Transcatheter valve-in-valve interventions after aortic root replacement: A systematic review.

Structural valve deterioration after aortic root replacement (ARR) surgery may be treated by transcatheter valve-in-valve (ViV-TAVI) intervention. However, several technical challenges and outcomes are not well described. The aim of the present review was to analyze the outcomes of ViV-TAVI in deteriorated ARR. This review included studies reporting any form of transcatheter valvular intervention in patients with a previous ARR. All forms of ARR were considered, as long as the entire root was replaced. Pubmed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, DOAJ, and Cochrane library databases were searched until September 2023. Overall, 86 patients were included from 31 articles that met our inclusion criteria out of 741 potentially eligible studies. In the entire population, the mean time from ARR to reintervention was 11.0 years (range: 0.33-22). The most frequently performed techniques/grafts for ARR was homograft (67.4%) and the main indication for intervention was aortic regurgitation (69.7%). Twenty-three articles reported no postoperative complications. Six (7.0%) patients required permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) after the ViV-TAVI procedure, and 4 (4.7%) patients had a second ViV-TAVI implant. There were three device migrations (3.5%) and 1 stroke (1.2%). Patients with previous ARR present a high surgical risk. ViV-TAVI can be considered in selected patients, despite unique technical challenges that need to be carefully addressed according to the characteristics of the previous surgery and on computed tomography analysis.

Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: Analysis of the PARTNER Trials.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to compare the impact of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) for 2 years after surgical aortic valve replacement within the prospective, randomized Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) trials. METHODS: Surgical aortic valve replacement patients from the PARTNER 1, 2, and 3 trials were included. PPM was classified as moderate (indexed effective orifice area ≤0.85 cm2/m2) or severe (indexed effective orifice area ≤0.65 cm2/m2). The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death and heart failure rehospitalization at 2 years. RESULTS: By the predicted PPM method (PPMP), 59.1% had no PPM, 38.8% moderate PPM, and 2.1% severe PPM; whereas by the measured PPM method (PPMM), 42.4% had no PPM, 36.0% moderate, and 21.6% severe. Patients with no PPMP (23.6%) had a lower rate of the primary endpoint compared with patients with moderate (28.2%, P = .03) or severe PPMP (38.8%, P = .02). Using the PPMM method, there was no difference between the no (17.7%) and moderate PPMM groups (21.1%) in the primary outcome (P = .16). However, those with no PPMM or moderate PPMM were improved compared with severe PPMM (27.4%, P < .001 and P = .02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Severe PPM analyzed by PPMP was only 2.1% for surgical aortic valve replacement patients. The PPMM method overestimated the incidence of severe PPM relative to PPMP, but was also associated with worse outcome. There was higher all-cause mortality in patients with severe PPM, thus surgical techniques to minimize PPM remain critical.

Critically ill patients with infective endocarditis, neurological complications and indication for cardiac surgery: a multicenter propensity-adjusted study.

BACKGROUND: The benefit-risk balance and optimal timing of surgery for severe infective endocarditis (IE) with ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes is unknown. The study aim was to compare the neurological outcome between patients receiving surgery or not. METHODS: In a prospective register-based multicenter ICU study, patients were included if they met the following criteria: (i) left-sided IE with an indication for heart surgery; (ii) with cerebral complications documented by cerebral imaging before cardiac surgery; (iii) with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score ≥ 3. Exclusion criteria were isolated right-sided IE, in-hospital acquired IE and patients with cerebral complications only after cardiac surgery. In the primary analysis, the prognostic value of surgery in term of disability at 6 month was assessed by using a propensity score-adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS: 192 patients were included including ischemic stroke (74.5%) and hemorrhagic lesion (15.6%): 67 (35%) had medical treatment and 125 (65%) cardiac surgery. In the propensity score-adjusted logistic regression, a favorable 6-month neurological outcome was associated with surgery (odds ratio 13.8 (95% CI 6.2-33.7). The 1-year mortality was strongly reduced with surgery in the fixed-effect propensity-adjusted Cox model (hazard ratio 0.18; 95% CI 0.11-0.27; p < 0.001). These effects remained whether the patients received delayed surgery (n = 62/125) or not and whether they were deeply comatose (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 10) or not. CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill IE patients with an indication for surgery and previous cerebral events, a better propensity-adjusted neurological outcome was associated with surgery compared with medical treatment.

