Predictors of hemodynamic response to mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

BACKGROUND: Improvement in left atrial pressure (LAP) during transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is associated with improved outcomes. We sought to investigate the predictors of optimal hemodynamic response to TEER. METHODS: We identified patients who underwent TEER at Mayo Clinic between May 2014 and February 2022. Patients with missing LAP data, an aborted procedure, and those undergoing a concomitant tricuspid TEER were excluded. We performed a logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of optimal hemodynamic response to TEER (defined as LAP ≤ 15 mmHg). RESULTS: A total of 473 patients were included (Mean age 78.5 ± 9.4 years, 67.2% males). Overall, 195 (41.2%) achieved an optimal hemodynamic response after TEER. Patients who did not achieve an optimal response had higher baseline LAP (20.0 [17-25] vs. 15.0 [12-18] mmHg, p < 0.001), higher prevalence of AF (68.3% vs. 55.9%, p = 0.006), functional MR (47.5% vs. 35.9%, p = 0.009), annular calcification (41% vs. 29.2%, p = 0.02), lower left ventricular EF (55% vs. 58%, p = 0.02), and more frequent postprocedural severe MR (11.9% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.02) and elevated mitral gradient >5 mmHg (30.6% vs. 14.4%, p < 0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, AF (OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.35-0.96; p = 0.03), baseline LAP (OR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.75-0.84; p < 0.001) and postprocedural mitral gradient <5 mmHg (OR = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.19-0.65; p < 0.001), were independent predictors of achieving an optimal hemodynamic response. In the multivariate model, residual MR was not independently associated with optimal hemodynamic response. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal hemodynamic response is achieved in 4 in 10 patients undergoing TEER. AF, higher baseline LAP, and higher postprocedural mitral gradient were negative predictors of optimal hemodynamic response after TEER.

Effect of catheter ablation on the hemodynamics of the left atrium : Hemodynamics of ablation.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the impact of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) on left atrial (LA) flow dynamics and geometrical changes. METHODS: This exploratory study included computational flow simulations from 10 patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF. Complete cardiac cycle dataset was simulated before and after ablation using computational fluid dynamics. The study main endpoints were the changes in LA volume, LA velocity, LA wall shear stress (WSS), circulation (Γ), vorticity, pulmonary vein (PV) ostia area, and LA vortices before and after ablation. RESULTS: There was an average decrease in LA volume (11.58 ± 15.17%) and PV ostia area (16.6 ± 21.41%) after ablation. A non-uniform trend of velocity and WSS changes were observed after ablation. Compared with pre-ablation, 4 patients exhibited lower velocities, WSS distributions, and a decreased Γ (> 8.5%), while 6 developed higher velocities and WSS distributions. These geometrical changes dictated different flow mixing in the LA and distinct vortex patterns, characterized by different spinning velocities, vorticities, and rotational directions. Regions with q-criterion > 0 were found to be dominant in the LA, indicating prevalent rotational vortex structures. CONCLUSION: Catheter ablation for AF induced different geometrical changes on the LA and the PVs, therefore influencing flow mixing and vortex patterns in the LA, in addition to overall velocity and WSS distribution. Further exploration of the impact of catheter ablation on intracardiac flow dynamics is warranted to discern patterns that may correlate with clinical outcomes.