Minimally Invasive Isolated and Hybrid Surgical Revascularization for Multivessel Coronary Disease: A Single-Center Long-Term Follow-Up.

INTRODUCTION: Some evidence suggests that surgical minimally invasive (MIDCAB) and hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) are safe and potentially effective at short-term follow-up. Data on long-term outcomes are more limited and inconclusive. METHODS: Between February 2013 and December 2023, a total of 1997 patients underwent surgical coronary artery revascularization at our institution, of whom, 92 (4.7%) received left anterior mini-thoracotomy access (MIDCAB), either isolated (N = 78) or in combination with percutaneous coronary intervention (N = 14, HCR group). RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 75 months (range 3.1: 149 months), cardiac mortality was 0% while overall mortality was 3%, with one in-hospital mortality and two additional late deaths. Conversion to sternotomy happened in two patients (2.1%), and surgical re-explorations occurred in five patients (4.6%), of whom three for bleeding and two for graft failure. All patients received left internal mammary (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) grafting (100%). In the HCR group, 10 patients (72%) showed percutaneous revascularization (PCI) after MIDCAB, showing PCI on a mean of 1.6 ± 0.6 vessels and implanting 2.1 ± 0.9 drug-eluting stents. CONCLUSIONS: MIDCAB, in isolation or in association with hybrid coronary revascularization, is associated with encouraging short- and long-term results in selected patients discussed within a dedicated heart-team.

Prediction of Mortality and Heart Failure Hospitalization After Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Interventions: Validation of TRISCORE.

BACKGROUND: Data on the prognostic role of the TRI-SCORE in patients undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) are limited. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the TRI-SCORE in predicting outcomes of patients undergoing TTVI. METHODS: TriValve (Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Therapies) is a large multicenter multinational registry including patients undergoing TTVI. The TRI-SCORE is a risk model recently proposed to predict in-hospital mortality after tricuspid valve surgery. The TriValve population was stratified based on the TRI-SCORE tertiles. The outcomes of interest were all-cause death and all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization. Procedural complications and changes in NYHA functional class were also reported. RESULTS: Among the 634 patients included, 223 patients (35.2%) had a TRI-SCORE between 0 and 5, 221 (34.8%) had 6 or 7, and 190 (30%) had ≥8 points. Postprocedural blood transfusion, acute kidney injury, new atrial fibrillation, and in-hospital mortality were more frequent in the highest TRI-SCORE tertile. Postprocedure length of stay increased with a TRI-SCORE increase. A TRI-SCORE ≥8 was associated with an increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality and all-cause mortality and the composite endpoint assessed at a median follow-up of 186 days (OR: 3.00; 95% CI: 1.38-6.55; HR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.78-4.13; HR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.57-2.74, respectively) even after adjustment for procedural success and EuroSCORE II or Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality. The NYHA functional class improved across all TRI-SCORE values. CONCLUSIONS: In the TriValve registry, the TRI-SCORE has a suboptimal performance in predicting clinical outcomes. However, a TRISCORE ≥8 is associated with an increased risk of clinical events and a lack of prognostic benefit after successful TTVI.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring System After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Blood glucose level variability has been associated with increased risk of complication in the postoperative setting of cardiovascular surgery. Although interesting for optimization of blood glucose management in this context, continuous blood glucose (CBG) devices can have a limited reliability in this context, in particular because of the use of paracetamol. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of Dexcom G6®, a recently developed continuous glucose monitoring device. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational, non-randomized, single-centre study comparing Dexcom G6® CBG level monitoring with the standard methods routinely used in this context. The standard blood glucose values were paired to the time corresponding values measured with Dexcom G6®. Agreement between the two methods and potential correlation in case of paracetamol use were calculated. RESULTS: From May 2020 to August 2021, 36 out of 206 patients operated for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled; 673 paired blood glucose level were analyzed. Global agreement (ρc) was 0.85 (95% C.I.: 0.84-0.86), intensive care unit agreement was 0.78 (95%C.I.: 0.74-0.82) and ward agreement was 0.91 (95%C.I.: 0.89-0.93). In the diabetic population, it was 0.87 (95%C.I.: 0.85-0.90). When paracetamol was used, the difference was 0.02 mmol/l (95%C.I.: 0.29-0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Dexcom G6® provides good blood glucose level accuracy in the postoperative context of cardiac surgery compared to the standard methods of measurements. The results are particularly reliable in the ward where the need for repeated capillary glucose measurements implies patient discomfort and time-consuming manipulations for the nursing staff.

