Arrhythmic risk profile in mitral valve prolapse: A systematic review and metanalysis of 1715 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common clinical condition in the general population. A subgroup of patients with MVP may experience ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death ("arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse" [AMVP]) but how to stratify arrhythmic risk is still unclear. Our meta-analysis aims to identify predictive factors for arrhythmic risk in patients with MVP. METHODS: We systematically searched Medline, Cochrane, Journals@Ovid, Scopus electronic databases for studies published up to December 28, 2022 and comparing AMVP and nonarrhythmic mitral valve prolapse (NAMVP) for what concerns history, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance features. The effect size was estimated using a random-effect model as odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD). RESULTS: A total of 10 studies enrolling 1715 patients were included. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (OR: 16.67; p = .005), T-wave inversion (TWI) (OR: 2.63; p < .0001), bileaflet MVP (OR: 1.92; p < .0001) and mitral anulus disjunction (MAD) (OR: 2.60; p < .0001) were more represented among patients with AMVP than in NAMVP. Patients with AMVP were shown to have longer anterior mitral leaflet (AML) (MD: 2.63 mm; p < .0001), posterior mitral leaflet (MD: 2.96 mm; p < .0001), thicker AML (MD: 0.49 mm; p < .0001), longer MAD length (MD: 1.24 mm; p < .0001) and higher amount of LGE (MD: 1.41%; p < .0001) than NAMVP. AMVP showed increased mechanical dispersion (MD: 8.04 ms; 95% confidence interval: 5.13-10.96; p < .0001) compared with NAMVP. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis proved that LGE, TWI, bileaflet MVP, and MAD are predictive factors for arrhythmic risk in MVP patients.

Conduction time around the mitral valve annulus has the potential to rule out postablation perimitral atrial tachycardia.

INTRODUCTION: It would be helpful in determining ablation strategy if the occurrence of perimitral atrial tachycardia (PMAT) could be predicted in advance. We investigated whether estimated perimitral conduction time (E-PMCT), namely, twice the time between coronary sinus (CS) pacing and the ensuing wave-front collision at the opposite side of the mitral annulus, correlated with the cycle length of PMAT and could predict future PMAT. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively (retrospective cohort) and prospectively (validation cohort) investigated atrial fibrillation patients who had received pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and in whom left atrial maps had been created during CS pacing. We calculated their E-PMCT. PMAT was observed either by provocation or during follow-up in 25, AT other than PMAT was observed in 24 (non-PMAT AT group), and 53 patients never displayed any AT (no-AT group) in the retrospective cohort. In the PMAT group of the retrospective cohort, a strong positive correlation was observed between the PMAT CL and E-PMCT (r = .85, p < 0.001). PMAT was never induced nor observed in patients with E-PMCT less than 176 ms, and the best cut-off value for PMAT was 180 ms by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. In the validation cohort of 76 patients, the cut-off value of the E-PMAT less than 180 ms predicted noninducibility of PMAT, with a sensitivity of 78.6%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 25.0%. CONCLUSION: Short E-PMCT may predict noninducibility of PMAT and guide a less invasive ablation strategy.

Mitral annular disjunction and mitral valve prolapse extrapolating adult data to an adolescent cohort?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this study is to provide an update on mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral annular disjunction (MAD) and who may be at risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. RECENT FINDINGS: MVP is generally considered a benign condition. However, a small subset of patients may be at risk for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Among the risk factors identified in adults include patients with bileaflet mitral valves, myxomatous changes, myocardial fibrosis, and the presence of MAD. Advances in multimodal imaging have allowed for improved identification of fibrosis, anatomical valve derangements, and the amount of MAD. Recent guidelines have suggested that patients with MVP with or without MAD may be at risk for life-threatening arrhythmias if they have had prior ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular dysfunction, or unexplained syncope. Yet, extrapolation of adult data to a pediatric cohort with similar MVP and MAD at this juncture is challenging. There is, however, early evidence that some pediatric patients with significant myocardial fibrosis or abnormal tissue Doppler may be at risk for ventricular tachycardia. SUMMARY: Mitral valve prolapse and mitral annular disjunction at times coexist and at other times can be seen as isolated entities. While the incidence of arrhythmic MVP is quite rare, there is increasing evidence that certain select adults with MVP may be at risk for ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death. Future multicenter studies are needed to better understand the natural history of arrhythmic mitral valve disease and how early disease manifestation in children may impact findings now being reported in young adults.