Impact of arteriovenous fistula on flow states in the evaluation of aortic stenosis among ESKD patients on dialysis.

INTRODUCTION: An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) can influence flow states. We sought to evaluate if assessment of aortic stenosis (AS) by transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) differs in the presence of AVF compared to other dialysis accesses in patients on dialysis. METHODS: We identified consecutive ESKD patients on dialysis and concomitant AS from a single center between January 2000 and March 2021. We analyzed TTE parameters of AS severity (velocities, gradients, aortic valve area [AVA]) and hemodynamics (cardiac output [CO], valvuloarterial impedance [Zva]) and compared AS parameters in patients with AVF versus other dialysis access. RESULTS: The cohort included 94 patients with co-prevalent ESKD and AS; mean age 66 years, 71% male; 43% Black, 24% severe AS. Dialysis access: 53% AVF, 47% others. In the overall cohort, no significant differences were noted between AVF versus non-AVF in AVA/CO/Zva, but with notable subgroup differences. In mild AS, CO was significantly higher in AVF versus non-AVF (6.3 vs. 5.2 L/min; p = .04). In severe AS, Zva was higher in the AVF versus non-AVF (4.6 vs. 3.6 mm Hg/mL/m2 ). With increasing AS severity in the AVF group, CO decreased, coupled with increase in Zva, likely counterbalancing the net hemodynamic impact of the AVF. CONCLUSION: Among ESKD patients with AS, TTE parameters of flow states and AS severity differed in those with AVF versus other dialysis accesses and varied with progression in severity of AS. Future longitudinal assessment of hemodynamic parameters in a larger cohort of co-prevalent ESRD and AS would be valuable.

Incidence, predictors, and prognostic significance of impaired functional status early after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There are scarce data on the factors associated with impaired functional status after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and its clinical impact. This study aimed to determine the incidence, predictors, and prognostic implications of impaired functional class (NYHA class III-IV) following TAVR. METHODS: This multicenter study included 3462 transarterial TAVR patients receiving newer generation devices. The patients were compared according to their NYHA class at 1 month of follow-up (NYHA I-II vs NYHA III-IV). A multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the predictors of 30-day NYHA class III-IV. Patient survival was compared with the Kaplan-Meier method and factors associated with decreased survival were identified with Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 80.3±7.3 years, with 47% of women, and a median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score of 3.8% [IQR, 2.5-5.8]. A total of 208 patients (6%) were in NYHA class III-IV 1 month after TAVR. Predictors of 30-day NYHA class III-IV were baseline NYHA class III-IV (OR, 1.76; 95%CI, 1.08-2.89; P=.02), chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (OR, 1.80; 95%CI, 1.13-2.83; P=.01), and post-TAVR severe mitral regurgitation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.21-3.31; P<.01). Patients in NYHA class III-IV 1 month after TAVR were at higher risk of death (HR, 3.68; 95%CI, 2.39-5.70; P<.01) and heart failure-related hospitalization (HR, 6.00; 95%CI, 3.76-9.60; P<.01) at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Up to 6% of contemporary TAVR patients exhibited an impaired functional status following TAVR. Worse baseline NYHA class, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, and severe mitral regurgitation predicted 30-day NYHA class III/IV, and this determined a higher risk of mortality and heart failure hospitalization at 1-year follow-up. Further studies on the prevention and treatment optimization of patients with impaired functional status after TAVR are needed.

One-Stage Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Tricuspid Valve Repair for Double Valve Dysfunction in a High-Risk Patient.

A 75-year-old female patient was referred to our institution for severe symptomatic low-flow low-gradient aortic valve stenosis and tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) associated with heart failure. After multidisciplinary discussion, the patient was scheduled for one-stage totally percutaneous treatment of her valve lesions by transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and transcatheter edge-to-edge tricuspid valve repair (TEER) through transfemoral access. The patient had an uneventful hospital stay and was discharged home on the third postoperative day. During the following 24 months, the patient did well with regression of her heart failure signs and symptoms.

Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients at Five Years.

BACKGROUND: A previous analysis in this trial showed that among patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis who were at low surgical risk, the rate of the composite end point of death, stroke, or rehospitalization at 1 year was significantly lower with transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) than with surgical aortic-valve replacement. Longer-term outcomes are unknown. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis and low surgical risk to undergo either TAVR or surgery. The first primary end point was a composite of death, stroke, or rehospitalization related to the valve, the procedure, or heart failure. The second primary end point was a hierarchical composite that included death, disabling stroke, nondisabling stroke, and the number of rehospitalization days, analyzed with the use of a win ratio analysis. Clinical, echocardiographic, and health-status outcomes were assessed through 5 years. RESULTS: A total of 1000 patients underwent randomization: 503 patients were assigned to undergo TAVR, and 497 to undergo surgery. A component of the first primary end point occurred in 111 of 496 patients in the TAVR group and in 117 of 454 patients in the surgery group (Kaplan-Meier estimates, 22.8% in the TAVR group and 27.2% in the surgery group; difference, -4.3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -9.9 to 1.3; P = 0.07). The win ratio for the second primary end point was 1.17 (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.51; P = 0.25). The Kaplan-Meier estimates for the components of the first primary end point were as follows: death, 10.0% in the TAVR group and 8.2% in the surgery group; stroke, 5.8% and 6.4%, respectively; and rehospitalization, 13.7% and 17.4%. The hemodynamic performance of the valve, assessed according to the mean (±SD) valve gradient, was 12.8±6.5 mm Hg in the TAVR group and 11.7±5.6 mm Hg in the surgery group. Bioprosthetic-valve failure occurred in 3.3% of the patients in the TAVR group and in 3.8% of those in the surgery group. CONCLUSIONS: Among low-risk patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR or surgery, there was no significant between-group difference in the two primary composite outcomes. (Funded by Edwards Lifesciences; PARTNER 3 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02675114.).

Transfemoral Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement Using the EVOQUE System in an Octogenarian for Severe Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation.

Tricuspid regurgitation is a frequent condition that is linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular events and significant mortality but is often overshadowed by left-sided valve diseases. Isolated surgical tricuspid valve surgery is still considered a high-risk surgery, and over recent years, various transcatheter procedures for tricuspid treatment have emerged as an alternative solution. Among the available transcatheter procedures, the EVOQUE system's transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement could potentially offer a solution, especially in patients considered non-eligible for transcatheter edge-to-edge tricuspid valve repair. We present a case report of an octogenarian patient considered at prohibitive risk for conventional surgery and not eligible for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair who was eventually treated with a transfemoral transcatheter tricuspid 52-mm EVOQUE valve implantation. Postprocedural recovery and follow-up at 18 months were uneventful, with a well-functioning tricuspid valve bioprosthesis.

Cardiogenic Shock in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients: Red Flag for Myocardial Decline.

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is one of the most common forms of nonischemic cardiomyopathy worldwide, possibly leading to cardiogenic shock (CS). Despite this heavy burden, the outcomes of CS in IDCM are poorly reported. Based on a large registry of unselected CS, our aim was to shed light on the 1-year outcomes after CS in patients with and without IDCM. FRENSHOCK was a prospective registry including 772 patients with CS from 49 centers. The 1-year outcomes (rehospitalizations, mortality, heart transplantation [HTx], ventricular assist devices [VAD]) were analyzed and adjusted on independent predictive factors. Within 772 CS included, 78 occurred in IDCM (10.1%). Patients with IDCM had more frequent history of chronic kidney failure and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. No difference was found in 1-month all-cause mortality between groups (28.2 vs 25.8%for IDCM and others, respectively; adjusted hazard ratio 1.14 [0.73 to 1.77], p = 0.57). Patients without IDCM were more frequently treated with noninvasive ventilation and intra-aortic balloon pump. At 1 year, IDCM led to higher rates of death or cardiovascular rehospitalizations (adjusted odds ratio 4.77 [95% confidence interval 1.13 to 20.1], p = 0.03) and higher rates of HTx or VAD for patients aged <65 years (adjusted odds ratio 2.68 [1.21 to 5.91], p = 0.02). In conclusion, CS in IDCM is a very common scenario and is associated with a higher rate of 1-year death or cardiovascular rehospitalizations and a more frequent recourse to HTx or VAD for patients aged <65 years, encouraging the consideration of it as a red flag for myocardial decline and urging for a closer follow-up and earlier evaluation for advanced heart failure therapies.