Cardiac surgery simulation - part 2: Step-by-step Konno operation in a preclinical model.

This operation is performed on a preclinical model (porcine heart) that has been positioned and fixed inside a plastic mannequin, simulating the human anatomy. This set-up allows surgical operations to be performed at almost the same depth and orientation as in the operating theatre. The preclinical model allows the exact simulation of most of the key movements and steps of major adult and congenital operations. In this case, we replicate the Konno operation. This intervention addresses localized subaortic stenosis involving the left outflow tract or the narrowing of the left ventriculo-aortic junction.

del Nido versus hematic cardioplegia in minimally invasive aortic valve surgery.

BACKGROUND: The quality of a myocardial protection of a single-dose del Nido cardioplegia versus multiple dose blood-based cardioplegia on myocardial injury, outcomes and operative times in patients undergoing minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is basically unreported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Preoperative and post-operative data, as well as technical details from isolated minimally invasive aortic valve replacements, performed using single-dose or multiple-dose cardioplegia were prospectively collected and retrospectively analysed. A total of 110 patients undergoing minimally invasive valve replacements at our institution composed two groups: 55 patients in the blood cardioplegia group (BloCa) and 55 in the del Nido group (DeNiCa). The two-matched groups were comparable in terms of preoperative variables. In the DeNiCa group, there was a statistically significant less need for cardiac defibrillation after aortic cross-clamp release (p < 0.001). Moreover, the BloCa group received intraoperatively more blood transfusions (p = 0.001) and more insulin administration for higher glucose levels (p < 0.001). The BloCa group showed higher intraoperative lactate levels (p = 0.01). Need for post-operative inotropic and vasoactive support, Creatine Kinase-MB levels after 6 and 12 h, onset of post-operative atrial fibrillation and length of stay were similar. No deaths occurred in neither groups. CONCLUSION: Single-dose del Nido cardioplegia in the setting of minimally invasive aortic surgery seems to offer adequate myocardial protection, comparable to multiple dose hematic cardioplegia. It has been documented a lower peri-operative need of defibrillation after cross-clamp release, lactate- and glucose peak values, as well as less blood transfusions compared to blood cardioplegic strategy.

Digital interprofessional communication with families in a cardiac surgery unit: insights from the pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic entailed cutting off the usual access to hospitals, denying patients daily visits from their relatives and friends. The standard communication between medical staff and relatives also suffered, with a perceived negative impact on overall care. We developed an electronic communication solution to re-establish a proactive daily communication with patients' families. Methods: The communication software allowed families to receive daily interprofessional (medical, nursing, and physiotherapy) updates by text message, on patients' postoperative clinical state. Appreciation and performance of this communication was evaluated through a prospective randomised study. Two groups were compared (group D, 32 patients "Digital" receiving daily SMS, and group S, 16 patients "Standard" without SMS), assessing satisfaction through dedicated surveys under COVID-19 restrictions. Moreover, private outgoing vs. incoming communication flow between patients and their relatives (phone calls and text messages, for both groups) were analysed at different timeframes of the postoperative hospital stay. Results: Mean age of the population was 66 ± 7 years for both groups. The digital communication service was successfully adopted in group D in all cases, sending overall 155 communications (4.84 per patient). Calls received from relatives were 13 in group D vs. 22 in group S (0.4 vs. 1.4 calls per patient, p = 0.002). Patients' outgoing vs. incoming traffic flow was equal in the two groups for every timeframe (first two postoperative days vs. the rest), independently from digital communication. Comparing satisfaction of communication (from 1 to 7), level of information and understandability resulted in 6.7 in group D vs. 5.6 in group S (p = 0.004). Appreciation of digital communication was highest during the first three postoperative days. Conclusion: The restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic generated simple and effective ideas on digital solutions for interprofessional communication. Offering this digital service, which complements rather than replace the classic communication, eased the need of the families to be informed and significantly enhanced the overall satisfaction regarding the healthcare service. Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted access to hospital patients and cut off physical contact, denying patients, their families, and medical staff the necessary constant communication about the progress of their stay. It has become necessary, therefore, to compensate for the lack of "physical" face-to-face interaction by introducing innovative digital communication solutions. Our interprofessional project aims to assess the overall satisfaction and acceptance of digital communication service between the hospital and the families, updating on postoperative clinical condition of patients. Specifically, the introduction of a digital communication module attached to the electronic patient record allows relatives to be informed on a daily basis. The development of this module/software enabled families to receive daily, interprofessional and proactive digital updates, on their relative ones' postoperative stay.

