Regionalization of Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Balancing Access and Expertise.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) following cardiovascular interventions is associated with adverse events during hospitalization and follow-up. Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is increasingly utilized for treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). We investigated whether SIRS following mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair may occur and be associated with adverse clinical outcomes. A total of 158 consecutive patients with severe MR undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair were studied. SIRS was defined by leukocytosis (≥12 × 109/L) and fever (≥38 °C) within 48 hours after intervention. Baseline inflammation was measured by absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte counts and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. The primary end point of major cardiovascular events was the composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and all-cause death. Recurrent MR at follow-up was also recorded. The mean patient age was 80.8±8.8 years. Forty-four (27.9%) developed SIRS. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio correlated with onset of leukocytosis and fever (P=0.04). During a median follow-up of 12.5 (5.4-17.4) months, the primary end point occurred in 27 (17.1%) patients (6 myocardial infarction, 5 strokes, and 16 deaths). Patients with SIRS more often had severe MR (79.5% versus 62.7%, P=0.02) at follow-up. After adjustment for pertinent variables, SIRS (HR 2.73 [95% CI, 1.08-6.86]; P=0.03) was independently associated with major cardiovascular events. SIRS after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is a strong independent predictor of major cardiovascular events. Closer follow-up is warranted because patients with SIRS have more severe MR at follow-up.

The clinical significance of elevated baseline natriuretic peptide level and prior heart failure hospitalization (HFH) within the prior year in mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair outcomes is unclear. This analysis examined the impact of BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) or NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and prior HFH on outcomes in patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation. The COAPT trial (Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation) was a randomized controlled trial of subjects assigned to mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with the MitraClip device versus guideline-directed medical therapy alone. COAPT patients were grouped by BNP/NT-proBNP levels and prior HFH within 1 year: (1) Mild heart failure (HF): no prior HFH with BNP/NT-proBNP<median; (2) Moderate HF: prior HFH with BNP/NT-proBNP<median or no prior HFH with BNP/NT-proBNP≥median; and (3) Severe HF: prior HFH and BNP/NT-proBNP≥median. The primary measures were 2-year rates of death or HFH. Of 572 patients, mild, moderate, and severe HF were present in 125 (21.9%), 288 (50.3%), and 159 (27.8%) patients, respectively. With guideline-directed medical therapy alone, the 2-year rates of death or HFH in mild, moderate, and severe HF were 56.4%, 60.5%, and 84.1%, respectively (Ptrend=0.001). These rates were 48.7% and 73.4% among patients with moderate HF and a prior HFH only versus elevated BNP/NT-proBNP≥median only (P=0.003). Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair reduced death/HFH compared with guideline-directed medical therapy alone regardless of HF severity (Pinteraction=0.50). In patients with HF with severe secondary mitral regurgitation enrolled in the COAPT trial, 2-year rates of death/HFH were increased with an elevated baseline BNP/NT-proBNP≥median, and more so if HFH within 1 year prior had occurred. Treatment with mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair reduced all-cause mortality and HFH consistently in mild, moderate, and severe HF. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01626079.

Consensus-driven criteria have recently been proposed for prediction of mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair outcomes, yet validation for response to therapy is needed. We examined the relation between contemporary criteria and outcomes with mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair therapy. Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair patients were classified according to anatomic and clinical criteria (1) Heart Valve Collaboratory criteria for nonsuitability; (2) commercial indications (suitable); and (3) neither (ie, intermediate). Analyses for Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium-defined outcomes of reduction in mitral regurgitation and survival were performed. Among 386 patients (median age, 82 years; 48% women), the most common classification was intermediate (46%), with 138 patients (36%) and 70 patients (18%) in the suitable and nonsuitable categories, respectively. Nonsuitable classification was related to prior valve surgery, smaller mitral valve area, type IIIa morphology, larger coaptation depth, and shorter posterior leaflet. Nonsuitable classification was associated with less technical success (P<0.001) and survival free of mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and mitral surgery (P<0.001). Among the nonsuitable patients, technical failure or any 30-day major adverse cardiac event occurred in 25.7%. Nevertheless, in these patients, acceptable mitral regurgitation reduction without adverse events still occurred in 69%, and their 1-year survival with mild or no symptoms was 52%. Contemporary classification criteria identify patients less suitable for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with respect to acute procedural success and survival, though patients most commonly fit an intermediate category. In experienced centers, sufficient mitral regurgitation reduction can be achieved safely in the selected patients even with challenging anatomy.