Outcomes After Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement According to Regurgitation Etiology.

BACKGROUND: Whether transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) devices perform similarly with respect to the underlying mitral regurgitation (MR) etiology remains unknown. The aim of the present analysis was to assess outcomes of TMVR according to the MR underlying etiology among the CHoice of OptImal transCatheter trEatment for Mitral Insufficiency (CHOICE-MI) registry. METHODS: Of 746 patients, 229 patients (30.7%) underwent TMVR. The study population was subdivided according to primary, secondary, or mixed MR. Patients with mitral annular calcification were excluded. The primary study endpoint was a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality or hospitalization for heart failure at 1 year. Secondary study endpoints were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality at 1 year, New York Heart Association functional class, and residual MR, both at discharge and 1 year. RESULTS: The predominant MR etiology was secondary MR (58.4%), followed by primary MR (28.7%) and mixed MR (12.9%). Technical success and procedural mortality were similar according to MR etiology. Discharge echocardiography revealed residual MR 2+ in 11.3%, 3.7%, and 5.3% of patients with primary, secondary, and mixed MR, respectively (P = .1). MR elimination was similar in all groups up to the 1-year follow-up. There was no difference in terms of primary combined outcome occurrence according to MR etiology. One-year all-cause mortality was reported in 28.8%, 24.2%, and 32.1% of patients with primary, secondary, and mixed MR, respectively (P = .07). CONCLUSIONS: In our study we did not find differences in short-term and 1-year outcomes after TMVR according to MR etiology.

Cardiac Death After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement With Contemporary Devices.

BACKGROUND: The burden of cardiac death after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), particularly from advanced heart failure (HF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD), remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the incidence and predictors of SCD and HF-related death in TAVR recipients treated with newer-generation devices. METHODS: This study included a total of 5,421 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with newer-generation devices using balloon (75.7%) or self-expandable (24.3%) valves. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 2 (IQR: 1-3) years, 976 (18.0%) patients had died, 50.8% from cardiovascular causes. Advanced HF and SCD accounted for 11.6% and 7.5% of deaths, respectively. Independent predictors of HF-related death were atrial fibrillation (HR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.47-3.22; P < 0.001), prior pacemaker (HR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.10-2.92; P = 0.01), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HR: 1.08 per 5% decrease; 95% CI: 1.01-1.14; P = 0.02), transthoracic approach (HR: 2.50; 95% CI: 1.37-4.55; P = 0.003), and new-onset persistent left bundle branch block (HR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.14-3.02; P = 0.01). Two baseline characteristics (diabetes, HR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.13-2.89; P = 0.01; and chronic kidney disease, HR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.02-2.90; P = 0.04) and 3 procedural findings (valve in valve, HR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.01-4.64; P = 0.04; transarterial nontransfemoral approach, HR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.23-4.48; P = 0.01; and periprocedural ventricular arrhythmia, HR: 7.19; 95% CI: 2.61-19.76; P < 0.001) were associated with an increased risk of SCD after TAVR. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced HF and SCD accounted for a fifth of deaths after TAVR in contemporary practice. Potentially treatable factors leading to increased risk of HF deaths and SCD were identified, such as arrhythmia/dyssynchrony factors for HF and valve-in-valve TAVR or periprocedural ventricular arrhythmias for SCD.

Transcatheter interventions for left-sided valvular heart disease complicated by cardiogenic shock: a consensus statement from the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) in collaboration with the Association for Acute Cardiovascular Care (ACVC) and the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Surgery.

