Escalation from impella 5.5 to ECPELLA support as a bridge to mitral valve surgery in a patient with degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is an important cause of acute heart failure and significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices such as Impella are readily used to hemodynamically stabilize patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) secondary to this valvular pathology. Impella can also be combined with VA-ECMO to an "ECPELLA" configuration if further escalation of hemodynamic support is needed. We report a case of a 57-year-old female who presented with CS secondary to a perforated anterior mitral valve leaflet and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy that did not stabilize with initial choice of Impella 5.5. She required further escalation from axillary Impella 5.5 to the combined ECPELLA configuration, which allowed hemodynamic stabilization and ultimately a successful high-risk isolated mitral valve replacement. Despite adequate Impella flow, escalation to a combined MCS configuration, such as ECPELLA, may need to be considered upfront for acute valvular insufficiency in the setting of pre-existing cardiomyopathy.

Impact of severe mitral regurgitation on postoperative outcome after durable left-ventricular assist device implantation.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is a common finding in patients with end-stage heart failure. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of preoperative moderate-to-severe MR on postoperative outcomes and survival after durable left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. METHODS: From August 2010 to May 2021, 246 patients underwent a durable LVAD implantation. We stratified the patients into two groups: Group A (n = 109) presented with MR 0-I°, and Group B presented with MR II-III° (n = 137). MR II-III° was defined according to the current recommendations (i.e., vena contracta ≥ 7 mm, regurgitation volume ≥ 30 ml or effective regurgitation orifice area ≥ 20 mm2 ). RESULTS: Significantly more patients in Group B suffered from pulmonary hypertension and presented with chronic obstructive lung disease. We observed significantly higher rates of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) II-III° in Group B (76.1%) versus Group A (14.8%) (p < 0.001) and TR III° in Group B (30.4%) versus Group A (3.7%) (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the incidence of right heart failure between the groups. Within our cohort, the in-hospital, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year mortality was 22.4%, 32.1%, 50.7%, and 64.4%, respectively. Group B showed significantly worse overall survival (p = 0.05). Patients with preoperative TR II-III° had a significantly worse survival than those with TR 0-I° (p = 0.048). In patients presenting with MR II-III°, we discovered that TR III° seems to predict both in-hospital and mid-term mortality. CONCLUSION: MR II-III° negatively affects the outcomes in patients requiring LVAD implantation. Persisting MR II-III° is an independent predictor of mortality. Patients with concomitant preoperative TR II-III° are at increased risk of developing postoperative major adverse events. Addressing the MR might be considered for these patients.

Prognostic Value of Nutritional Indexes in Evaluating the 1-Year Results after Implantation of the Carillon Mitral Contour System.

Background: The prognostic importance of nutritional indexes has been shown in some diseases. We aimed to examine the prognostic value of these indexes in patients implanted with the Carillon Mitral Contour System (CMCS). Methods: Fifty-four patients who underwent successful CMCS implantation were evaluated. Prognostic nutritional index (PNI), geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) scores were calculated. The relationships between these indexes and 1-year clinical outcomes including all-cause mortality and re-hospitalization due to heart failure were investigated. Results: In Kaplan-Meier analysis, 1-year all-cause mortality rates were significantly higher in the patients with low PNI and GNRI and high CONUT scores (52.0% vs. 0%, p < 0.001; 54.2% vs. 0%, p < 0.001; 52.4%, 6.1%, p < 0.001; respectively). For the composite endpoint, a significant difference was observed between those below and above the cut-off values (70.0% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.001; 75.0% vs. 23.3%, p < 0.001; 66.7% vs. 20.8%, p < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, GNRI was determined to be an independent predictor of 1-year all-cause mortality [hazard ratio: 0.707; 95% confidence interval: 0.510-0.979; p = 0.037]. Conclusions: Nutritional indexes have prognostic value in predicting 1-year all-cause mortality in severe functional mitral regurgitation patients undergoing CMCS implantation. In particular, GNRI can guide the selection of patients who will benefit from CMCS.

Mitral Valve Repair for Severe Mitral Regurgitation Masked by Constrictive Pericarditis Revealed After Pericardiectomy.

A case of severe mitral regurgitation (MR) that was masked by constrictive pericarditis and revealed after pericardiectomy is presented. Diagnosis was made intraoperatively with transesophageal echocardiography. Mitral valve repair was performed using a mitral annuloplasty ring. In some cases, worsening MR after pericardiectomy has been demonstrated to return to baseline with time. In the patient described, MR was severe with secondary ischemic pathology; therefore the decision was made to repair the mitral valve. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography played a major role in the decision making.

