Morphologic Characterization and Assessment of Mitral Regurgitation after Repair of Atrioventricular Defects in Children

Abstract

Severe postoperative mitral regurgitation renders information on the underlying mechanism before reoperation very important, as a potential for mitral valve reconstruction may fa- cilitate the decision whether to reoperate, especially in the very young. This study compares the efficacy of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and left-ventricular angiography with that of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for detection of the mechanism underlying mitral regurgitation and its quantitative assessment in children after repair of common atrioventricular septal defect. Five children aged 1.5 to 16 years were evaluated by TTE, TEE, and angiography for postoperative mitral regurgitation 1 to 21 months after initial repair. TEE showed septal detachment of the mitral leaflet in four patients and reopening of the mitral cleft in one patient as the cause of mitral regurgitation whereas TTE failed in four and angiography in all patients. TEE allows definite identification of morphologic characteristics of mitral regurgitation and reliable assessment of its severity. Thus redo surgery may be safely performed on the bases of TEE find ings alone without confirmation by cardiac catheterization.

Key words

Pulmonary venous blood flow - Systolic reversed flow - Mitral regurgitation - Atrioventricular septal defect - Transesophageal echocardiography