Artificial intelligence-derived risk score for mortality in secondary mitral regurgitation treated by transcatheter edge-to-edge repair: the EuroSMR risk score.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Risk stratification for mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is paramount in the decision-making process to appropriately select patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). This study sought to develop and validate an artificial intelligence-derived risk score (EuroSMR score) to predict 1-year outcomes (survival or survival + clinical improvement) in patients with SMR undergoing M-TEER. METHODS: An artificial intelligence-derived risk score was developed from the EuroSMR cohort (4172 and 428 patients treated with M-TEER in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively). The EuroSMR score was validated and compared with established risk models. RESULTS: The EuroSMR risk score, which is based on 18 clinical, echocardiographic, laboratory, and medication parameters, allowed for an improved discrimination of surviving and non-surviving patients (hazard ratio 4.3, 95% confidence interval 3.7-5.0; P < .001), and outperformed established risk scores in the validation cohort. Prediction for 1-year mortality (area under the curve: 0.789, 95% confidence interval 0.737-0.842) ranged from <5% to >70%, including the identification of an extreme-risk population (2.6% of the entire cohort), which had a very high probability for not surviving beyond 1 year (hazard ratio 6.5, 95% confidence interval 3.0-14; P < .001). The top 5% of patients with the highest EuroSMR risk scores showed event rates of 72.7% for mortality and 83.2% for mortality or lack of clinical improvement at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The EuroSMR risk score may allow for improved prognostication in heart failure patients with severe SMR, who are considered for a M-TEER procedure. The score is expected to facilitate the shared decision-making process with heart team members and patients.

Clinical outcomes and predictors in patients with previous cardiac surgery undergoing mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

BACKGROUND: Mitral-valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (MV-TEER) is recommended in patients with severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and in those with degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) not eligible to traditional surgery. Patients with a history of previous cardiac surgery are considered at high risk for surgical reintervention, but data are lacking regarding procedural and clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and clinical results of MV-TEER in patients with previous cardiac surgery enrolled in the "multicentre Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology registry of transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation" (GIOTTO). METHODS: Patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR), or mitral valve repair (MVR) were included. Those with multiple or combined previous cardiac surgeries were excluded. Clinical follow-up was performed at 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years. The primary endpoint was a composite of death or rehospitalization at 1- and 2-year follow-ups. RESULTS: A total of 330 patients enrolled in the GIOTTO registry were considered (CABG 77.9%, AVR 14.2%, and MVR 7.9%). Most patients showed FMR (66.9%), moderate reduction of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, and signs of LV dilation. Procedural and device successes were 94.8% and 97%. At 1 and 2 years, the composite endpoint occurred are 29.1% and 52.4%, respectively. The composite outcome rates were similar across the three subgroups of previous cardiac surgery (p = 0.928) and between the FMR and DMR subgroups (p = 0.850) at 2 years. In a multivariate analysis, residual mitral regurgitation (rMR) ≥2+ was the main predictor of adverse events at 1 year (hazard ratio: 1.54 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.00-2.38]; p = 0.050). This association was confirmed at 2 years of Kaplan-Meier analysis (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MV-TEER is effective in these patients, regardless of the subtype of previous cardiac surgery and the MR etiology. An rMR ≥2+ is independently associated with adverse outcomes at 1-year follow-up.

Implantation of one, two or multiple MitraClip™ for transcatheter mitral valve repair: insights from a 1824-patient multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) with MitraClip™ (Abbott Laboratories; Abbott Park, IL, USA) is an established treatment for mitral regurgitation (MR). More than one MitraClip™ may be implanted if a single one does not reduce MR adequately. We aimed to appraise the outlook of patients undergoing implantation of one, two or multiple MitraClip™ for TMVR. METHODS: Exploiting the ongoing prospective GISE Registry of Transcatheter Treatment of Mitral Valve Regurgitation (GIOTTO) Study dataset, we compared patients, procedural details and outcomes distinguishing those receiving one, two or multiple MitraClip™. The primary endpoint was the composite of 1-year cardiac death or rehospitalization for heart failure. Additional endpoints included all cause death, surgical mitral repair, and functional class. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis was used for confirmatory purposes. RESULTS: As many as 1824 patients were included: 718 (39.4%) treated with a single MitraClip™, and 940 (51.5%) receiving two MitraClip™, and 166 (9.1%) receiving three or more. Significant differences were found for baseline features, including age, female gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, prior myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, permanent pacemaker, cardiac resynchronization therapy, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and prior mitral valve repair (all P<0.05). Several imaging features were also different, including left ventricular dimensions, MR severity and proportionality, mitral valve area, flail leaflet, and pulmonary vein flow (all P<0.05). Among procedural features, significant differences were found for anesthesia type, MitraClip™ type, fluoroscopy, device, and operating room times, postprocedural mitral gradient, residual MR, smoke-like effect, device success partial detachment and surgical conversion (all P<0.05). In-hospital death occurred more frequently in patients receiving multiple MitraClip™, and the same applied severe residual MR (all P<0.05). Mid-term follow-up (15±13 months) showed significant differences in the risk of death, cardiac death, rehospitalization for heart failure, and their composites, mainly, but not solely, associated with multiple MitraClip™ (all P<0.05). Adjusted analysis confirmed the significantly increased risk of composite adverse events when comparing the multiple vs. single MitraClip™ groups (P=0.014 for death and rehospitalization, P=0.013 for cardiac death or rehospitalization). CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of one or two MitraClip™ is associated with favorable clinical outcomes. Conversely, bail-out implantation of three or more MitraClip™ may portend a worse long-term prognosis.

Improved transfemoral accessibility and positioning of the Portico transcatheter heart valve with the new FlexNav delivery system.

The new iteration of the Portico transcatheter heart valve delivery system, the FlexNav, has been designed to enhance procedural safety and accuracy of the platform. Major technological advancements were the significant reduction of the insertion profile, allowing a transfemoral access down to 5.0 mm vessels, and the addition of a stability layer, improving deployment accuracy and thus potentially reducing implantation depth and permanent pacemaker implantation rate. Published data on patients undergoing Portico transcatheter heart valve implantation with the new FlexNav delivery system confirms excellent procedural and 30-day safety profile.

Lay abstract Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a minimally invasive alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement, has become an established treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis approved across the entire spectrum of risk, from patient's ineligible for surgery to those at low risk. With the rapid spread of transcatheter aortic valve replacement to younger patients, researchers are focusing on reducing procedural adverse events rates, such as pacemaker implantation or access site-related complication, and increase procedural accuracy. The new FlexNav delivery system, employed to implant the Portico transcatheter heart valve, had recently proved its procedural safety and, with its major technological advancements encompassing a reduced insertion profile and an improved device stability during implant, may significantly reduce pacemaker implantation and access site-related complication rate.