Abstract
PURPOSE: In children with a mitral annulus too small to accommodate traditional prostheses, surgical implantation of stent-based valves is a promising option. However no reliable preoperative methods exist to guide patient selection, device sizing, and positioning. We describe a novel methodology to visualize and quantify device fit in 3-dimensional echocardiogram (3DE)-derived heart models. DESCRIPTION: Heart models were created from existing preoperative 3DEs using custom software. Valve models were virtually implanted into the models, and both device fit and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) area were quantified. EVALUATION: The 3DEs of 3 patients who underwent Melody valve placement in the mitral position were retrospectively modeled: 1 with LVOT obstruction, 1 with perivalvar leak, and 1 without complications. In all cases 2-dimensional measurements underestimated 3D annular dimensions, and the patient with clinical LVOT obstruction had the lowest predicted LVOT area-to-aortic area ratio (0.5). CONCLUSIONS: 3DE-based preoperative modeling of surgical implantation of stent-based valves in the mitral position may improve quantification of mitral valve dimensions and inform risk stratification for potential LVOT obstruction.