(Circulation. 1996;94:452-459.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
the Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (D.G., M.D.H., L.J., E.M., A.E.W., R.A.L.); Children's Hospital, School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pa (E.G.C., J.T.S.); Hewlett-Packard Co, Andover, Mass (S.M.M.-J.); and Santin Engineering, Peabody, Mass (C.S., J.S.).
| Abstract |
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Methods and Results Three-dimensional echocardiography reconstructed valve geometries typical of the spectrum in patients with mitral stenosis: mobile doming, intermediate conical, and relatively flat immobile valves. Each geometry was constructed with orifice areas of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm2 by stereolithography (computerized laser polymerization) (total, nine valves) and studied at physiological flow rates. Cc varied prominently with shape and was larger for the longer, tapered dome (more gradual flow convergence proximal and distal to the limiting orifice): for an anatomic orifice of 1.5 cm2, Cc increased from 0.73 (flat) to 0.87 (dome), and for an area of 0.5 cm2, from 0.62 to 0.75. For each shape, Cc increased with increasing orifice size relative to the proximal funnel (more tubelike). These variations translated into important differences of up to 40% in pressure gradient for the same anatomic area and flow rate (greatest for the flattest valves), with a corresponding variation in calculated Gorlin area (an effective area) relative to anatomic values.
Conclusions The coefficient of contraction and the related net pressure loss are importantly affected by the variations in leaflet geometry seen in patients with mitral stenosis. Three-dimensional echocardiography and stereolithography, with the use of actual information from patients, can address such uniquely three-dimensional questions to provide insight into the relations between cardiac structure, pressure, and flows.
Key Words: echocardiography mitral valve stenosis pressure
| Introduction |
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0.6); in contrast, for a prolonged tube, the collimated flow has no distal contraction (Cc=1.0) (Fig 1
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To date, however, it has not been possible to study these concepts with the actual 3D shapes of valves in patients. The purpose of this study was therefore to study the effect of 3D shape on the coefficient of contraction, pressure losses, and Gorlin areas in patients with mitral stenosis by applying 3D echocardiographic reconstruction to obtain valve geometries and stereolithography, a process of computerized laser-induced polymerization, to reproduce these shapes as actual models.
| Methods |
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1.5 cm2: a mobile, doming valve, as appreciated from leaflet motion in the parasternal long-axis view (Fig 2
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Stage 2
For each of the three valve geometries, three exact polymeric models were constructed by laser stereolithography and machined to have elliptical anatomic orifice areas of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm2, for a total of nine valves (Figs 3D, 4B, and 4D![]()
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). Stereolithography (3D Systems), an industrial process for constructing prototypes from computer designs, uses laser light to induce polymerization of a liquid substrate to form successive solid layers. Anatomic orifice area was confirmed by planimetry of direct video images of the orifices.
Stage 3
Each of these nine valves was then studied in steady flow state using an aqueous glycerin solution (33%) with physiological viscosity and density; three instantaneous flow rates of 2 to 18 L/min were used for each anatomic orifice area to provide a physiological range of expected orifice velocities from 0.7 to 2 m/s (based on anatomic area) for all valves (that is, 2, 4, and 6 L/min for the 0.5-cm2 orifices, increasing by a factor of 2 to 3 for the other orifices that were 2 to 3 times larger).
Measurements and Definitions
Desired flow rates were provided by a rotameter pump, calibrated and confirmed by timed volumetric collection. Effective orifice area was calculated as flow rate divided by continuous-wave Doppler orifice velocity (the maximal velocity at the vena contracta). The coefficient of contraction was calculated as effective area divided by anatomic orifice area. Pressure gradient was measured directly using a manometer interfaced to the flow model. Gorlin valve area was calculated as flow rate divided by a constant (44.5x the assumed contraction coefficient) times the square root of the mean pressure gradient, based on the original contraction coefficient of 0.713 or the later modified value of 0.85.14
Data and Statistical Analysis
Two-way ANOVA was used to test for significant differences among coefficients of contraction as a function of both 3D shape and orifice area. To test for the relation between pressure gradient and valve shape for valves of different anatomic areas and exposed to different flow rates, each pressure gradient was first normalized to that for a doming valve of the same anatomic orifice area (Aanat.) and flow rate (Q); these normalized values were then plotted against the squared ratio of (Cc for the doming valve/Cc for the valve being tested), a function of valve shape, because of the reciprocal relation in principle between pressure gradient (PG) and Cc2: PG=4v2 by Bernoulli (v=velocity)=4(Q/Aanat.xCc)2 by continuity.
This relation between pressure gradient and Cc2 ratios was then tested by linear regression analysis. Also, because area (Gorlin)/area (anat.)=Cc (actual)/Cc (assumed), we plotted the calculated Gorlin areas normalized to the anatomic values against actual Cc (since the assumed Cc is a constant) and tested their relation by linear regression analysis.
| Results |
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Pressure Gradients
Direct pressure measurements confirmed that these variations in contraction coefficient translated into corresponding changes in pressure gradient (Fig 6
, A through C). For example, the back row of bars in Fig 6A
shows that, for a constant anatomic orifice area of 1.5 cm2 and a constant flow rate, the pressure gradient was highest for the flattest valve, which had the smallest vena contracta and therefore the highest velocity. The same was observed for the 1-cm2 and 0.5-cm2 areas (Fig 6
, B and C). Comparison of the pressure gradient for any valve with that of a dome (Fig 6D
) showed that for the same anatomic area and flow rates, variation in 3D valve shape could produce varying pressure gradients that were up to 40% higher for the flattest valves. This ratio of pressure gradient to the pressure gradient of a corresponding dome related to the squared ratio of the contraction coefficients for the different valve shapes (y=0.89x+0.11, r=.98, SEE=0.037).
