Multimodality Imaging of Complications of Cardiac Valve Surgeries

Radiographics. 2019 Jul-Aug;39(4):932-956. doi: 10.1148/rg.2019180177. Epub 2019 May 31.

Abstract

Replacement with a prosthetic heart valve (PHV) remains the definitive surgical procedure for management of severe cardiac valve disease. PHV dysfunction is uncommon but can be a life-threatening condition. The broad hemodynamic and pathophysiologic manifestations of PHV dysfunction are stenosis, regurgitation, and a stuck leaflet. Specific structural abnormalities that cause PHV dysfunction include prosthetic valve-patient mismatch, structural failure, valve calcification, dehiscence, paravalvular leak, infective endocarditis, abscess, pseudoaneurysm, abnormal connections, thrombus, hypoattenuating leaflet thickening, and pannus. Multiple imaging modalities are available for evaluating a PHV and its dysfunction. Transthoracic echocardiography is often the first-line imaging modality, with additional modalities such as transesophageal echocardiography, CT, MRI, cine fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine used for further characterization and establishing a specific cause. The authors review PHVs and the role of imaging modalities in evaluation of PHV dysfunction and illustrate the imaging appearances of different complications. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2019.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, False / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Dissection / diagnostic imaging
  • Bioprosthesis / adverse effects
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Cineradiography / methods
  • Constriction, Pathologic
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Endocarditis / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Valve Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Valve Diseases / etiology
  • Heart Valve Diseases / physiopathology
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation*
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography / methods
  • Surgical Wound Dehiscence / diagnostic imaging