Myocardial fibrosis in rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) is caused by chronic inflammatory process. Its occurrence may lead to hemodynamic problems, especially after cardiac surgery. Myocardial fibrosis predicts worse morbidity after cardiac surgery, notably in coronary heart disease and aortic valve abnormalities. However, this issue has not been explored yet among patients with rheumatic MS.The aim of the study was to investigate prognostic impact of myocardial fibrosis to postoperative morbidity after mitral valve surgery in patients with rheumatic MS.This is a prospectively enrolled observational study of 47 consecutive rheumatic MS patients. All patients had preoperative evaluation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) protocol for left ventricular myocardial fibrosis assessment prior to mitral valve surgery. All patients were followed during hospitalization period. Postoperative morbidities were defined as stroke, renal failure, and prolonged mechanical ventilation.This study involved 33 women (70.2%) and 14 men (29.8%) with a mean age of 46 ± 10 years. Preoperative myocardial fibrosis was identified in 43 patients (91.5%). Estimated fibrosis volume ranged from 0% to 12.8% (median 2.8%). Postoperative morbidities occurred in 11 patients (23.4%). Significant mean difference of myocardial fibrosis volume was observed between patients with and without morbidity after mitral valve surgery (5.97 ± 4.16% and 3.12 ± 2.62%, p = 0.04). This significant association was allegedly influenced by different postoperative hemodynamic changes between the two groups.More extensive myocardial fibrosis is associated with postoperative morbiditiy after mitral valve surgery in patients with rheumatic MS.

Background: Patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) experience changes in left ventricular (LV) dimensions after mitral valve surgery. We sought to investigate changes in LV dimensional parameters after mitral valve surgery and find out whether the same changes occurred in different extents of myocardial fibrosis. Methods: This prospective observational study comprised 43 patients with rheumatic MS planned for mitral valve surgery between October 2017 and April 2018 in National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita (NCCHK) Jakarta. All the patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging based on the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) protocol for myocardial fibrosis assessment prior to surgery. The patients were classified according to the estimated fibrosis volume considered to influence hemodynamic performance (myocardial fibrosis <5% and myocardial fibrosis ≥5%). Serial transthoracic echocardiographic examinations before and after surgery were performed to detect changes in LV dimensional parameters. Results: This study consisted of 31 (72.1%) women and 12 (27.9%) men at a mean age of 46±9 years. The LGE protocol revealed myocardial fibrosis of less than 5% in 32 (74.4%) patients. A significant increase was detected in the LV end-diastolic diameter postoperatively, specifically in the patients with myocardial fibrosis of less than 5% (44.0±4.8 mm vs 46.6±5.6 mm; P value=0.027). A similar significant increase was not found in the other group (45.0±6.6 mm vs 46.7±6.9 mm; P value=0.256). Other changes in echocardiographic parameters showed similar patterns in both groups. Conclusion: Our patients with rheumatic MS who had myocardial fibrosis of less than 5% demonstrated better improvements in terms of increased preload. Myocardial fibrosis of less than 5% is associated with more favorable improvements in LV geometry.

When Positive Ischemic Response on Treadmill Test Implies Otherwise: One Overlooked Pitfall on TMT   Background: Particular ischemic process that portrayed in Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes bear similar depiction to different conditions, one of them is hypokalemia. On the other hand, Treadmill Test (TMT) has been used for decades for risk stratifying and diagnosing coronary artery disease as a non-invasive, safe and affordable screening test. However, using ECG changes as interpretation, TMT could have incidence of false positive results reported in various conditions, one of which is hypokalemia. The aim is to report a case of positive ischemic response resemblance in TMT of patient with severe hypokalemia.   Case Illustration: A-43-years-old female with history of unstable angina pectoris with risk factors of diabetes mellitus and hypertension underwent several examinations. Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography (CTCA) showed a 60% stenosis lesion in Left Anterior Descending (LAD) coronary artery. Within 3 minutes of TMT the ECG showed ST-segment depression in lead II, III, aVF, V1-V6 and prominent elevation in lead aVR. Fear of left main coronary artery occlusion, the test was terminated and the patient was immediately planned for urgent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). The result indicated non-significant coronary lesion. Potassium concentration of 1.87 mmol per liter and troponin levels were normal. Unbeknownst before, the patient had multiple episodes of vomiting for a whole day and felt dehydrated prior to the TMT. Patient then treated for potassium implementation and discharged uneventfully.   Conclusion: Hypokalemia could induce widespread ST-Segment depression or ST-Segment elevation in right limb lead. Peculiarly in context of stress testing or accompanied with chest pain, it is difficult to differentiate ECG changes in hypokalemia with true myocardial ischemia. Hypokalemia should be considered when TMT result is not concordance with true myocardial ischemia.