INTRODUCTION

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling and increased afterload caused by aortic outflow tract obstruction might lead to mitral regurgitation (MR)^[1]. It is a functional MR, commonly coexisting with aortic stenosis (AS). Surgical intervention must be carefully selected because double valve surgery is more associated with increased mortality^[2] than isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). Besides, additional mitral valve intervention during AVR had been long debated, especially for functional MR^[1-4]. It was important to improve the degree of moderate MR after AVR. Up to now, some studies with small patient cohort and short-term follow-up results had been reported on this topic^[3,4], but the results remained controversial. In addition, the cases in most of the published reports were patients with relatively old ages. So, our study aimed to examine the direct influence and following changes on mitral valve after AVR in young patients based on a single-center experience.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a retrospective observation from January 2013 to December 2017 patients and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Jilin University. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. A total of 1,100 patients were admitted into the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the Second Hospital of Bethune, Jilin University, for surgical valve treatment during this period. Data of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and postoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were collected and analyzed. All patients were diagnosed with pure AS coexistent with moderate MR (MR+2-3) by two-dimensional echo examination TTE. All patients underwent isolated AVR and patients with other cardiac diseases requiring concomitant management at that time were excluded. Finally, 49 patients were included in this study.

Echocardiographic examinations were performed using a Philips IE33 system (Philips Medical System, Andover, Massachusetts). Intraoperative TEE was used to evaluate the direct geometric changes on the mitral annulus after AVR. TEE was used in the intraoperative periods, before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). TTE was used to compare the differences between preoperative and post-discharge parameters. The etiology of MR was determined by the echocardiogram, and organic abnormalities, such as ischemic, rheumatic, or degenerative etiologies associated with evidence of leaflet, annular, chordal, or papillary muscle pathology, were excluded. In addition, patients with coronary artery diseases were also excluded from the present study. Coronary angiography was arranged if the man was over 50 years old or the woman was over 55 years old.

All data, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative information, were collected from our echocardiographic database. Baseline clinical data included age, sex, obesity, smoking, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic renal dysfunction (CRD), preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF), congestive heart failure, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), prior cerebrovascular accidents, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Operative data, including operation time, cross-clamp time, CPB time, and valve type, were collected. Postoperative outcomes (survival or death) included length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays, atrial and ventricular arrhythmia, and major procedure-related complications: respiratory complications, neurologic complications (stroke or transient ischemic attack), and low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS). Intraoperative TEE findings included anterolateral-posteromedial (AL-PM) diameter, anterior-posterior (AP) diameter, mitral annular area, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and left atrial (LA) and LV sizes. Echocardiographic findings included LVEF, LVEDV, grade of MR, and LA and LV sizes.

RESULTS

Study Population

There were 49 patients in this study. These patients were predominantly young, with an age range of 52.61±12.23 years. All patients underwent AVR only. More detailed baseline characteristics were shown in Table 1, including age, gender, obesity, smoking, NYHA class III-IV, hypertension, DM, CRD, congestive heart failure, hyperlipemia, COPD, prior cerebrovascular accident, and LVEF.

Table 1 - Baseline and procedural characteristics.

	AS with moderate MR (n=49)
Age (years)	52.6±12.2
Age > 60 years	9(18.4%)
Males	22(44.9%)
Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2)	2(4.5%)
Smoking	21(42.9%)
NYHA class III-IV	35(71.4%)
Hypertension	19(38.8%)
Diabetes mellitus	11(22.5%)
Chronic renal dysfunction	0
Congestive heart failure	4(8.2%)
Atrial fibrillation	0
Hyperlipemia	5(10.2%)
COPD	5(10.2%)
Prior cerebrovascular accident	2(4.5%)
LVEF	56.8±12.9%
LVEF < 50%	8(16.3)
Bicuspid aortic valve stenosis	18(36.7%)
Rheumatic disease	13(26.5%)
Calcific disease	18(36.7%)

AS=aortic stenosis; BMI=body mass index; COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; LVEF=left ventricular ejection fraction; MR=mitral regurgitation; NYHA=New York Heart Association

Table 1 - Baseline and procedural characteristics.

