Dismal Outcomes and High Societal Burden of Mitral Valve Regurgitation in France in the Recent Era: A Nationwide Perspective

Background Although US recent data suggest that mitral regurgitation (MR) is severely undertreated and carries a poor outcome, population-based views on outcome and management are limited. We aimed to define the current treatment standards, clinical outcomes, and costs related to MR at the nationwide level. Methods and Results In total, 107 412 patients with MR were admitted in France in 2014 to 2015. Within 1 year, 8% were operated and 92% were conservatively managed and constituted our study population (68% primary MR and 32% secondary MR). The mean age was 77±15 years; most patients presented with comorbidities. In-hospital and 1-year mortality rates were 4.1% and 14.3%, respectively. Readmissions were common (63% at least once and 37% readmitted ≥2 times). Rates of 1-year mortality or all-cause readmission and 1-year mortality or heart failure readmission were 67% and 34%, respectively, and increased with age, Charlson index, heart failure at admission, and secondary MR etiology; however, the event rate remained notably high in the primary MR subset (64% and 28%, respectively). The mean costs of hospital admissions and of readmissions were 5345±6432 and 10 080±10 847 euros, respectively. Conclusions At the nationwide level, MR was a common reason for admission and affected an elderly population with frequent comorbidities. Less than 10% of patients underwent a valve intervention. All subsets of patients who were conservatively managed incurred high mortality and readmissions rates, and MR represented a major societal burden with an extrapolated annual cost of 350 to 550 million euros (390-615 million US dollars). New strategies to improve the management and outcomes of patients with both primary and secondary MR are critical and warranted.

Outcomes of TTVI in Patients With Pacemaker or Defibrillator Leads: Data From the TriValve Registry

OBJECTIVES

The interference of a transtricuspid cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) lead with tricuspid valve function may contribute to the mechanism of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and poses specific therapeutic challenges during transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI). Feasibility and efficacy of TTVI in presence of a CIED is unclear.

BACKGROUND

Feasibility of TTVI in presence of a CIED lead has never been proven on a large basis.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 470 patients with severe symptomatic TR from the TriValve (Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Therapies) registry who underwent TTVI at 21 centers between 2015 and 2018. The association of CIED and outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

Pre-procedural CIED was present in 121 of 470 (25.7%) patients. The most frequent location of the CIED lead was the posteroseptal commissure (44.0%). As compared with patients without a transvalvular lead (no-CIED group), patients having a tricuspid lead (CIED group) were more symptomatic (New York Heart Association functional class III to IV in 95.9% vs. 92.3%; p = 0.02) and more frequently had previous episodes of right heart failure (87.8% vs. 69.0%; p = 0.002). No-CIED patients had more severe TR (effective regurgitant orifice area 0.7 ± 0.6 cm² vs. 0.6 ± 0.3 cm²; p = 0.02), but significantly better right ventricular function (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion = 16.7 ± 5.0 mm vs. 15.9 ± 4.0 mm; p = 0.04). Overall, 373 patients (79%) were treated with the MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) (106 [87.0%] in the CIED group). Among them, 154 (33%) patients had concomitant transcatheter mitral repair (55 [46.0%] in the CIED group, all MitraClip). Procedural success was achieved in 80.0% of no-CIED patients and in 78.6% of CIED patients (p = 0.74), with an in-hospital mortality of 2.9% and 3.7%, respectively (p = 0.70). At 30 days, residual TR ≤2+ was observed in 70.8% of no-CIED and in 73.7% of CIED patients (p = 0.6). Symptomatic improvement was observed in both groups (NYHA functional class I to II at 30 days: 66.0% vs. 65.0%; p = 0.30). Survival at 12 months was 80.7 ± 3.0% in the no-CIED patients and 73.6 ± 5.0% in the CIED patients (p = 0.30).

CONCLUSIONS

TTVI is feasible in selected patients with CIED leads and acute procedural success and short-term clinical outcomes are comparable to those observed in patients without a transtricuspid lead.

