30-day patient reported outcomes can be predicted by change in left atrial pressure and not change in transmitral gradient following MitraClip.

BACKGROUND: Change in left atrial pressure (LAP) has been shown to be associated with symptom improvement post-MitraClip; however, the association between acute procedural changes in transmitral diastolic mean gradient (MG) compared to LAP and symptom improvement is not well established. METHODS: 164 consecutive patients undergoing MitraClip at Mayo Clinic between June 2014 and May 2018 were included. Preclip and postclip MG and LAP were recorded. Baseline demographics, clinical, and echocardiographic outcomes, including 30-day New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional status were obtained from patient charts. RESULTS: Median age was 81.5 years (IQR: 76.3, 87), 34% were female and 94.5% had NYHA class III and IV functional status at baseline. At baseline, median MG was 4 mmHg (IQR: 3, 5) and LAP was 19 mmHg (IQR: 16, 23.5). Following MitraClip deployment, the median MG was 4 mmHg (IQR: 3, 6) and the median LAP was 17 mmHg (IQR: 14, 21), 69.5% of patients had less than moderate MR. There was no statistically significant association between change in MG and NYHA functional class at 30 days (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.76-1.20). However, a reduction in LAP following MitraClip deployment was significantly associated with improvement in NYHA functional status at 30 days following adjustments for age and sex (aOR 3.36, 95% CI: 1.34-8.65). There was no significant correlation between change in mean LAP and change in MG (p = .98). CONCLUSION: Unlike change in left atrial pressure, change in MG post-MitraClip was not associated with patient reported outcomes at 30 days and did not correlate with change in left atrial pressure. Long-term follow up is needed to evaluate the impact of LA pressure on symptoms.

Clinical Outcomes following Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: A Single-Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure is an established alternative to anticoagulation therapy for stroke prophylaxis among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. There are currently no guidelines on the choice of antithrombotic therapy following placement of the Watchman® device, the optimal time to discontinue anticoagulation or the duration of follow-up imaging after device deployment. Our main objective was to evaluate clinical outcomes among these patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who received a Watchman® device at Mayo Clinic sites between January 2010 and December 2018. We constructed Cox-proportional hazard models to evaluate the effect of specific variables on clinical outcomes. RESULTS: 231 patients were identified (33% female), median age was 77 years, CHA2DS2-VASc score was 5 and HASBLED score was 4. We found no difference in clinically significant bleeding based on initial antithrombotic choice. However, patients with prior gastrointestinal bleeding were more likely to have a bleeding event in the first 6 weeks following Watchman® implantation (HR 9.40, 95% CI 2.15-41.09). Device sizes of 24-27 mm were significantly associated with a decreased risk of thromboembolic events (HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.04-0.55) compared to 21-mm devices. Peridevice leak (PDL) sizes appeared to either remain the same or increase on follow-up imaging. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: This observational study showed no statistically significant difference in bleeding risk related to initial antithrombotic choice. Smaller device sizes were associated with thromboembolic events, and longitudinal PDL assessment using transesophageal echocardiography showed these frequently do not decrease in size. Larger studies are needed.

A hybrid technique for treatment of commissural primary mitral regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: MitraClip is an effective transcatheter therapy for mitral regurgitation (MR). However, MitraClip is challenging in commissural MR and the optimal therapeutic approach is unclear. METHODS: We describe a case series of six consecutive patients with severe commissural primary mitral regurgitation who underwent MitraClip insertion followed by an Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP) II occluder between the commissure and the MitraClip. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in all patients. MR was reduced from severe to mild/trivial in 50% and moderate in 50% of cases. On 30-day follow-up, NYHA class had improved from III (6 patients) to I (2 patients), II (2 patients), and III (2 patients). The mean transmitral gradient was 2.5 ± 1.8 mmHg at baseline and 4.8 ± 2.6 mmHg following the procedure. One patient developed hemolysis immediately post procedure. The other five patients remained well during a median follow-up of 20 months (range 5-50 months) with no reported device dislodgement. CONCLUSIONS: Elective treatment of severe commissural MR with a laterally or medially placed MitraClip coupled with an AVP II occluder between the clip and the commissure is feasible and safe. This approach may provide a useful management alternative in selected patients.