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is one of the most frequent causes of heart failure (HF) and is associated with poor prognosis, particularly among patients with conservative management. The development and improvement of catheter-based VHD interventions have broadened the indications for transcatheter valve interventions from inoperable/high-risk patients to younger/lower-risk patients. Cardiogenic shock (CS) associated with severe VHD is a clinical condition with a very high risk of mortality for which surgical treatment is often deemed a prohibitive risk. Transcatheter valve interventions might be a promising alternative in this setting given that they are less invasive. However, supportive scientific evidence is scarce and often limited to small case series. Current guidelines on VHD do not contain specific recommendations on how to manage patients with both VHD and CS. The purpose of this clinical consensus statement, developed by a group of international experts invited by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) Scientific Documents and Initiatives Committee, is to perform a review of the available scientific evidence on the management of CS associated with left-sided VHD and to provide a rationale and practical approach for the application of transcatheter valve interventions in this specific clinical setting.

Predictors of embolism and death in left-sided infective endocarditis: the European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme European Infective Endocarditis registry.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Even though vegetation size in infective endocarditis (IE) has been associated with embolic events (EEs) and mortality risk, it is unclear whether vegetation size associated with these potential outcomes is different in left-sided IE (LSIE). This study aimed to seek assessing the vegetation cut-off size as predictor of EE or 30-day mortality for LSIE and to determine risk predictors of these outcomes. METHODS: The European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme European Infective Endocarditis is a prospective, multicentre registry including patients with definite or possible IE throughout 2016-18. Cox multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess variables associated with EE or 30-day mortality. RESULTS: There were 2171 patients with LSIE (women 31.5%). Among these affected patients, 459 (21.1%) had a new EE or died in 30 days. The cut-off value of vegetation size for predicting EEs or 30-day mortality was >10 mm [hazard ratio (HR) 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.69, P = .0015]. Other adjusted predictors of risk of EE or death were as follows: EE on admission (HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.54-2.33, P < .0001), history of heart failure (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.21-1.93, P = .0004), creatinine >2 mg/dL (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.25-2.03, P = .0002), Staphylococcus aureus (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08-1.70, P = .008), congestive heart failure (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12-1.75, P = .003), presence of haemorrhagic stroke (HR 4.57, 95% CI 3.08-6.79, P < .0001), alcohol abuse (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.04-2.03, P = .03), presence of cardiogenic shock (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.29-3.34, P = .003), and not performing left surgery (HR 1.30 95% CI 1.05-1.61, P = .016) (C-statistic = .68). CONCLUSIONS: Prognosis after LSIE is determined by multiple factors, including vegetation size.

Echocardiographic Versus Invasive Aortic Valve Gradients in Different Clinical Scenarios.

BACKGROUND: The role of echocardiography in deriving transvalvular mean gradients from transaortic velocities in aortic stenosis (AS) and in structural valve degeneration (SVD) is well established. However, reports following surgical aortic valve replacement, post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and valve-in-valve-TAVR (ViV-TAVR) have cautioned against the use of echocardiography-derived mean gradients to assess normal functioning bioprosthesis due to discrepancy compared with invasive measures in a phenomenon called discordance. METHODS: In a multicenter study, intraprocedural echocardiographic and invasive mean gradients in AS, SVD, post-native TAVR, and post-ViV-TAVR were compared, when obtained concomitantly, and discharge echocardiographic gradients were recorded. Absolute discordance (intraprocedural echocardiographic - invasive mean gradient) and percent discordance (intraprocedural echocardiographic - invasive mean gradient/echocardiographic mean gradient) were calculated. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine variables independently associated with elevated postprocedure invasive gradients ≥20 mm Hg, absolute discordance >10 mm Hg, and discharge echocardiographic mean gradient ≥20 mm Hg. RESULTS: A total of 5,027 patients were included in the registry: 4,725 native TAVR and 302 ViV-TAVR. Intraprocedural concomitant echocardiographic and invasive mean gradients were obtained pre-TAVR in AS (n = 2,418), pre-ViV-TAVR in SVD (n = 101), in post-ViV-TAVR (n = 77), and in post-TAVR (n = 823). Echocardiographic and invasive mean gradients demonstrated strong correlation (r = 0.69) and agreement (bias, 0.11; 95% CI, -0.4-0.62) in AS, moderate correlation (r = 0.56) and agreement (bias, 1.08; 95% CI, -2.53 to 4.59) in SVD, moderate correlation (r = 0.61) and weak agreement (bias, 6.47; 95% CI, 5.08-7.85) post-ViV-TAVR, and weak correlation (r = 0.18) and agreement (bias, 3.41; 95% CI, 3.16-3.65) post-TAVR. Absolute discordance occurs primarily in ViV-TVR and is not explained by sinotubular junction size and increases with increasing echocardiographic mean gradient. Percent discordance in AS and SVD (1.3% and 4%, respectively) was lower compared with post-TAVR/ViV-TAVR (66.7% and 100%, respectively). Compared with self-expanding valves, balloon expanding valves were independently associated with elevated discharge echocardiographic but lower invasive mean gradient (odds ratio = 3.411, 95% CI, 1.482-7.852, P = .004; vs odds ratio = 0.308, 95% CI, 0.130-0.731, P = .008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Post-TAVR/ViV-TAVR, echocardiography is discordant from invasive mean gradients, and absolute discordance increases with increasing echocardiographic mean gradient and is not explained by sinotubular junction size. Percent discordance is significantly higher post-TAVR/ViV-TAVR than in AS and SVD. Post-TAVR/ViV-TAVR, poor correlation and wide limits of agreement suggest echocardiographic and invasive mean gradients may not be used interchangeably and a high residual echocardiographic mean gradient should be confirmed invasively before considering any additional procedure to "correct" the gradient. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement valve types have variable impact on echocardiographic and invasive mean gradients.

