, prosthetic materials like annuloplasty rings, disrupted sutures or pledgets served as pathophysiologic substrates for hemolysis, especially when the regurgitant jet is directed against or divided by them. Predisposition to hemolysis did not appear to be influenced by the particular type of annuloplasty ring used in the initial mitral repair (Table 2).
Prosthetic materials usually become rapidly endothelialized within several weeks after mitral valve repair. However, the recurrent or residual mitral regurgitant jets may denude this endothelium, thereby exposing a portion of the prosthetic surface, hence introducing the risk of hemolysis occurring at that site. The actual site of prosthetic endothelial denudation was not visible on TEE examination in any patient.
Residual mitral regurgitation after mitral repair. An important finding of our study is that occurrence of hemolysis is independent of the severity of mitral regurgitation, which was mild to moderate in 5 (38%) patients. Previous reports suggested that only para-ring mitral regurgitation is more likely to produce significant hemolytic anemia (14,15). In this study, however, only one patient (8%) with hemolytic anemia had a para-ring regurgitant jet as the mechanism of hemolysis.
Most patients with hemolysis present early after the initial mitral valve repair (median duration = 2.9 months). It is therefore possible that residual mitral regurgitation after repair, albeit mild, may be the "culprit" regurgitant jet because of the configuration of its flow disturbance. If present, such regurgitant jet could be detected on the intraoperative postbypass TEE study after initial mitral valve repair, prompting further surgical correction to prevent future development of hemolytic anemia. Unfortunately, such "culprit" regurgitant jets were present in our experience on the intraoperative postbypass TEE study in only one patient (8%). Therefore, the majority of these color flow disturbances developed in the early period after mitral valve repair. Nevertheless, when assessing the significance of the residual mitral regurgitant jet by intraoperative TEE immediately after mitral valve repair, it is pertinent to consider its hydrodynamic characteristics in addition to severity, as identification and correction of these "culprit" regurgitant jets may prevent subsequent development of hemolytic anemia. Although uncommonly the case, further surgical intervention is recommended should a residual mitral regurgitant jet with collision, fragmentation, or rapid acceleration flow patterns be identified by intraoperative TEE immediately after mitral repair.
Limitations. The echocardiographic features were assessed retrospectively by review of the videotapes and, therefore, limited by technical limitations inherent in the recordings. However, a significant proportion of the examinations were TEE studies (85%), and therefore allowed excellent assessment of the mitral valve apparatus (25).
Although shear stress contributes significantly to the pathophysiology of hemolysis, other variables may also have an effect, in particular, the type of prosthetic materials and the surface area of exposure. These factors could not be accounted for in our study.
Conclusion. We found that hemolysis after mitral valve repair is associated with distinct patterns of flow disturbance on color Doppler echocardiography, and is independent of the severity of mitral regurgitation. By far, the most commonly observed mechanism of hemolysis involved direct collision of the regurgitant jet with a prosthetic surface; in general, the annuloplasty ring. Uncommonly, fragmentation of the regurgitant jet by a dehisced annuloplasty ring or rapid acceleration of the jet within a narrow zone of para-ring dehiscence was also observed with hemolysis. Large orifice eccentric regurgitant jets decelerating along the wall of the left atrium and central free jets were not associated with hemolysis. The vast majority of these color flow Doppler disturbances were not present in the postbypass TEE study and subsequently developed in the early postoperative period after mitral valve repair.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
R. M. Suri, H. V. Schaff, J. A. Dearani, T. M. Sundt III, R. C. Daly, C. J. Mullany, M. Enriquez-Sarano, and T. A. Orszulak Recurrent mitral regurgitation after repair: Should the mitral valve be re-repaired? J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., December 1, 2006; 132(6): 1390 - 1397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B.-K. Lam, D. M. Cosgrove III, S. K. Bhudia, and A. M. Gillinov Hemolysis after mitral valve repair: mechanisms and treatment Ann. Thorac. Surg., January 1, 2004; 77(1): 191 - 195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. P. Ward, L. Sugeng, L. Weinert, C. Korcarz, R. J. Verdino, K. T. Spencer, and R. M. Lang Hemolysis After Mitral Valve Repair Circulation, February 15, 2000; 101(6): 695 - 696. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | SUBSCRIPTIONS | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | CARDIOSOURCE | SEARCH | HELP | FEEDBACK |