A comparison of adult pulmonary autograft diameter measurements with echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging

• Published in: European heart journal 1998-02, Vol.19 (2), p.301-309
• Main Authors: Hokken, R.B., de Bruin, H.G., Taams, M.A., Schiks-Berghout, M., Steyerberg, E.W., Bogers, A.J.J.C., van Herwerden, L.A., Oudkerk, M., Roelandt, J.R.T.C., Bos, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; aortic valve; Aortic Valve - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Valve - pathology; Aortic Valve - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diastole; echocardiography; Echocardiography - methods; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Endocardial and cardiac valvular diseases; Female; Heart; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pulmonary autograft; Pulmonary Valve - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Valve - pathology; Pulmonary Valve - transplantation; Systole; Transplantation, Autologous
• ISSN: 0195-668X; 1522-9645
• DOI: 10.1053/euhj.1997.0745

In 38 consecutive patients the pulmonary autograft was used in aortic root replacement. Investigations were performed with transthoracic echocardiography, trans-oesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging in 31, 27 and 27 patients respectively. The mean age at operation was 28·7 years (range 19·0–52·0) and the follow-up period was 2·8 years (range 0·8–6·7). The pul-monary autograft diameter was measured at the subannular region (1), at the annulus at the hinge points of the valve leaflets (2), at the sinus (3), at the sino-tubular junction (4) and at the distal part of the autograft (5). With trans-oesophageal echocardiography the mean systolic measurements at levels 1 to 5 were 32, 31, 42, 35 and 34mm, respectively. The corresponding diastolic measurements were smaller: 25, 28, 42, 35 and 34mm respectively. There was no significant difference between transthoracic echo-cardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography measurements of the proximal autograft (levels 1–3). Diameters obtained with magnetic resonance imaging were 1 to 3mm larger than those obtained with transthoracic echocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography (P0·3). Conclusions The mean pulmonary autograft diameters measured using transthoracic echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging were larger than native aortic and pulmonary diameters of a normal population in the same age group. Diameters of the distal 2 levels could not be imaged reliably with transthoracic echocardiography. Magnetic resonance imaging diameter measurements were, in general, larger than with echocardiography.