First-in-Human Transfemoral Transseptal Mitral Valve Chordal Repair

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair Using Transcatheter Chordal Attachments

The advent of transcatheter mitral chordal replacement techniques has offered an alternative approach that is less invasive and may be more suitable for select patients compared with surgical repair. These systems involve introducing artificial chordae, via catheter, to replace or supplement damaged or elongated natural chordae. These artificial chordae are anchored at one end to the mitral leaflet and the other end to the papillary muscle or directly to the left ventricular apex, restoring the leaflet's coaptation and reducing regurgitation. Early trials and studies suggest promising results in terms of safety and efficacy in reducing MR severity and improving symptoms.

Microinvasive mitral valve repair with transapical mitral neochordae implantation

Microinvasive cardiac surgery includes procedures performed off-pump, on the beating heart, with limited or absent skin incision, and those that rely on live imaging techniques. Transapical off-pump beating heart neochordae implantation allows the repair of severe mitral valve regurgitation due to leaflet prolapse or flail with live three-dimensional echo guidance. This procedure has shown good results for up to 5 years and can be considered as a valid alternative to conventional surgery in selected patients with high prediction of success based on clinical and anatomical considerations. The aim of this review is to describe the devices, indications, patient screening process, clinical and echocardiographic results, and future perspectives of this procedure.

A review of the development of interventional devices for mitral valve repair with the implantation of artificial chords

Mitral regurgitation (MR) was the most common heart valve disease. Surgical repair with artificial chordal replacement had become one of the standard treatments for mitral regurgitation. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) was currently the most commonly used artificial chordae material due to its unique physicochemical and biocompatible properties. Interventional artificial chordal implantation techniques had emerged as an alternative treatment option for physicians and patients in treating mitral regurgitation. Using either a transapical or a transcatheter approach with interventional devices, a chordal replacement could be performed transcatheter in the beating heart without cardiopulmonary bypass, and the acute effect on the resolution of mitral regurgitation could be monitored in real-time by transesophageal echo imaging during the procedure. Despite the in vitro durability of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material, artificial chordal rupture occasionally occurred. In this article, we reviewed the development and therapeutic results of interventional devices for chordal implantation and discuss the possible clinical factors responsible for the rupture of the artificial chordal material.

Valvular Heart Disease: New Concepts in Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Approaches

This review discusses recent advancements in the field of valvular heart disease. Topics covered include recognition of the impact of atrial fibrillation on development and assessment of valvular disease, strategies for global prevention of rheumatic heart disease, understanding and management of secondary mitral regurgitation, the updated classification of bicuspid aortic valve disease, recognition of heightened cardiovascular risk associated with moderate aortic stenosis, and a growing armamentarium of transcatheter therapies.

Transseptal chordal replacement: early experience

Chordal replacement is a fundamental technique used in the surgical repair of primary mitral regurgitation, and can be an effective means of preserving the native valve without leaflet resection. Surgical chordal replacement can be challenging since it is performed on an open, non-beating heart, and choosing the correct chord length to restore the zone of coaptation requires both intuition and skill. Developing transcatheter, transfemoral, and transseptal approaches to mitral valve chordal replacement presents the opportunity for safer and potentially earlier treatment of patients with primary mitral regurgitation. In particular, transcatheter methods will allow adjustment of chordal length and position real-time on a beating heart under echocardiographic guidance. In this manuscript, we review the current transcatheter transseptal technologies in development and discuss the various issues related to device design, efficacy, durability, and clinical trial design.