Cardiac surgery simulation: step-by-step Nicks procedure in a preclinical model.

We demonstrate the Nicks operation, one of the posterior aortic root enlargement procedures, on a preclinical model (porcine heart). The goal of this operation is to facilitate the implementation of a suitably sized aortic prosthetic valve. The procedure is performed by making a longitudinal incision through the non-coronary sinus without entering the fibrous body between the aortic valve and the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve and inserting a patch to enlarge the annulus.

Cardiac surgery simulation: Step-by-step hemi-Yacoub operation in a preclinical model.

We demonstrate a hemi-Yacoub operation on a preclinical model (porcine heart). It is an alternative remodelling technique for the management of dilatation of the ascending aorta with the involvement of the aortic root, particularly the noncoronary sinus or in case of an aortic dissection. The goal of this operation is to replace selectively the dilated/dissected portion (noncoronary sinus), thereby avoiding replacement of the entire aortic root.

Management of left subclavian artery in type B aortic dissection treated with thoracic endovascular aorta repair.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been the favored approach for the treatment of type B aortic dissection (TBAD). To obtain an adequate proximal landing zone, coverage of the left subclavian artery (LSA) will often be necessary. The occurrence of possible neurologic complications has continued to be debated. We investigated the management of the LSA in patients with TBAD undergoing endovascular repair. METHODS: We searched the PubMed and MEDLINE databases to October 2020 for studies of TEVAR for TBAD. Data on the study design, demographics, endograft details, LSA coverage and revascularization, mortality, complications, and follow-up were extracted and analyzed. The effects of LSA coverage and revascularization on neurologic complications and outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 26 reports (24 retrospective and 2 prospective) were deemed eligible for our study. A total of 1483 patients (mean age, 56.9 ± 6.2 years) had undergone TEVAR for acute (n = 932; 62.9%), subacute (n = 36; 2.4%), or chronic (n = 515; 34.7%) TBAD, with a success rate of 97.8% and hospital mortality of 4.9%. The LSA origin had been covered for 707 patients (47.7%), and 326 had undergone LSA revascularization (surgical, n = 96; endovascular, n = 170; unspecified or not reported, n = 60). LSA revascularization was concomitant for 68.1% of cases, after TEVAR for 1.8%, and not reported for 30.1%. Of 1146 patients, 10 (0.9%) had experienced left arm claudication, and the overall stroke rate was 3.3% (2.7% for the LSA group and 1% for the uncovered LSA group; P = .0815). Of the patients with stroke and a covered LSA, 1% (2 of 203) had undergone LSA revascularization and 4.8% (5 of 105) had not (P = .0478). Twenty-six patients (1.9%) had developed paraplegia: 0.7% (3 of 433) with a covered LSA, 1.4% (7 of 491) with an uncovered LSA (P = .3508), and not reported for 16 patients. Endoleak was present in 138 patients (13.4%) at a mean follow-up of 32.1 ± 25.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our review has shown that LSA coverage during endovascular repair for complicated TBAD will does not significantly increase the risk of neurologic complications; however, revascularization of the LSA should be always recommended.

