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An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our center because of heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe mitral annular calcification resulting in a double mitral valve lesion. After discussion by the heart team, transcatheter mitral valve replacement with Tendyne (Abbott Structural, Santa Clara, CA, USA) was performed. Despite having a predicted neo-left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) above the cut-off value, the patient developed clinically significant LVOT obstruction (LVOTO) refractory to medical treatment. This situation is often treated before the intervention, and dealing with LVOTO afterward can be challenging. After taking the patient's anatomy into consideration, we decided to perform alcohol septal ablation. Applying a combined strategy of medical treatment and intervention led to success. In this case report, we discuss this event and the strategies available for preventing and managing the condition.

Background The introduction of a transapical transcatheter beating heart replacement system has significantly expanded therapeutic options for patients with severely diseased mitral valves, particularly those ineligibles for traditional surgery or transcatheter repair. However, challenges, such as left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOT-O) and the risk of dynamic systolic anterior motion (SAM) in cases with elongated anterior mitral leaflet (AML) post-prosthesis implantation, impede the widespread adoption of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). Case summary In 2022, a 75-year-old male with severe mixed-genesis mitral regurgitation (MR) underwent Carillon Mitral Contour System annuloplasty. Recurrent heart failure admissions (New York Heart Association IV) and prohibitive risk for open-heart surgery (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II 8.27%) prompted evaluation for Tendyne TMVR with the MitraCut technique. This beating heart transapical approach involved scissor-mediated splitting of the elongated 27 mm AML, essential for mitigating LVOT-O risk and dynamic SAM. The screening echocardiogram revealed the poorly tethered AML near the thickened septum at the simulated neo-LVOT site. Discussion This case underscores the intricate management challenges associated with severe MR, highlighting the successful application of the MitraCut technique as a viable alternative in high-risk scenarios. The imperative for further research and clinical studies is emphasized to comprehensively elucidate outcomes and safety parameters, providing valuable insights for refining TMVR applications within this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Relevant paravalvular leakage (PVL) due to prosthesis dislodgement is a rare but potentially severe complication after transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI). Due to the epicardial anchoring mechanism of the Tendyne® TMVI system, repositioning of the valve stent may be possible by retensioning of the tether. This multicentre study aimed to investigate the procedural and short-term safety as well as efficacy of retensioning manoeuvres. METHODS From 2017 to 2021, N  = 18 patients who underwent secondary tether retensioning were identified. Baseline, procedural and follow-up data were available from N  = 11 patients and analysed according to the Mitral Valve Research Consortium definitions. Continuous variables are shown as median with interquartile range. RESULTS All patients [age 75 years (73.5, 85.0), 64% male (N  = 7), EuroSCORE II 6.2% (5.8, 11.6)] presented with post-procedural PVL [63.6% (N  = 7) with PVL ≥3+]. Of these, 54% (N  = 6) showed signs of haemolysis. The majority were severely symptomatic [New York Heart Association ≥III (91%, N  = 10)]. Procedural outcomes revealed no acute complications and no mortality. At discharge, PVL was completely eliminated in 91% (N  = 10) of patients with 1 case of remaining moderate PVL. At 30 days, Mitral Valve Research Consortium device success was achieved in 82% (N  = 9) of patients. Two patients required open surgical mitral valve replacement due to persistent and recurrent PVL. In 89% (N  = 8) of patients with successful retensioning procedure, New York Heart Association class was I/II. There was no 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS This multicentre study demonstrates technical feasibility, procedural safety and acute efficacy of retensioning procedures in the majority of patients. The potential to retension the tether in transapical TMVI may provide additional management advantages in populations at high surgical risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionTranscatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a valuable treatment option in patients with severe mitral regurgitation. Prior transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TA-TAVR) may complicate the procedure and is therefore considered a relative contraindication. In this case report, the authors describe the successful TMVR as a tertiary cardiac surgery and transapical redo procedure.Case SummaryAn 83-year-old male patient, suffering from dyspnoea and angina, was diagnosed with severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR). He had already undergone cardiac surgery in the form of coronary artery bypass grafting at the age of 64 and TA-TAVR at 79 years. After a failed attempt at mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, he opted for TMVR. Pre-TMVR computed tomography simulation was used to analyse possible interactions between the prostheses and to predict the neo-left ventricular outflow tract (neo-LVOT). The operation was carried out without complications. There was no bleeding and the LV function remained unchanged. On MRI, the valves were perfectly aligned without any signs of paravalvular leakage or LVOT obstruction. The patient was discharged seven days postoperatively. At the one-year follow up, there was no need for rehospitalisation and the patient had clinically improved (from NYHA IV to II). Echocardiography demonstrated a mean transvalvular gradient of under 5 mmHg and no residual MR.ConclusionA redo transapical access for TMVR as a tertiary cardiac operation can be easily performed. Pre-operative CT suggested good alignment of the aortic and mitral valved stent which was confirmed postoperatively.

