Clinical outcome of mitral regurgitation due to flail leaflet

Mitral valve repair in a regional quality collaborative: Respect or resect?

Objective

Mitral valve repair is the gold standard for treatment of mitral regurgitation, but the optimal technique remains debated. By using a regional collaborative, we sought to determine the change in repair technique over time.

Methods

We identified all patients undergoing isolated mitral valve repair from 2012 to 2022 for degenerative mitral disease. Those with endocarditis, transcatheter repair, or tricuspid intervention were excluded. Continuous variables were analyzed via Wilcoxon rank sum, and categorical variables were analyzed via chi-square testing.

Results

We identified 1653 patients who underwent mitral valve repair, with 875 (59.2%) undergoing a no resection repair. Over the last decade, there was no significant trend in the proportion of repair techniques across the region (P = .96). Those undergoing no resection repairs were more likely to have undergone prior cardiac surgery (5.0% vs 2.2%, P = .002) or minimally invasive approaches (61.4% vs 24.7%, P < .001) with similar predicted risk of mortality (median 0.6% vs 0.6%, P = .75). Intraoperatively, no resection repairs were associated with longer bypass times (140 [117-167] minutes vs 122 [91-159] minutes, P < .001). Operative mortality was similar between both groups (1.1% vs 1.0%, P = .82), as were other postoperative outcomes. Anterior leaflet prolapse (odds ratio, 11.16 [6.34-19.65], P < .001) and minimally invasive approach (odds ratio, 6.40 [5.06-8.10], P < .001) were most predictive of no resection repair.

Conclusions

Despite minor differences in operative times, statewide over the past decade there remains a diverse mix of both classic "resect" and newer "respect" strategies with comparable short-term outcomes and no major timewise trends. These data may suggest that both approaches are equivocal.

Robotic mitral valve surgery

Totally endoscopic robotic mitral valve repair is the least invasive surgical therapy for mitral valve disease. Robotic mitral valve surgery demonstrates faster recovery with shorter hospital stays, less morbidity, and equivalent mortality and mid-term durability compared to sternotomy. In this review, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of robotic mitral valve surgery and consider important technical details of both operative set-up and mitral valve repair techniques. The number of robotic cardiac surgical procedures being performed globally is expected to continue to rise as experience grows with robotic techniques and increasing numbers of cardiac surgeons become proficient with this innovative technology. This will be facilitated by the introduction of newer robotic systems and increasing patient demand.

Timing of Surgery for Asymptomatic Primary Mitral Regurgitation: Possible Value of Early, Serial Measurements of Left Ventricular Sphericity

Asymptomatic primary mitral regurgitation due to myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve leaflets may remain so for long periods, even as left ventricular function progresses to a decompensated stage. During the early compensated stage, the ventricle's initial response to the volume overload is an asymmetric increase in the diastolic short axis dimension, accomplished by a diastolic shift of the interventricular septum into the right ventricular cavity, creating a more spherical left ventricular diastolic shape, increasing diastolic filling and stroke volume. Early valve repair is recommended to reduce postoperative left ventricular dysfunction. Early serial measurements of left ventricular sphericity index [LV-Si]. during the compensated stage of mitral regurgitation might identify subtle changes in left ventricular shape and assist in determining the optimal earliest timing for surgical intervention.

Anesthesia challenges and role of transesophageal echocardiography during MitraClip implantation in a patient with end stage heart failure

Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who have developed mitral valve regurgitation (MR) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and are too sick to undergo any surgical repair or replacement are being treated worldwide through catheter-based percutaneous intervention techniques to treat MR like MitraClip system®. There are very few case reports especially from India on anesthetic management during MitraClip device implantation and its specific considerations. We present a case of a 48-year-old male patient, diagnosed as post-myocarditis dilated cardiomyopathy with poor left ventricular ejection fraction (30-35%) and severe MR who underwent mitral clip implantation with fluoroscopy and transesophageal echocardiography guidance under general anesthesia. We hope that our experience will help and guide future such undertakings in our country.

One-Year Outcomes and Their Relationship to Residual Mitral Regurgitation After Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair With MitraClip Device: Insights From the OCEAN-Mitral Registry

Background Limited data are available about clinical outcomes and residual mitral regurgitation (MR) after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in the large Asian-Pacific cohort. Methods and Results From the Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention (OCEAN-Mitral) registry, a total of 2150 patients (primary cause of 34.6%) undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair were analyzed and classified into 3 groups according to the residual MR severity at discharge: MR 0+/1+, 2+, and 3+/4+. The mortality and heart failure hospitalization rates at 1 year were 12.3% and 15.0%, respectively. Both MR and symptomatic improvement were sustained at 1 year with MR ≤2+ in 94.1% of patients and New York Heart Association functional class I/II in 95.0% of patients. Compared with residual MR 0+/1+ (20.4%) at discharge, both residual MR 2+ (30.2%; P < 0.001) and 3+/4+ (32.4%; P = 0.007) were associated with the higher incidence of death or heart failure hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.59; P < 0.001, and adjusted HR, 1.73; P = 0.008). New York Heart Association class III/IV at 1 year was more common in the MR 3+/4+ group (20.0%) than in the MR 0+/1+ (4.6%; P < 0.001) and MR 2+ (6.4%; P < 0.001) groups, and the proportion of New York Heart Association class I is significantly higher in the MR 1+ group (57.8%) than in the MR 2+ group (48.3%; P = 0.02). Conclusions The OCEAN-Mitral registry demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes and sustained MR reduction at 1 year in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. Both residual MR 2+ and 3+/4+ after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair at discharge were associated with worse clinical outcomes compared with residual MR 0+/1+. Registration Information https://upload.umin.ac.jp. Identifier: UMIN000023653.

Temporal Trends and Early Outcomes of Transcatheter versus Surgical Mitral Valve Repair in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Objectives

To study trends of utilization, in-hospital outcomes, and short outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) vs. surgical mitral valve repair (SMVR) in atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background

TMVR is a treatment option in inoperable or high-risk patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). AF is a common comorbidity of MR. Data comparing between TMVR and SMVR in MR patients with AF is lacking.

Methods

The National Readmission Database from 2016 to 2019 was utilized to identify hospitalizations undergoing TMVR or SMVR with AF. Outcomes of interest included mortality, postoperative complications, length of stay, and 30-day readmission rate.

Results

A total of 9,195 patients underwent TMVR and 16,972 patients underwent SMVR with AF; the number of AF undergoing TMVR was increasing from 1,342 in 2016 to 4,215 in 2019 and SMVR. The incidence of in-hospital mortality decreased from 2.6% in 2016 to 1.8% in 2019. We identified length of stay>5 days, dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and urgent/emergent admissions as independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality. After matching, we included 4,680 patients in each group; the in-hospital death, transfusion, acute kidney injury, sepsis, stroke, and mechanical ventilation were lower in TMVR compared with SMVR. TMVR was associated with a similar rate of all-cause readmission at 30 days compared with SMVR.