Educational needs and application of guidelines in the management of patients with mitral regurgitation. A European mixed-methods study

Aims

To assess the knowledge and application of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines in the management of mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods and results

A mixed-methods educational needs assessment was performed. Following a qualitative phase (interviews), an online survey was undertaken using three case scenarios (asymptomatic severe primary MR, symptomatic severe primary MR in the elderly, and severe secondary MR) in 115 primary care physicians (PCPs), and 439 cardiologists or cardiac surgeons from seven European countries. Systematic cardiac auscultation was performed by only 54% of clinicians in asymptomatic patients. Cardiologists appropriately interpreted echocardiographic assessment of mechanism and quantification of primary MR (≥75%), but only 44% recognized secondary MR as severe. In asymptomatic severe primary MR with an indication for surgery, 27% of PCPs did not refer the patient to a cardiologist and medical therapy was overused by 19% of cardiologists. In the elderly patient with severe symptomatic primary MR, 72% of cardiologists considered mitral intervention (transcatheter edge-to-edge valve repair in 72%). In severe symptomatic secondary MR, optimization of medical therapy was advised by only 51% of PCPs and 33% of cardiologists, and surgery considered in 30% of cases (transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in 64%).

Conclusion

Systematic auscultation is underused by PCPs for the early detection of MR. Medical therapy is overused in primary MR and underused in secondary MR. Indications for interventions are appropriate in most patients with primary MR, but are unexpectedly frequent for secondary MR. These gaps identify important targets for future educational programs.

Percutaneous repair or medical treatment for secondary mitral regurgitation: outcomes at 2 years

AIMS

The MITRA-FR trial showed that among symptomatic patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation, percutaneous repair did not reduce the risk of death or hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months compared with guideline-directed medical treatment alone. We report the 24-month outcome from this trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

At 37 centres, we randomly assigned 304 symptomatic heart failure patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation (effective regurgitant orifice area >20 mm² or regurgitant volume >30 mL), and left ventricular ejection fraction between 15% and 40% to undergo percutaneous valve repair plus medical treatment (intervention group, n = 152) or medical treatment alone (control group, n = 152). The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of all-cause death and unplanned hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months. At 24 months, all-cause death and unplanned hospitalization for heart failure occurred in 63.8% of patients (97/152) in the intervention group and 67.1% (102/152) in the control group [hazard ratio (HR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77-1.34]. All-cause mortality occurred in 34.9% of patients (53/152) in the intervention group and 34.2% (52/152) in the control group (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.70-1.50). Unplanned hospitalization for heart failure occurred in 55.9% of patients (85/152) in the intervention group and 61.8% (94/152) in the control group (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.72-1.30).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation, percutaneous repair added to medical treatment did not significantly reduce the risk of death or hospitalization for heart failure at 2 years compared with medical treatment alone.

Infective Endocarditis Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Comparison of Balloon- Versus Self-Expandable Valves

BACKGROUND

No data exist about the characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) according to transcatheter valve type. We aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients with IE post-TAVR treated with balloon-expandable valve (BEV) versus self-expanding valve (SEV) systems.

METHODS

Data from the multicenter Infectious Endocarditis After TAVR International Registry was used to compare IE patients with BEV versus SEV.

RESULTS

A total of 245 patients with IE post-TAVR were included (SEV, 47%; BEV, 53%). The timing between TAVR and IE was similar between groups (SEV, 5.5 [1.2-15] months versus BEV, 5.3 [1.7-11.4] months; P=0.89). Enterococcal IE was more frequent in the SEV group (36.5% versus 15.4%; P<0.01), and vegetation location differed according to valve type (stent frame, SEV, 18.6%; BEV, 6.9%; P=0.01; valve leaflet, SEV, 23.9%; BEV, 38.5%; P=0.01). BEV recipients had a higher rate of stroke/systemic embolism (20.0% versus 8.7%, adjusted OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.04-5.82, P=0.04). Surgical explant of the transcatheter valve (SEV, 8.7%; BEV, 13.8%; P=0.21), and in-hospital death at the time of IE episode (SEV, 35.6%; BEV, 37.7%; P=0.74) were similar between groups. After a mean follow-up of 13±12 months, 59.1% and 54.6% of the SEV and BEV recipients, respectively, had died (P=0.66).