Ten-Year Experience with Transapical and Direct Transaortic Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement to Address Patients with Aortic Stenosis and Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Objective: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) through alternative access routes is indicated in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and diseased peripheral arteries. We analysed and compared the outcome of patients undergoing transapical (TA) and direct transaortic (TAO) TAVR procedures. Methods: Preoperative characteristics, procedural details, and thirty-day outcome of patients undergoing transapical (TA-TAVR group) and direct transaortic (TAO-TAVR group) TAVR procedures were prospectively collected and retrospectively analysed. Results: From March 2012 to March 2022, 81 TA and 82 TAO-TAVR (total: 163 cases) were performed with balloon-expanding (n = 120; 73.6%) and self-expandable (n = 43; 26.4%) valves. The mean age was 79.7 ± 6.2 and 81.9 ± 6.7 years for the TA- and TAO-TAVR groups, respectively (p = 0.032). Females were more represented in the TAO-TAVR group (56% vs. 32%; p = 0.003) while TA-TAVR patients showed a higher prevalence of previous vascular surgery (20% vs. 6%; p = 0.01), previous cardiac surgery (51% vs. 3.6%; p < 0.001), and porcelain aorta (22% vs. 5%; p = 0.001). The mean ejection fraction was 49.0 ± 14.6% (TA) and 53.5 ± 12.2% (TAO) (p = 0.035) while mean gradients were 35.6 ± 13.2 mmHg (TA) and 40.4 ± 16.1 mmHg (TAO) (p = 0.045). The median EuroSCORE-II was 5.0% (IQR: 3.0−11.0) and 3.9% (IQR: 2.5−5.4) for the TA- and TAO-TAVR groups, respectively (p = 0.005). The procedural time was shorter for TA procedures (97 min (IQR: 882−118) vs. 102 min (IQR: 88−129); p = 0.133). Mortality at day 30 was 6% in both groups (p = 1.000); the permanent pacemaker implantation rate was similar (8.6% vs. 9.7%; p = 1.000), and hospital stay was shorter for the TAO group (8 days (IQR: 6−11) vs. 10 days (IQR: 7−13); p = 0.025). Conclusions: Our results show that transapical and direct transaortic TAVR in high-risk patients with diseased peripheral arteries provide satisfactory clinical results with similar thirty-day outcomes.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement in native mitral valve with severe mitral annular calcification: Skirting the Sapien 3 to reduce the risk of paravalvular leaks.

Background: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) may represent a significant challenge for heart surgeons with an extremely high perioperative risk during mitral valve (MV) surgery. The risk is further increased when patients fail to be eligible for any percutaneous treatment, particularly because circumferential calcifications involving the anterior leaflet suggest a critical obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate residual mitral regurgitation (MR) after surgical mitral valve replacement using a Sapien 3 Ultra (Edwards Lifesciences, CA, USA) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) prosthesis, reinforced with a pericardial skirt, in high-risk selected patients with severe MAC. Methods: Since 2020, five high-risk patients (mean age 70 years; 63-76; four women) with severe mitral disease in the context of severe MAC (computed tomography-based mean MAC Score 8.2 ± 1.1) were operated on after we adopted this novel technique. The operations were performed under general anesthesia, using a transapical TAVI delivery system to position the Sapien 3 in the mitral position under direct vision. To reinforce and avoid paravalvular leakages, a pericardial skirt was previously sewn around the prosthesis, securing it to the annulus and perivalvular atrial surface. Results: Sapien 3 Ultra implantation was successful without residual MR in all five patients (mild paravalvular leak in one case). Four patients had a 29-mm valve implanted, while one had a 26-mm valve implanted. Predilatation of the native annulus was never performed. Perfusion and clamping times were 134 ± 53 mins and 108 ± 43 mins, respectively. The presence of the pericardial skirt reduced the risk of leakage between the prosthesis and the rigid calcium surface, with final mean and maximal gradients of the TAVI prosthesis of 4.1 and 10.8 mmHg, respectively. There were no left ventricular outflow tract obstructions (mean LVOT gradient of 8 ± 1 mmHg). All patients were discharged, and neither mortality nor prosthetic dysfunction, nor residual mitral regurgitation was recorded. During follow-up, the last patient treated (MAC Score 10, severe calcification of the mitro-aortic junction) returned to our attention with a significant recurrent jet originating from the anterolateral commissure, currently medically treated, given the prohibitive redo risk. Conclusion: Direct open surgical implantation of the Sapien 3 valve can be safely done in patients with severe MAC in dedicated centers. Reinforcing the TAVI prosthesis by sewing a pericardial skirt led to satisfactory perioperative and early postoperative results, reducing paravalvular leakages. Complex anatomies have a CERTAIN risk of recurrence.

Cardiac surgery simulation - part 1: Step-by-step David procedure in a preclinical model.

We performed this operation on a preclinical model (porcine heart) that has been positioned and fixed inside a plastic mannequin that simulates the human anatomy. This simulation allows surgical operations to be performed at almost the same depth and orientation at which they would be performed on a patient in an operating room. The preclinical model allows the exact simulation of most of the key movements and steps of major coronary and valve surgery. In this case, we show the salient steps of the David I operation.