Conclusion

Patients with AF receiving TMVR have been increasing along with progressive improvement in in-hospital death and length of stay. Compared to SMVR, AF patients receiving TMVR had a lower rate of in-hospital death and postoperative complications.

Prognostic Significance of Flail Mitral Leaflet in Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair for Primary Mitral Regurgitation

Despite the growing experience with MitraClip in the broad spectrum of mitral regurgitation (MR), limited data are available regarding the independent prognostic role on survival of different mitral regurgitation etiology subtypes. We sought to evaluate the impact of flail leaflet etiology in a large series of patients with primary MR (PMR) who underwent MitraClip treatment. The study included 588 patients with significant PMR from the multicenter GIOTTO (Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology [GIse] registry Of Transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitaTiOn), stratified into 2 groups according to MR etiology: flail+ (n = 300) and flail- (n = 288). The primary end point was a composite of cardiac death and first rehospitalization for heart failure (HF). To account for the baseline differences, patients were propensity score-matched 1:1. Flail leaflet etiology was present in about a half of the patients. Acute technical success was achieved in 98% of the overall cohort, with no significant differences between the study groups (p = 0.789). At the 2-year Kaplan-Meier analysis, the primary end point occurred in 13% of flail+ patients compared with 23% in flail- (p = 0.009). The flail+ group presented lower rates of both cardiac death and rehospitalization for HF, whereas a similar overall death rate was observed between the groups. A multivariate Cox regression analysis identified flail leaflet etiology as an independent predictor of favorable outcome in terms of the primary end point (hazard ratio 0.141, 95% confidence interval 0.049 to 0.401, p <0.001). After propensity score matching, flail+ patients had confirmed lower rates of cardiac mortality and rehospitalization for HF but similar rates of overall death. In conclusion, flail leaflet-related etiology was common in patients with PMR who underwent MitraClip treatment and was an independent predictor of midterm favorable clinical outcomes.

Urgent transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for severe mitral regurgitation with flail leaflet in critically Ill patients

Introduction

Degenerative mitral valve disease (DMR) is a common valvular disorder, with flail leaflets due to ruptured chordae representing an extreme variation of this pathology. Ruptured chordae can present as acute heart failure which requires urgent intervention. While mitral valve surgery is the preferred mode of intervention, many patients have significantly elevated surgical risk and are sometimes considered inoperable. We aim to characterize patients with ruptured chordae undergoing urgent transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER), and to analyze their clinical and echocardiographic outcomes.

Methods

We screened all patients who underwent TEER at a tertiary referral center in Israel. We included patients with DMR with flail leaflet due to ruptured chordae and categorized them into elective and critically ill groups. We evaluated the echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and clinical outcomes of these patients.

Results

The cohort included 49 patients with DMR due to ruptured chordae and flail leaflet, who underwent TEER. Seventeen patients (35%) underwent urgent intervention and 32 patients (65%) underwent an elective procedure. In the urgent group, the average age of the patient was 80.3, with 41.8% being female. Fourteen patients (82%) received noninvasive ventilation, and three patients (18%) required invasive mechanical ventilation. One patient died due to tamponade, while echo evaluation of the other 16 patients demonstrated successful reduction of ≥2 in the MR grade. Left atrial V wave decreased from 41.6 mmHg to 17.9 mmHg (p < 0.001), and the pulmonic vein flow pattern changed from reversal (68.8%) to a systolic dominant flow in all patients (p = 0.001). After the procedure, 78.5% of patients improved to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I or II (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the overall mortality between the urgent and elective groups, with similar 6 months survival rates for each group.

Conclusion

Urgent TEER in patients with ruptured chordae and flail leaflets can be safe and feasible with favorable hemodynamic, echocardiographic, and clinical outcomes.

Quantification of primary mitral regurgitation by echocardiography: A practical appraisal

The accurate quantification of primary mitral regurgitation (MR) and its consequences on cardiac remodeling is of paramount importance to determine the best timing for surgery in these patients. The recommended echocardiographic grading of primary MR severity relies on an integrated multiparametric approach. It is expected that the large number of echocardiographic parameters collected would offer the possibility to check the measured values regarding their congruence in order to conclude reliably on MR severity. However, the use of multiple parameters to grade MR can result in potential discrepancies between one or more of them. Importantly, many factors beyond MR severity impact the values obtained for these parameters including technical settings, anatomic and hemodynamic considerations, patient's characteristics and echocardiographer' skills. Hence, clinicians involved in valvular diseases should be well aware of the respective strengths and pitfalls of each of MR grading methods by echocardiography. Recent literature highlighted the need for a reappraisal of the severity of primary MR from a hemodynamic perspective. The estimation of MR regurgitation fraction by indirect quantitative methods, whenever possible, should be central when grading the severity of these patients. The assessment of the MR effective regurgitant orifice area by the proximal flow convergence method should be used in a semi-quantitative manner. Furthermore, it is crucial to acknowledge specific clinical situations in MR at risk of misevaluation when grading severity such as late-systolic MR, bi-leaflet prolapse with multiple jets or extensive leak, wall-constrained eccentric jet or in older patients with complex MR mechanism. Finally, it is debatable whether the 4-grades classification of MR severity would be still relevant nowadays, since the indication for mitral valve (MV) surgery is discussed in clinical practice for patients with 3+ and 4+ primary MR based on symptoms, specific markers of adverse outcome and MV repair probability. Primary MR grading should be seen as a continuum integrating both quantification of MR and its consequences, even for patients with presumed “moderate” MR.

Watchful surgery in asymptomatic mitral valve prolapse

The most common organic etiology of mitral regurgitation is degenerative and consists of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Volume overload because of mitral regurgitation is the most common complication of MVP. Advocating surgery before the consequences of volume overload become irreparable restores life expectancy, but carries a risk of mortality in patients who are often asymptomatic. On the other hand, the post-surgical outcome of symptomatic patients is dismal and life expectancy is impaired. In the present article, we aim to bridge the gap between these two therapeutic approaches, unifying the concepts of watchful waiting and early surgery in a "watchful surgery approach".

Prognostic value of forward flow indices in primary mitral regurgitation due to mitral valve prolapse

Background

Degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common valve disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Timing for surgery is debated for asymptomatic patients without Class I indication, prompting the search for novel parameters of early left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction.

Aims

To evaluate the prognostic impact of preoperative forward flow indices on the occurrence of post-operative LV systolic dysfunction.

Methods

We retrospectively included all consecutive patients with severe DMR due to MVP who underwent mitral valve repair between 2014 and 2019. LVOT_TVI, forward stroke volume index, and forward LVEF were assessed as potential risk factors for LVEF <50% at 6 months post-operatively.