CONCLUSIONS

The characteristics of IE post-TAVR, including microorganism type, vegetation location, and embolic complications but not early or late mortality, differed according to valve type. These results may help to guide the diagnosis and management of IE and inform future research studies in the field.

P4716One-year outcomes of the tri-repair study assessing cardioband tricuspid valve reconstruction system for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation

Background

Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates with limited treatment options.

Objectives

We report the one-year outcomes of the Cardioband™ Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction System in the treatment of severe functional TR in 30 patients enrolled in the TRI-REPAIR study.

Methods

Between October 2016 and July 2017, 30 patients were enrolled in this single-arm, multicenter, prospective study. Patients were diagnosed with severe, symptomatic TR in the absence of untreated left-heart disease and deemed inoperable because of unacceptable risk for open-heart surgery by the local heart team. Clinical, functional, and echocardiographic data were prospectively collected before and up to one year post-procedure. An independent core lab assessed all echocardiographic data and an independent clinical event committee adjudicated the safety events.

Results

Mean patient age was 75 years, 73% were females, 23% had ischemic heart disease, and 93% had atrial fibrillation. At baseline, 83% were in NYHA Class III-IV, 63% had edema, and LVEF was 58%. Technical success was 100%. Through one year, one patient had a reintervention and exited the study. Five patients died of which one was device-related. Between baseline and one year (paired analyses), echocardiography showed average reductions of annular septolateral diameter of 16% (44mm vs. 37mm; p<0.0001), PISA EROA of 49% (0.73cm2 vs. 0.37cm2, p=0.0037), and mean vena contracta of 30% (1.2cm vs. 0.9cm, p=0.0046). Clinical assessment showed that at one year 78% of patients were in NYHA Class I-II (p=0.0003). Six minute walk distance improved by 42m (p=0.0525). Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score improved by 19 points (p=0.0009). Edema was absent in 70% of the patients.

Conclusions

These results show that the Cardioband tricuspid system performs as intended and appears to be safe in patients with symptomatic and severe functional TR. At one year significant reduction of TR through a sustained decrease of annular dimensions, improvements in heart failure symptoms, quality of life, and exercise capacity were observed. Further studies are warranted to validate these initial promising results.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Edwards Lifescieinces

Contemporary Presentation and Management of Valvular Heart Disease: The EURObservational Research Programme Valvular Heart Disease II Survey

BACKGROUND

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity and has been subject to important changes in management. The VHD II survey was designed by the EURObservational Research Programme of the European Society of Cardiology to analyze actual management of VHD and to compare practice with guidelines.

METHODS

Patients with severe native VHD or previous valvular intervention were enrolled prospectively across 28 countries over a 3-month period in 2017. Indications for intervention were considered concordant if the intervention was performed or scheduled in symptomatic patients, corresponding to Class I recommendations specified in the 2012 European Society of Cardiology and in the 2014 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology VHD guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 7247 patients (4483 hospitalized, 2764 outpatients) were included in 222 centers. Median age was 71 years (interquartile range, 62-80 years); 1917 patients (26.5%) were ≥80 years; and 3416 were female (47.1%). Severe native VHD was present in 5219 patients (72.0%): aortic stenosis in 2152 (41.2% of native VHD), aortic regurgitation in 279 (5.3%), mitral stenosis in 234 (4.5%), mitral regurgitation in 1114 (21.3%; primary in 746 and secondary in 368), multiple left-sided VHD in 1297 (24.9%), and right-sided VHD in 143 (2.7%). Two thousand twenty-eight patients (28.0%) had undergone previous valvular intervention. Intervention was performed in 37.0% and scheduled in 26.8% of patients with native VHD. The decision for intervention was concordant with Class I recommendations in symptomatic patients with severe single left-sided native VHD in 79.4% (95% CI, 77.1-81.6) for aortic stenosis, 77.6% (95% CI, 69.9-84.0) for aortic regurgitation, 68.5% (95% CI, 60.8-75.4) for mitral stenosis, and 71.0% (95% CI, 66.4-75.3) for primary mitral regurgitation. Valvular interventions were performed in 2150 patients during the survey; of them, 47.8% of patients with single left-sided native VHD were in New York Heart Association class III or IV. Transcatheter procedures were performed in 38.7% of patients with aortic stenosis and 16.7% of those with mitral regurgitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite good concordance between Class I recommendations and practice in patients with aortic VHD, the suboptimal number in mitral VHD and late referral for valvular interventions suggest the need to improve further guideline implementation.