Intraoperative Outcomes

Intraoperative data were shown in Table 2. CPB time was 32.5±7.3 min and cross-clamp time was 24.3±3.4 min. Prosthetic valves included 37 mechanical prostheses and 12 tissue valves (St. Jude Medical Epic valves, size 17-23 mm; St. Jude Medical Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA).

Table 2 - Intraoperative data.

	AS with moderate MR (n=49)
Operation time (min)	208.2±31.2
Cardiopulmonary bypass time (min)	32.5±7.3
Cross-clamp time (min)	24.3±3.4
Mechanical valves	37
Tissue valves	12

AS=aortic stenosis; MR=mitral regurgitation

Table 2 - Intraoperative data.

Postoperative Outcomes

Chest tube drainage during the first 12 hours was 259.2±67.1 ml. Time of mechanic ventilation was 7.5±2.2 hours. Length of ICU and hospital stays were 2.0±0.2 days and 10.4±0.2 days, respectively. No severe postoperative complications were found. More details were shown in Table 3.

Table 3 - Postoperative data.

	AS with moderate MR (n=49)
Surgical mortality	0
Resternotomy for bleeding	0
Duration of mechanic ventilation (hour)	7.5±2.2
Intensive care unit stay (days)	2.0±0.2
Hospital stay (days)	10.4±0.2
Ventricular arrhythmia	0
Atrial arrhythmia	6(12.2%)
Respiratory failure	0
Pneumonia	0
Neurologic complications	0
Low output syndrome	0
Drainage during the first 12 hours (ml)	259.2±67.1
Tamponade	0
Stroke	0
Deep sternal wound infection	0

AS=aortic stenosis; MR=mitral regurgitation

Table 3 - Postoperative data.

Change in MR During Operation

The mitral valve geometry changed significantly after AVR with the annular area decreasing by 17.7%, reducing from 5.4±0.5 to 4.5±0.2 cm² (P<0.001). The AL-PM diameter decreased by 14.0%, from 3.7±0.2 to 3.2±0.2 cm (P<0.001), and the AP diameter decreased by 7.1%, from 1.8±0.1 to 1.1±0.1 cm (P<0.001). No significant change was seen in the LVEDV (125.56±16.4 vs. 124.7±15.9 ml, P=0.7833), LV size (39.8±2.3 vs. 39.7±2.4 mm, P=0.8337), and LA size (32.4±2.3 vs. 31.9±2.2 mm, P=0.2742). More details were shown in Table 4.

Table 4 - Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic data.

Variable (n=49)	Pre-CPB (n=49)	Separation from CPB (n=49)	P-value
Annular area (cm2)	5.4±0.5	4.4±0.2	<0.001
AL-PM diameter (cm)	3.7±0.2	3.2±0.2	<0.001
AP diameter (cm)	1.8±0.1	1.7±0.1	<0.001
LVEDV (ml)	125.6±16.4	124.7±15.9	0.7833
LV size (mm)	39.8±2.3	39.7±2.4	0.8337
LA size (mm)	32.4±2.3	31.9±2.2	0.2742

AL-PM=anterolateral-posteromedial; AP=anterior-posterior; CPB=cardiopulmonary bypass; LA=left atrial; LV=left ventricular; LVEDV=left ventricular end-diastolic volume

Table 4 - Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic data.

Postoperative Outcomes of MR

All patients survived in hospital and were discharged with no symptom caused by remaining MR. All patients had a 40.21 (8-60) months follow-up. MR grade was significantly decreased from 2.9±0.2 to 0.6±0.04, and during the midterm follow-up, MR grade was 0.4±0.1, which was different from 10 days after operation (P<0.05). The re-examination during follow-up (Figure 1) showed that trace grade was present in 38 (77.55%) patients and trace-mild grade was present in 11 (22.45%) patients (χ²=98.00, P<0.05).

