This study sought to assess the impact of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) as defined by impaired right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling, on survival after edge-to-edge ...transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) for severe secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR).
Conflicting data exist regarding the benefit of TMVR in severe SMR. A possible explanation could be differences in RVD.
Using data from the EuroSMR (European Registry on Outcomes in Secondary Mitral Regurgitation) registry, this study compared the characteristics and outcomes of SMR patients undergoing TMVR, according to their RV-PA coupling, assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion-to-systolic pulmonary artery pressure (TAPSE/sPAP) ratio.
Overall, 817 patients with severe SMR and available RV-PA coupling assessment underwent TMVR in the participating centers. RVD was present in 211 patients (25.8% with a TAPSE/sPAP ratio <0.274 mm/mm Hg). Although all patients demonstrated significant improvement in their New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, there was a trend toward a lower rate of NYHA functional class I or II among patients with RVD (56.5% vs. 65.5%, respectively; p = 0.086) after TMVR. Survival rates at 1 and 2 years were lower among patients with RVD (70.2% vs. 84.0%, respectively; p < 0.001; and 53.4% vs. 73.1%, respectively; p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, a reduced TAPSE/sPAP ratio was a strong predictor of mortality (odds ratio: 1.62; 95% confidence interval: 1.14 to 2.31; p = 0.007).
RVD, as shown by impairment of RV-PA coupling, is a major predictor of adverse outcome in patients undergoing TMVR for severe SMR. The often neglected functional and anatomic RV parameters should be systematically assessed when planning TMVR procedures for patients with severe SMR.
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To compare the efficacy and clinical outcomes of transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TMVr) and surgical mitral valve repair (SMVr) among patients with secondary mitral regurgitation ...(SMR).
Consecutive patients with SMR treated using either TMVr (n = 199) or SMVr (n = 222) at 2 centers were included and retrospectively analyzed. To account for differences in patient demographic characteristics, 1:1 propensity score matching was performed. The primary endpoint was all-cause death within 2 years after the procedure.
The study population consisted of 202 matched patients. At 2 years, all-cause mortality was 24.3% for TMVr and 23.0% for SMVr (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.71; P = .909). Severe heart failure symptoms at 2 years were less prevalent after SMVr (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV: 13.5% vs 29.5%; P = .032) than after TMVr. A higher proportion of the SMVr patients had SMR reduction to none or mild at discharge (90.8% vs 72.0%; P < .001) and 2 years (86.5% vs 59.6%; P < .001). Among patients who achieved none or mild MR at discharge, 7 patients (10.1%) in the SMVr group and 15 (34.9%) in the TMVr group had progression to moderate or greater MR at 2 years (P = .003). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) significantly improved (+10.1% ± 11.1%; P < .001) after SMVr (LVEF at 2 years: 45.7% ± 12.8%), whereas it remained unchanged (–1.3% ± 8.9%; P = .260) after TMVr (LVEF at 2 years: 34.0% ± 13.2%).
In this propensity score-matched analysis, there was no significant difference in 2-year survival between TMVr and SMVr, despite greater and more durable SMR reduction, as well as LVEF improvement in the surgical group.
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The aim of this study was to assess the impact of residual mitral regurgitation (resMR) on mortality with respect to left ventricular dilatation (LV-Dil) or right ventricular dysfunction (RV-Dys) in ...patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) who underwent mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER).
The presence of LV-Dil and RV-Dys correlates with advanced stages of heart failure in SMR patients, which may impact the outcome after TEER.
SMR patients in a European multicenter registry were evaluated. Investigated outcomes were 2-year all-cause mortality and improvement in New York Heart Association functional class with respect to MR reduction, LV-Dil (defined as LV end-diastolic volume ≥159 ml), and RV-Dys (defined as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion-to-systolic pulmonary artery pressure ratio of <0.274 mm/mm Hg).
Among 809 included patients, resMR ≤1+ was achieved in 546 (67%) patients. Overall estimated 2-year mortality rate was 32%. Post-procedural resMR was significantly associated with mortality (p = 0.031). Although the improvement in New York Heart Association functional class persisted regardless of either LV-Dil or RV-Dys, the beneficial treatment effect of resMR ≤1+ on 2-year mortality was observed only in patients without LV-Dil and RV-Dys (hazard ratio: 1.75; 95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 3.00).