Results

A total of 198 patients were included: 154 patients (78%) were asymptomatic, and 46 patients (23%) had hypertension. The mean preoperative LVEF was 69 ± 9%. 35 patients (18%) had LVEF ≤ 60%, and 61 patients (31%) had LVESD ≥40 mm. The mean post-operative LVEF was 59 ± 9%, and 21 patients (11%) had post-operative LVEF<50%. Based on multivariable analysis, LVOT_TVI was the strongest independent predictor of post-operative LV dysfunction after adjustment for age, sex, symptoms, LVEF, LV end systolic diameter, atrial fibrillation and left atrial volume index (0.75 [0.62-0.91], p < 0.01). The best sensitivity (81%) and specificity (63%) was obtained with LVOTTVI ≤15 cm based on ROC curve analysis.

Conclusion

LVOT_TVI represents an independent marker of myocardial performance impairment in the presence of severe DMR. LVOT_TVI could be an earlier marker than traditional echo parameters and aids in the optimization of the timing of surgery.

MitraClip: a review of its current status and future perspectives

Mitral regurgitation (MR), among the most common valvular heart diseases, is closely associated with heart failure and worse clinical outcomes. Surgical repair or replacement as an intervention for MR is deemed too high risk in patients who are elderly or have multiple comorbidities; thus, nearly half of all patients with severe symptomatic MR are not referred for surgical therapy. MitraClip, a transcatheter mitral valve repair system for MR that mimics the Alfieri surgical edge-to-edge technique for mitral valve repair, was developed in the late 1990s. After clinical trials demonstrated its safety and efficacy, it received approval for clinical use, particularly for aging and inoperable or high-risk patients for heart surgery in Europe, the US, and Japan. Since the start of its clinical use, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have optimized patient selection, and the latest generation MitraClip can increase procedural success, even in patients with challenging mitral valve anatomy. Therefore, here, we review evidence from clinical trials and RCTs and discuss optical patient selection and future perspectives for the MitraClip.

Research Opportunities in the Treatment of Mitral Valve Prolapse: JACC Expert Panel

In light of the adverse prognosis related to severe mitral regurgitation, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death in a subset of patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), identifying those at higher risk is key. For the first time in decades, researchers have the means to rapidly advance discovery in the field of MVP thanks to state-of-the-art imaging techniques, novel omics methodologies, and the potential for large-scale collaborations using web-based platforms. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recently initiated a webinar-based workshop to identify contemporary research opportunities in the treatment of MVP. This report summarizes 3 specific areas in the treatment of MVP that were the focus of the workshop: 1) improving management of degenerative mitral regurgitation and associated left ventricular systolic dysfunction; 2) preventing sudden cardiac death in MVP; and 3) understanding the mechanisms and progression of MVP through genetic studies and small and large animal models, with the potential of developing medical therapies.

Management of patients with mitral regurgitation ineligible for standard therapy undergoing TMVI screening

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) represents a novel treatment alternative for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) considered ineligible for standard therapies. Data on the management of patients after TMVI screening are scarce.

AIMS

We aimed to investigate outcomes of patients with severe MR undergoing TMVI evaluation treated with either TMVI, bailout-transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (bailout-TEER) or medical therapy (MT).

METHODS

Between May 2016 and February 2021, 121 patients with MR considered ineligible for standard therapy were screened for TMVI. Outcomes were assessed for the subgroups of patients treated with TMVI, bailout-TEER and MT. The primary composite endpoint was all-cause death or heart failure hospitalisation after one year.

RESULTS

The subgroups of TMVI (N=38), bailout-TEER (N=28) and MT (N=44) differed significantly with regard to MR aetiology (secondary MR: TMVI 68.4%, bailout-TEER 39.3%, MT 38.6%, p=0.014) and left ventricular ejection fraction (TMVI 37.0% [31.4-51.2], bailout-TEER 48.0% [35.3-58.3], MT 54.5% [40.8-60.0], p<0.001). At discharge and after one year, MR was reduced to ≤mild residual MR in all patients undergoing TMVI, while ≥moderate residual MR was present in 25.9% and 20.0% of patients, respectively, after bailout-TEER, and in 100.0% of patients on MT at one year. The primary endpoint occurred in 72.2% of patients remaining on MT, in 51.6% of patients undergoing TMVI and in 40.2% of those receiving bailout-TEER.

CONCLUSIONS

In MR patients considered ineligible for standard therapy, TMVI provided acceptable clinical outcomes and MR elimination in the majority of patients. In screen-failed patients, bailout-TEER represented a reasonable alternative while MT was associated with poor outcomes.

Use of the Functional Evaluation of Cardiac Health questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life before and after mitral valve repair in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

OBJECTIVE

To determine changes in health-related quality of life up to 12 months after surgery in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease that undergo mitral valve repair.

ANIMALS

54 dogs that underwent mitral valve repair at a United Kingdom referral hospital.

PROCEDURES

Health-related quality of life was assessed with a previously validated, owner-completed questionnaire before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.

Results

There was a significant decrease in total score (corresponding to reduced negative impact of cardiac disease on quality of life) between the preoperative timepoint and all postoperative timepoints. A significant decrease in total score was also demonstrated between the 1- and 3-month timepoints, but no additional significant changes in total score between adjacent timepoints were identified beyond 3 months after surgery. Significant improvements in individual question scores were found up to 12 months after surgery.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Health-related quality of life was significantly improved following mitral valve repair in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease and this improvement persisted for up to a year after surgery. These results may be useful when counseling owners of dogs considered candidates for this procedure.

Mitral Valve Regurgitation Murmurs—Insights from Hemoacoustic Computational Modeling

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the leakage of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole through a mitral valve that does not close fully. A systolic murmur is produced by MR and can be used to diagnose this disease. In the current study, we use hemoacoustic simulations to characterize the features of murmurs for a range of severities relevant to chronic MR. The incompressible Navier–Stokes equations are solved using an immersed boundary method to simulate the blood flow. The resultant pressure fluctuations on the lumen wall serve as the source for the murmur, and the murmur propagation through the thorax is modeled as a 3D elastic wave in a linear viscoelastic material. The resulting acceleration on the surface of the thorax is used as a surrogate for the measurement from a stethoscope, and these characteristics of the acceleration signal are examined in detail. We found that the intensity of the MR murmur is lower at the mitral point on the precordium, as compared with the aortic and pulmonic areas. This is somewhat counterintuitive but is supported by other studies in the past. We also found that the intensity of the murmur, as well as the break frequency, are well correlated with the severity of MR, and this information can be useful for automated auscultation and phonocardiographic applications.

Clinical Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Moderate to Severe Mitral Regurgitation

BACKGROUND

Mitral regurgitation is the most common form of valvular heart disease worldwide, however, there is an incomplete understanding of predictors of mortality in this population. This study sought to identify risk factors of mortality in a real-world population with mitral regurgitation.