Fig. 1 - Changes in grade of mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement.

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Fig. 1 - Changes in grade of mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement.

The LA size significantly changed from 37.4±2.2 mm to 30.7±2.0 mm and decreased to 27.4±1.5 mm during midterm follow-up, which presented a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative periods (P<0.05). Statistical difference of LV reversal remodeling was observed through the size of LV (53.8±2.1 mm vs. 41.2±3.8 mm, P<0.05) and the LVEDV (146.8±15.3 ml vs. 95.3±6.2 ml, P<0.05) at 10 days after operation comparing with preoperative data. As time went by, size of LV (41.0±3.4 mm) and LVEDV (94.1±7.1 mm) decreased, but had no significant difference with 10 days after operation (P<0.05). LVEF was lower (51.7±6.3%) in the postoperative period (10 days) than in the preoperative period (53.7±8.4%), but it improved significantly after midterm follow-up (57.0±7.0%), comparing with the preoperative period. Mean NYHA class improved during follow-up (3.3±0.3 vs. 2.0±0.1). LV to aortic pressure gradient dropped significantly from 117.4±26.2 mmHg to 32.1±14.4 mmHg, and continuously decreased to 27.2±8.1 mmHg, which had significant difference from preoperative period and 10 days after operation (P<0.05) (Table 5).

Table 5 - Transthoracic echocardiographic data.

Variable	Before operation	10 days after operation	Midterm follow-up after operation	F or Χ2
Patients	N=49	N=49	N=49
LA size	37.4±2.2	30.7±2.0a	27.4±1.5ab	344.1*
LV size	53.8±2.1	41.2±3.8a	41.0±3.4a	259.9*
EDV	146.8±15.3	95.3±6.2a	94.1±7.1a	412.0*
EF	53.7±8.4	51.7±6.3a	57.0±7.0ab	6.612*
MR	2.9±0.2	0.6±0.04a	0.4±0.1ab	5498*
Mean NYHA class	3.3±0.3	2.0±0.1a	1.5±0.1ab	1154*
Left ventricular to aortic pressure gradient	117.4±26.2	32.1±14.4a	27.2±8.1ab	394.2*

* P<0.05

a = compare with before operation data;

b = compare with 10 days after operation data EDV=end-diastolic volume; EF=ejection fraction; LA=left atrial; LV=left ventricular; MR=mitral regurgitation; NYHA=New York Heart Association

Table 5 - Transthoracic echocardiographic data.

DISCUSSION

AS has become the most prevalent disorder of all valvular heart diseases^[6]. It is more frequent as the age increases, due to calcification. However, in young patients, bicuspid valve became another main etiology of AS and the stenosis in bicuspid valve patients arises nearly two decades before than those in tricuspid aortic valves. But in some rural areas, rheumatic valve disease is still a main cause of AS^[7]. A slight predominance of this disorder was noted in male patients. But in this study, the age of male patients who need coronary angiography was lower than of female patients. So, more male patients with different degrees of coronary disease were excluded than females, which might result in the unusual situation of female preponderance in this patient population.

Mild to moderate MR was always found in patients with AS. It was a functional disease caused by the increase of transaortic pressure^[3] and LV remodeling. So, after AVR, decrease of transaortic pressure and LV remodeling by the reduced afterload might reduce the mitral annular size and functional MR grade. Therefore, some experts suggested that the functional MR did not require interventions because they found out that 95% of AS patients with moderate and mild to moderate MR would decrease at least one degree of MR after AVR^[8]. Matsumura et al. showed that 36% of AS patients with moderate MR would not benefit from AVR. Kowalówka et al. showed that moderate MR remained unchanged in 19-38% and deteriorated in 1-14% of patients after AVR^[3,4]. Actually, combined aortic and mitral valve replacement presented a high risk during the operation and affected the survival rate (in-hospital mortality, 15.5%; median survival rate, 7.3 years)^[9]. In addition, Zilberszac et al.^[10] claimed that concomitant MR would not significantly improve the survival rate. However, Sorabella et al.^[11] showed that patients undergoing isolated AVR with concomitant 2-3+ MR experience poorer long-term survival than those patients with no or mild functional MR. Accordingly, surgical intervention, especially double valve replacement, must be carefully selected^[12].