Background The presence of aortic and mitral disease in a patient who is not a suitable candidate for surgical correction poses significant challenges in the diagnostic workup as well as management plans. Percutaneous treatment can be staged to fix the aortic valve with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) as a first step, followed by reassessment and percutaneous correction of mitral regurgitation (MR). Case summary A 65-year-old female with multiple co-morbidities presented with acute coronary syndrome and heart failure. She was diagnosed with three-vessel coronary artery disease and degenerative low-flow low-gradient severe aortic stenosis, along with severe degenerative MR with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35%. Because of the high surgical risk, she underwent multi-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation was done as a staged procedure, which partially improved her symptoms. Mitral regurgitation was not suitable for percutaneous mitral valve edge-to-edge repair. After a discussion by the heart team, she underwent transcatheter mitral valve implantation, for which the Tendyne mitral valve (Tendyne™; Abbott) was used through a transapical approach. There was no paravalvular leak, and the mean gradient across the valve was 2 mmHg. She was symptomatically better at follow-up and an echocardiogram showed a normally functioning aortic valve and Tendyne mitral valves. Discussion Transapical transcatheter mitral valve implantation using the Tendyne valve is a feasible option for patients with prior TAVI. This can be considered an alternative treatment for MR in patients who are not suitable for edge-to-edge mitral repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual and recurrent mitral regurgitation after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair are therapeutically challenging. In the present case report, we describe a simplified, transapical electrosurgical laceration and stabilization of clip procedure that represents an alternative and direct approach for electrosurgical laceration of mitral valve leaflets enabling transcatheter mitral valve replacement for recurrent mitral regurgitation after mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

Mitral regurgitation is the most common form of valvular heart disease. The anatomy and pathophysiology of mitral valve regurgitation are very complex, and dedicated devices are required for transcatheter mitral valve replacement in patients with a high or prohibitive surgical risk. In the United States, all transcatheter mitral valve replacement devices are still being studied and are not yet approved for commercial use. Early feasibility studies have demonstrated good technical success and short-term outcomes, but larger samples and longer-term outcomes still need to be assessed. Furthermore, significant advances in device technology, delivery systems, and implantation techniques are essential to avoid left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and valvular and paravalvular regurgitation as well as ensuring good anchoring of the prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) with self-expanding (SAV) or balloon-expandable (BAV) valves are rising as promising treatment options for high-risk patients with symptomatic mitral valve (MVD) disease unsuitable for alternative treatment options. Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical, procedural and outcome parameters of patients undergoing SAV or BAV for MVD. Methods: In this observational and single-center case series, fifteen consecutive patients treated with the Tendyne Mitral Valve System (SAV) and thirty-one patients treated with SAPIEN prosthesis (BAV) were included. Results: The patients (aged 78 years [interquartile range (IQR): 65.5 to 83.1 years], 41% women, EuroSCORE II 10.3% [IQR: 5.5 to 17.0%] were similar regarding baseline characteristics, despite a higher rate of prior heart valve surgery and prevalence of MV stenosis in the SAV-group. At discharge, the SAV-group had a mean transvalvular gradient of 4.2 mmHg, whereas the BAV-group had a mean transvalvular gradient of 6.2 mmHg. None or trace paravalvular leakage (PVL) was assessed in 85% in SAV-group and 80% in the BAV-group. 