Ivabradine for the Treatment of Acute Mitral-Regurgitation-Related Decompensated Heart Failure.

Ivabradine is used as a second-line medication for chronic heart failure (HF) but is still off-label for acute HF. We report the case of a 50-year-old man who experienced infectious endocarditis-related acute severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and acute decompensated HF and showed quick improvement of clinical symptoms after ivabradine use. An unstable hemodynamic status does not allow titration of a ß-blocker dose, and a ß-agonist might be needed to overcome a critical condition. Ivabradine appears to solve this issue and protect the myocardium owing to prolongation of the diastolic perfusion time. Ivabradine might be useful for the treatment of acute severe MR-related acute decompensated HF due to the improvement of diastolic function by decreasing the heart rate.

Restoration of normal left ventricular geometry after percutaneous mitral annuloplasty: case report and review of literature.

Surgical mitral valve intervention is not considered suitable in patients with severe functional mitral regurgitation due to severe dilated cardiomyopathy and severe systolic dysfunction. In such patients percutaneous mitral valve intervention is the next best alternative. We are presenting case report of a patient who presented with severe dyspnea progressing to orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. He was found to have severe functional mitral regurgitation and severe left ventricle systolic dysfunction. Surgical mitral intervention was not considered suitable and percutaneous mitral annuloplasty was done. At one month follow-up significant improvement in symptoms were noted with improvement in severity of mitral regurgitation severity. At 6 months follow-up further improvement in symptoms were noted along with significant improvement in the severity of mitral regurgitation and normalization of left ventricle geometry. At 1 year follow-up his symptoms further improved, left ventricle geometry remained normal and mitral regurgitation severity remained mild to moderate. Our case demonstrate that in patient with severe LV systolic dysfunction, severe mitral regurgitation and left bundle branch block percutaneous mitral annuloplasty can obviate the need for CRT-D due to significant improvement in LV function and geometry along with regression in severity of mitral regurgitation. Improvement in mitral regurgitation severity and LV geometry started early and kept improving with excellent result at 6 and 12 months.

Simultaneous double clipping delivery guide strategy for treatment of severe coaptation failure in functional mitral regurgitation.

We report on a novel treatment strategy using two clip delivery systems (CDS) simultaneously, after double transseptal puncture, for treatment of severe functional mitral regurgitation. Both CDS were used to titrate for an optimal result in a patient with a severe coaptation gap of both mitral leaflets. The patient was successfully treated with two MitraClips. Thus, even a contraindication for MitraClip can be overcome with a more complex double guide intervention.

Transapical transcatheter valve-in-valve replacement for deteriorated mitral valve bioprosthesis without radio-opaque indicators: the "invisible" mitral valve bioprosthesis.

In view of the high number of bioprosthetic valves implanted during the past 30 years, an increasing number of patients are coming to medical attention because of degenerated bioprostheses. Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation has been described as a less invasive alternative to re-operation to treat severe structural valve deterioration. As far as degenerated mitral valve bioprostheses are concerned, transcatheter transapical mitral valve-in-valve replacement (TMVR) has been less commonly performed, but may also become a viable alternative to re-do replacement surgery. We describe treatment of a degenerated bioprosthetic mitral valve, characterised by complete absence of any radio-opaque landmarks making the TMVR procedure very challenging.

MitraClip for severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation in patients at high surgical risk: a comprehensive systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) at high surgical risk (HSR) is unknown. Recently, the EVEREST II (Endovascular Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair) High Risk Study suggested MitraClip (MC) was a safe and effective treatment option. METHODS: We performed a search strategy for MC or mitral valve surgery (MVS) in patients at HSR for surgical mortality (logistic EuroSCORE >18 or STS score > 10) using Medline databases, proceedings of international meetings, and the STS database. We identified 21 studies utilizing MC (n = 3,198) and MVS (n = 3,265, >90% from the STS database) from 2003 to 2013. Information about patient characteristics, surgical risk, and 30-day and 1-year outcomes were extracted. RESULTS: Patients who underwent MC or MVS had a mean age of 74 ± 10 years with no differences in surgical risk, NYHA class, or MR grade (P = 0.46). Technical success was achieved in 96% of patients undergoing MC versus 98% in the MVS group (P = 0.45). Patients undergoing MC were treated with one or two MC in 90% (n = 2,878) with only a few requiring repeat MC (0.4%, n = 13) or mitral surgery (0.3%, n = 52) at 30 days. The pooled event rates for mortality was 3.2% (95% CI [2.5-4.2]), stroke was 1.1% (95% CI [0.7-0.2]) at 30 days. At 31 days to 1 year, the pooled event rate for mortality was 13.0% [95% CI (9-18.3)], stroke was 1.6% [95% CI (0.8-3.2)], and repeat MVS was 1.3% [95% CI (0.7-2.6)] with the majority of patients in the mild/moderate MR grade and NYHA class after MC. The 30-day event rates for mortality and stroke were 16.8% (95% CI [14-19]) and 4.5% (95% CI [3.9-5.3]) after MVS, respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on high risk MC studies and high risk MVS data predominantly from STS database, patients with severe MR who are at HSR can be effectively treated with MC or MVS. MC can be safely implanted in high risk patients with relatively low mortality and stroke risk.