A previous report^[13] claimed that the direct mechanical compression of the anterior mitral annulus played an important role in MR. Sehovic et al.^[14] also reported the same result and pointed out that 53.3% of moderate regurgitation decreased after AVR at an early time. This study suggested that the reduction in intraventricular pressure after AVR seemed to be the most important mechanism related to decreased MR. However, compared with the directly decreased ventricular systolic pressure and fluid overload, LV remodeling could also contribute to the decreased MR^[15], as the time went by. So, this study aimed to evaluate the direct effects of isolated AVR on moderate MR and to examine the determinants of postoperative changes in MR.

In our study, organic MR and patients with coronary artery diseases were also excluded because ischemic heart diseases could also cause functional MR^[16]. Many reports showed that there were some predictors associated with the decrease of postoperative MR, such as LA size > 45 mm, pulmonary artery systolic pressure > 40 mmHg, and LVEDV > 54 mm^[14]. In this study, only one case of LA > 45 mm was observed and he also recovered with decrease of MR after AVR. In addition, the LV size of female patients in the study was smaller than male one, but the large LV size in males also showed excellent results after AVR. Although the age of the patients was associated with improvement in MR, it was not found in our study. This may be because this study had younger patients than other studies and our strict criteria for surgery.

After AVR, MR severity was assessed by the regurgitant volume decreased in all patients. The mean reduction was 90% in the regurgitant volume, emphasizing the importance of the reduction in systolic LV pressure. As the pressure of LV cavity sharply dropped after AVR, the transmitral pressure also decreased, and they both contributed markedly to the decrease in the MR volume. So, these results suggested that systolic LV pressure reduction was a main contributor to the early postoperative reduction in regurgitant volume.

As we all know, the mitral and aortic valves were contiguous and shared the fibrous ‘aorto-mitral curtain’ (anterior mitral annulus with the aortic valve). So, after AVR, the mechanical effects of a rigid prosthesis in the aortic position would immediately cause geometric changes in the mitral annulus, which was another contributor to the early postoperative reduction in regurgitant volume. As assessed with real-time three-dimensional TEE, the mitral annular area was significantly reduced in our study. The reductions in mitral annular area after AVR were similar to what occurred with the implantation of a full annuloplasty ring^[17] in the mitral position to reduce the mitral annular area in order to prevent MR from progressive annular dilation. But the reduction in anterior and posterior annulus length cannot be measured because of lacking of the mitral valve assessment package, though it was obvious to see the change through 3D picture (Figure 2). At the same time, a statistically significant reduction in the AL-PM diameter after AVR in our study also strongly suggested that there might be an element of mechanical compression of the mitral annulus anteriorly over and above the acute reduction in afterload as a possible etiological factor. But the impact of acute unloading of the ventricle immediately after AVR cannot be excluded as a possible contributory mechanism. During evaluation of the change of such parameters, we tried to select a more stable period before and after CPB. In order to avoid bias, the evaluation started when the central venous pressure (CVP) and LVEDV after AVR were similar to pre-CPB values. Though acute reductions in afterload and transmitral pressure would act as a possible etiological factor to reduce the MR, mechanical compression of the aorto-mitral curtain was particularly significant as the reduction of AP annular dimension. After all, the AP annular dimension was still the most common axis of annular dilation/contraction with changes in loading conditions. Due to the fact that the loading conditions were similar during calculation, we believed that an actual mechanical compression of the aorto-mitral curtain might act as a possible cause of the reduction of MR that was consistent with the findings of a previous study^[13].