Outcomes of patients undergoing edge-to-edge mitral valve repair with the Edwards PASCAL transcatheter valve repair system under conscious sedation.

BACKGROUND: The development of the PASCAL transcatheter valve repair system for treating mitral regurgitation (MR) greatly extends therapeutic options. AIMS: To assess the safety, efficacy, and time efficiency of the PASCAL system in transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) under conscious sedation (CS). METHODS: This is a retrospective, two-center, German registry study consisting of 211 patients who underwent TEER using the PASCAL system under CS. The endpoints were to assess (1) technical, device, and procedural success as per Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium (MVARC), (2) conversion rate to general anesthesia (GA), (3) hospital length of stay (LoS), (4) New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, and (5) MR compared to baseline at 30-day. RESULTS: A total of 211 patients with a mean age of 78.4 ± 8.9 years, with 51.4% being female and 86.7% belonging to NYHA functional class III/IV and EuroSCORE II 6.3 ± 4.9%, were enrolled. Procedural success attained was 96.9%, and six patients (2.8%) required conversion from CS to GA. At 30 days follow-up, a significant improvement in MR was found in 96 patients (54.2%) patients with 0/1 grade MR and 45 patients (29.5%) were in NYHA functional class III + IV. Moreover, TEER under CS has a short hospital LoS (6.71 ± 5.29 days) and intensive care unit LoS (1.34 ± 3.49 days) with a 2.8% mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Performing TEER with the PASCAL system under CS resulted in appreciable (96.9%) procedural success with low mortality and is a safe and promising alternative to GA with positive clinical outcomes.

Bleeding and thrombotic risk of different antiplatelet regimens posttranscatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in patients with an indication for oral anticoagulation: Results from an all-comers national registry.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based recommendations for antithrombotic treatment in patients who have an indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC) after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) are lacking. AIMS: To compare bleeding and thrombotic risk for different antithrombotic regimens post-TEER with MitraClip in an unselected population with the need for OACs. METHODS: Bleeding and thrombotic complications (stroke and myocardial infarction) up to 3 months after TEER with mitraclip were evaluated in 322 consecutive pts with an indication for OACs. These endpoints were defined by the Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria and were compared between two antithrombotic regimens: single antithrombotic therapy with OAC (single ATT) and double/triple ATT with a combination of OAC and aspirin and/or clopidogrel (combined ATT). RESULTS: Collectively, 108 (34%) patients received single ATT, 203 (63%) received double ATT and 11 (3%) received triple ATT. Bleeding events occurred in 67 patients (20.9%), with access site related events being the most frequent cause (37%). Bleeding complications were observed more frequently in the combined ATT group than in the single ATT group: 24% versus 14% [p = 0.03, adjusted RR: 0.55 (0.3-0.98)]. Within the combined group, the bleeding risk was 23% in the double ATT and 45% in the triple ATT group. Thrombotic complications occurred in only three patients (0.9%), and all belonged to the combined ATT group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with an indication for OACs, withholding of antiplatelet therapy post-TEER with Mitraclip was associated with a 45% reduction in bleeding and without a signal of increased thrombotic risk.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement with Mi-thos system: First-in-human experience.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has become an alternative for high-risk patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the Mi-thos TMVR system (NewMed Medical) for high-risk patients with severe MR. METHODS: This was a prospective, two-center, single-arm early feasibility study. Baseline characteristics, procedural data and 30-day follow-up outcomes were collected and analyzed. The primary endpoint was intraoperative success rate of device implantation. The second endpoints were all-cause mortality and major post-procedural complications. Echocardiographic data were evaluated by an independent core laboratory. Clinical events were adjudicated by a clinical events committee. RESULTS: Ten high-risk patients with severe MR were enrolled at two sites from August 2021 to November 2022. The median age was 70.5 years, and 60% of patients were female. The median Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality was 9.5%. The Mi-thos TMVR system was successfully implanted via transapical access in all patients. There was no pericedural mortality or major postpericedural complications during the 30-day follow-up. All implanted prosthetic valves had no or trace valvular or paravalvular MR, and the median mitral valve gradient at 30 days was 2.0 mmHg (IQR: 2.0-3.0 mmHg). There was one mild left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The favorable short-term outcomes of the Mi-thos TMVR system demonstrated that it might be a feasible and safe therapeutic alternative for high-risk patients with severe MR. Nevertheless, further evaluation of the Mi-thos TMVR system is warranted.