Severe mitral regurgitation after radiotherapy.

We present the case of a 69-year-old patient with a history of gynecological neoplasia and a pulmonary metastasis, who in 1996 underwent chemotherapy and mediastinal radiotherapy followed by cancer remission. Ten years later she presented with heart failure and her Doppler echocardiogram showed severe mitral regurgitation with pulmonary hypertension. In 2011, she underwent a mitral valve replacement with a biological prosthesis and the pathology exam revealed valve damage consistent with radiotherapy-induced changes. This unusual mechanism of mitral regurgitation can be demonstrated clearly by echocardiography and should be disseminated among cardiology physicians and in patients who have survived for long periods after radiotherapy, it is important to remember that cardiac complications may indeed occur, and the treating physician is responsible for detecting them.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Endocarditis With a Large Mitral Valve Vegetation Causing Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation and Cardiogenic Shock.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is characterized by the inflammation of the inner layer of the heart that can be caused by different pathogens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an uncommon source of IE. The clinical presentation is highly dependent on the patient's medical history, societal factors, and valve involvement. This infection is associated with many unfavorable complications and high mortality rates. We present a case of P. aeruginosa endocarditis causing severe mitral valve regurgitation, leading to cardiogenic shock and an eventual replacement of the mitral valve. Prompt and sensitive antibiotics in combination with surgical consultation are vital to the survival of this condition.

Investigation of outcomes following transcatheter edge to edge repair of the mitral valve versus medical management alone in patients with cardiogenic shock and mitral regurgitation.

Study objective: Assessing if Transcatheter Edge to Edge Repair (TEER) with Mitraclip™ in patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and cardiogenic shock (CS) improves outcomes compared to medical management alone. Design: A single-center, retrospective study was performed in an urban tertiary referral center. Setting: Rush University Medical Center, United States. Participants: Adult patients presenting with CS and moderate to severe MR between 2012 and 2021 were included. Interventions: Undergoing Mitral TEER with Mitraclip versus medical management alone. Main outcome measures: Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as cardiovascular death, heart failure admission, stroke, and myocardial infarction assessed at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year. The secondary outcome was a change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification at 30 days and 6 months. Results: There were 28 patients included in the medical management and 33 in the mitral valve TEER groups. There was a decreased MACE in the intervention group at 30 days (24.2 % vs. 46.4 %, p ≤0.001) and 6 months (27 % vs. 75 %, p = 0.002), though not at 1 year (29.4 % vs. 41.7 %, p = 0.42). At 30 days, more patients in the mitral valve TEER group improved to NYHA classes I/II compared to medical management alone (10 [35.7 %] vs. 16 [50 %], p = 0.043). There were no differences in NYHA classes I/II at 6 months (7 [43.7 %] vs. 13 [54.2 %], p = 0.63). Conclusion: Mitral valve TEER using the Mitraclip™ system improves mid-term cardiovascular compared to medical management alone in patients with CS but does not improve mortality.