Percutaneous Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair With MitraClip System in the Era of G4.

The use of transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) in symptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) has dramatically increased over the last few years. Current guidelines consider TEER as a reasonable option in symptomatic patients with primary or chronic secondary severe MR with high or prohibitive surgical risk and favorable anatomy. However, several anatomical and morphological mitral features have restricted the use of this mini-invasive technique in its early experience. The latest fourth generation (G4) of the MitraClip system has been recently introduced and includes the possibility of independent leaflet grasping and 4 different sizes. This technical update offers the possibility of selecting and combining multiple devices for complex mitral valve anatomies and challenging procedures, which helps expand the applications of TEER. The present review describes the potential advantages and the help of the MitraClip G4 devices to overcome various anatomic and morphologic issues in challenging cases with complex primary and secondary MR procedures.

The Mortality of Infective endocarditis with and without Surgery in Elderly (MoISE) Study.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is increasingly affecting older patients. However, data on their management are sparse, and the benefits of surgery in this population are unclear. METHODS: We included patients with left-sided IE (LSIE) aged ≥ 80 years enrolled in a prospective endocarditis cohort managed in Aquitaine, France, from 2013 to 2020. Geriatric data were collected retrospectively to identify factors associated with the 1-year risk of death using Cox regression. RESULTS: We included 163 patients with LSIE (median age, 84 years; men, 59%; rate of prosthetic LSIE, 45%). Of the 105 (64%) patients with potential surgical indications, 38 (36%) underwent valve surgery: they were younger, more likely to be men with aortic involvement, and had a lower Charlson comorbidity index. Moreover, they had better functional status at admission (ie, the ability to walk unassisted and a higher median activities of daily living [ADL] score; n = 5/6 vs 3/6, P = .01). The 1-year mortality rate in LSIE patients without surgical indications was 28%; it was lower in those who were operated on compared with those who were not despite a surgical indication (16% vs 66%, P < .001). Impaired functional status at admission was strongly associated with mortality regardless of surgical status. In patients unable to walk unassisted or with an ADL score <4, there was no significant surgical benefit for 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery improves the prognosis of older patients with LSIE and good functional status. Surgical futility should be discussed in patients with altered autonomy. The endocarditis team should include a geriatric specialist.

Radioprotection for the imaging specialist during structural heart interventions: Not an option!

Structural heart interventions are steadily increasing, and the majority requires echocardiographic guidance. As a result, imaging specialists are exposed to the harmful effects of scattered ionizing radiation. This X-ray exposure must be quantified, its potential consequences should be monitored by occupational medicine and the "as low as reasonably achievable" principles of radioprotection should be optimized (including increasing the distance, decreasing the duration, using shielding radiation and providing safety training for the imaging specialist). The spatial organization of and shielding provision in the procedural rooms should be designed to optimize radioprotection for all team members.