Performing optimal transcatheter aortic valve implantation: The need for tailored use of transcatheter valves

BACKGROUND

Despite the worldwide development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) over the last decade, strategies that take patient characteristics into account to guide the choice of transcatheter heart valve have not been evaluated.

AIM

To evaluate the immediate results of TAVI using a tailored choice of balloon-expandable or self-expanding transcatheter heart valve, according to each patient's clinical and anatomical characteristics.

METHODS

This single-centre observational study included all patients treated with TAVI from 2012 to 2017. The 30-day results were reported according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria. A total of 502 patients were included (mean age, 81±9 years; 52% men; mean EuroSCORE II, 7.0±6.5%). Three main variables guided the choice of transcatheter heart valve: the anatomy of the iliofemoral arteries and of the aortic root, and the general condition of the patient.

RESULTS

A SAPIEN™ balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve was used in 275 patients (55%) and a CoreValve™ self-expanding transcatheter heart valve in 227 patients (45%). The approach was transfemoral in 427 patients (85%), and only 29 patients (6%) required transthoracic access. At 30-day follow-up, the rates of adverse events were as follows: mortality, 3.2%; stroke, 3.0%; major bleeding, 5.9%; and major vascular complications, 6.0%. Rates of complications at 30 days were similar in the SAPIEN™ and CoreValve™ groups, except for a higher rate of pacemaker implantation in the latter group (29.5% vs. 14.5%; P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The choice of balloon-expandable or self-expanding transcatheter heart valve tailored to the patient's clinical and anatomical characteristics allows for maximal use of the transfemoral approach, and is associated with low 30-day rates of major complications and mortality.

Temporal Trends on Percutaneous Mitral Commissurotomy: 30 Years of Experience

Background

Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) was the first available transcatheter technique for treatment of mitral valve diseases. Experience has led to extending the indications to patients with less favorable characteristics. We aimed to analyze (1) the temporal trends in characteristic and outcomes of patients undergoing PMC in a single center over 30 years and (2) the predictive factors of poor immediate results of PMC.

Methods and Results

From 1987 to 2016, 1 full year for each decade was analyzed: 1987, 1996, 2006, and 2016. Poor immediate results of PMC were defined as a mitral valve area <1.5 cm² or MR (mitral regurgitation) grade >2. Mitral anatomy was assessed using the Cormier classification and the fluoroscopic extent of calcification. Six hundred three patients were included: 111, 202, 205, and 85, respectively. Mean age increased >10 years over time (P<0.0001). Mitral anatomy was less favorable over the years: the presence of calcification increased from 25% of patients at the beginning of PMC to >40% during the past decade (P<0.0001) with a 3‐fold increase in severe mitral calcification. Consistently, the proportion of good immediate results decreased over time (P<0.05) but remained at 76% in 2016. Multivariate analysis showed 3 predictive factors of poor immediate results: smaller baseline mitral valve area (P<0.0001), pre‐PMC MR grade 2 (P<0.01), and the presence or amount of calcification (P<0.001).