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Gorlin Areas
The calculated Gorlin areas (Fig 7
) also had a variable relation to the actual anatomic areas, spanning a 20% range, using either the original Gorlin equation or the subsequent modification, both of which incorporate a constant coefficient. The Gorlin to anatomic area ratio correlated with the coefficient of contraction, as it would for an effective orifice area (for the original equation, y=0.79x+0.45, r=.80, SEE=0.05; for the modified equation, y=0.70x+0.40, r=.80, SEE=0.04).
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| Discussion |
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Another way of stating the results is that for a given anatomic orifice area and pressure gradient, doming valves permit a higher cardiac output than flat ones. This is analogous to the observations of Grayburn et al24 that slitlike aortic insufficiency orifices typical of bicuspid and degenerative disease permit more regurgitant flow (larger effective orifice areas) than central rheumatic or circular orifices for the same anatomic orifice and pressure gradient. The findings in our study, in the broader sense, are also consistent with the preliminary report of Tsuji et al38 that a converging flow field is affected by the relationship between the size of the limiting anatomic orifice and that of a larger portion of the valvular nozzle.
The results of the current study provide greater insight into the fundamental strength of the Gorlin equation, which provides a measure of effective orifice area that tracks directly with the contraction coefficient (Fig 7
). The Gorlin equation is basically the continuity equation, substituting the square root of the pressure gradient for velocity. Therefore, although the relation between the Gorlin and anatomic areas may vary with valve shape, nevertheless, regardless of the constant used, the Gorlin calculations will vary directly with the effective orifice area, which is hemodynamically and physiologically most meaningful.19 39 40 41 The flow dependence of the contraction coefficient and therefore the Gorlin constant42 was not apparent over the range of flow rates studied, consistent with the observations of Voelker et al39 and Segal et al25 that flow-related effects are important mainly at low flows, as well as the results of Grayburn et al,24 Flachskampf et al19 (no variation), and Daboin et al43 (mild effect with scatter).
Three-dimensional Echocardiography
Because such studies require 3D objects, they demonstrate the value of a technique such as 3D echocardiography44 45 46 47 48 that can provide actual valve shapes from beating patient hearts and permit the use of stereolithography to convert these shapes into models in order to address the scientific questions under controlled conditions and with direct measurements of critical variables.
Study Limitations
The 3D technique has been extensively validated in vitro and in vivo,8 26 30 31 32 33 34 with the resolution of spark gap localization checked to be <1 mm9 26 ; variability has been reduced in this study by respiratory registration. Although the mitral valve deforms as it opens, the fixed models used are designed to capture funnel shape at a comparable time in the cycle for all valves, particularly at the time of maximal leaflet distention, roughly corresponding to that of peak velocity and gradient, to isolate the effect of valve shape at that moment. Future studies could examine deformable models and any effects that pulsatile flow might have on the evolution of the contraction coefficient. Nevertheless, such second-order effects will not eliminate or reduce the primary geometric effects described, particularly without significant effects of flow rate on the contraction coefficient in the range of flows studied. Finally, it was not the intent of this study to examine all possible valve shapes but rather, selected ones covering the spectrum seen in patients. Fig 8
displays two shape indexes plotted for 87 consecutive patients with valve areas
1.5 cm2 drawn from our echocardiographic database: a doming index (curved dome versus flat cone, similar to an index of Reid et al36 ) and a tapering index, representing rapid tapering from inlet to orifice by higher values. The valves studied (squares) and models built cover major portions of this clinical spectrum. Of note is that as in the case of mitral valve prolapse,8 although investigation requires full 3D studies, the resulting insights ultimately have the potential to be applied on the basis of correlated 2D images. Future studies also could use the same technique to explore differences in aortic stenosis between flat degenerative versus congenitally doming bicuspid valves.49
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Conclusions
The coefficient of orifice contraction for stenotic mitral valves is importantly affected by the variations in leaflet geometry seen in patients and reconstructed by 3D echocardiography. These variations translate into important differences of up to 40% in the pressure drop induced by these valves; for any given anatomic area and flow rate, the pressure loss is greatest for the flattest valves and least for the more gradually tapering domes. There is a corresponding variation in calculated Gorlin area relative to anatomic area, reflecting its fundamental derivation from the continuity equation as an effective orifice area. Stereolithography, with data generated by 3D echocardiography, can therefore allow us to address such uniquely 3D questions using actual information from patients to provide insight into the relation between structure, pressure, and flows in the heart.
| Acknowledgments |
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| Footnotes |
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Received September 25, 1995; revision received January 17, 1996; accepted January 22, 1996.
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