Biography:

Samer Ellahham has served as Chief Quality Officer for SKMC since 2009. Dr. Ellahham is a Board-certified internist, cardiologist, and vascular medicine senior consultant and continues to care for patients. Ellahham did his fellowship in Cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in USA. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a key member in Heart Failure and Transplant, Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology, Cardio-oncology and Peripheral Vascular Disease Sections. He is the Eminent Editor of The Journal of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Therapy. He is also a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals, including Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, etc. He received several research awards including the DuPont Pharmaceuticals Research Award, ACCP 58th Annual Scientific Assembly, Young Investigator Award; the Alfred Soffer Research Award and many.He serves on a number of US and international committees and advisory bodies. He is the Middle East Regional Chair of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation.Dr. Ellahham is Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) by The National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). He is certified in Medical Quality (CMQ) by The American Board of Medical Quality (ABMQ). He is currently working as Cleveland Clinic Caregiver and cardiology consultant in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Abstract:

The mitral valve apparatus is a complex system. Echocardiography is the primary diagnostic modality for evaluation of mitral valve structure and function. Mitral valve obstruction is caused most commonly by rheumatic mitral stenosis. Less common causes include tumors, mitral annular calcification, carcinoid heart disease, and congenital disorders. In the presence of characteristic valvular and subvalvular structural changes, severe mitral stenosis is associated with a mean transmitral gradient greater than 10 mmHg, pulmonary artery systolic pressure greater than 50 mmHg, and a mitral valve area less than 1.0 cm2. In patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis who are potential candidates for percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy, echocardiography is key to evaluate the likelihood of procedural success. Echocardiography enables quantification of the severity of mitral regurgitation and identification of causes including mitral valve prolapse, flail mitral leaflet, endocarditis, ischemic heart disease, functional regurgitation caused by a cardiomyopathy, and rheumatic mitral disease. New modalities of echocardiography add more value in the overall assessment and treatment of mitral valvular heart disease.