Conclusions

This clinic's patients became significantly older with more frequent and severe calcification in the past decade. Predictive factors of poor immediate results were related to valve anatomy, including calcification. Despite challenges raised by severe calcification, PMC was still successful in >3 out of 4 patients in recent years.

See Editorial Palacios

Roadmap for cardiovascular education across the European Society of Cardiology: inspiring better knowledge and skills, now and for the future

AIMS

The provision of high-quality education allows the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) to achieve its mission of better cardiovascular practice and provides an essential component of translating new evidence to improve outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The 4th ESC Education Conference, held in Sophia Antipolis (December 2016), brought together ESC education leaders, National Directors of Training of 43 ESC countries, and representatives of the ESC Young Community. Integrating national descriptions of education and cardiology training, we discussed innovative pathways to further improve knowledge and skills across different training programmes and health care systems. We developed an ESC roadmap supporting better cardiology training and continued medical education (CME), noting: (i) The ESC provides an excellent framework for unbiased and up-to-date cardiovascular education in close cooperation with its National Societies. (ii) The ESC should support the harmonization of cardiology training, curriculum development, and professional dialogue and mentorship. (iii) ESC congresses are an essential forum to learn and discuss the latest developments in cardiovascular medicine. (iv) The ESC should create a unified, interactive educational platform for cardiology training and continued cardiovascular education combining Webinars, eLearning Courses, Clinical Cases, and other educational programmes, along with ESC Congress content, Practice Guidelines and the next ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. (v) ESC-delivered online education should be integrated into National and regional cardiology training and CME programmes.

CONCLUSION

These recommendations support the ESC to deliver excellent and comprehensive cardiovascular education for the next generation of specialists. Teamwork between international, national and local partners is essential to achieve this objective.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with cardiovascular disease: evolving trends over 10 years in the ESC Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease (ROPAC)

Aims

Reducing maternal mortality is a World Health Organization (WHO) global health goal. Although maternal deaths due to haemorrhage and infection are declining, those related to heart disease are increasing and are now the most important cause in western countries. The aim is to define contemporary diagnosis-specific outcomes in pregnant women with heart disease.

Methods and results

From 2007 to 2018, pregnant women with heart disease were prospectively enrolled in the Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease (ROPAC). Primary outcome was maternal mortality or heart failure, secondary outcomes were other cardiac, obstetric, and foetal complications. We enrolled 5739 pregnancies; the mean age was 29.5. Prevalent diagnoses were congenital (57%) and valvular heart disease (29%). Mortality (overall 0.6%) was highest in the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) group (9%). Heart failure occurred in 11%, arrhythmias in 2%. Delivery was by Caesarean section in 44%. Obstetric and foetal complications occurred in 17% and 21%, respectively. The number of high-risk pregnancies (mWHO Class IV) increased from 0.7% in 2007–2010 to 10.9% in 2015–2018. Determinants for maternal complications were pre-pregnancy heart failure or New York Heart Association &gt;II, systemic ejection fraction &lt;40%, mWHO Class 4, and anticoagulants use. After an increase from 2007 to 2009, complication rates fell from 13.2% in 2010 to 9.3% in 2017.

Conclusion

Rates of maternal mortality or heart failure were high in women with heart disease. However, from 2010, these rates declined despite the inclusion of more high-risk pregnancies. Highest complication rates occurred in women with PAH.

Ascending aorta dilatation rates in patients with tricuspid and bicuspid aortic stenosis: the COFRASA/GENERAC study

Background

Ascending aorta (AA) dilatation is common in aortic valve stenosis (AS) but data regarding AA progression, its determinants and impact of valve anatomy [bicuspid (BAV), or tricuspid (TAV)] are scarce.

