Normal Values in Stress Echocardiographic Parameters in Patients After Successful Mitral Valve Repair for Organic MR
Normal Values in Stress Echocardiographic Parameters in Patients After Successful Mitral Valve Repair for Organic MR
Surgical treatment is the only approach with potentially defined clinical success for organic
 mitral valve (MV) regurgitation. Recurrent or persistent complaints after initial successful
 MV repair is a clinical challenge in current practice. Especially when echo parameters at
 rest are within or near normal ranges and patients presenting disproportionately symptomatic
 in relation to the observed results. However, while MV regurgitation is a hemodynamic
 disease, currently used 2-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at rest lacks
 information about hemodynamic changes. Physical stress echocardiography is a promising
 technique to complement nowadays rest TTE in order to improve interpretation of hemodynamic
 changes. However, normal values for exercise echo are lacking in this postoperative patients
 cohort. A prospective, observational trial to determine normal values in stress
 echocardiographic parameters in asymptomatic patients after successful MV repair for organic
 MV regurgitation, is therefore highly needed.

 Purpose of the SEP- study is to determine normal values in stress echocardiographic
 parameters in asymptomatic patients at least 6 months after successful MV repair for organic
 MV regurgitation. These normal values for stress echo are of utmost importance to correctly
 and accurate interpret stress echo results during postoperative follow-up and to improve
 clinical decision making in patients post MV repair.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age ≥18 years;

 -  Male or female from all ethnicities;

 -  At least 6 months post successful, isolated MV repair. S

 -  Asymptomatic

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pulmonary hypertension >50 mmHg at rest;

 -  Atrial fibrillation (AF) at time of study related stress echo test;

 -  Known contraindication or incapability to perform peak exercise or inability to
 perform physical stress testing;

 -  LVEF <45%;

 -  NYHA class II and more.

 -  Other heart valve disease of more than mild severity;

 -  Concomitant surgery during MV repair, e.g. MAZE, TVP procedure;

 -  Prior heart valve surgery;

 -  Congenital heart disease;

 -  Disabling comorbidity, e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);

 -  Unable to provide informed consent