METHODS

All patients with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation were identified at a single center from January 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017. Multivariate regression was performed to evaluate variables independently associated with all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 490 patients with moderate (76.3%) or severe (23.7%) mitral regurgitation due to primary (20.8%) or secondary (79.2%) etiology were identified. The mean age was 66.7 years; 50% were male. At a median follow-up of 3.1 years, the incidence of all-cause mortality was 30.1%, heart failure hospitalization 23.1%, and mitral valve intervention 11.6%. Of 117 variables, multivariate analysis demonstrated 5 that were independently predictive of mortality: baseline creatinine (hazard ratio [HR] 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.3; P = .02), right atrial pressure by echocardiogram (HR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.07-1.55; P = .008), hemoglobin (HR 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52-0.83; P = .001), hospitalization for heart failure (HR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4; P = .015), and mitral valve intervention (HR 0.40; 95% CI, 0.16-0.83; P = .049).

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective, pragmatic analysis of patients with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation, admission for heart failure exacerbation, elevated right atrial pressure, renal dysfunction, anemia, and lack of mitral valve intervention were independently associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality. Whether these risk factors may better identify select patients who may benefit from more intensive monitoring or earlier intervention should be considered in future studies.

Arrhythmias in Patients With Valvular Heart Disease: Gaps in Knowledge and the Way Forward

The prevalence of both organic valvular heart disease (VHD) and cardiac arrhythmias is high in the general population, and their coexistence is common. Both VHD and arrhythmias in the elderly lead to an elevated risk of hospitalization and use of health services. However, the relationships of the two conditions is not fully understood and our understanding of their coexistence in terms of contemporary management and prognosis is still limited. VHD-induced left ventricular dysfunction/hypertrophy and left atrial dilation lead to both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. On the other hand, arrhythmias can be considered as an independent condition resulting from a coexisting ischemic or non-ischemic substrate or idiopathic ectopy. Both atrial and ventricular VHD-induced arrhythmias may contribute to clinical worsening and be a turning point in the natural history of VHD. Symptoms developed in patients with VHD are not specific and may be attributable to hemodynamical consequences of valve disease but also to other cardiac conditions including arrhythmias which are notably prevalent in this population. The issue how to distinguish symptoms related to VHD from those related to atrial fibrillation (AF) during decision making process remains challenging. Moreover, AF is a traditional limit of echocardiography and an important source of errors in assessment of the severity of VHD. Despite recent progress in understanding the pathophysiology and prognosis of postoperative AF, many questions remain regarding its prevention and management. Furthermore, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias can predispose patients with VHD to sudden cardiac death. Evidence for a putative link between arrhythmias and outcome in VHD is growing but available data on targeted therapies for VHD-related arrhythmias, including monitoring and catheter ablation, is scarce. Despite growing evidences, more research focused on the prognosis and optimal management of VHD-related arrhythmias is still required. We aimed to review the current evidence and identify gaps in knowledge about the prevalence, prognostic considerations, and treatment of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in common subtypes of organic VHD.

Cardiac and Obstetric Outcomes Associated With Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common valvular heart disease in women of reproductive age. Whether MVP increases the likelihood of adverse outcomes in pregnancy is unknown. The study objective was to examine the cardiac and obstetric outcomes associated with MVP in pregnant women. This retrospective cohort study, using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Readmission Sample database between 2010 and 2017, identified all pregnant women with MVP using the International Classification of Disease, Ninth and Tenth Revisions codes. The maternal cardiac and obstetric outcomes in pregnant women diagnosed with MVP were compared with women without MVP using multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for baseline demographic characteristics. There were 23,000 pregnancy admissions with MVP with an overall incidence of 16.9 cases per 10,000 pregnancy admissions. Pregnant women with MVP were more likely to die during pregnancy (adjusted hazard ratio 5.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09 to 24.16), develop cardiac arrest (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.44, 95% CI 1.04 to 18.89), arrhythmia (aOR 10.96, 95% CI 9.17 to 13.12), stroke (aOR 6.90, 95% CI 1.26 to 37.58), heart failure (aOR 5.81, 95% CI 3.84 to 8.79), or suffer a coronary artery dissection (aOR 25.22, 95% CI 3.42 to 186.07) compared with women without MVP. Pregnancies with MVP were also associated with increased risks of preterm delivery (aOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.44) and preeclampsia/hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome (aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.41). In conclusion, MVP in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal cardiac outcomes and higher obstetric risks.

Characterization of Primary Mitral Regurgitation With Flail Leaflet and/or Wall-Impinging Flow

BACKGROUND

Echocardiography guidelines note that a flail leaflet is a specific criterion for severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and that regurgitant severity is underestimated in wall-impinging jets (Coandă effect). Both findings are often considered to be pathognomonic of severe MR.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, the authors sought to determine the association of flail leaflet and Coandă effect with MR severity quantified by means of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

METHODS

The authors enrolled 158 consecutive patients with primary MR according to echocardiography and CMR. The presence of a flail leaflet or Coandă was determined for each patient. CMR regurgitant volume (RV) and regurgitant fraction (RF) were quantified for all patients.

RESULTS

There were 55 patients (35%) with a flail leaflet, 52 (33%) with Coandă, and 22 (14%) with a flail leaflet and Coandă. The mean CMR mitral RV and RF progressively increased in patients without a Coandă or flail, a Coandă, a flail, or a Coandă and a flail (RV: 28 ± 21 mL vs 43 ± 23 mL vs 58 ± 29 mL vs 64 ± 25 mL [P < 0.001]; RF: 25% ± 16% vs 34% ± 14% vs 41% ± 12% vs 45% ± 12% [P < 0.001]). With the use of CMR RV, 35%, 46%, and 59% of patients had severe MR with the presence of a Coandă, flail leaflet, or both, respectively. With the use of CMR RF, 25%, 31%, and 40% of patients had severe MR with the presence of a Coandă, flail leaflet, or both, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

While the presence of a flail leaflet and Coandă effect on echocardiography are associated with higher regurgitant volumes and fractions, they are frequently not associated with severe MR as assessed by means of CMR. (Comparison Study of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment of Mitral and Aortic Regurgitation; NCT04038879).

Valvular regurgitation flow jet assessment using in vitro 4D flow MRI: Implication for mitral regurgitation

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI for direct assessment of peak velocity, flow volume, and momentum of a mitral regurgitation (MR) flow jets using an in vitro pulsatile jet flow phantom. We systematically investigated the impact of spatial resolution and quantification location along the jet on flow quantities with Doppler ultrasound as a reference for peak velocity.

METHODS

Four-dimensional flow MRI data of a pulsatile jet through a circular, elliptical, and 3D-printed patient-specific MR orifice model was acquired with varying spatial resolution (1.5-5 mm isotropic voxel). Flow rate and momentum of the jet were quantified at various axial distances (x = 0-50 mm) and integrated over time to calculate Vol_jet and MTI_jet . In vivo assessment of Vol_jet and MTI_jet was performed on 3 MR patients.

