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Ann Thorac Surg 2004;77:544-548
© 2004 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Original article: cardiovascular

The effect of regional ischemia on mitral valve annular saddle shape

^a Harrison Department of Surgical Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Accepted for publication July 3, 2003.

^* Address reprint requests to Dr Joseph H. Gorman, Department of Surgery, 6 Silverstein, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
e-mail: gormanj{at}uphs.upenn.edu

	Abstract

Top Abstract Introduction Material and methods Results Comment Acknowledgments References

 
BACKGROUND: The mitral valve annulus has a distinctive saddle shape. Recent finite element analysis indicates this shape may contribute to normal valve function by increasing leaflet curvature and reducing leaflet stress. This study tests the hypothesis that acute ischemic mitral regurgitation (AIMR) is associated with loss of annular saddle shape.

METHODS: Sonomicrometry array localization (SAL) measured the three-dimensional geometry of the mitral annulus in 6 sheep before and after 30 min of posterior ischemia that produced severe AIMR. Using this SAL data the annular height to commissural width ratio (AHCWR), a measure of annular saddle shape, was calculated throughout the cardiac cycle and reported as a percentage.

RESULTS: The normal mitral annulus accentuated its saddle shape rapidly during isovolemic contraction: AHCWR increased from 11.6% ± 1.1%–13.9% ± 1.6% (p < 0.001). During ejection AHCWR remained relatively constant ranging from a minimum of 14.1% ± 1.5% to a maximum of 14.9% ± 1.3%. During ischemia AHCWR was found to be significantly smaller (p < 0.05) during isovolemic contraction, ejection, and isovolemic relaxation, but not during diastolic filling. Whereas ischemia did not affect AHCWR at end diastole (11.6% ± 2.8%), the isovolemic accentuation of the saddle shape was lost.

CONCLUSIONS: The normal mitral annulus accentuates its saddle shape during systole. This accentuation is eliminated during ischemia that causes AIMR. These data suggest an association between annular saddle shape and valve competency.

	Introduction

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Three-dimensional echocardiography [1], sonomicrometry [2], and marker radiography [3, 4] have been used to demonstrate that the mitral valve annulus has a distinctly nonplanar saddle shape. A recent theoretical finite element model has shown that this annular shape imposes leaflet curvature that—in combination with leaflet bulging—reduces stress on valve components during systole [5]. As a result annular saddle shape may contribute to valve competence.

This concept has implications for the surgical repair of mitral regurgitation secondary to ischemic or degenerative etiologies. Most repair strategies rely on ring annuloplasty to restore normal geometry and decrease tension on suture lines [6, 7]. All currently available annuloplasty devices are essentially flat. When implanted the rigid and semirigid devices only restore the annular geometry in two dimensions. The height of the annulus is obliterated diminishing leaflet curvature and potentially placing increased stress and subsequent strain on the repair. The effects of annular flattening on ventricular remodeling are unknown but could be significant.

We used an ovine model and sonomicrometry array localization (SAL) imaging to test the hypothesis that annular flattening is associated with and may contribute to the development of acute ischemic mitral regurgitation (AIMR).

	Material and methods

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In compliance with guidelines for humane care (National Institutes of Health Publication No. 85 to 23, revised 1985) six Dorsett sheep (35–45 kg) were induced with sodium thiopental (10–15 mg/kg iv), intubated, and anesthetized with isofluorane (1.5%–2%) and oxygen. The surface electrocardiogram and arterial blood pressure were monitored.

Through a sterile left lateral thoracotomy snares were placed around the proximal second and third obtuse marginal and posterior descending branches of the circumflex coronary artery (OM2, OM3, and PDA) [8, 9]. During cardiopulmonary bypass six 2 mm hemispherical PZT-5A piezoelectric transducers (Sonometrics, London, Ontario, Canada) were placed around the mitral valve annulus in each sheep as described previously [2, 10]. Figure 1 shows the relationship of the annular transducers, leaflet anatomy, coronary anatomy, and regional ischemia. The posterior commissure (PC) and the anterior commissure (AC) transducers were placed at the clefts between the anterior and posterior leaflets. The AC transducer was in all animals very near to the central fibrous body. The aortic crystal (Ao) was placed on the aortic-mitral continuity at the posterior trigone. The annular transducers marked P1, P2, and P3 were centered over the anterior, middle, and posterior scallops of the mural leaflet, respectively. During wound closure the coronary snares were placed in a subcutaneous position.