Methods and Results

Asymptomatic AS patients enrolled in a prospective cohort (COFRASA/GENERAC) with at least 2 years of follow-up were considered in the present analysis. A transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and a computed tomography (CT) scan were performed at inclusion and yearly thereafter. We enrolled 195 patients [mean gradient 22 ± 11 mmHg, 42 BAV patients (22%)]. Mean aorta diameters assessed using TTE were 35 ± 4 and 36 ± 5 mm at the sinuses of Valsalva and tubular level, respectively. Ascending aorta diameter was >40 mm in 29% of patients (24% in TAV vs. 52% in BAV, P < 0.01). Determinants of AA diameters were age, sex, BSA, and BAV, but not AS severity. After a mean follow-up of 3.8 ± 1.5years, AA enlargement rate assessed using TTE was +0.18 ± 0.34 mm/year and +0.36 ± 0.54 mm/year at the Valsalva and tubular level, respectively. Determinants of the progression of AA size were smaller AA diameter (P < 0.01) but not baseline AS severity or valve anatomy (all P > 0.05). Only four patients presented an AA progression ≥2 mm/year. Correlations between TTE and CT scan were excellent (all r >0.74) and similar results were obtained using CT. During follow-up, two BAV patients underwent a combined AA surgery; no surgery was primarily performed for AA aneurysm and no dissection was observed.

Conclusion

In this prospective cohort of AS patients determinants of AA diameters were age, sex, BSA, and valve anatomy but not AS severity. AA progression rates were low and not influenced by AS severity or valve anatomy.

Percutaneous Repair or Medical Treatment for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation

BACKGROUND

In patients who have chronic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, severe secondary mitral-valve regurgitation is associated with a poor prognosis. Whether percutaneous mitral-valve repair improves clinical outcomes in this patient population is unknown.

METHODS

We randomly assigned patients who had severe secondary mitral regurgitation (defined as an effective regurgitant orifice area of >20 mm² or a regurgitant volume of >30 ml per beat), a left ventricular ejection fraction between 15 and 40%, and symptomatic heart failure, in a 1:1 ratio, to undergo percutaneous mitral-valve repair in addition to receiving medical therapy (intervention group; 152 patients) or to receive medical therapy alone (control group; 152 patients). The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of death from any cause or unplanned hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months.

RESULTS

At 12 months, the rate of the primary outcome was 54.6% (83 of 152 patients) in the intervention group and 51.3% (78 of 152 patients) in the control group (odds ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73 to 1.84; P=0.53). The rate of death from any cause was 24.3% (37 of 152 patients) in the intervention group and 22.4% (34 of 152 patients) in the control group (hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.77). The rate of unplanned hospitalization for heart failure was 48.7% (74 of 152 patients) in the intervention group and 47.4% (72 of 152 patients) in the control group (hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.56).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation, the rate of death or unplanned hospitalization for heart failure at 1 year did not differ significantly between patients who underwent percutaneous mitral-valve repair in addition to receiving medical therapy and those who received medical therapy alone. (Funded by the French Ministry of Health and Research National Program and Abbott Vascular; MITRA-FR ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01920698 .).

Predictors of mitral annulus enlargement? A real-time three-dimensional transesophageal study

BACKGROUND

Mitral annulus (MA) enlargement can be observed in various cardiac conditions but respective influence of left atrial (LA) and left ventricle (LV) size remained unclear.

METHODS

In 120 patients who underwent a clinically indicated 3D-transesophageal-echocardiography, 30 atrial fibrillation (AF), 30 secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR), 30 primary myxomatous mitral regurgitation (PMR) and 30 mitral stenosis (MS), we evaluated the association between MA area (MA-area) and LA volume (LAvol) measured using the biplane area-length method, end-diastolic (LVEDV) and end-systolic (LVESV) volumes measured using the biplane Simpson method. MA-area was measured based on 3D datasets using QLab10.

RESULTS

MA-area was correlated to LVEDV (r = 0.42, p < 0.0001), LVESV (r = 0.29, p = 0.001) but more markedly to LAvol (r = 0.62, p < 0.0001). Correlation between MA-area and LAvol was sustained in all subsets whereas MA-area was not correlated to LVEDV and LVESV in patients with SMR and with PMR (all p > 0.10). In multivariate analysis main predictors of MA-area were LAvol (p < 0.0001) and myxomatous etiology of MR (p = 0.0003) followed by LVEDV (p = 0.006) and LVESV (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

In a population of patients with a wide range of LA/LV size related to various conditions, LA volume and myxomatous MR etiology appeared as main predictors of MA size whereas LV size had a more modest influence.