A 'Decrescendo' in a Woman With Ascending Paralysis: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune condition that causes muscular weakness and can be potentially life-threatening if not identified early. GBS is diagnosed definitively by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and electromyographic (EMG) studies. Identifying illnesses that may have triggered GBS is crucial, as they could affect the course of the disease. Our patient was a 27-year-old woman who developed lower extremity weakness a few days after being treated for a dental abscess. Laboratory and imaging studies ruled out central nervous system (CNS) lesions, myelopathies, and metabolic causes. Diagnosis was difficult due to inconclusive initial investigations, refusal of lumbar puncture, and delayed availability of EMG studies. Additionally, there were no identifiable triggers to support GBS as a diagnosis. During the hospital course, the patient developed tachycardia with new electrocardiogram (EKG) changes. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed suspicious vegetation, and a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) confirmed severe mitral regurgitation. The new valvular lesions and autonomic dysfunction with worsening lower extremity weakness increased our suspicion of GBS. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was administered empirically, but she developed bulbar symptoms, prompting admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). A lumbar puncture performed at this time was negative for albumino-cytological dissociation and CNS infections.  Signs of sepsis with valvular lesions raised concerns for infective endocarditis (IE). Due to recent treatment with antibiotics for dental abscess, a negative blood culture was a confounding factor in Duke's criteria, delaying the diagnosis of IE. Infectious disease experts suggested empirical treatment for suspected blood culture-negative infective endocarditis (BCNE) and valvular abscess. She was transferred to a cardiothoracic care facility for valvular surgery evaluation. EMG studies identified the patient's condition as the acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) variant of GBS. The patient's antibodies tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni (C. Jejuni) immunoglobulin G (IgG). Since this indicates a past infection, it is uncertain whether C. Jejuni triggered the patient's GBS. However, new valvular vegetation and acute-onset lower extremity weakness make us hypothesize that BCNE may have triggered GBS.

Pushing the hybrid approach to the edges, three stories in one: a case report.

Background: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is common in the elderly. Extensive calcification has been historically challenging for the cardiac surgeons, with traditional surgical approaches carrying significant risks. Less invasive approaches have recently been explored in an attempt to reduce this risk. Case summary: We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who presented with recurrent pulmonary oedema, due to severe MAC and mitral regurgitation. Her past medical history included bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement 5 years ago. Given the extensive MAC and the patient's frailty, a minimally invasive hybrid approach with direct implantation of a transcatheter balloon expandable Sapien 3 valve was selected to manage her. Although the post-surgical result was initially excellent with elimination of the mitral regurgitation, the patient's post-operative course was marked by two serious complications, namely, acute severe aortic regurgitation, due to rupture of the bioprosthetic valve's right cusp, and severe paravalvular leak of the Sapien valve, due to posterior migration towards the left atrium. These were managed successfully with emergency valve-in-valve implantation using the 'double chimney' technique for the bioprosthetic aortic valve, as well as transeptal valve-in-valve implantation of a 2nd Sapien valve in the mitral valve, which sealed the gap between the 1st Sapien and the calcified mitral annulus. Discussion: This case illustrates a less invasive approach for the management of severe MAC. Complications can still occur in this high-risk group of patients, and therefore, such cases should be managed with close collaboration between cardiac surgeons and cardiologists, in centres with high expertise.

Cardiogenic shock and severe secondary mitral regurgitation successfully treated with transcatheter edge-to-edge repair: a case report.

Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) associated with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) forebodes a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is a rapidly evolving technique for severe MR in haemodynamically stable patients. However, the safety and efficacy of TEER for severe MR in CS are not well established. Case summary: An 83-year-old male presented with dyspnoea and was hospitalized for heart failure. Chest X-ray revealed pulmonary oedema. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severely depressed ejection fraction (EF) with severe secondary MR. Right heart catheterization confirmed a low cardiac index. Diuretics and inotropes were administered. Due to persistent hypotension, we could not wean inotropes. The patient was deemed high risk for surgery by the heart team, and a decision was made to proceed with TEER with MitraClip. Under transoesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopic guidance, two MitraClips were deployed sequentially. The MR grade was reduced to two mild jets subsequently. The patient was weaned off inotropes and eventually discharged. At the 30-day follow-up, he was participating in physical activities such as golf. Discussion: Cardiogenic shock complicated by severe MR carries high mortality. With severe MR, the forward stroke volume is lower than the stated EF leading to poor organ perfusion. Inotropes and/or mechanical circulatory support devices are paramount for initial stabilization; however, they do not treat underlying MR. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with MitraClip has been shown to improve survival in CS patients with severe MR in observational studies. However, prospective trials are lacking. Our case demonstrates the utility of MitraClip to treat severe secondary MR refractory to medical therapy in a CS patient. The heart team must evaluate risks and benefits of this therapy in CS patients.

Establishing a Novel Diagnostic Framework Using Handheld Point-of-Care Focused-Echocardiography (HoPE) for Acute Left-Sided Cardiac Valve Emergencies: A Bayesian Approach for Emergency Physicians in Resource-Limited Settings.