Twenty-year experience with skeletonized bilateral internal thoracic arteries for surgical myocardial revascularization. A single center experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The mammary artery shows excellent long-term patency and encourages the use of skeletonized bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITA) for coronary surgery. We analyzed the long-term outcome of patients operated for myocardial revascularization with BITA in a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data and surgical details of patients undergoing coronary surgery with BITA were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Selected variables were studied as risk factors for sternal wound complication and a subanalysis of clinical outcome for patients aged 70 years or greater was performed. A long-term follow-up of the study group is provided. RESULTS: From January 2001 to November 2021, 750 patients underwent myocardial revascularization using BITA grafts (mean age: 61 ± 9.5 years; males: 91%) at our institute. Patients with triple-vessel disease were 81%, 15.3% of all procedures were performed off-pump and 3.6% were urgent cases. Hospital mortality was 0.5%. Sternal wound complication was observed in 67 patients (9.0%) with 7 deep sternal wound infections (0.9%). Female gender (odds ratios [OR]: 3.7, p < 0.01), BMI >30 (OR: 1.8, p = 0.04), smoking (OR: 1.8, p = 0.02), and chronic kidney failure (OR: 3.7, p = 0.05) were independent predictors for sternal complications. During a mean follow-up time of 8.7 ± 5.3 years, 34 patients (4.5%) underwent a repeated myocardial revascularization, and there were 89 all-cause deaths (11.9%) and the cumulative survival at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years was 97%, 89%, 76%, and 60% for the whole study group 92%, 74%, 47%, and 43% for the subgroup of elderly patients (mean age: 74 ± 3.5 years). CONCLUSIONS: Use of skeletonized bilateral thoracic arteries shows low-rate of wound infection and good long-term outcome with low risk of repeated revascularizations, regardless of patients' age.

Similar outcome of tricuspid valve repair and replacement for isolated tricuspid infective endocarditis.

AIMS: To compare early and late mortality of acute isolated tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (TVIE) treated with valve repair or replacement. METHODS: Patients who were surgically treated for TVIE from 1983 to 2018 were retrieved from the Italian Registry for Surgical Treatment of Valve and Prosthesis Infective Endocarditis. All the patients were followed up by means of phone interview or calling patient referral physicians or cardiologists. Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess late survival and survival free from TVIE recurrence with log-rank test for univariate comparison. The primary end points were early mortality (30 days after surgery) and long-term survival free from TVIE recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 4084 patients were included in the registry. Among them, 149 patients were included in the study. Overall, 77 (51.7%) underwent TV repair and 72 (48.3%) TV replacement. Early mortality was 9% (13 patients). Expected early mortality according to EndoSCORE was 12%. The TV repair showed lower mortality and major complication rate (7% and 16%), compared with TV replacement (11% and 25%), but statistical significance was not reached. Median follow-up was 19.1 years (14.3-23.8). Late deaths were 30 and IE recurrences were 5. No difference in cardiac survival free from IE was found between the two groups after 20 years (80 ±â€Š6% Repair Group vs 59 ±â€Š13% Replacement Group, P = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: Overall results indicate that once surgically addressed, TVIE has a low recurrence rate and excellent survival, apparently regardless of the type of surgery used to treat it.

Percutaneous Venous Cannulation for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: The Safest and Effective Technique Described Step-by-Step.

The current cardiac surgical landscape, with the expansion of minimally invasive operations, ECMO, and some interventional therapies, requires a thorough knowledge of peripheral cannulation techniques. In particular, venous cannulation may appear trivial and complication-free, but this does not reflect the reality. A venous cannulation which is not perfectly performed can lead to serious life-threatening complications in several steps. The technique we describe step by step is the current gold standard in terms of safety and efficacy: from the use of ultrasound for ultrasound-guided puncture to safe advancement of super stiff guidewires by means of a sentinel catheter, and concluding with smooth insertion of the venous cannula over the stiff guidewire up to the SVC. Moreover, a list of bailout maneuvers to solve complications is presented along with a report of institutional clinical experience since the adoption of this technique.

Apical closure device for full-percutaneous transapical structural and valve procedures with large-sized introducer sheaths: The final preclinical study.

