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BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common concomitant disease in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for mitral regurgitation (MR) and detrimentally affects their outcome. While there is increasing evidence for prognostic improvement and safety of catheter ablation (CA) of AF in the overall cohort of heart failure patients, corresponding data in TEER patients are lacking.ObjectivesTo investigate the impact of treatment regimens for concomitant AF on survival of TEER patients.MethodsIn a multicenter observational cohort study consecutive patients successfully undergoing TEER were analyzed and survival of patients receiving CA of concomitant AF was compared with that of patients on pharmacological AF treatment and with that of patients without a history of AF, using propensity score matching (PSM).ResultsA total of 821 patients were analyzed. Of these, 608 (74.1%) had concomitant AF, of whom 48 patients received CA. Patients with CA in AF showed significantly higher 3-year-survival after TEER compared to PSM-patients on pharmacological AF treatment (75.5% [36/48] vs. 49.4% [166/336], p = 0.009). The 3-year-survival after TEER of patients with concomitant AF treated with CA was not significantly different from PSM-patients without AF (75.5% [36/48] vs. 68.3% [98/144], p = 0.36).ConclusionsCA of AF is superior to pharmacotherapy as it significantly improves the survival of TEER patients in a PSM analysis. CA even offsets the prognostic disadvantage of coexisting AF in TEER patients. Given the growing evidence of prognostic benefits in the overall cohort of HF patients, our data point out the importance of treating concomitant AF and support CA as an essential part of a holistic management of TEER patients.

Abstract Comprehensive data on factors influencing left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus formation, resolution and impact on survival are limited. In this single-center, retrospective study 7759 (2010–2015) patients with symptomatic ongoing atrial fibrillation (AF) on admission were screened for LAA thrombi. 450 patients had LAA thrombi. 481 patients without LAA thrombi were randomly selected as controls. We assessed clinical, echocardiographic, laboratory parameters and long-term survival of both groups. Patients with LAA thrombi compared to controls were older, had more strokes, higher CHA2DS2 -VASc scores, worse renal function, less controlled diabetes, advanced heart failure, lower LAA emptying velocities, higher levels of cardiac and inflammatory markers (all p

Objectives: The PASCAL device is a transcatheter edge-to-edge repair system (TEER) for treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). The PASCAL Ace as a newer version of the PASCAL device consists of a thinner profile without a spacer. The aim of the study was to examine the functional and hemodynamic outcome after TEER with the PASCAL Ace device in a real-world cohort. Methods: Between September 2020 and August 2021, all consecutive patients with MR 3+/4+ treated percutaneously with PASCAL Ace were included in this study. Primary endpoints included successful device implantation, device success, improvement of exercise capacity, quality of life, and a composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal stroke, myocardial infarction, new need for renal replacement therapy or severe bleeding at 30 days and 5 month. Results: 49/66 patients had a functional etiology. Overall success rate was 98.5%. At follow-up, 84.7% of the patients had MR grade ≤ 1. TEER was associated with an improvement of LV ejection fraction (45% to 53%, p = 0.048). 86.5% were in NYHA class I or II. 6-minute-walking distance improved by 79m (p = 0.009). Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) improved by 19 points (p = 0.012). NT-proBNP levels decreased from 4832 to 2137 pg/dl (p = 0.003). Mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressures improved from 21 to 15mmHg (p = 0.001). At 5 month, a total of 3 patients died, none of cardiovascular cause. Conclusion: PASCAL Ace is safe and effective in treating MR, resulting in a sustained MR reduction, a reverse cardiac remodelling, improvement of exercise capacity, quality of life, NT-proBNP levels and hemodynamics at follow-up.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has become established as a safe and efficacious therapy for severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in high-risk patients. Despite its widespread use, postprocedural antithrombotic therapy (ATT) still to date is based on local expertise rather than evidence. In a multicenter, observational cohort study, 646 consecutive patients undergoing TEER were enrolled; 609 patients were successfully treated and antithrombotic therapy analyzed; 449 patients (73.7%) were previously treated with oral anticoagulants (OAC) due to the high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (459/609, 75.4%). Postprocedural ATT in patients previously treated with OAC consisted of no additional, additional single (SAPT) or dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in 146/449 (33.6%), 248/449 (55.2%) and 55/449 (12.2%), respectively. There were 234/449 (52.1%) patients treated with vitamin-k antagonists (VKA) and 215/449 (47.9%) with nonvitamin-k antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC). One hundred sixty patients (26.3%) had no prior indication for OAC and were predominantly treated with DAPT (132/160, 82.5%). Use of SAPT (17/160, 10.6%) and no APT (11/160, 6.9%) was marginal. No statistically significant differences in terms of in-hospital mortality or the rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) between the different antithrombotic therapy regimens were observed. Multiple Cox regression analysis showed a statistically significant decreased risk for all-cause mortality after a median follow-up of 419 days for OAC monotherapy (HR 0.6, 95%-CI 0.5–0.9, p = 0.04). This study provides evidence for a more favorable long-term outcome of OAC monotherapy in patients with an indication for OAC and reiterates the urgent need for randomized controlled trials on the optimal antithrombotic treatment of TEER patients.