Characteristics and long term outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes due to culprit left main coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to unprotected culprit left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are rare, high-risk, and not represented in trials. Data regarding long term outcome after PCI are limited. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2014, there were 8,794 patients hospitalized with unstable angina/non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) or ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with PCI at our institution; of these, 83 (0.94%) patients were identified as having culprit LMCAD ACS. RESULTS: Of the 83 patients with unprotected LMCAD ACS, 40 patients presented with STEMI and 43 patients presented with UA/NSTEMI. As compared to LM UA/NSTEMI, LM STEMI patients were younger and had less hypertension, with a trend towards greater frequency of cardiogenic shock. Distal LM involvement was common in both groups and did not differ by ACS type. In-hospital mortality was 33% in LM STEMI and 9% in LM UA/NSTEMI (P = .009). Over median follow up of 6.3 years, long term survival rates in both groups were similar (46% for STEMI vs 51% for UA/NSTEMI; P = .50 by log-rank). CONCLUSIONS: Unprotected culprit LMCAD ACS necessitating PCI is uncommon, occurring in <1% of cases, but is associated with reduced survival, with long term follow-up noting continued and similar risk of death regardless of index ACS type.

Multiparametric CMR imaging of infarct remodeling in a percutaneous reperfused Yucatan mini-pig model.

To further understanding of the temporal evolution and pathophysiology of adverse ventricular remodeling over the first 60 days following a myocardial infarction (MI) in both the infarcted and remote myocardium, we performed multi-parametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in a closed-chest chronic Yucatan mini-pig model of reperfused MI. Ten animals underwent 90 min left anterior descending artery occlusion and reperfusion. Three animals served as controls. Multiparametric CMR (1.5T) was performed at baseline, Day 2, Day 30 and in four animals on Day 60 after MI. Left ventricular (LV) volumes and infarct size were measured. T1 and T2 mapping sequences were performed to measure values in the infarct and remote regions. Remote region collagen fractions were compared between infarcted animals and controls. Procedure success was 80%. The model created large infarcts (28 ± 5% of LV mass on Day 2), which led to significant adverse myocardial remodeling that stabilized beyond 30 days. Native T1 values did not reliably differentiate remote and infarct regions acutely. There was no evidence of remote fibrosis as indicated by partition coefficient and collagen fraction analyses. The infarct T2 values remained elevated up to 60 days after MI. Multiparametric CMR in this model showed significant adverse ventricular remodeling 30 days after MI similar to that seen in humans. In addition, this study demonstrated that remote fibrosis is absent and that infarct T2 signal remains chronically elevated in this model. These findings need to be considered when designing preclinical trials using CMR endpoints.

Left atrial pressure and predictors of survival after percutaneous mitral paravalvular leak closure.

BACKGROUND: Data on the clinical utility of left atrial (LA) hemodynamic monitoring during percutaneous mitral interventions are limited. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between intraprocedural LA pressures during percutaneous mitral paravalvular leak (PVL) closure and long term survival. METHODS: Patients who underwent mitral PVL repair with invasive LA pressure monitoring were divided at baseline to three tertiles based on their mean final LA pressure (<25%; 25-30%; >30% of mean systolic blood pressure). Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: 134 patients (mean age 68 ± 12 years) were studied. Over 3 year mean follow-up, 81 (38%) patients died. The cumulative probability of death at 3 years was significantly higher among patients in the highest LA pressure tertile (56 ± 8% vs. 28 ± 5%, log rank P < 0.001). More than mild residual mitral regurgitation (MR) by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of death and patients in the highest LA pressure tertile had 2.2-fold higher mortality (P < 0.001 and = 0.003 respectively). After adjustment for residual MR by TEE, each 10% acute procedural reduction in LA pressures was associated with a significant 9% reduced risk of death (P = 0.023). Multivariate Cox regression with adjustment for multiple predictors of death showed that patients in lower LA pressure tertiles had 59% lower mortality (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Lower LA pressure following mitral PVL closure is an independent predictor of improved survival, even after adjustment for residual MR. LA pressure monitoring may be a useful tool for procedural guidance during mitral PVL closure.