RESULTS

Peak velocities were comparable to Doppler ultrasound (3% error, 1.5 mm voxel), but underestimated with decreasing spatial resolution (-40% error, 5 mm voxel). Vol_jet was similar to regurgitant volume (RVol) within 5 mm, and then increased linearly with the axial distance (19%/cm) because of flow entrainment. MTI_jet remained steady throughout the jet (2%/cm) as theoretically predicted. Four and 9 voxels across the jet were required to measure flow volume and momentum-time-integral within 10% error, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Four-dimensional flow MRI detected accurate peak velocity, flow rate, and momentum for in vitro MR-mimicking flow jets. Spatial resolution significantly impacted flow quantitation, which otherwise followed predictions of flow entrainment and momentum conservation. This study provides important preliminary information for accurate in vivo MR assessment using 4D flow MRI.

The Relationship of Mitral Annulus Shape at CT to Mitral Regurgitation after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Background There are conflicting results over the improvement rate and predictors of mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Purpose To define the cause, degree of improvement, and improvement predictors of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing TAVR by using a simplified D-shaped mitral annulus model derived from multisection CT (MSCT). Materials and Methods This retrospective cohort study included 528 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR between April 2012 and October 2019. Patients with previous surgical aortic valve replacement and those with moderate or severe mitral stenosis were excluded. A total of 104 patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. At least one grade reduction in the severity of mitral regurgitation was considered indicative of mitral regurgitation improvement after TAVR. Up to 5-year post-TAVR follow-up of mitral regurgitation improvement was evaluated. Mitral annular dimensions (annular area, circumference, and trigone-to-trigone, intercommissural, and anteroposterior distances) and annular calcification were assessed at MSCT with use of dedicated postprocessing software. Associations with mitral regurgitation improvement after TAVR were explored. Results A total of 104 patients with concomitant mitral regurgitation who underwent TAVR (mean age, 74 years ± 7; 61 men) were included in the study. Mitral regurgitation improved in 79 patients after TAVR and remained unchanged in the remaining 25 patients. Maximum improvement was observed in the 1st year after TAVR. D-shaped mitral annular parameters, including annular circumference (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.1; P = .02) and trigone-to-trigone (OR, 1.2; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.39; P = .02) and intercommissural (OR, 1.15; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.31; P = .02) distances, were related to mitral regurgitation improvement. In addition, patients with coronary artery disease had greater improvement in mitral regurgitation after TAVR (OR, 0.17; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.76; P = .02). Primary mitral regurgitation (OR, 5.1; 95% CI: 1.1, 24; P = .04) and D-shaped annular circumference (OR, 1.06; 95% CI: 1, 1.11; P = .04) were independent predictors of less mitral regurgitation improvement after TAVR. Conclusion Concomitant mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) tends to improve after the procedure, with maximum improvement in the 1st year after TAVR. D-shaped annular circumference and primary mitral regurgitation were independent predictors of less mitral regurgitation improvement after TAVR. © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Collins in this issue.

Mitral Valve Prolapse and Its Motley Crew-Syndromic Prevalence, Pathophysiology, and Progression of a Common Heart Condition

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a commonly occurring heart condition defined by enlargement and superior displacement of the mitral valve leaflet(s) during systole. Although commonly seen as a standalone disorder, MVP has also been described in case reports and small studies of patients with various genetic syndromes. In this review, we analyzed the prevalence of MVP within syndromes where an association to MVP has previously been reported. We further discussed the shared biological pathways that cause MVP in these syndromes, as well as how MVP in turn causes a diverse array of cardiac and noncardiac complications. We found 105 studies that identified patients with mitral valve anomalies within 18 different genetic, developmental, and connective tissue diseases. We show that some disorders previously believed to have an increased prevalence of MVP, including osteogenesis imperfecta, fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, have few to no studies that use up-to-date diagnostic criteria for the disease and therefore may be overestimating the prevalence of MVP within the syndrome. Additionally, we highlight that in contrast to early studies describing MVP as a benign entity, the clinical course experienced by patients can be heterogeneous and may cause significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Currently only surgical correction of MVP is curative, but it is reserved for severe cases in which irreversible complications of MVP may already be established; therefore, a review of clinical guidelines to allow for earlier surgical intervention may be warranted to lower cardiovascular risk in patients with MVP.

Comparison of Transcatheter and Open Mitral Valve Repair Among Patients With Mitral Regurgitation

In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) device for degenerative mitral regurgitation for patients at prohibitive surgical risk. To better understand contemporary utilization trends and outcomes, we reviewed hospitalizations, identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes, in which the patient underwent TMVr or mitral valve repair (MVr) with a diagnosis of mitral regurgitation, without stenosis, from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample from 2014 to 2017. We included 10,020 hospitalizations in which the patient underwent TMVr and 5845 in which the patient underwent MVr and assessed trends in demographic characteristics, patient comorbidities, total hospital charges, and outcomes. Transcatheter mitral valve repair experienced exponential growth, increasing from 150 to 5115 over the study period (P<.001 for trend), whereas MVr grew to a lesser degree. The median length of stay for TMVr decreased from 4 to 2 days; mortality declined from 3.3% to 1.6% (P<.001 for both). Both TMVr and MVr rates of discharge home increased over the study period. Total charges for TMVr increased from $149,582 to $178,109, whereas those for MVr increased to a lesser degree, from $149,426 to $157,146 (P<.001 for both). Discharge disposition, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality all exhibited favorable trends for both procedures. Caution must be exercised in direct comparisons between procedures as they target somewhat different populations. With expanded indications for TMVr, we anticipate further increases in procedural volume, although the effect on MVr remains unclear.

Community prevalence, mechanisms and outcome of mitral or tricuspid regurgitation

OBJECTIVE

The study aims were (1) to identify the community prevalence of moderate or greater mitral or tricuspid regurgitation (MR/TR), (2) to compare subjects identified by population screening with those with known valvular heart disease (VHD), (3) to understand the mechanisms of MR/TR and (4) to assess the rate of valve intervention and long-term outcome.

METHODS

Adults aged ≥65 years registered at seven family medicine practices in Oxfordshire, UK were screened for inclusion (n=9504). Subjects with known VHD were identified from hospital records and those without VHD invited to undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) within the Oxford Valvular Heart Disease Population Study (OxVALVE). The study population ultimately comprised 4755 subjects. The severity and aetiology of MR and TR were assessed by integrated comprehensive TTE assessment.

RESULTS

The prevalence of moderate or greater MR and TR was 3.5% (95% CI 3.1 to 3.8) and 2.6% (95% CI 2.3 to 2.9), respectively. Primary MR was the most common aetiology (124/203, 61.1%). Almost half of cases were newly diagnosed by screening: MR 98/203 (48.3%), TR 69/155 (44.5%). Subjects diagnosed by screening were less symptomatic, more likely to have primary MR and had a lower incidence of aortic valve disease. Surgical intervention was undertaken in six subjects (2.4%) over a median follow-up of 64 months. Five-year survival was 79.8% in subjects with isolated MR, 84.8% in those with isolated TR, and 59.4% in those with combined MR and TR (p=0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate or greater MR/TR is common, age-dependent and is underdiagnosed. Current rates of valve intervention are extremely low.