Acute severe cardiac valve emergencies, such as acute severe mitral regurgitation (AMR) and acute severe aortic regurgitation (AAR), present significant challenges in terms of diagnosis and management. Handheld point-of-care ultrasound devices have emerged as potentially pivotal tools in ensuring the prompt and accurate diagnosis of these left-sided valve emergencies by emergency physicians, particularly in resource-limited settings. Despite the increased utilisation of point-of-care ultrasound by emergency physicians for the management of patients in states of acute cardiorespiratory failure, current diagnostic protocols cannot perform sufficient quantitative assessments of the left-sided cardiac valves. This review elucidates and evaluates the diagnostic utility of handheld point-of-care focused-echocardiography (HoPE) in native AMR and AAR by reviewing the relevant literature and the use of clinical case examples from the Emergency Department at Port Shepstone Regional Hospital (PSRH-ED)-a rural, resource-limited hospital located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Combining the findings of the review and clinical case illustrations, this review proceeds to synthesise a novel, Bayesian-inspired, iterative diagnostic framework that integrates HoPE into the evaluation of patients with acute cardiorespiratory failure and suspected severe left-sided valve lesions.

Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation in a Patient With Previous Tricuspid Valve Surgery for Infective Endocarditis Secondary to Intravenous Drug Use: A Case Report.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is an important but underappreciated disease in medical practice, and the severity can vary from moderate to severe. Right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) is more common in intravenous drug users (IVDUs), and the vast majority of these involve the tricuspid valve (TV). It is worth mentioning that right-sided valves are challenging to scan compared to left-sided valves. The incidence of severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) immediately post-repair is not tangible, but it is considered to be rare. We present a case of a 47-year-old patient who had previous TV septal leaflet reconstruction using a bovine pericardial patch using 6/0 prolene, and an annuloplasty was performed by placing an annuloplasty ring in 2017 for infective endocarditis. The patient developed moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation within a few weeks following the surgery. She was readmitted to the hospital four years later with a reduced consciousness level, and a subsequent repeat echocardiogram showed possible tricuspid valve vegetation. In addition, transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) demonstrated biventricular dysfunction and severe tricuspid regurgitation, along with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) that was variable depending on the rate of atrial fibrillation. The patient was not suitable for surgical intervention and was medically managed accordingly.

Prevalence and Mortality of Moderate or Severe Mitral Regurgitation Among Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With or Without Heart Failure: Results From CIN Study With 28,358 Patients.

Aim: This study investigated the prevalence and mortality associated with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (MR) among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with or without heart failure (HF). Methods: We analyzed patients undergoing PCI without mitral valve surgery from the Cardiorenal ImprovemeNt (CIN) study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04407936). Patients without echocardiography to determine MR occurrence or lacking follow-up death data were excluded. Primary endpoints were 1-year and long-term all-cause mortality, with a median follow-up time of 5 years (interquartile range: 3.1-7.6). Results: Of 28,358 patients undergoing PCI treatment [mean age: 62.7 ± 10.7; women: 6,749 (25.6%)], 3,506 (12.4%) had moderate or severe MR, and there was a higher rate of moderate or severe MR in HF group than non-HF group (28.8 vs. 5.6%, respectively). Regardless of HF conditions, patients with moderate or severe MR were older and had worse cardio-renal function and significantly increased 1-year mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.51-2.2], and long-term mortality [aHR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.3-1.58]. There was no significant difference between patients with HF and those with non-HF (P for interaction > 0.05). Conclusion: One-eighth of the patients undergoing PCI had moderate or severe MR. Furthermore, one-third and one-seventeenth experienced moderate or severe MR with worse cardiorenal function in the HF and non-HF groups, and increased consistent mortality risk. Further studies should explore the efficacy of mitral interventional procedures for moderate or severe MR after PCI treatment, regardless of HF.

Mitral valve repair in severe mitral regurgitation after blunt chest trauma.

Mitral valve insufficiency is a pathological condition frequently caused by etiologies such as rheumatic heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, leaflets prolapse, endocarditis, rupture of a chordae tendineae, ventricular disorders or congenital heart defects among others. Nevertheless, blunt thoracic trauma, although as a rare cause, can produce valve abnormalities. We describe a case of surgical mitral valve repair of a severe insufficiency caused by blunt chest trauma in a high energy road motorbike accident.