Transcatheter closure of postmyocardial infarction, iatrogenic, and postoperative ventricular septal defects: The Mayo Clinic experience.

OBJECTIVES: To determine event-free survival after transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD), and to identify predictors of adverse events (AE) in post myocardial infarction VSD (post-MI VSD) subgroup. BACKGROUND: There are limited data on mid-term follow-up after transcatheter VSD closure. METHODS: Retrospective review of 27 cases of transcatheter VSD closure (post-MI = 18 and non-ischemic = 9) performed from 1999 to 2013. We defined AE as death, device embolization, hemolysis requiring blood transfusion, heart block and reintervention. RESULTS: In the post-MI VSD subgroup, mean age and follow-up was 69 ± 11 and 7.3 ± 7 years, respectively. AE occurred in 8 (44%) patients (death-3, device embolization-1, hemolysis-1, surgical VSD closure-2, reintervention-1). Event-free survival was 56% at 1 month and 5 years, and all AE occurred in the periprocedural period. Cardiogenic shock (HR: 3.21, CI: 1.82-5.41, P = 0.002), and VSD closure in acute phase (HR: 2.14, CI: 1.12-4.31, P = 0.004) were independent predictors of AE. In the non-ischemic VSD subgroup, mean age and follow-up was 49 ± 15 and 8.7 ± 8 years, respectively. AE occurred in 3 (33%) patients (late death-1, surgical VSD closure-2). For the entire cohort, freedom from death was 89% and 85% at 1 month and 5 years, and event-free survival was 70% and 61% at 1 month and 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter closure of post-MI VSD carries a moderate risk of periprocedural complications but low event rates afterwards. By comparison, device closure of non-ischemic VSD has lower periprocedural morbidity but some patients continued to experience AE during follow-up.

Vanishing V-Wave: Percutaneous Edge-to-Edge Repair for Severe Mitral Regurgitation.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair is an effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic mitral regurgitation and high surgical risk. Typically, transcatheter mitral valve repair is less effective in reducing mitral regurgitation severity compared to surgical mitral valve repair. Herein is presented a case of complete resolution of mitral regurgitation, as assessed by Doppler echocardiography and left atrial V-wave.

Management of severe aortic regurgitation in a patient with cardiogenic shock using a percutaneous left ventricular assist device and transcatheter occlusion of the failed aortic valve homograft as a bridge to surgical valve replacement.

Acute hemodynamic compromise due to severe aortic regurgitation remains a difficult problem. The optimal management strategy and timing of surgery continues to evolve as new technologies become available. Here, we report the case of a young woman presenting with severe regurgitation of an aortic homograft who developed precipitous cardiogenic shock and multi-organ dysfunction. Her mortality risk with emergent surgery was prohibitive, and no percutaneous valve-in-valve device was available. We stabilized her condition by placing an Amplatz-type Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) occluder across her aortic valve in conjunction with a percutaneous left ventricular assist device as a bridge to surgical valve replacement. She went on to a successful surgery and recovered well.

Intravascular Lithotripsy in an Adult With Fontan Pathway Obstruction.

Fontan pathway obstruction is a potentially serious complication characterized by an anatomical or functional narrowing anywhere in the cavo-pulmonary pathways. Here, we report the first case in the literature where an innovative Fontan conduit rehabilitation procedure with intravascular lithotripsy was used achieving a dramatic increase in the pathway size.

Case report: Heart transplant for persistent right heart failure after complete surgical repair and percutaneous closure of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture.

The incidence of post-acute myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture (post-AMI VSR) has decreased; however, mortality after surgical repair of post-AMI VSR remains high. Patients who are not surgical candidates can be managed by heart transplant with a good outcome. A heart transplant in a patient after successful repair of VSR has never been reported. We report a patient who had persistent right heart failure after the successful repair of VSR and underwent a heart transplant with a good outcome.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for tricuspid valve regurgitation in apolipoprotein A-I-associated cardiac amyloidosis: case report.

