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Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is widely used in cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology and is often an indispensable tool, giving supportive anatomical understanding and smooth guidance in both settings. Despite it being considered safe, fatal complications can commonly occur after a TEE examination in cardiac surgery operating rooms and catheterization laboratories. Currently, there is a lack of awareness of the scale of the problem, as there are only small amounts of data available, mainly derived from the surgical literature. This review summarizes the main predisposing factors for TEE-associated complications (classified as patient and procedure-related) and the main preventive strategies. We aim to apply preventive strategies more broadly, especially to patients at high risk of developing TEE-related serious adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Previous trials reported comparable results with PASCAL and earlier MitraClip generations. Limited comparative data exist for more contemporary MitraClip generations, particularly the large MitraClip XT(R/W). We aimed to evaluate acute and 30-day outcomes in patients undergoing mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) with one of the large devices, either PASCAL P10 or MitraClip XT(R/W) (3rd/4th generation). Methods: A total of 309 PASCAL-treated patients were matched by propensity score to 253 MitraClip-treated patients, resulting in 200 adequately balanced pairs. Procedural, clinical, and echocardiographic outcomes were collected for up to 30 days, including subgroup analysis for mitral regurgitation (MR) etiologies. Results: PASCAL and MitraClip patients were comparable regarding age (80 vs. 79 years), sex (female: 45.5% vs. 50.5%), and MR etiology (degenerative MR: n = 94, functional MR [FMR]: n = 96, mixed MR: n = 10 in each group). Technical success rates were comparable (96.5% vs. 96.0%; p > 0.999). At discharge, the mean gradient was higher (3.3 mmHg vs. 3.0 mmHg; p = 0.038), and the residual mitral valve orifice area was smaller in MitraClip patients (3.0 cm2 vs. 2.3 cm2; p < 0.001). At discharge, the reduction to MR ≤ 2+ was comparable (92.4% vs. 87.8%; p = 0.132). However, reduction to MR ≤ 1+ was more frequently observed in PASCAL patients (67.7% vs. 56.6%; p = 0.029), driven by the FMR subgroup (74.0% vs. 60.0%; p = 0.046). No difference was observed in 30-day mortality (p = 0.204) or reduction in NYHA-FC to ≤II (p > 0.999). Conclusions: Both M-TEER devices exhibited high and comparable rates of technical success and MR reduction to ≤2+. PASCAL may be advantageous in achieving MR reduction to ≤1+ in patients with FMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the edge-to-edge MitraClip repair system, the edge-to-spacer PASCAL repair system was approved for percutaneous treatment of severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Comparative data are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare procedural and short-term safety and efficacy of 2 leaflet-based transcatheter mitral valve repair systems. Procedural and 30-day outcomes were investigated in a propensity score–matched cohort of 307 PASCAL and 307 MitraClip patients at 10 sites. Matching criteria included sex, age, left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association functional class, MR etiology, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left atrial volume index, and vena contracta width. The primary efficacy endpoints were technical success and degree of residual MR at discharge. The primary safety endpoint was the rate of major adverse events (MAE). Technical success was 97.0% in the PASCAL group and 98.0% in the MitraClip group (P = 0.624). MR ≤2+ at discharge was comparable in both groups (PASCAL: 93.8% vs MitraClip: 92.4%; P = 0.527), with more patients exhibiting MR ≤1+ in the PASCAL group (70.5% vs 56.6%; P < 0.001). The postprocedural mean gradient was significantly higher in the MitraClip group (3.3 ± 1.5 mm Hg vs 3.9 ± 1.7 mm Hg; P < 0.001). At 30 days, all-cause mortality and MAE rates were similar (mortality: 1.7% vs 3.3%; P = 0.299; MAE: 3.9% vs 5.2%; P = 0.562). In this first large propensity score–matched comparison, procedural success rates and MAE did not differ significantly between patients treated with the PASCAL or MitraClip valve repair system. Procedural results with less than moderate MR and no elevated transmitral gradient were more common in the PASCAL group, which might have an impact on long-term outcome. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mitral annular dilation has been shown to challenge successful edge-to-edge therapy with earlier MitraClip generations. Recently, third-generation MitraClip-XTR with extended clip arm length was introduced. We assessed the impact of annular dilation on residual mitral regurgitation (MR) after MitraClip-XTR repair and sought to identify cutoffs associated with suboptimal MR reduction. METHODS: We included 107 patients (78.9±6.7 years; 40.2% female) with symptomatic severe MR (46.7% primary MR; 53.3% secondary MR) undergoing MitraClip-XTR repair. Annular dimensions were retrospectively assessed by 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional-transesophageal echocardiography including a semiautomated analysis. Impact of annular diameters and area on suboptimal reduction defined as =2+MR on transthoracic echocardiography at discharge was assessed and predictive cutoff values identified. Previously identified predictors of suboptimal outcome after MitraClip therapy were included in multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 93%, 1-year mortality was 23%. Suboptimal MR reduction was observed in 26% and associated with higher 1-year mortality (odds ratio, 4.5 [1.5-14.1]). End-systolic anteroposterior and intercommissural annular diameters, annular area and further vena-contracta width, effective regurgitant orifice area and left atrial volume were associated with suboptimal outcomes. Independent predictors of suboptimal reduction were end-systolic annular area (odds ratio, 1.36 [1.08-1.71] per cm²) and vena-contracta width (odds ratio, 1.47 [1.04-2.09] per mm). On receiver operating characteristic analysis, 3-dimensional-transesophageal echocardiography end-systolic anteroposterior diameter >40.5 mm, intercommisural diameter >40.5 mm, and annular-area >12.50 cm2 were the most predictive thresholds for suboptimal reduction. If all 3 annular measurements exceeded the determined threshold values, the risk for suboptimal reduction increased by 17-fold. CONCLUSIONS: Annular dilation was found to challenge successful edge-to-edge therapy also with extended-reach MitraClip-XTR. Our proposed thresholds for preprocedural annular dimensions may serve as guidance for improved patient selection in edge-to-edge repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is common in patients with heart failure and constitutes an independent risk factor for adverse prognosis besides NYHA-class. The predictive value of dyspnea reduction after transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) on outcome has not been investigated up to now. We enrolled 627 consecutive patients (47.0% female, 57.4% functional MR; median follow-up 486 days[IQR 157/961]; survival status available in 96.8%; symptoms assessed in n = 556 at baseline / n = 406 at 1 month) treated with isolated percutaneous mitral valve edge-to-edge repair in our center from 06/2010–03/2018 (exclusion of combined forms of TMVr) in a monocentric retrospective analysis. Survival was 97.6% at discharge, 73.9% after 1, 54.5% after 3, 37.6% after 5 and 21.7% after 7-years. Before TMVr, NYHA-classes III/IV were found in 89.0%. Of these, 74.7% reported symptomatic relief (reduction in NYHA-class) one month after procedure (NYHA class recorded in 406 patients at 30 days). NYHA-classes III/IV were documented in 37.2% (p < 0.001) at 30 days and in 36.6% (p < 0.001) at 1 year without significant changes between the follow-ups. Dyspnea reduction was accompanied by significantly improved long-term survival (1 year, 89.1 vs 71.2%, p = 0.001, 2 years: 75.5 vs 58.7%, p = 0.039) and was identified as an independent predictor for lower mortality (1-year HR for increased mortality by missing symptomatic improvement 2.94 [95%CI 1.53–5.65], p = 0.001; long-term HR 1.95 [95%CI 1.29–2.94], p = 0.001) independently in both etiologies of MR. TMVr by edge-to-edge therapy enables early and sustainable symptomatic improvement in nearly 75% of the symptomatic patients. The simple assessment of postinterventional changes in NYHA-class might serve as an independent predictor for mid- and long-term prognosis in both FMR and DMR. [Display omitted] • Mitral regurgitation is an well-established risk factor for adverse prognosis in HF. • interventional therapy enables sustainable symptomatic improvement in nearly 75%. • Postprocedural change in NYHA-class might be a tool predict prognosis after TMVr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]