Percutaneous treatment of mechanical mitral valve thrombosis.

A 75-year-old female was found to have mechanical mitral valve thrombosis complicated by severe mitral stenosis, pulmonary edema, and right heart failure. She was at prohibitive risk for surgical intervention. She did not tolerate thrombolysis due to bleeding. We performed percutaneous intervention with cerebral protection with subsequent restoration of mechanical mitral valve function, resolution of the mitral valve stenosis, and no neurologic complications.

Mitral valve-in-valve with 4D intracardiac echocardiography: Procedural and imaging technique.

Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve (ViV) has emerged as a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients with a degenerated mitral bioprosthesis. As procedural techniques mature and operator experience improve, there is a push to adopt a "minimalist" approach of using conscious sedation instead of general anesthesia for faster recovery. The heavy reliance on fluoroscopy for ViV deployment makes feasible the use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) instead of transesophageal echocardiography for other procedural imaging requirements. We hereby use a case example to illustrate a step-by-step approach of using four-dimensional ICE to guide transcatheter mitral ViV under conscious sedation.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation in patients with cardiogenic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is currently little evidence for transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) for mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). Therefore, this study investigated the characteristics and outcomes of CS patients who underwent TEER for MR. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE were searched in July 2023. Case series and observational studies reporting clinical characteristics and outcomes in CS patients with MR who underwent TEER were included. We performed a one-group meta-analysis using a random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 4060 patients from 7 case series and 5 observational studies were included. The mean age was 68.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64.1-72.2) years, and 41.4% of patients (95% CI: 39.1%-43.7%) were female. Pre-TEER, severe MR was present in 85.3% (95% CI: 76.1%-91.3%) of patients. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 36.7% (95% CI: 29.2%-44.2%), and 54.6% (95% CI: 36.9%-71.2%) of patients received mechanical circulatory support. The severity of MR post-TEER was less than 2+ in 88% (95% CI: 87%-89%) of patients. In-hospital mortality was 11% (95% CI: 10%-13%), whereas 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 15% (95% CI: 13%-16%), and 36% (95% CI: 21%-54%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of TEER in CS patients with MR. TEER for MR in patients with CS has been successful in reducing MR in most of the patients, but with a high mortality rate. Randomized controlled trials of TEER for MR and CS are needed.

Understanding transcatheter edge-to-edge repair "knobology": Advanced catheter steering for different scenarios of transseptal puncture.

Following the introduction in the latest European and American guidelines, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair has become a valid alternative to surgery for ineligible patients. Among the available technologies, MitraClip (Abbott) was the first to be introduced for the percutaneous treatment of mitral regurgitation with the edge-to-edge technique. Although its safety and effectiveness has been widely demonstrated, the optimal procedural results are highly dependent from operators' experience. In this manuscript, we provide a full guide of advanced steering maneuvers of MitraClip in different scenarios of transseptal puncture.

Patient-specific computer simulation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with previous mechanical mitral prosthesis: A case series.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement performed in patients with previously implanted mechanical mitral prosthesis represents a high risk procedure with several potential complications. We report a systematic use of a prediction model based on artificial intelligence to plan the interventional strategy in this challenging scenario.

Successful treatment of severe primary mitral regurgitation due to rheumatic aetiology using a novel-designed transcatheter edge-to-edge repair system.

The transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has been recommended as a reliable treatment option for selected patients with severe degenerative and functional mitral regurgitation (MR). Although MR patients with rheumatic etiology were excluded from two significant trials (EVEREST II and COAPT) that established a role for the TEER in degenerative and functional MR. However, it has been reported that the TEER procedure could be safely and effectively performed in carefully selected rheumatic MR patients. Therefore, we share a case report of successfully treating severe rheumatic MR using a novel-designed TEER system (JensClipTM).

Combined transcatheter aortic valve and tricuspid valve-in-valve implantation in a patient with a mitral mechanical prosthesis.