Background: Amyloidosis is defined by abnormal protein folding and subsequent deposition in tissues. Cardiac involvement is usually related to misfolded monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains or misfolded transthyretin; however, apolipoprotein A-1-associated amyloidosis is a hereditary form of amyloidosis resulting from mutations in the AAPOA1 gene that can also result in cardiac amyloidosis. Although there have been advancements in noninvasive algorithms for the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis, endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) may still be warranted. All individuals undergoing EMB are susceptible to complications, including tricuspid valve injury resulting in severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. Case summary: Our patient is a 70-year-old white man presented with symptoms of dyspnoea on exertion and decreased functional capacity, diagnosed previously with apolipoprotein A-I cardiac amyloidosis, confirmed by EMB. He developed progressive right-sided heart failure secondary to iatrogenic flail tricuspid leaflet related to the diagnostic EMB. He underwent a successful transcatheter tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair with 4D intracardiac echocardiographic guidance. At the recent follow-up, the patient showed improved symptoms, with increased stamina, and transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a 65% ejection fraction and mild tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Discussion: Tricuspid valve injury is one of the complications associated with EMB, which can result in severe TR. Transcatheter tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair can be a useful option for patients considered too high risk for surgical intervention, such as those with advanced cardiac amyloidosis.

Right Atrial Mass Biopsy Using Endobronchial Forceps.

A 72-year-old male with past medical history of complete heart block status post pacemaker in 2019, renal cell carcinoma, and thyroid cancer presented with a 4-cm right atrial mass incidentally found on routine transthoracic echocardiography. Cardiovascular computed tomography angiogram revealed an infiltrative mildly enhancing soft-tissue density along the right and left atrioventricular grooves, anterior interventricular groove, interatrial septum, free wall of the right ventricle, and right atria. Transesophageal echocardiography at the time of the cardiac biopsy revealed a heterogeneous mass extending along the interatrial septum into the superior vena cava, which appeared partially occluded, as well as probable involvement of the aortic root. After several attempts with traditionally used devices, an endobronchial alligator forceps was used to biopsy the right atrial mass under intracardiac echocardiographic guidance, with no complications.

Meta-Analysis on Transcarotid Versus Transfemoral and Other Alternate Accesses for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Transcarotid access has emerged as the preferred access site for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with prohibitive iliofemoral anatomy. This study aimed to compare outcomes with transcarotid with those of other accesses in patients who underwent TAVI. Cochrane, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases were searched for all published studies that compared outcomes with transcarotid with those of other accesses (transfemoral, transaxillary/subclavian, transaortic, and transapical) in patients who underwent TAVI. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included major bleeding, major vascular complications, stroke, myocardial infarction, permanent pacemaker implantation, and peri-aortic valve insufficiency. We included 22 observational studies with a total of 11,896 patients. Outcomes were reported during hospitalization and at 1-month follow-up. The transcarotid approach had higher mortality at 1 month (3.7% vs 2.6%, p = 0.02) but lower major vascular complications during hospitalization (1.5% vs 3.4%, p = 0.04) than did transfemoral access. The transcarotid approach had lower major vascular complications (2% vs 2.3%, p = 0.04) than did the transaxillary/subclavian but higher major bleeding (5.3% vs 2.6%, p = 0.03). The transaortic approach was associated with higher in-hospital (11.7% vs 1.9%, p = 0.02) and 1-month mortality (14.4% vs 3.9%, p = 0.007) rates than was transcarotid access. The transcarotid approach numerically reduced mortality and the risk of major vascular complications and major bleeding compared with the transapical approach; however, this did not reach statistical significance. The transcarotid approach did not increase the risk of stroke compared with transfemoral or the other alternative accesses. In conclusion, the transcarotid or transaxillary/subclavian approach had associated comparable outcomes that were better than those of the transapical and transaortic approaches. There was no difference in stroke risk between transcarotid access and other accesses.

Percutaneous Transseptal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation to Rescue a Failing Right Ventricle in an Animal Model.