Mitral valve: repair/clips/cinching/chordae

The treatment of mitral regurgitation has changed in recent years due to the advent of interventional techniques, mostly the percutaneous edge-to-edge repair, and, more recently, annuloplasty and chordal replacement. In the future, more advances are expected from further development of interventional techniques, careful evaluation and better patient selection.

Systematic transoesophageal echocardiography after mitral valve replacement: Rates and determinants of paravalvular regurgitation

BACKGROUND

With the emergence of transcatheter mitral valve replacement, it appears crucial to provide contemporary references with which this new technology can be compared. At our institution, transoesophageal echocardiography is systematically performed before discharge after surgical mitral valve replacement.

AIM

To evaluate the rate and determinants of paravalvular regurgitation after surgical mitral valve replacement.

METHODS

We collected medical history, indication, type of surgery and in-hospital outcome in all consecutive patients who underwent a mitral valve replacement in the past 2 years at our institution. Paravalvular regurgitation was assessed semiquantitatively using transoesophageal echocardiography before discharge.

RESULTS

We enrolled 399 patients (mean age 61±16 years; 58% women; 27% with a history of cardiac surgery). Mitral valve replacement was performed mainly for rheumatic disease (44%). Most patients were severely symptomatic (70% in New York Heart Association class III/IV). A mechanical prosthesis was implanted in 60% and a bioprosthesis in 40%. In-hospital mortality was 10%. Transoesophageal echocardiography was performed in 310 patients (77%); the main reasons for not performing transoesophageal echocardiography were frailty (n=40, 10%), early death (n=19, 5%) and contraindication for transoesophageal echocardiography (n=10, 3%). The overall rate of paravalvular regurgitation was 8% (n=25); a grade ≥2 was observed in five patients (2%), and two patients had to be reoperated on. Mitral annular calcification was the main factor associated with paravalvular regurgitation (P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical mitral valve replacement was associated with significant in-hospital mortality and morbidity. Using systematic transoesophageal echocardiography assessment, paravalvular regurgitation was not uncommon (8%), and was significantly linked to mitral annulus calcification. However, clinically significant leakage (≥grade 2) was rare (2%).

Eclipsed mitral regurgitation: an unusual cause of acute heart failure

Aims

So far, a total of five patients with eclipsed mitral regurgitation (MR) have been reported in the literature by three different teams. The aim of this article was to detail clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, and outcome of patients presenting eclipsed MR.

Methods and results

We defined eclipsed MR as spontaneous appearance, at rest, from 1 min to the next of an acute restriction in the motion of mitral leaflets preventing coaptation and leading to massive MR in patients with normal left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction >45%, and baseline MR ≤2. Spontaneous regression occurred within 30 min, and no obvious trigger such as acute hypertension, new-onset arrhythmia, or myocardial ischaemia is present. Clinical data, ECG, echocardiographic data, surgery report, and follow-up status of six patients with eclipsed MR are reported: all were post-menopausal women with median age of 74 [57-80] years presenting hypertension (4/6), chronic kidney disease (5/6), or chronic anaemia (4/6). Five out of six patients experienced acute pulmonary oedema requiring hospitalization and underwent mitral valve replacement because of heart failure recurrence. Two patients died in the first days after surgery while the three others are free of symptoms at, respectively, 56, 18, and 10 months follow-up.

Conclusion

Eclipsed MR is a clinical and echocardiographic syndrome responsible for heart failure with preserved EF. It is presently underdiagnosed and should be evoked in cases of recurrent acute pulmonary oedema without obvious trigger, in particular in patients presenting discordant evaluation of MR severity over time.