Despite progressively uncommon in Western countries, rheumatic heart disease still portrays a significant global burden. In elderly or high-surgical risk patients, plurivalvular disease may require a complex percutaneous approach. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with previous monoleaflet mitral prosthesis is challenging due to interference between the aortic valve and the rigid mitral mechanical prosthesis "ring." Prior cases report the use of CoreValve or Edwards Sapien aortic valves in patients with adequate mitro-aortic distance. Performing a second major procedure, such as tricuspid valve-in-valve (TVIV), sequentially during a single percutaneous intervention, increases treatment complexity. An 83-year-old woman with rheumatic heart disease, with previous implantation of a Bjork-Shiley monoleaflet mitral prosthesis, and Carpentier-Edwards 29 tricuspid bioprosthesis presented with decompensated heart failure due to severe aortic stenosis and tricuspid bioprosthesis stenosis. After HeartTeam discussion, the patient was deemed as inoperable due to a prohibitive surgical risk. As an alternative, a TAVI (Navitor FlexNav) and a transcatheter TVIV replacement (Edwards Sapiens 3 Ultra) were discussed and proposed, with both techniques being performed sequentially in a single procedure. TAVI in a patient with a previous monoleaflet mitral mechanical prosthesis and TVIV may be a feasible approach in inoperable patients with plurivalvular disease.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of alcohol septal ablation in the era of transcatheter valve interventions.

BACKGROUND: The clinical efficacy and safety of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have been well-established; however, less is known about outcomes in patients undergoing preemptive ASA before transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). AIMS: The goal of this study is to characterize the procedural characteristics and examine the clinical outcomes of ASA in both HCM and pre-TMVR. METHODS: This retrospective study compared procedural characteristics and outcomes in patient who underwent ASA for HCM and TMVR. RESULTS: In total, 137 patients were included, 86 in the HCM group and 51 in the TMVR group. The intraventricular septal thickness (mean 1.8 vs. 1.2 cm; p < 0.0001) and the pre-ASA LVOT gradient (73.6 vs. 33.8 mmHg; p ≤ 0.001) were higher in the HCM group vs the TMVR group. The mean volume of ethanol injected was higher (mean 2.4 vs. 1.7 cc; p < 0.0001). The average neo-left ventricular outflow tract area increased significantly after ASA in the patients undergoing TMVR (99.2 ± 83.37 mm2 vs. 196.5 ± 114.55 mm2; p = <0.0001). The HCM group had a greater reduction in the LVOT gradient after ASA vs the TMVR group (49.3 vs. 18 mmHg; p = 0.0040). The primary composite endpoint was higher in the TMVR group versus the HCM group (50.9% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.0404) and had a higher incidence of new permanent pacemaker (PPM) (25.5% vs. 18.6%; p = 0.3402). The TMVR group had a higher rate of all-cause mortality (9.8% vs. 1.2%; p = 0.0268). CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive ASA before TMVR was performed in patients with higher degree of clinical comorbidities, and correspondingly is associated with worse short-term clinical outcomes in comparison to ASA for HCM patients. ASA before TMVR enabled percutaneous mitral interventions in a small but significant minority of patients that would have otherwise been excluded. The degree of LVOT and neoLVOT area increase is significant and predictable.

Diastolic function assessment with four-dimensional flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance using automatic deep learning E/A ratio analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is a powerful contributor to the symptoms and prognosis of patients with heart failure. In patients with depressed LV systolic function, the E/A ratio, the ratio between the peak early (E) and the peak late (A) transmitral flow velocity, is the first step to defining the grade of diastolic dysfunction. Doppler echocardiography (echo) is the preferred imaging technique for diastolic function assessment, while cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is less established as a method. Previous four-dimensional (4D) Flow-based studies have looked at the E/A ratio proximal to the mitral valve, requiring manual interaction. In this study, we compare an automated, deep learning-based and two semi-automated approaches for 4D Flow CMR-based E/A ratio assessment to conventional, gold-standard echo-based methods. METHODS: Ninety-seven subjects with chronic ischemic heart disease underwent a cardiac echo followed by CMR investigation. 4D Flow-based E/A ratio values were computed using three different approaches; two semi-automated, assessing the E/A ratio by measuring the inflow velocity (MVvel) and the inflow volume (MVflow) at the mitral valve plane, and one fully automated, creating a full LV segmentation using a deep learning-based method with which the E/A ratio could be assessed without constraint to the mitral plane (LVvel). RESULTS: MVvel, MVflow, and LVvel E/A ratios were strongly associated with echocardiographically derived E/A ratio (R2 = 0.60, 0.58, 0.72). LVvel peak E and A showed moderate association to Echo peak E and A, while MVvel values were weakly associated. MVvel and MVflow EA ratios were very strongly associated with LVvel (R2 = 0.84, 0.86). MVvel peak E was moderately associated with LVvel, while peak A showed a strong association (R2 = 0.26, 0.57). CONCLUSION: Peak E, peak A, and E/A ratio are integral to the assessment of diastolic dysfunction and may expand the utility of CMR studies in patients with cardiovascular disease. While underestimation of absolute peak E and A velocities was noted, the E/A ratio measured with all three 4D Flow methods was strongly associated with the gold standard Doppler echocardiography. The automatic, deep learning-based method performed best, with the most favorable runtime of ∼40 seconds. As both semi-automatic methods associated very strongly to LVvel, they could be employed as an alternative for estimation of E/A ratio.