OBJECTIVE: We tested the feasibility and effectiveness of a percutaneous atrial transseptal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation strategy in a right ventricular failure (RVF) model. METHODS: We performed 4 nonsurvival porcine experiments. Percutaneous transseptal access was achieved using a steerable introducer. For guidance, we used fluoroscopy, transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). A ProtekDuo rapid deployment cannula (LivaNova, London, UK) was advanced across the septum into the left atrium by 2 to 3 cm. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was induced by partially clamping the pulmonary artery. ECMO flow was cycled from high (2 to 3 L/min) to low (0.2 to 0.3 L/min) over 2 to 3 hours. RESULTS: Transseptal access using TEE and fluoroscopy was successful in 1 animal and unsuccessful in 1 animal. ICE provided optimal visualization for the remaining 2 animals. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was associated immediately and consistently with high versus low ECMO flow rate (mean difference: 29 ± 3.1 mm Hg, P = 0.004) but was not restored to baseline values. RV pressure values were dynamic. Given time to equilibrate, mean RV pressure was restored to a baseline level. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous right atrium to left atrium transseptal cannulation relieved PH-RVF. MAP was restored to a viable level, and mean RV pressure was restored to a baseline level. Transseptal ECMO shows promise as a cannulation strategy to bridge patients with PH-RVF to lung transplant.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Prognostication with Augmented Mean Arterial Pressure.

BACKGROUND: Post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patient outcome is an important research topic. To accurately assess post-TAVR mortality, we examined a family of new echo parameters (augmented systolic blood pressure (AugSBP) and arterial mean pressure (AugMAP)) derived from blood pressure and aortic valve gradients. METHODS: Patients in the Mayo Clinic National Cardiovascular Diseases Registry-TAVR database who underwent TAVR between 1 January 2012 and 30 June 2017 were identified to retrieve baseline clinical, echocardiographic and mortality data. AugSBP, AugMAP and valvulo-arterial impedance (Zva) (Zva) were evaluated using Cox regression. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the c-index were used to assess the model performance against the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk score. RESULTS: The final cohort contained 974 patients with a mean age of 81.4 ± 8.3 years old, and 56.6% were male. The mean STS risk score was 8.2 ± 5.2. The median follow-up duration was 354 days, and the one-year all-cause mortality rate was 14.2%. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression showed that AugSBP and AugMAP parameters were independent predictors for intermediate-term post-TAVR mortality (all p < 0.0001). AugMAP1 < 102.5 mmHg was associated with a 3-fold-increased risk of all-cause mortality 1-year post-TAVR (hazard ratio 3.0, 95%confidence interval 2.0-4.5, p < 0.0001). A univariate model of AugMAP1 surpassed the STS score model in predicting intermediate-term post-TAVR mortality (area under the curve: 0.700 vs. 0.587, p = 0.005; c-index: 0.681 vs. 0.585, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Augmented mean arterial pressure provides clinicians with a simple but effective approach to quickly identify patients at risk and potentially improve post-TAVR prognosis.

Using Augmented Mean Arterial Pressure to Identify High Mortality Risk Patients With Moderate Aortic Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the usefulness of a novel echocardiographic marker, augmented mean arterial pressure (AugMAP = [(mean aortic valve gradient + systolic blood pressure) + (2 × diastolic blood pressure)] / 3), in identifying high-risk patients with moderate aortic stenosis (AS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adults with moderate AS (aortic valve area, 1.0-1.5 cm2) at Mayo Clinic sites from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2020, were identified. Baseline demographic, echocardiographic, and all-cause mortality data were retrieved. Patients were grouped into higher and lower AugMAP groups using a cutoff value of 80 mm Hg for analysis. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models were used to assess the performance of AugMAP. RESULTS: A total of 4563 patients with moderate AS were included (mean ± SD age, 73.7±12.5 years; 60.5% men). Median follow-up was 2.5 years; 36.0% of patients died. The mean ± SD left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 60.1%±11.4%, and the mean ± SD AugMAP was 99.1±13.1 mm Hg. Patients in the lower AugMAP group, with either preserved or reduced LVEF, had significantly worse survival performance (all P<.001). Multivariate Cox regression showed that AugMAP (hazard ratio, 0.962; 95% CI, 0.942 to 0.981 per 5-mm Hg increase; P<.001) and AugMAP less than 80 mm Hg (hazard ratio, 1.477; 95% CI, 1.241 to 1.756; P<.001) were independently associated with all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: AugMAP is a simple and effective echocardiographic marker to identify high-risk patients with moderate AS independent of LVEF. It can potentially be used in the candidate selection process if moderate AS becomes indicated for aortic valve intervention in the future.