320 day all-cause and cardiac mortality rates were comparable in both groups (SAV: 26.7% vs BAV: 20%, p = 0.60). Four deaths occurred early in the SAV-group until 32 days of follow-up. Conclusions: In high-risk patients with MVD, TMVI presents a promising treatment option with encouraging mid-term outcomes and good valve durability. TMVI either with BAV or SAV may be developed to an established treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular disease in the United States in patients older than 75. However, many patients with severe MR are at a high risk for surgical repair due to other significant comorbidities. Over the past decade, many transcatheter mitral valve devices have been studied that address the different mechanisms of MR, but only a few have received a Conformité Européene (CE) mark or United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The Carillon, Cardioband, and Mitralign all received CE marking for percutaneous mitral annuloplasty, while the Tendyne and SAPIEN 3 received a CE mark and FDA approval, respectively, for transcatheter mitral valve replacement. Finally, the NeoChord DS 1000 received a CE mark for transcatheter chordal repair. Each of these devices is reviewed in detail, including device indications, performance in clinical trials, anesthetic management, intraprocedural imaging guidance, and postprocedural complications. Although percutaneous devices will appear and disappear from use, understanding the procedural considerations remains highly relevant, as these key principles will apply to the next generation of transcatheter valve interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a chronic process involving mitral valve annulus, linked with an increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Since its first autoptic description, a progressive evolution in diagnostic tools brought cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan to become the gold standard in MAC detection and classification. The treatment of significant mitral valve disease in patients with annular calcifications has always represented an issue for cardiac surgeons, being it linked with an increased risk of atrioventricular groove rupture, circumflex artery injury, or embolism. As a consequence, different surgical techniques have been developed over time in order to reduce the incidence of these fearsome complications. Recently, transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged as a valid alternative to surgery in high-risk patients. Both hybrid transatrial, transfemoral, or transapical approaches have been described to deliver balloon-expandable or self-expanding aortic transcatheter valves into the calcified annulus, with conflicting early and long-term results. Tendyne (Abbott Structural Heart, Santa Clara, CA, USA) is a promising transapical-delivered option. Early results have shown effectiveness and safety of this device in patients with MAC and severe mitral valve disease, with the lowest rate of embolization, mortality, and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) reported so far.

Aims: Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is a new treatment option for patients with symptomatic mitral valve (MV) disease. Real‐world data have not yet been reported. This study aimed to assess procedural and 30‐day outcomes of TMVI in a real‐world patient cohort. Method and results: All consecutive patients undergoing implantation of a transapically delivered self‐expanding valve at 26 European centres from January 2020 to April 2021 were included in this retrospective observational registry. Among 108 surgical high‐risk patients included (43% female, mean age 75 ± 7 years, mean STS‐PROM 7.2 ± 5.3%), 25% was treated for an off‐label indication (e.g. previous MV intervention or surgery, mitral stenosis, mitral annular calcification). Patients were highly symptomatic (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class III/IV in 86%) and mitral regurgitation (MR) was graded 3+/4+ in 95% (38% primary, 37% secondary, and 25% mixed aetiology). Technical success rate was 96%, and MR reduction to ≤1+ was achieved in all patients with successful implantation. There were two procedural deaths and 30‐day all‐cause mortality was 12%. At early clinical follow‐up, MR reduction was sustained and there were significant reductions of pulmonary pressure (systolic pulmonary artery pressure 52 vs. 42 mmHg, p < 0.001), and tricuspid regurgitation severity (p = 0.013). Heart failure symptoms improved significantly (73% in NYHA class I/II, p < 0.001). Procedural success rate according to MVARC criteria was 80% and was not different in patients treated for an off‐label indication (74% vs. 81% for off‐ vs. on‐label, p = 0.41). Conclusion: In a real‐world patient population, TMVI has a high technical and procedural success rate with efficient and durable MR reduction and symptomatic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with cardiovascular comorbidities and events and in the presence of mitral stenosis (MS) represents a high-risk cohort with limited treatment options. Emerging hybrid, minimally invasive, and transcatheter therapies that use circumferential MAC as an anchor for mitral valve replacement are emerging, but none are consistently associated with ideal outcomes. Recent Findings: In patients with MAC and nonrheumatic calcific mitral stenosis who are severely symptomatic, mitral intervention may be indicated. Surgical decalcification and replacement of the mitral valve remains the conventional therapy. Surgical techniques to avoid decalcification are being described including a left atrium to left ventricular apex graft conduit. Transcatheter balloon-expandable valves designed for the aortic valve have been implanted in the mitral position in MAC with a surgical direct transatrial transcatheter approach or transseptal transcatheter approach. Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction remains prevalent and associated with increased mortality. Direct transatrial approach allows for surgical resection of the anterior leaflet to mitigate this risk, and percutaneous therapies to lacerate the anterior leaflet or to ablate the basal septum are being developed. Cardiac computed tomography has emerged as a requisite for patient selection and procedural planning and has powerful predictive value for LVOT obstruction and valve embolization in valve-in-MAC. Novel transcatheter valves designed specifically for the mitral space are being studied in patients with MAC. Summary: MAC with mitral stenosis remains a challenging disease. Advances in technique, technology, and imaging may create new and reproducible treatment options with low procedural mortality for this challenging disease entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) has a high incidence in the western world, and mortality is high for untreated severe MR. Catheter based repair was introduced with MitraClip in 2003, and some additional devices later came into the market. To expand the transcatheter treatment options for mitral valve disease, the first transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) was performed by Søndergaard et al. 2012, only 10 years after the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), however, the development has been much slower for the TMVI than for TAVI. From 2012, studies were started for several devices to prove feasibility and safety. However, there were big challenges in valve design; delivery systems and anchoring in addition to anatomical issues (avoid LVOT obstruction and paravalvular leak, big size of annulus). The main valves in studies were CardiaQ (later bought by Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, United States), Tiara (Neovasc Inc., Richmond, Canada), Twelve (later Intrepid, Medtronic, MN, United States) and Tendyne™ (Abbott, MN, United States). I will focus on the Tendyne™ valve that is the only CE approved transcatheter mitral valve implant. It is available in a large number of sizes and is repositionable and retrievable. The results for the 100 first patients included in the early feasibility study (EFS) at 1 and 2 years are promising. Initially feasible for MR, but further investigations show promising results also for implant in mitral annular calcification.

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is the most prevalent valvular disorder among the growing elderly population, occurring in over 6% of those aged >65. Unfortunately, many individuals with severe MR (particularly those with systolic dysfunction or secondary MR) will not be candidates for surgical valve repair or replacement due to high or prohibitive operative risk. For such patients, transcatheter mitral valve replacement represents a viable option. The TendyneTM valve (Abbott Vascular, CA, USA) is one of the most well-studied system to date, with a good safety and efficacy profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of prosthesis dislodgement after transcatheter mitral valve replacement in an 85-year-old woman with chronic ischaemic heart failure. Two weeks after an initial successful implantation, she presented with a paravalvular leak associated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Tether re-tensioning was performed and resolved the situation, but resulted in a deformation of the apical attachment zone into the left ventricle. Unfortunately, the patient finally expired from severe endocarditis. Proper anchoring is the main challenge for transcatheter mitral valve replacement techniques. Dislodgement of the prosthesis after transcatheter mitral valve replacement is an infrequent complication of the Tendyne® procedure. This case emphasizes the importance of assessing the quality of the myocardium at the implantation zone of the apical pad, and of prosthesis oversizing, especially if low-profile valves are chosen.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]