Mitral valve orifice area predicts outcome after biventricular repair in patients with hypoplastic left ventricles.

BACKGROUND: Identification of risk factors for biventricular (BiV) repair in children with hypoplastic left ventricles (HLV) has been challenging. We sought to identify preoperative cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) predictors of outcome in patients with HLVs who underwent BiV repair, with a focus on the mitral valve (MV). METHODS: Single-center retrospective analysis of preoperative CMRs on patients with HLV (≤50 mL/m2) and no endocardial fibroelastosis who underwent BiV repair from 2005-2022. CMR measurements included MV orifice area in diastole. The primary composite outcome included time to death, transplant, BiV takedown, heart failure admission, left atrial decompression, or unexpected reoperation; and the secondary outcome included more than or equal to moderate mitral stenosis and/or regurgitation. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 0.7 (interquartile range 0.1, 2.2) years. Of 122 patients [59 atrioventricular canal (AVC) and 63 non-AVC] age 3 ± 2.8 years at the time of BiV repair, freedom from the primary outcome at 2 years was 53% for AVC and 69% for non-AVC (log rank p = 0.12), and freedom from the secondary outcome at 2 years was 49% for AVC and 79% for non-AVC (log rank p < 0.01). Independent predictors of primary outcome for AVC patients included MV orifice area z-score <-2 and transitional AVC; for non-AVC patients, predictors included MV orifice area z-score <-2, abnormal MV anatomy, and conal-septal ventricular septal defect. Independent predictors of secondary outcome for AVC patients included older age at surgery, transitional AVC, and transposition of the great arteries. CONCLUSION: In children with HLV, low MV orifice area and pre-existing MV pathology are risk factors for adverse outcome after BiV repair.

Impact of the MitraClip G4 System on Routine Practice and Outcomes in Patients With Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: The MitraClip G4 system is a new iteration of the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair system. We assessed the impact of the G4 system on routine practice and outcomes in secondary mitral regurgitation (2°MR).Methods and Results: Consecutive patients with 2°MR treated with either the MitraClip G2 (n=89) or G4 (n=63) system between 2018 and 2021 were included. Baseline characteristics, procedures, and outcomes were compared. Inverse probability of treatment weighting and Cox regression were used to adjust for baseline differences. Baseline characteristics were similar, except for a lower surgical risk in the G4 group (Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality ≥8: 38.1% vs. 56.2%; P=0.03). In the G4 group, more patients had short (≤2 mm) coaptation length (83.7% vs. 54.0%; P<0.001) and fewer clips were used (17.5% vs. 36.0%; P=0.02). Acceptable MR reduction was observed in nearly all patients, with no difference between the G4 and G2 groups (100% vs. 97.8%, respectively; P=0.51). The G4 group had fewer patients with high transmitral gradients (>5mmHg; 3.3% vs. 13.6%; P=0.03). At 1 year, there was no significant difference between groups in the composite endpoint (death or heart failure rehospitalization) after baseline adjustment (10.5% vs. 20.2%; hazard ratio 0.39; 95% confidence interval 0.11-1.32; P=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: The G4 system achieved comparable device outcomes to the early-generation G2, despite treating more challenging 2°MR with fewer clips.

Mitral Annular Disease at Cardiac MRI: What to Know and Look For.