Fig. 2 - Changes in 3D mitral valve model after aortic valve replacement (AVR). Screen capture demonstrates a completed 3D mitral valve model. The 2D long-axis echocardiographic views represent orthogonal planes with a cross-sectional coronal plane for annular area tracing. The 3D model shows the final model with automatically labeled landmarks and diameters. A, B=Pre-AVR analysis. C, D=Post-AVR analysis in the same patient demonstrating a reduction in the mitral annular area (from 5.91 to 4.25 cm2), anterior-posterior diameter (from 1.92 to 1.68 cm), and anterolateral-posteromedial diameter (from 3.80 to 3.27 cm).

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Fig. 2 - Changes in 3D mitral valve model after aortic valve replacement (AVR). Screen capture demonstrates a completed 3D mitral valve model. The 2D long-axis echocardiographic views represent orthogonal planes with a cross-sectional coronal plane for annular area tracing. The 3D model shows the final model with automatically labeled landmarks and diameters. A, B=Pre-AVR analysis. C, D=Post-AVR analysis in the same patient demonstrating a reduction in the mitral annular area (from 5.91 to 4.25 cm2), anterior-posterior diameter (from 1.92 to 1.68 cm), and anterolateral-posteromedial diameter (from 3.80 to 3.27 cm).

At the same time, we recognized that LV remodeling was not immediately observed in TEE during operation, as assessed by the LV size, which was nearly the same as the preoperative data. But after 10 days before discharge and in the midterm follow-up, it proved to be a favorable LV remodeling, due to a chronic reduction of afterload. Changes in LV shape and geometry might decrease in mitral tethering forces and finally improve MR grade. Such LV remodeling was probably the consequence of the correction of afterload. LV size decreased a lot since the preoperative period and made LV size seem small. Actually, the LV size was influenced by many factors, especially volume status. More stringent rules on controlling the input and output fluid after operation was another main influence factor on the LV size. In addition, the pattern of the LV hypertrophy was an adaptive response to pressure overload in AS. Concentric remodeling would increase wall thickness and decrease the size of LV chambers. In addition, the excellent results of our study were also more relevant with the small LV size after operation than with those with large LV size^[16].

Most of the patients who were classified as NYHA class III/IV seem to mismatch with the LV size in this study. It was a little hard to evaluate the patients’ NYHA class just on the complaint and activity endurance. In China, especially in some rural areas, most patients’ complaints were always influenced by many factors, such as their educational background and other patients’ symptoms, as well as their own thoughts. So, some of these 49 patients’ complaints and activity endurance were always very severe when they were in hospital, and they expected to get an earlier operation chance than those with less serious complaints and activity endurance. In addition, there were nine patients with EF < 50% in this study. After cardiotonics and diuretics, the symptom was improved in these patients. Whether the grade of MR of these nine patients after cardiotonics and diuretics treatment had changed or not was not sure. However, the grade of MR of the first echocardiography was not significantly different from those with relatively normal EF.

Our study showed excellent results on the reduction of MR, which might be due to the strict inclusion criteria. Any suspicion of organic mitral valve disease was an excludable factor from our study. In addition, more stringent applications on controlling the input and output after operation also played an important role in improving the MR. In this study, patients were treated with medicine before surgery, which had a good effect on decreasing MR grade after operation. The patients with EF < 50% got the maximized benefits from decreasing MR grade after correcting heart function. Last, references^[3,18] showed that 95% and 88% of young patients with moderate MR seem to get better results after AVR, which was consistent with our study.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, our study showed that patients with moderate regurgitation were more likely to benefit from conservative AVR surgery only. The mechanical compression and relief of aortic outflow tract obstruction after AVR would directly cause the reduction in MR. Ventricular remodeling would also cause the reduction in MR with time going on. All patients, especially the young ones, were most likely to benefit from AVR in early time.