Impact of pulmonary hypertension on short and long-term outcome after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair: A meta-analysis.

Background The clinical significance of mitral annular calcification (MAC) in patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is not well understood. There is limited evidence regarding the feasibility, durability of repair, and the prognostic value of MAC in this population. We sought to examine the prognostic value of MAC, its severity, and its impact on procedural success and durability of mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. Methods and Results We reviewed the records of 280 patients with moderate-severe or severe mitral regurgitation who underwent mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with MitraClip from March 2014 to March 2022. The primary end point was cumulative survival at 1 year. Independent factors associated with the primary end point were identified using multivariable Cox regression. Among 280 patients included in the final analysis, 249 had none/mild MAC, and 31 had moderate/severe MAC. Median follow-up was 23.1 months (interquartile range: 11.1-40.4). Procedural success was comparable in the MAC and non-MAC groups (92.6% versus 91.4%, P=0.79) with similar rates of residual mitral regurgitation ≤2 at 1 year (86.7% versus 93.2%, P=0.55). Moderate/severe MAC was associated with less improvement in New York Heart Association III/IV at 30 days when compared with none/mild MAC (45.8% versus 14.3%, P=0.001). The moderate/severe MAC group had lower cumulative 1-year survival (56.8% versus 80.0%, hazard ratio [HR], 1.98 [95% CI, 1.27-3.10], P=0.002). Moderate/severe MAC and Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality for mitral valve repair were independently associated with the primary end point (HR, 2.20 [1.10-4.41], P=0.02; and HR, 1.014 [1.006-1.078], P=0.02, respectively). Conclusions Mitral TEER is a safe and feasible intervention in selected patients with significant MAC and associated with similar mitral regurgitation reduction at 1 year compared with patients with none/mild MAC. Patients with moderate/severe MAC had a high 1-year mortality and less improvement in their symptoms after TEER.

Prognostically meaningful tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is not well-defined in the mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair arena. We aimed to explore the prevalence, correlates, and consequences of TR grades and postprocedural trends in this setting. A single-center registry of isolated, first-time interventions was retrospectively assessed for pre-, intra-, and postprocedural aspects up to 1 year, of them the primary composite outcome of all-cause deaths or heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, all according to TR severity at baseline and at 1 month following mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. Overall, 1287 individuals (60.3% men, age 78 [interquartile range, 69-85] years, 52.9% with functional mitral regurgitation) were included. Below-moderate, moderate, and above-moderate TR affected 48.4%, 29.5%, and 22.1% of patients, respectively. Increasing TR severity was accompanied by higher rates of functional, severe mitral regurgitation, greater comorbidity, and more advanced heart failure. Although not affecting technical and echocardiographic procedural success, moderate-and-above TR degrees were associated with higher incidence of mortality, heart failure admissions, and functional class III to IV postprocedure, with moderate-to-severe and greater TR independently conferring increased risk for the various outcomes (primary end point; HR, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.21-1.80]; P=0.027). One-month postprocedural TR severity directly correlated with, and was mostly similar to or worse than, its baseline counterpart. Rather than the change between the two, moderate-and-above grade at 1 month, observed in 37.1% of eligible cases, emerged as predictive of the primary outcome's risk. Among patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, above-moderate TR at baseline and the closely related moderate-and-above TR at 1 month postprocedure are highly prevalent and signal a suboptimal course.

Introduction Over the last two decades, mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) has become a safe and effective therapy for severe mitral regurgitation in patients deemed at high surgical risk. Areas covered This review aims to encompass the most relevant and updated evidence in the field of M-TEER from its inception, focusing on clinical and anatomical features for proper patient and device selection. Expert opinion Growing operator experience and device iterations have resulted in improved clinical outcomes and an expansion of the therapy to patients with complex anatomies and clinical scenarios. Future investigations are warranted to determine the best management options and the most suitable device for every patient with MR.

Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair for Anterior Leaflet Flail Induced by Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair in Nonagenarians

Feasibility and Safety of Intracardiac Echocardiography Guidance in Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Data From 2015 to 2020

Acute ischemic mitral regurgitation is a rare but potentially catastrophic complication following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), characterized by severe clinical presentation and high mortality. Meanwhile, advancements in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have reduced the incidence of acute mitral regurgitation (AMR). The surgical approach remains the standard treatment but is associated with high rates of complications and in-hospital mortality, particularly in patients with cardiogenic shock or mechanical complications, such as papillary muscle rupture. Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment. Current evidence demonstrates the feasibility and safety of M-TEER in reducing mitral regurgitation, stabilizing hemodynamics, and improving in-hospital and short-term survival. The procedural success rate is high, with notable symptoms and functional status improvements. Mortality rates remain significant, reflecting the severity of AMR, but are lower compared to medical management alone. Challenges remain regarding the optimal timing of M-TEER, long-term device durability, and patient selection criteria. Ongoing iterations in device technology and procedural techniques are expected to enhance outcomes. This review highlights the role of M-TEER in AMR management, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary decision-making and further research to refine M-TEER application and improve outcomes in this high-risk AMR population.

The prognostic significance of intraprocedural pulsed-wave Doppler analysis of pulmonary venous flow (PVF) during mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) remains understudied. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of systolic dominant-PVF (SD-PVF) morphology post-TEER. In a retrospective analysis from December 2019 to December 2022, patients undergoing mitral TEER were categorized into SD-PVF and systolic blunting (SB)-PVF groups based on post-TEER morphology. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization at 1 year. We investigated the association of PVF morphology post-TEER with the primary endpoint at 1 year using Cox regression and compared the prognostic accuracy of PVF variables through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Among 187 patients (mean age 76.4 ± 10.5 years, 51.3% primary etiology), residual mitral regurgitation (MR) ≤mild was observed in 147 (82.4%) patients and 105 (56.2%) had SD-PVF post-TEER. Patients with SD-PVF had a lower incidence of >2+ residual MR after clip deployment, at 30 days (2.1% vs. 13.1%; p = 0.005) and at 1 year (1.4% vs. 9%; p = 0.08). SD-PVF post-TEER was independently associated with the primary endpoint (HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.39-0.87; p = 0.009). ROC curve analysis of the prognostic accuracy of SD-PVF demonstrated an AUC of 0.64 (95% CI = 0.54-0.73), comparable to other quantitative measures of PVF. Assessing PVF morphology after clip deployment offers a simple prognostic tool for patients undergoing mitral TEER. Multicenter cohorts will be necessary to further investigate its prognostic value.

BackgroundLeft ventricular (LV) rupture is an extremely rare but possible complication after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER). We describe a delayed LV rupture after M-TEER that was successfully treated with surgical repair.Case summaryAn 83-year-old Asian male with congestive heart failure was referred for treatment of severe mitral regurgitation (MR) due to A1/A2 segment prolapse with abnormally hypertrophied anterior papillary muscle. The patient was at high surgical risk, and M-TEER with MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was performed. During the procedure, an NT clip became entangled between the hypertrophied papillary muscle and the LV inferolateral wall. After disentangling the clip, we aimed the clip for a second attempt slightly towards the medial side and inserted it into the LV, avoiding interference with the subvalvular apparatus or LV wall. Grasping in this position significantly reduced MR to mild. The patient was initially stable, but sudden cardiac arrest occurred 75 min post-procedure, and subsequent echocardiography revealed massive pericardial effusion. Emergent sternotomy revealed a tear at the LV basal inferolateral wall just behind the anterior papillary muscle. Surgical patch repair and mitral valve replacement were performed, and the patient was discharged without neurological sequelae.DiscussionThe entrapment of the clip between the hypertrophied papillary muscle and the hypercontractile LV wall may have caused a crack in the LV wall, disrupting the endocardium. In elderly patients with primary MR, especially those with commissural lesions and limited LV space, clinicians should be cautious of LV rupture even after the procedure.

Prognostic Value of Baseline Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion to Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure Ratio in Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair

Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair: guidance in dogs from the human experience.