Speckle tracking echocardiography in primary mitral regurgitation: should we reconsider the time for intervention?

Thanks to the improvement in mitral regurgitation (MR) diagnostic and therapeutic management, with the introduction of minimally invasive techniques which have considerably reduced the individual surgical risk, the optimization of the timing for MR “open” or percutaneous surgical treatment has become a main concern which has highly raised scientific interest. In fact, the current indications for intervention in MR, especially in asymptomatic patients, rely on echocardiographic criteria with high severity cut-offs that are fulfilled only when not only mitral valve apparatus but also the cardiac chambers’ structure and function are severely impaired, which results in poor benefits for post-operative clinical outcome. This led to the need of new indices to redefine the optimal surgical timing in these patients. Speckle tracking echocardiography provides early markers of cardiac dysfunction due to subtle myocardial impairment; therefore, it could offer pivotal information in this setting. In fact, left ventricular and left atrial strains have already shown evidence about their usefulness in recognizing MR impact not only on symptoms and quality of life but also on cardiovascular events and new-onset atrial fibrillation in these patients. Moreover, right ventricular strain could be used to identify those patients with advanced cardiac damage and different grades of right ventricular dysfunction, which entails higher risks for cardiac surgery that could overweigh surgical benefits. This review aims to describe the importance of reconsidering the timing of intervention in MR and to analyze the potential additive value of speckle tracking echocardiography in this clinical setting.

Advances in Mitral Valve Repair for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation: Philosophy, Technical Details, and Long-Term Results

Degenerative mitral valve disease represents the most common cause of mitral regurgitation in industrialized countries. When left untreated, patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation show a poor clinical outcome. Conversely, a timely and appropriate correction provides a restored life expectancy and a good quality of life. Therefore, in this scenario, surgical mitral valve repair represents the gold standard of treatment. This review aims to analyze the indications, timing, and contemporary surgical techniques of mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation. Moreover, the value of heart team approach and centers of excellence for mitral valve repair are also deeply discussed.

Current status of the treatment of degenerative mitral valve regurgitation

Degenerative mitral valve disease (myxomatous degeneration or fibroelastic deficiency) is the most common indication for surgical referral to treat mitral regurgitation. Mitral valve repair is the procedure of choice whenever feasible and when the results are expected to be durable. Posterior leaflet prolapse is the commonest lesion, found in up to two-thirds of patients. It is the easiest to repair, particularly when limited to one segment. In these cases, rates of repairability and procedural success approach 100%, and there is now ample evidence that the immediate and long-term results are better than those of valve replacement. Notably, minimally invasive valvular procedures, surgical or interventional, have attracted increasing interest in the last decade. When performed by experienced groups, mitral valve repair is unrivaled irrespective of the severity of lesions, from simple to complex, which leaflets are involved, and the type of degenerative involvement (myxomatous or fibroelastic). Its results should be viewed as the benchmark for other present and future technologies. By contrast, percutaneous mitral valve repair is still in its infancy and its results so far fall short of those of surgical repair. Nevertheless, continued investment in transcatheter procedures is of great importance to enable development and improved accessibility, particularly for patients who are considered unsuitable for surgery. In this review, we analyze the current status of management of degenerative mitral valve disease, discussing mitral valve anatomy and pathology, indications for intervention, and current surgical and transcatheter mitral valve procedures and results.

Increased Mortality in Patients With Preoperative and Persistent Postoperative Pulmonary Hypertension Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery for Mitral Regurgitation: A Cohort Study

Background Preoperative pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with excess mortality among patients with severe mitral regurgitation undergoing mitral valve surgery (MVS). However, the links between PH phenotype, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and persistent postoperative PH are not well understood. We aimed to describe the associations between components of pulmonary hemodynamics as well as postoperative residual PH with longitudinal mortality in patients with severe mitral regurgitation who received MVS. Methods and Results Patients undergoing MVS for severe mitral regurgitation from 2011 to 2016 were retrospectively identified within our health system (n=488). Mean pulmonary artery pressure and other hemodynamic variables were determined by presurgical right-heart catheterization. Postoperative pulmonary artery systolic pressure was assessed on echocardiogram 42 to 365 days post-MVS. Longitudinal survival over a mean 3.9 years of follow-up was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards modeling to compare survival after adjustment for demographics, surgical characteristics, and comorbidities. Pre-MVS prevalence of PH was high at 85%. After adjustment, each 10-mm Hg increase in preoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure was associated with a 1.38-fold increase in risk of death (95% CI, 1.13-1.68). Elevated preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance, transpulmonary gradient, and right atrial pressure were similarly associated with increased mortality. Among 231 patients with postoperative echocardiogram, evidence of PH on echocardiogram (pulmonary artery systolic pressure ≥35 mm Hg) was associated with increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 2.02 [95% CI, 1.17-3.47]); however, this was no longer statistically significant after adjustment (HR, 1.55 [95% CI, 0.85-2.85]). Conclusions In patients undergoing MVS for mitral regurgitation, preoperative PH, and postoperative PH were associated with increased mortality.

Midterm results of transventricular mitral valve repair: Single-center experience

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to evaluate the midterm outcomes of transventricular mitral valve repair and its association with the initial anatomy of the mitral valve.

METHODS

This nonrandomized observational study included 88 patients (mean age, 60 years; 69% were men) who underwent transventricular mitral valve repair for severe degenerative mitral regurgitation between 2011 and 2017. Mitral valve function was assessed by echocardiography at 1 and 6 months and annually after the procedure. According to the location of mitral valve pathology, all patients were stratified into 4 anatomic types (A, B, C, and D). Results were assessed using Kaplan-Meier method, mixed-effects continuation ratio model, and multivariable Cox regression.

RESULTS

Median follow-up of 42 months (interquartile range, 27-55) was complete for 83 patients (94.3%). There were 3 late deaths: 2 cardiac and 1 noncardiac. Recurrent mitral regurgitation greater than 2+ was observed in 29 patients (33%), and 18 patients (20.5%) underwent repeat surgery. Device success was 82% in type A at 6 months and thereafter; 87%, 85%, and 75% at 6, 12, and 36 months in type B, respectively; and 53% at 1 month and 20% at 24 months in type C. Probability of postoperative mitral regurgitation progression was higher in patients with greater preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, type B pathology, and type C pathology (P < .05). Risk factors of mitral regurgitation recurrence included increased left ventricle size (hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.20; P = .001) and type C pathology (hazard ratio, 5.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.87-19.21; P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Initial acceptable mitral regurgitation reduction after transventricular mitral valve repair of isolated P2 prolapse was possible but found durable in only 82% at 3 years. Higher risk of mitral regurgitation recurrence occurred with complex degenerative pathology.

Does the clinical effectiveness of Mitraclip compare with surgical repair for mitral regurgitation?

