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. 2021 Dec 10:17:801-807.
doi: 10.2147/VHRM.S338880. eCollection 2021.

High Mitral Annulus Calcium Score in Pre-Operative Chest Computerized Tomography and Adverse Outcomes in Mitral Valve Surgery

Alexandra Kasim #  1 , Gabby Elbaz-Greener #  2   3 , Amjad Shalabi  4   5   6 , Erez Kachel  4   5   6 , Liza Grosman-Rimon  4   5 , Michael Jerdev  4 , Offer Amir  2   3   4   5 , Shemy Carasso  2   3   4   5
Affiliations

High Mitral Annulus Calcium Score in Pre-Operative Chest Computerized Tomography and Adverse Outcomes in Mitral Valve Surgery

Alexandra Kasim et al. Vasc Health Risk Manag. .

Abstract

Background: Severe mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is believed to bear high operative and post-operative risk during mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery, including longer surgery time, post-surgical valvular leaks and increased rate of embolic phenomena. We hypothesized that quantification of mitral calcium in pre-operative chest computerized tomography (CCT), performed to assess aortic root before cross-clamping may help in risk assessment of adverse intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing MVR.

Methods: We included patients who underwent MVR between the years 2015 and 2018 at Poriya medical center. Preoperative CCT was performed using Philips iCT 256 and Agatston mitral annulus calcium score (MACS) was retrospectively calculated using Philips Intellispace portal version 8.0. Patients were divided into MACS quintiles; 1-3 quintiles were grouped (Low MACS) and compared to the 4-5 quintiles (High MACS) group for demographic, clinical operative and post-operative parameters.

Results: A total of 66 patients had MVR, out of which 61% were males, with mean age of 64±9. Concomitant coronary or valvular procedures were done in 60% of patients. The median MACS was 43. High MACS (≥854) was not associated with longer bypass or cross clamp times. No differences in the MVR results were found between the groups. There were 6 post-operative embolic events; 1 mesenteric and 5 cerebral, which were not associated with MACS.

Conclusion: MACS did not seem to be related to adverse outcomes in MVR. Due to a low event rate and probable pre-selection of patients without extreme mitral annulus calcifications our results should be confirmed in larger prospective study.

Keywords: MACS; MVR; mitral annulus calcification; mitral valve replacement.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mitral anatomy model. Viewed from the left atrium (Surgeon’s View). Anterior (A), Posterior (P) leaflet scallops numbered from 1–3, from lateral to medial.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Slab image at the level of the mitral valve. Right images - virtual reality endoscopic reconstruction in 3D looking from the roof of the left atrium towards the mitral valve, showing calcium in in silver. Left images: Heart CT scan. (A) Patient without MAC, (B) Patient with MAC.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mitral annulus calcium scoring. (A) Low calcium score. (B) High Calcium Score.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Post-operative embolic phenomena.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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