View larger version (148K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 1. The relationship of the sonomicrometry transducers, annular anatomy, coronary anatomy, and ischemic region: The nomenclature for the transducers is as follows: AC = anterior commissure; AO = aortic; PC = posterior commissure; P1 = anterior portion of mural annulus; P2 = mid portion of mural annulus; and P3 = posterior portion of mural annulus. OM2 and OM3 mark the second and third obtuse marginal branches of the circumflex coronary artery, respectively. PDA marks the posterior descending coronary artery. Note that transducers P2, P3, and PC are most closely associated with the ischemic region. Also note that AC and AO are closely related to the anterior and posterior trigones of the heart's fibrous skeleton, respectively.

Subdiaphragmatic echocardiographic color flow Doppler velocity maps (E-CFDVM) to assess the degree of mitral regurgitation (model 77020A, Hewlett-Packard Inc., Santa Clara, CA) were obtained via a sterile upper midline laparotomy as previously described [11]. The severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) was assessed quantitatively by the area of the regurgitant jet as a percentage of left atrial area in the apical four-chamber view. The following grading was used: grade 1 = > 20%; grade 2 = 20%–40%, grade 3 = 40%–60%, and grade 4 = > 60% [12]. Transducer wires were connected to a Sonometrics Series 5001 Digital Sonomicrometer (Sonometrics, London, Ontario, Canada). Ventilation was suspended during sonomicrometry measurements. All distances between the six transducers were measured every 5 ms during a 5 s data run [2]. The ECG, LV, and aortic root pressures were recorded simultaneously with the sonomicrometry data.

Coronary snares were exteriorized. Before ischemia each animal received bolus lidocaine (15 mg/kg) followed by an infusion (2 mg/min). Normal saline containing 2 gm MgSO₄ and 40 meq KCl per liter was infused at 70 ml/h. Snares, occluding OM2, OM3, and PDA, were sequentially tightened over a 5-min period. Thirty minutes after the last snare was tightened SAL data were again recorded and MR reassessed by color flow Doppler echocardiography.

Animals were euthanized with 1 gm of thiopental and 80 meq of KCl. Hearts were removed and opened to verify the placement of the sonomicrometry transducers.

Data analysis
As described previously [2] sonomicrometry distance data were used to determine the three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of each transducer every 5 ms throughout the cardiac cycle.

The saddle shape of each annulus was quantified using an annular height to commissural width ratio (AHCWR). AHCWR is reported as a percentage. A least-squares plane was fitted to all six annular transducers, then AHCWR was calculated (as previously described) [2, 5] by dividing the height of the annulus perpendicular to this plane by the intercommissural distance (Fig 2). AHCWR was calculated every 5 ms throughout the cardiac cycle before and 30 min after the on set of ischemia.

View larger version (24K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 2. Image of a normal ovine mitral annulus at end systole: a three-dimensional (3D) surface has been fit using the 3D coordinates of six annular sonomicrometry transducers. The surface is not meant to represent the leaflets but rather to allow visualization of the 3D shape of the annulus. Note the saddle shape. Again, the nomenclature for the transducers is as follows: AC = anterior commissure; Ao = aortic; H = annular height; PC = posterior commissure; P1 = anterior portion of mural annulus; P2 = mid portion of mural annulus; P3 = posterior portion of mural annulus; W = intercommissural distance. (A) Annulus as viewed from posterior annulus to aorta. (B) Annulus as viewed from anterior to posterior commissure. Also illustrated is the definition of the annular height to commissural width ratio (AHCWR), a parameter used to quantify the degree of mitral annular nonplanarity. The shading of the images represents the vertical displacement of the transducers and surface relative to a best fit annular reference plane; lighter shading represents points closer to the ventricular apex.

AHCWR values at base line and during ischemia were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for all four segments of the cardiac cycle. Within the segments of the cardiac cycle found to be significantly different by ANOVA each time point was compared using paired Student's t test.

	Results

Top Abstract Introduction Material and methods Results Comment Acknowledgments References

 
All animals had competent mitral valves before ischemia. After 30 min of ischemia 2–3+ MR developed in all animals. Table 1 summarizes the hemodynamics before and after 30 min of ischemia.

View larger version (50K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 3. Changes in annular height to commissural width ratio (AHCWR) throughout the cardiac cycle before (black circles) and during (white circles) ischemia causing acute ischemic mitral regurgitation (AIMR). Each graph represents an average of the same six animals. Differences in AHCWR were compared for all four portions of the cardiac cycle individually using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). During ischemia AHCWR was found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) during isovolemic contraction, ejection, and isovolemic relaxation, but not during diastolic filling. Within the portions of the cardiac cycle found to be significantly different by ANOVA each time point was compared using paired Student's t test. Each significantly different time point (p < 0.05) is marked with a white or black dot. Note that the normal systolic accentuation of the saddle shape (increasing AHCWR) is eliminated during ischemia and AIMR. (EIVC = end isovolemic contraction; EIVR = end isovolemic relaxation; and ES = end systole. End diastole is defined as time = 0.)