Accurate evaluation of the mitral valve (MV) apparatus is essential for understanding the mechanisms of MV disease across various clinical scenarios. The mitral annulus (MA) is a complex and crucial structure that supports MV function; however, conventional imaging techniques have limitations in fully capturing the entirety of the MA. Moreover, recognizing annular changes might aid in identifying patients who may benefit from advanced cardiac imaging and interventions. Multimodality cardiovascular imaging plays a major role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of MV disease. Transthoracic echocardiography is the first-line modality for evaluation of the MA, but it has limitations. Cardiac MRI (CMR) has emerged as a robust imaging modality for assessing annular changes, with distinct advantages over other imaging techniques, including accurate flow and volumetric quantification and assessment of variations in the measurements and shape of the MA during the cardiac cycle. Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) is defined as atrial displacement of the hinge point of the MV annulus away from the ventricular myocardium, a condition that is now more frequently diagnosed and studied owing to recent technical advances in cardiac imaging. However, several unresolved issues regarding MAD, such as the functional significance of pathologic disjunction and how this disjunction advances in the clinical course, require further investigation. The authors review the role of CMR in the assessment of MA disease, with a focus on MAD and its functional implications in MV prolapse and mitral regurgitation. ©RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See the invited commentary by Stojanovska and Fujikura in this issue.

Impact of commissural calcification on clinical outcome of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty; a retrospective cohort study of 876 patients.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) is the ACC/AHA class I recommendation for treating symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis with suitable valve morphology, less than moderate MR and absence of left atrium clot. The mitral valve restenosis and significant mitral regurgitation (MR) are known adverse outcomes of PBMV. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of PBMV in patients with severe mitral stenosis and the effect of Commissural Calcification (CC) on the outcomes. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 876 patients who underwent PBMV were categorized into three groups based on their Wilkins score (Group I: score ≤ 8, Group II: score 9-10, and Group III: score 11-12). Patients were evaluated before, early after PBMV and at 6- and 24-month follow-ups. Main clinical outcomes were defined as significant restenosis and or symptomatic significant MR (moderate to severe and severe MR) or candidate for mitral valve replacement (MVR). The outcomes were compared between patients with and without CC. RESULTS: A total of 876 patients with mean age 46.4 ± 12.3 years (81.0% females) were categorized based on Wilkins score. 333 (38.0%) were in Group I, 501 (57.2%) were in Group II, and 42 (4.8%) were in Group III. CC was present in 175 (20.0%) of the patients, among whom 95 (54.3%) had calcification of the anterolateral commissure, 64 (36.6%) had calcification of the posteromedial commissure, and in 16 (9.1%) patients both commissures were calcified. There was a significant difference in Wilkins score between patients with and without CC (P < 0.001). CC was associated with higher odds of significant symptomatic MR at early and mid-term follow up (OR: 1.69, 95%CI 1.19-2.41, P = 0.003; and OR: 3.90, 95%CI 2.61-5.83, P < 0.001, respectively), but not with restenosis (P = 0.128). Wilkins Groups II and III did not show higher odds of significant symptomatic MR compared to Group I at early (II: P = 0.784; III: P = 0.098) and mid-term follow up (II: P = 0.216; III: P = 0.227). Patients in Wilkins Group II had higher odds of restenosis compared to Group I (OR: 2.96,95%CI: 1.35-6.27, P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Commissural calcification (CC) is an independent predictor of the significant symptomatic MR (an important determinant of adverse outcome) following PBMV in the early and mid-term follow-up. Mitral valve restenosis occurs more in patients with higher Wilkins score compared to group I with score ≤ 8. Combined Wilkins score and CC should be considered for patient suitability for PBMV.

Rare complications of infective endocarditis in marfan-like morphotype: diagnosis of multiple mitral valve aneurysms and aortic root abscess using three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Mitral valve aneurysm (MVA) is characterized by a saccular outpouching of the mitral leaflet, and it represents a rare condition typically associated with aortic valve endocarditis. Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography (3D-TEE) serves as an effective tool for detecting the presence of MVA and its potential complications. In this report, we present a case involving a young man with striking images of bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis complicated by an aortic root abscess and multiple perforated mitral valve aneurysms, diagnosed using 3D TEE. This case suggests the uncommon coexistence of Marfan like morphotype, bicuspid aortic valve, and infective endocarditis as a triple mechanism in the occurrence of MVA. It underscores the significance of early and accurate imaging diagnosis for facilitating prompt surgical intervention.