"Guidelines Recommendations on the Treatment of Tricuspid Regurgitation. Where Are We and Where Do We Go With Transcatheter Valve Intervention"

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is an important clinical problem because it is frequent and carries a poor prognosis when it is left uncorrected. However, there is still a lack of awareness of tricuspid disease in the medical community. The indications for evaluation and surgical interventions in patients with TR were recently updated in the ESC/EACTS guidelines. Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI), almost exclusively valve repair, is at an early stage of development as only a few hundreds of patients have been treated. The first-in-man valve implantation was very recently performed. The recent ESC/EACTS Guidelines state that “The potential role of transcatheter tricuspid valve treatment in high-risk patients needs to be determined”. We shall review here which lessons of interest for TTVI can be learned from the Guidelines as regards evaluation and indications for surgery and try to imagine what could be the place of TTVI in the Guidelines in the future.

Identifying the needs for competency-based education in Europe: a needs assessment of cardiologists across 52 countries

Objective: This international needs assessment was mandated by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) to obtain an in-depth understanding of the current gaps and challenges of European cardiology professionals, with the aim to provide evidence for the development of needs-driven educational and professional development activities.

Methods: This ethics-approved needs assessment was conducted among cardiologists from all sub-specialties across 56 countries of Europe and the Mediterranean basin. A mixed-methods research approach was used, combining qualitative in-depth interviews and focus groups with a quantitative survey.

Results: Seventy-four (74) cardiologists participated in the qualitative phase and 866 completed the survey. Respondents represented 52 of the 56 targeted countries. Three themes were identified: 1) Challenges in the clinical decision-making process, 2) Challenges in establishing the patient-physician relationship, and 3) Sub-optimal team communication and collaboration. Specific gaps and causalities related to each challenge were found. Although most of the gaps were common across countries and sub-specialties, some significant differences were noted.

Conclusion: The findings of this needs assessment indicate gaps and challenges in clinical practice across countries and across sub-specialities. Taking cardiology as an example, this study identifies clear areas of focus, especially around issues of collaboration and communication, for targeted competency-based education in Europe.

Atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: epidemiology, timing, predictors, and outcome

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in patients with aortic stenosis. When these patients are treated medically or by surgical aortic valve replacement, AF is associated with increased risk of adverse events including death. Growing evidence suggests a significant impact of AF on outcomes also in patients with aortic valve stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Conversely, limited evidence is available regarding the optimal management of this condition. This review aims to summarize prevalence, pathophysiology, prognosis, and treatment of AF in patients undergoing TAVI.

Effectiveness of Rescue Percutaneous Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis and Acute Heart Failure

The prognosis of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) or refractory pulmonary edema because of severe aortic stenosis remains poor. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcomes of rescue percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) in the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) era. Patients were consecutively included between 2008 and 2016. CS was defined as ≥1 sign of systemic hypoperfusion and need of catecholamines. Refractory pulmonary edema was defined as not controlled by optimal medical treatment. A total of 40 patients, 22 men (55%), aged 79 ± 9 years, were included: 17 with CS (42.5%), 23 with refractory pulmonary edema (57.5%). After PBAV, mean transaortic gradient decreased from 47 ± 16 mm Hg to 32 ± 10 mm Hg (p < 0.001), aortic valve area increased from 0.60 ± 0.18 cm² to 0.88 ± 0.22 cm² (p < 0.0001), left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 35 ± 15 to 37 ± 14% (p = 0.02), and systolic pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 61 ± 15 to 48 ± 12 mm Hg (p = 0.002). There was no procedural death. Early death occurred in 12 patients (30%). After PBAV, 16 of the 28 survivors (57%) were bridged to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR; n = 7) or TAVI (n = 9), and 12 (43%) were denied definitive therapy. The 2-year estimated survival rate was 71 ± 17% after SAVR, 36 ± 19% after TAVI, and 8 ± 8% after PBAV alone. In conclusion, rescue PBAV is safe in patients with CS and high-risk aortic stenosis or refractory pulmonary edema and may improve their dismal prognosis when followed by TAVI or SAVR.