BACKGROUND

Surgical repair of the mitral valve has long been the established therapy for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). Newer transcatheter methods over the last decade, such as the MitraClip, serve to restore mitral function with reduced procedural burden and enhanced recovery. This study aims to compare the shortterm and midterm outcomes of MitraClip insertion with surgical repair for MR.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted for studies comparing outcomes between surgical repair and MitraClip. The initial search returned 1850 titles, from which 12 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria (one randomized controlled trial and 11 retrospective studies).

RESULTS

The final analysis comprised 4219 patients (MitraClip 1210; surgery 3009). Operative mortality was not different between the groups (odds ratio [OR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.63-4.23]; p = .317). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the MitraClip group (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.882, 95% CI: [0.77-0.99]; p < .001) with considerable heterogeneity (I²  > 90%; p < .001). The rate of reoperation on the mitral valve was lower in the surgical group (OR = 0.392; 95% CI: [0.188-0.817]; p = .012) as was the rate of MR recurrence grade moderate or above (OR = 0.29; 95% CI: [0.19-0.46]; p < .001) during midterm follow up. Long term survival (4-5 years) was also similar between both groups (hazard ratio = 0.70; 95% CI: [0.35-1.41]; p = .323).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the superior midterm durability of surgical valve repair for MR compared with the MitraClip.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement: latest advances and future directions

Mitral regurgitation remains the most common form of valve disease worldwide and given an aging population with a significant proportion of secondary mitral regurgitation, a transcatheter approach to mitral valve replacement has become a major goal of the transcatheter therapeutics field. Mitral regurgitation can be caused by disease of the leaflets (primary) or by diseases of the left atrium or left ventricle (LV) (secondary or functional), and may involve overlap of the two (mixed disease). The location of the mitral valve (and large size), the approach to anchoring a valve replacement, and concerns about left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction are all issues that have made the transcatheter delivery of a valve replacement challenging. Despite these challenges, both transapical and transseptal devices are currently being developed, with several in early feasibility trials and several entering pivotal trials. As the field of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) improves and develops, a critical part of evaluating patients with mitral valve disease will be utilizing the heart team approach to identify and individualize the most appropriate treatment for each patient.

An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of transcatheter mitral valve repair for people with secondary mitral valve regurgitation in the UK

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A proportion of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients will experience regurgitation secondary to ventricular remodeling in CHF, known as functional mitral (MR) or tricuspid (TR) regurgitation. Its presence adversely impacts the prognosis and healthcare utilization in CHF patients. The advent of interventional devices for both atrioventricular valves modifies both aspects. We present an economic model structure suitable for comparing interventions used in MR and TR, and assess the cost-effectiveness of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) plus guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) compared with GDMT alone in people with MR.

METHODS

An economic model with a lifetime time horizon was developed based on extrapolated survival data and using New York Heart Association classifications to describe disease severity in people with functional MR at high risk of surgical mortality or deemed inoperable. Cost and utility values (describing health-related quality-of-life) were assigned to patients dependent on their disease severity. The analysis was conducted from a UK National Health Service perspective. An incremental cost per additional quality-adjusted life year (QALY) was estimated, and sensitivity (one-way and probabilistic) and scenario analyses conducted.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Compared with GDMT, the use of TMVr results in an additional 1.07 QALYs and an increase in costs of £32,267 per patient over a lifetime time horizon. The estimated incremental cost per QALY gained is £30,057 and would therefore be on the threshold of cost-effectiveness at £30,000 per quality adjusted life year. Thus, from a UK reimbursement perspective, in patients with severe functional MR who are at high risk of surgical mortality or deemed inoperable with conventional surgery, TMVr plus medical therapy is likely to represent a cost-effective treatment option compared with GDMT alone. The choice of device (MitraClip or PASCAL) will need to be confirmed once further clinical data are reported.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: Rationale and Current Status

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most prevalent form of moderate or severe valve disease in the developed world. MR can result from impairment of any part of the mitral valve apparatus and is classified as primary (disease of the leaflets) or secondary (functional). The presence of at least moderate MR is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. With the goal of avoiding the risks of traditional surgery, transcatheter mitral valve therapies have been developed. The current transcatheter repair techniques are limited by therapeutic target and incomplete MR reduction, and thus transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has been pursued. Several devices (both transapical and transseptal) are under development, with both early feasibility and pivotal trials under way. As this field develops, the decision to treat with TMVR will require a heart team approach that takes patient-, disease-, and device-specific factors into account.

Contemporary techniques for mitral valve repair-the Mayo Clinic experience

Mitral valve repair for patients with degenerative or functional mitral valve regurgitation improves symptoms and prognosis, and several techniques have been described. Important principles in operation are simplicity, reproducibility, and durability of repair. At Mayo Clinic, we have operated on more than 6000 patients with degenerative mitral valve disease and valve prolapse, and this review details our approach to mitral valve repair, including robotic and minimally invasive techniques. Most patients with isolated leaflet prolapse can be managed with leaflet plication or triangular resection, and chordal replacement is reserved for repair of anterior leaflet prolapse. Posterior annuloplasty with a standard-sized flexible band is used to reduce annular circumference and improve leaflet coaptation. With these methods, early risk of mortality for mitral valve repair is low in the current era (< 1%), and rate of recurrent valve leakage is 1.5 per 100 patient-years during the first year post-repair and 0.9 per 100 patient-years thereafter. This paper also briefly summarizes important considerations for patients with mitral valve regurgitation and severe calcification, perforations due to endocarditis, and rheumatic heart disease.

Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing Mitral Valve Repair With Leaflet Resection Versus Leaflet Preservation on Functional Mitral Stenosis

Background:

Equipoise exists between the use of leaflet resection and preservation for surgical repair of mitral regurgitation caused by prolapse. We therefore performed a randomized, controlled trial comparing these 2 techniques, particularly in regard to functional mitral stenosis.

Methods:

One hundred four patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation surgically amenable to either leaflet resection or preservation were randomized at 7 specialized cardiac surgical centers. Exclusion criteria included anterior leaflet or commissural prolapse, as well as a mixed cause for mitral valve disease. Using previous data, we determined that a sample size of 88 subjects would provide 90% power to detect a 5–mm Hg difference in mean mitral valve gradient at peak exercise, assuming an SD of 6.7 mm with a 2-sided test with α=5% and 10% patient attrition. The primary end point was the mean mitral gradient at peak exercise 12 months after repair.

Results:

Patient age, proportion who were female, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score were 63.9±10.4 years, 19%, and 1.4±2.8% for those who were assigned to leaflet resection (n=54), and 66.3±10.8 years, 16%, and 1.9±2.6% for those who underwent leaflet preservation (n=50). There were no perioperative deaths or conversions to replacement. At 12 months, moderate mitral regurgitation was observed in 3 subjects in the leaflet resection group and 2 in the leaflet preservation group. The mean transmitral gradient at 12 months during peak exercise was 9.1±5.2 mm Hg after leaflet resection and 8.3±3.3 mm Hg after leaflet preservation ( P =0.43). The participants had similar resting peak (8.3±4.4 mm Hg versus 8.4±2.6 mm Hg; P =0.96) and mean resting (3.2±1.9 mm Hg versus 3.1±1.1 mm Hg; P =0.67) mitral gradients after leaflet resection and leaflet preservation, respectively. The 6-minute walking distance was 451±147 m for those in the leaflet resection versus 481±95 m for the leaflet preservation group ( P =0.27).