Achieving optimal MR reduction by TEER is associated with improved survival in SMR patients, especially if the progress in heart failure is not too advanced. In SMR patients with advanced stages of heart failure, as evidenced by LV-Dil or RV-Dys, the treatment effect of TEER on symptomatic improvement is maintained, but the survival benefit appears to be reduced.
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Both acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are major causes of morbidity and mortality, with overlapping risk factors. Incidental or silent PE therefore may be discovered during an ...AIS work-up. Thrombolytic therapy is considered first-line therapy for eligible patients with AIS. We present the case of an 88-year-old man with an AIS, who was incidentally found to have a PE, and then received thrombolytic therapy leading to favorable outcomes in both conditions.
Mitral regurgitation is a highly prevalent condition among elderly patients, affecting almost 10% of the general population aged 75 and older. Left untreated, severe mitral regurgitation results in ...high mortality and frequent hospitalisation for treatment of heart failure. Surgical treatment remains the first-line therapy for symptomatic, severe mitral regurgitation , especially for patients presenting with a primary aetiology. However, a high proportion of patients with mitral regurgitation are turned down for open-heart surgery, mainly due to advanced age, diminished left ventricular function and comorbidities. Thus, percutaneous treatment options have been recently developed as an alternative. In this article, we will review transcatheter interventional techniques at the level of the mitral valve, including implantation technique, indications and clinical results.
Objectives
To assess the value of effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) in predicting outcome after edge-to-edge transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) and ...identify the optimal cut-off for patients’ selection.
Methods
Using the EuroSMR (European Registry of Transcatheter Repair for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation) registry, that included patients undergoing edge-to-edge TMVR for SMR between November 2008 and January 2019 in 8 experienced European centres, we assessed the optimal ERO threshold associated with mortality in SMR patients undergoing TMVR, and compared characteristics and outcomes of patients according to baseline ERO.
Results
Among 1062 patients with severe SMR and ERO quantification by proximal isovelocity surface area method in the registry, ERO was < 0.3 cm
2
in 575 patients (54.1%), who were more symptomatic at baseline (NYHA class ≥ III: 91.4% vs. 86.9%, for ERO < vs. ≥ 0.3 cm
2
;
P
= 0.004). There was no difference in all-cause mortality at 2-year follow-up according to baseline ERO (28.3% vs. 30.0% for ERO < vs. ≥ 0.3 cm
2
,
P
= 0.585). Both patient groups demonstrated significant improvement of at least one NYHA class (61.7% and 73.8%,
P
= 0.002), resulting in a prevalence of NYHA class ≤ II at 1-year follow-up of 60.0% and 67.4% for ERO < vs. ≥ 0.3 cm
2
, respectively (
P
= 0.05).
Conclusion
All-cause mortality at 2 years after TMVR does not differ if baseline ERO is < or ≥ 0.3 cm
2
, and both groups exhibit relevant clinical improvements. Accordingly, TMVR should not be withheld from patients with ERO < 0.3 cm
2
who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical treatment, if TMVR appropriateness was determined by experienced teams in dedicated valve centres.
Aims
This study aims to assess the applicability of the mitral regurgitation (MR) proportionality concept in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (aFMR) treated with transcatheter ...edge‐to‐edge repair (M‐TEER). We hypothesized that patients with disproportionate MR (higher MR relative to left ventricular size) would exhibit different outcomes compared to those with proportionate MR, despite undergoing M‐TEER.
