going the wrong way…

• Sepsis.
  • Pneumonia
  • Infective endocarditis
  • other…
• Pulmonary embolism
• Cardiogenic shock
  • AMI
  • Mitral regurgitation
  • Pericardial effusion
• Aortic dissection

You take your trust ultrasound to the bedside, keeping in mind the FALLS protocol…

Screening ECHO:

PLAX, PSAX + subcostal views: LV appears hyperdynamic (even a bit empty) with reasonable contractility.  

Lung Ultrasound:

Lung ultrasound demonstrating numerous B-lines. These were asymmetric (R>>L) and more marked in right upper lobe; suggestive of pulmonary oedema.

Focused Apical Four Chamber:

So…. What are you seeing ?!?!

In the A4C view the posterior mitral leaflet is seen to be prolapsing into the left atrium.

Acute mitral regurgitation.

A true surgical emergency, however accurate & timely diagnosis can be difficult.

CAUSES.

• Chordae or papillary muscle rupture
• Endocarditis with valve destruction
• Myocardial ischaemia
• Acute rheumatic fever with carditis
• Acute cardiomyopathy
• Annular dilation with poor coaptation of leaflets
• Prosthetic valve dysfunction.

CLINICALLY.

The majority of patients with acute mitral regurgitation will present with dyspnoea, haemodynamic instability & symptoms of shock [weakness, dizziness & altered mental state]. Symptoms may also reflect the underlying pathogenesis of the acute regurgitation, however most patients will have no prior history of cardiac disease.

A subset of patients with acute mitral regurgitation may present solely with new-onset dyspnoea & may be diagnosed as a non-cardiac respiratory failure.

The murmur of acute MR is often only a faint systolic murmur, rather than the classic holosystolic heard in chronic MR. This is a result of the rapid equilibration of ventricular & atrial pressures during systole.

ACUTE VS CHRONIC SEVERE REGURGITATION.

CXR findings in Mitral Regurgitation.

• Typically demonstrates a normal-sized heart with features of pulmonary oedema.
• Interestingly, [and rarely] acute MR may direct regurgitant flow into a single pulmonary vein resulting in oedema most prominently in that lung segment. This is often [& easily] confused with pneumonia !
  • see a similar case from Dr Smith’s ECG Blog…

ECHO findings in Acute MR.

• Normal LV size & function
• Vena contracta >7 mm
• Decreased aortic valve opening
• Disrupted mitral valve apparatus
• Systolic reversal of pulmonary vein flow
• Vegetation &/or perforation
• Wall motion abnormalities [ischaemia]

MANAGEMENT.

Surgical = urgent valvuloplasty !!

Medical = support patient prior to valvuloplasty !!

• Respiratory support:
  • BiPAP
  • Intubation & mechanical ventilation.
• Haemodynamic support:
  • Cautious fluid administration
  • Vasopressors
  • Consideration for intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation.
• Consider underlying causes especially acute coronary syndrome.
  • ?angiography ± stenting prior to OT.

With his haemodynamics heading in the wrong direction, our patient is admitted to Intensive Care for ongoing vasopressor support and intermittent bursts of non-invasive ventilation.

Formal ECHO:
” Severe prolapse of posterior mitral leaflet. Normal LV size and systolic function”.

Taken to theatre on Day 10 of admission for mitral valve annuloplasty repair. Ruptured chordae found and repaired.

Here is his post-operative CXR….

He continues to do well.

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