Conclusions:

In this adequately powered randomized trial, repair of mitral prolapse with either leaflet resection or leaflet preservation was associated with similar transmitral gradients at peak exercise at 12 months postoperatively. These data do not support the hypothesis that a strategy of leaflet resection (versus preservation) is associated with a risk of functional mitral stenosis.

Registration:

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier NCT02552771.

Parameters associated with ventricular arrhythmias in mitral valve prolapse with significant regurgitation

OBJECTIVE

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has been associated with ventricular arrhythmias (VA), but little is known about VA in patients with significant primary mitral regurgitation (MR). Our aim was to describe the prevalence of symptomatic VA in patients with MVP (fibro-elastic deficiency or Barlow's disease) referred for mitral valve (MV) surgery because of moderate-to-severe MR, and to identify clinical, electrocardiographic, standard and advanced echocardiographic parameters associated with VA.

METHODS

610 consecutive patients (64±12 years, 36% female) were included. Symptomatic VA was defined as symptomatic and frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVC, Lown grade ≥2), non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) without ischaemic aetiology.

RESULTS

A total of 67 (11%) patients showed symptomatic VA, of which 3 (4%) had VF, 3 (4%) sustained VT, 27 (40%) non-sustained VT and 34 (51%) frequent PVCs. Patients with VA were significantly younger, more often female and showed T-wave inversions; furthermore, they showed significant MV morphofunctional abnormalities, such as mitral annular disjunction (39% vs 20%, p<0.001), and dilatation (annular diameter 37±5 mm vs 33±6 mm, p<0.001), lower global longitudinal strain (GLS 20.9±3.1% vs 22.0±3.6%, p=0.032) and prolonged mechanical dispersion (45±12 ms vs 38±14 ms, p=0.003) as compared with patients without VA. Female sex, increased MV annular diameter, lower GLS and prolonged mechanical dispersion were identified as independent associates of symptomatic VA.

CONCLUSION

In patients with MVP with moderate-to-severe MR, symptomatic VA are relatively frequent and associated with significant MV annular abnormalities, subtle left ventricular function impairment and heterogeneous contraction. Assessment of these parameters might help decision-making over further diagnostic analyses and improve risk-stratification.

Update of Patient Selection and Therapeutic Strategy Using MitraClip

Patients with advanced heart failure often accompany severe function mitral regurgitation refractory to optimal medical therapy. Degenerative mitral regurgitation also develops due to various degeneration of mitral valve. Surgical intervention to the mitral valve might be effective in some cases, but it is challenging for the high-risk cases. Recently, percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair using the MitraClip system, which enables us to approach the mitral valve at relatively low risk, has developed. Two major prospective randomized control trials have been conducted to investigate the clinical advantage of MitraClip system over optimal medical therapy in patients with severe mitral regurgitation; both showed controversial conclusions. Now is a time to consider optimal patient selection and therapeutic strategy using MitraClip system.

Impact of the introduction of percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve reconstruction on clinical practice in Germany compared to surgical valve repair

Background

The introduction of percutaneous mitral valve (MV) repair had an effect on clinical practice in comparison with surgical MV repair. Complete nationwide data are useful in examining how the introduction of a new technique influences clinical practice.

Methods

We analyzed procedural numbers, patient characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes for all percutaneous edge-to-edge and surgical MV reconstruction procedures performed in Germany between 2009 and 2015.

Results

12,664 percutaneous edge-to-edge and 22,825 surgical MV reconstructions were recorded. Numbers increased steadily, albeit more rapidly in the percutaneous edge-to-edge group (108–4079 vs. 2923–3603 with surgical MV reconstruction). Patients with percutaneous edge-to-edge MV reconstruction were older (75.6 ± 8.8 vs 61.6 ± 13.4 years, P < 0.001) and at higher operative risk (estimated logistic EuroSCORE 13.2% vs. 4.7%, P < 0.001) compared to those undergoing surgery. However, in-hospital mortality did not differ (2.9% vs. 2.8%; P = 0.395). This was also true for the subset of 2103 patients at intermediate operative risk as defined by a logistic EuroSCORE ≥ 4% and ≤ 9%. Of note, complication rates (except acute kidney injury) were more favorable in patients undergoing percutaneous edge-to-edge reconstruction.

Conclusions

Percutaneous edge-to-edge MV reconstruction has markedly changed clinical practice of MR therapy in Germany. Annual overall procedural numbers more than doubled, with a massive increase in percutaneous edge-to-edge procedures. Our data demonstrate its use mainly in high-risk patients and prove the favorable safety profile of this novel technique, with low in-hospital mortality and complication rates.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00392-020-01675-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Understanding Non-P2 Mitral Regurgitation Using Real-Time Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography: Characterization and Factors Leading to Underestimation

BACKGROUND

P2 prolapse is a common cause of degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR); echocardiographic characteristics of non-P2 prolapse are less known. Because of the eccentric nature of degenerative MR jets, the evaluation of MR severity is challenging. The aim of this study was to test the hypotheses that (1) the percentage of severe MR determined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) would be lower compared with that determined by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients with non-P2 prolapse and also in a subgroup with "horizontal MR" (a horizontal jet seen on TTE that hugs the leaflets without reaching the atrial wall, particularly found in non-P2 prolapse) and (2) the directions of MR jets between TTE and real-time (RT) three-dimensional (3D) TEE would be discordant.

METHODS

One hundred eighteen patients with moderate to severe and severe degenerative MR defined by TEE were studied. The percentage of severe MR between TTE and TEE was compared in P2 and non-P2 prolapse groups and in horizontal and nonhorizontal MR groups. Additionally, differences in the directions of the MR jets between TTE and RT 3D TEE were assessed.

RESULTS

Eighty-six percent of patients had severe MR according to TEE. TTE underestimated severe MR in the non-P2 group (severe MR on TTE, 57%; severe MR on TEE, 85%; P < .001) but not in the P2 group (severe MR on TTE, 79%; severe MR on TEE, 91%; P = .157). Most "horizontal" MR jets were found in the non-P2 group (85%), and this subgroup showed even more underestimation of severe MR on TTE (TTE, 22%; TEE, 89%; P < .001). There was discordance in MR jet direction between two-dimensional TTE and RT 3D TEE in 41% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-P2 and "horizontal" MR are significantly underestimated on TTE compared with TEE. There is substantial discordance in the direction of the MR jet between RT 3D TEE and TTE. Therefore, TEE should be considered when these subgroups of MR are observed on TTE.