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Background: Performance of tricuspid annuloplasty (TA) in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery is recommended based on the degree of tricuspid regurgitation and tricuspid annulus size, but is often underused., Aim: To evaluate the impact of combined TA on in-hospital outcome in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR)., Methods: We selected all consecutive patients who underwent MVR for native valve disease. Clinical, echocardiographic and in-hospital complications were obtained from chart review., Results: We identified 287 patients (mean age 62±17 years; 44% men). Combined TA was performed in 165 patients (57%), who had more rheumatic disease (71% vs. 24%; P<0.0001) and mitral stenosis (55% vs. 22%; P<0.0001), but less endocarditis (4% vs. 31%; P<0.0001), were more often in atrial fibrillation (54% vs. 22%; P<0.0001), were more severely symptomatic (80% vs. 57%; P<0.0001), presented with a higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) (53±16 vs. 45±15mmHg; P=0.0002) and were less likely to have required emergency surgery (17% vs. 38%; P<0.0001). Despite this higher risk profile, in-hospital mortality was slightly lower (5% vs. 13%; P=0.02) and complication rates were similar (redo surgery 22% vs. 16% [P=0.18] and tamponade 20% vs. 15% [P=0.15]). After adjustment for age, sex, functional class, SPAP, emergency surgery and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft or aortic valve replacement surgery, combined TA was not associated with an increased rate of in-hospital death (P=0.08) or major complications (P=0.89)., Conclusions: In a consecutive series of patients who underwent MVR, TA did not seem to have a negative impact on immediate outcome. Hence, additional performance of TA at the time of MVR should not be declined on the basis of an increased surgical risk., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: With the emergence of transcatheter mitral valve replacement, it appears crucial to provide contemporary references with which this new technology can be compared. At our institution, transoesophageal echocardiography is systematically performed before discharge after surgical mitral valve replacement., Aim: To evaluate the rate and determinants of paravalvular regurgitation after surgical mitral valve replacement., Methods: We collected medical history, indication, type of surgery and in-hospital outcome in all consecutive patients who underwent a mitral valve replacement in the past 2 years at our institution. Paravalvular regurgitation was assessed semiquantitatively using transoesophageal echocardiography before discharge., Results: We enrolled 399 patients (mean age 61±16 years; 58% women; 27% with a history of cardiac surgery). Mitral valve replacement was performed mainly for rheumatic disease (44%). Most patients were severely symptomatic (70% in New York Heart Association class III/IV). A mechanical prosthesis was implanted in 60% and a bioprosthesis in 40%. In-hospital mortality was 10%. Transoesophageal echocardiography was performed in 310 patients (77%); the main reasons for not performing transoesophageal echocardiography were frailty (n=40, 10%), early death (n=19, 5%) and contraindication for transoesophageal echocardiography (n=10, 3%). The overall rate of paravalvular regurgitation was 8% (n=25); a grade ≥2 was observed in five patients (2%), and two patients had to be reoperated on. Mitral annular calcification was the main factor associated with paravalvular regurgitation (P=0.01)., Conclusions: Surgical mitral valve replacement was associated with significant in-hospital mortality and morbidity. Using systematic transoesophageal echocardiography assessment, paravalvular regurgitation was not uncommon (8%), and was significantly linked to mitral annulus calcification. However, clinically significant leakage (≥grade 2) was rare (2%)., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Recurrence of mitral regurgitation after mitral valve repair is correlated with unfavourable left ventricular remodelling and poor outcome. This pictorial review describes the echocardiographic features of three types of acute mitral valve repair dysfunction, and the additional value of three-dimensional echocardiography., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)