Methods and results
We retrospectively analysed 98 patients with aFMR from the EuroSMR registry who underwent M‐TEER between 2008 and 2019. Patients met criteria for aFMR (normal indexed left ventricular end‐diastolic volume LVEDV, preserved left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF ≥ 50% without regional wall motion abnormalities, and structurally normal mitral valves). We excluded patients with missing effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) or LVEDV data. The primary endpoint was 2‐year mortality, with an EROA/LVEDV ratio employed to differentiate disproportionate from proportionate MR. Procedural success and baseline characteristics were analysed, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify mortality predictors. The mean patient age was 79 ± 7.3 years, with 68.8% female, and 79% had a history of atrial fibrillation. The mean EROA was 0.27 ± 0.14 cm2, and LVEDV was 95.6 ± 33.7 mL. Disproportionate MR was identified with an EROA/LVEDV ratio >0.339 cm2/100 mL. While procedural success was similar in both groups, disproportionate MR was associated with a numerically higher estimate of systolic pulmonary artery pressures (sPAP) and rates of NYHA ≥III and TR ≥ 3+. Disproportionate MR had a significant association with increased 2‐year mortality (P < 0.001). The EROA/LVEDV ratio and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were independent predictors of 2‐year mortality (EROA/LVEDV: HR: 1.35, P = 0.010; TAPSE: HR: 0.85, P = 0.020).
Conclusions
This analysis introduces the MR proportionality concept in aFMR patients and its potential prognostic value. Paradoxically, disproportionate MR in aFMR was linked to a 1.35‐fold increase in 2‐year mortality post‐M‐TEER, emphasizing the importance of accurate preprocedural FMR characterization. Our findings in patients with disproportionate MR indicate that a high degree of aFMR with high regurgitant volumes may lead to aggravated symptoms, which is a known contributor to increased mortality following M‐TEER. These results underline the need for further research into the pathophysiology of aFMR to inform potential preventative and therapeutic strategies, ensuring optimal patient outcomes.
Background Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) frequently develops in patients with long-standing pulmonary hypertension, and both pathologies are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This ...study aimed to improve prognostic assessment in patients with severe TR undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) by relating the extent of TR to pulmonary artery pressures. Methods and Results In this multicenter study, we included 533 patients undergoing TTVI for moderate-to-severe or severe TR. The proportionality framework was based on the ratio of tricuspid valve effective regurgitant orifice area to mean pulmonary artery pressure. An optimal threshold for tricuspid valve effective regurgitant orifice area/mean pulmonary artery pressure ratio was derived on 353 patients with regard to 2-year all-cause mortality and externally validated on 180 patients. Patients with a tricuspid valve effective regurgitant orifice area/mean pulmonary artery pressure ratio ≤1.25 mm
/mm Hg (defining proportionate TR) featured significantly lower 2-year survival rates after TTVI than patients with disproportionate TR (56.6% versus 69.6%;
=0.005). In contrast with patients with disproportionate TR (n=398), patients with proportionate TR (n=135) showed more pronounced mPAP levels (37.9±9.06 mm Hg versus 27.9±8.17 mm Hg;
<2.2×10
) and more severely impaired right ventricular function (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion: 16.0±4.11 versus 17.0±4.64 mm;
=0.012). Moreover, tricuspid valve effective regurgitant orifice area was smaller in patients with proportionate TR when compared with disproportionate TR (0.350±0.105 cm
versus 0.770±0.432 cm
;
<2.2×10
). Importantly, proportionate TR remained a significant predictor for 2-year mortality after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables (hazard ratio, 1.7;
=0.006). Conclusions The proposed proportionality framework promises to improve future risk stratification and clinical decision-making by identifying patients who benefit the most from TTVI (disproportionate TR). As a next step, randomized controlled studies with a conservative treatment arm are needed to quantify the net benefit of TTVI in patients with proportionate TR.
Right-sided infective endocarditis (IE) accounts for 5% to 10% of all IE cases. Compared with left-sided IE, it is more often associated with intravenous drug abuse and intracardiac devices, whereas ...the latter has become more prevalent in recent decades. The authors report the first case of IE in a heterotopic caval valved stent used for treating torrential tricuspid regurgitation. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)
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Surgical mitral valve replacement in patients with severe annular calcification is a challenge for the cardiac surgeon. Surgical transatrial implantation of a transcatheter heart valve is an ...alternative for selected patients, in particular those at risk for obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract or valve embolization. Herein, we review patient selection, surgical technique, and early outcomes after this novel hybrid procedure.
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