During ischemia AHCWR was found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) during isovolemic contraction, ejection, and isovolemic relaxation, but not during diastolic filling (Fig 3). Whereas ischemia did not affect AHCWR at ED (11.6% ± 2.8%) the increase in AHCWR during isovolemic contraction was eliminated. In fact after 30 min of ischemia AHCWR did not significantly change from its end diastolic value during the entire cardiac cycle ranging from 11.0% ± 1.8%–12.2% ± 0.4% (NS). Figure 4 illustrates the degree of annular flattening associated with AIMR for a representative sheep at ES. In Table 2 annular height, intercommissural width, and AHCWR are presented at ED, EIVC, mid systole (MS), and EIVC. During ischemia the intercommissural distance showed an increasing trend that did not reach statistical significance (p 0.09–0.11). Annular height was found to decrease significantly at both EIVC and MS after ischemia.

View larger version (34K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 4. End-systolic images of a representative ovine mitral annulus before and after a posterior ischemia causing acute ischemic mitral regurgitation (AIMR). Images were constructed as in Fig 2. Note the relative flattening of the posterior annulus near the posterior commissure (darker shading) during ischemia. (AC = anterior commissure; Ao = aortic; PC = posterior commissure; P1 = anterior portion of mitral annulus; P2 = mid portion of mitral annulus; P3 = posterior portion of mitral annulus.)

	Comment

Top Abstract Introduction Material and methods Results Comment Acknowledgments References

The current study provides further evidence that the annular saddle shape is physiologically important. During ejection, the period of greatest stress, the annular saddle shape is accentuated. After acute ischemia that results in immediate 2–3 + mitral regurgitation the systolic increase in AHCWR is lost. A recent report studying the change in shape of the ovine mitral annulus in a model of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (CIMR) demonstrated that the annulus was flattened in the chronic disease process as well [4].

A human 3D echocardiographic study comparing the mitral annular shape in nine normal subjects and 8 patients suffering different degrees of CIMR corroborated the findings of this animal study [13]. The authors of the study found that CIMR was associated with both and an increase in intercommissural distance and decrease in annular height. They did not report the AHCWR parameter we have used but the curves presented in Fig 5 were calculated from their data. Notice the similarity between this clinical data and the data produced by the current experimental study. In normal humans AHCWR increases in early systole and remains relatively constant during ejection. As in the sheep model this increase is severely blunted in patients with CIMR.

View larger version (16K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 5. Average changes in mitral annular height to commissural width ratio (AHCWR) throughout the cardiac cycle in nine humans with normally functioning valves (black circles) and 8 patients with chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) of varying degrees (white circles). This figure was constructed from data in reference 13. The AHCWR values were not presented in the paper but annular height and intercommissural distance were reported. All cardiac cycles are normalized to ten systolic and ten diastolic time points. Note the systolic accentuation of the saddle shape in humans similar to that seen in sheep. In addition chronic ischemic MR in humans seems to be associated with loss of the systolic increase in AHCWR as in our acute ischemic MR model.

Whereas the aforementioned clinical and experimental studies do not definitively prove that annular saddle shape contributes to valve competence they do demonstrate an association. This association between mitral incompetence and decreased AHCWR brings into question the use of flat rings in mitral valve repair and suggests that preservation or restoration of the normal saddle shape may have a salutary effect.

Over the past thirty years Carpentier has pioneered and standardized surgical techniques that allow reliable repair of valves with all types of leaflet, chordal, and annular deformities [6]. The widespread use of these techniques has produced good results at centers all over the world [18–23]. Although the durability of these repairs has been acceptable it is becoming apparent that there is a significant long-term failure rate especially in those patients with ischemic pathology. Gillinov and colleagues from the Cleveland Clinic reported a 5-year reoperative rate of 9% (average follow-up was 5 years) for repairs addressing MR of ischemic etiology. This is a conservative estimate because death was a strongly competing endpoint and recurrent MR not undergoing reoperation was not reported [24]. Would saddle shape annuloplasty improve these results?

This study represents a first step in establishing the relationship between annular shape and valve function. Further work is necessary to understand the impact annular shape has on leaflet shape, stress distribution, and postinfarction left ventricular remodeling. A better understanding of these relationships may allow a more rational design of annuloplasty rings to improve the results of mitral valve repair.

	Acknowledgments

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This work was supported by HL63954 and HL71137 from the National Heart Lung Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and grants from the Mary L. Smith Charitable Trust and W. W. Smith Charitable Trust, both of Newtown Square, PA.

	References

Top Abstract Introduction Material and methods Results Comment Acknowledgments References

 

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Joseph H. Gorman, III Robert C. Gorman Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gorman, J. H. Articles by Gorman, R. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gorman, J. H., III Articles by Gorman, R. C. Related Collections Valve disease