BACKGROUND: Closed-chest transapical valve implantations (aortic, mitral, and tricuspid) and cardiac structural procedures requiring large-sized introducer sheaths cannot be safely performed with the available technology. We tested a self-expanding apical closure device in a closed-chest animal model, using large-sized introducer sheaths and human-sized animals to establish the technique for future tests in humans. METHODS: Six human-sized pigs (mean weight: 89.7 ± 3.7 kg) received general anesthesia, intubation, and full heparinization (15,000 IU/animal; expected activated clotting time >200 s). Under fluoroscopy and multimodality imaging guidance with next-generation fusion imaging prototypes, a 15-cm long needle and a standard guidewire were percutaneously inserted under the xiphoidal aponeurosis and into the ventricular apex. After the exchange with a stiff guidewire, a 21-Fr introducer sheath for transapical procedures (outer diameter: 25-Fr) was placed in the left ventricle through the apex. The self-expanding closure device was inserted and deployed under fluoroscopic guidance while the 21-Fr sheath was gently removed. Hemodynamic conditions were monitored for 30 min and then the chest was opened to inspect the closure device and quantify the blood loss in the pericardium. Animals were killed and the hearts were removed and inspected. RESULTS: All six apical closure devices were successfully deployed without adverse events. No death, hemodynamic collapse, or cardiac tamponade occurred during the 30-min observational period (mean systolic and diastolic pressures: 88 ± 11 and 58 ± 13 mmHg, respectively; mean heart rate: 60 ± 11 beats per minutes). Pre- and postdeployment (after protamine administration) mean activated clotting time was 541 ± 263 and 217 ± 62 s, respectively. The plugs provided good sealing with a mean of 27.2 ± 13.86 ml of blood lost in the pericardium. Postmortem inspection showed good plug fixation without myocardial damage. CONCLUSION: This self-expanding apical closure device successfully sealed the percutaneous access sites made with large-sized introducer sheaths in human-sized animals. This preclinical study suggests that transapical valve and structural procedures requiring large-sized introducer sheaths can be performed percutaneously.

Challenges and future perspectives of transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions: adopt old strategies or adapt to new opportunities?

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a highly prevalent valvular heart disease and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and death at long-term follow-up. Functional TR accounts for over 90% of TR and is mainly due to annular or right ventricular dilatation. Most often, TR is observed in patients with left-sided valvular heart disease (with or without previous surgical correction) and pulmonary hypertension. Isolated TR is less frequent, though burdened by high surgical mortality. This, together with an incomplete understanding of the disease, has brought to a significant undertreatment in spite of the growing evidence of the impact of severe TR on mortality. Moreover, uncertainties about the appropriate timing for intervention and the predictors of procedural success have contributed to limit TR treatment. Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement or repair interventions represent novel and less invasive alternatives to surgery and have shown early promising results. The purpose of this review is to provide a complete and updated overview of TR pathology with a special focus on current percutaneous treatment options, future challenges and directions.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation: Current Status and Future Perspectives.

Mitral transcatheter therapies represent the treatment of choice for all patients deemed unsuitable for cardiac surgery. So far, the largest clinical experience has been limited to percutaneous repair techniques. However, given the complexity and heterogeneity of mitral valve anatomy and pathology, transcatheter mitral valve implantation will widen the mitral valve therapies horizon, toward a patient-tailored approach. Current data about transcatheter mitral valve implantation is still limited and, although some data are promising, there are still some issues to be addressed. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the available devices and describes potential advantages and limitations of transcatheter mitral valve implantation.

TrueVue transillumination volume rendering for three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography in interventional imaging.

AIMS: The aim of the present article is to address the advantages of real-time TrueVue transillumination rendering for three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography in the context of echocardiographic procedural guidance for structural interventions for several procedural concerns. METHODS: Procedures in which transillumination imaging was used during at least one step of the whole intervention were retrospectively collected; the loops were reviewed by an experienced imaging specialist and the most important concerns imaged in the loops were listed. The apparent added value of transillumination for each of these concerns was scored independently by two imager specialists, and their agreement was derived. RESULTS: Between January and June 2019, 50 procedures were performed in our centre. Transillumination imaging was used in 64% of these cases. Considering all the loops the added value of transillumination compared with the conventional rendering was scored greater than 3 in a Likert scale in 87% of analysed loops by both the operators with a good agreement (κ  = 0.47, P  = 0.001). A different level of perceived advantage and agreement was observed between three image features that improved: substantial agreement (κ  = 0.652, P  = 0.001) for enhancing the contrast between structures and cavities (n  = 24 loops); good agreement for the contrast between different structures (κ  = 0.588, P  = 0.002) (n  = 37 loops); moderate agreement for the perception of interaction between the device and structures (κ  = 0.3, P  = 0.027) (n  = 7 loops). CONCLUSION: The use of new volume-rendering techniques in interventional imaging may be useful especially for solving the concerns regarding the cavity-structure contrast.