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Aim of our study was to investigate the feasibility of use and possible additional value of real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D-TEE) compared to conventional 2D-TEE in patients undergoing elective mitral valve repair. After ethical committee approval, patients were included in this prospective study. After induction of anesthesia, a comprehensive 2D-TEE examination was performed, followed with RT-3D-TEE. The intraoperative surgical finding was used as the gold standard for segmental analysis. Only such segments which were surgically corrected either by resection or insertion of artificial chords were judged pathologic. A total of 50 patients were included in this study; usable data were available from 42 of these patients . Based on the Carpentier classification, the pathology found was type I in 2 (5%) patients, type II in 39 (93%) patients and type IIIb in 1 (2%) patient. We found that 3D imaging of complex mitral disease involving multiple segments, when compared to 2D-TEE did not show any statistically significant difference.RT-3D-TEE did not show any major advantage when compared to conventional 2D-TEE for assessing mitral valve pathology, although further study in a larger population is required to establish the validity of this study.

Abstract Due to high mortality rates in surgical treatment, total endovascular stent grafting has become a promising therapeutic option in patients with acute aortic dissection type B. In our case, a 76- year- old patient with acute ruptured aortic dissection type B and hematothorax achieved concomitant total endovascular stent grafting and left side mini thoracotomy. With moderate neurologic impairment he was discharged from hospital after 20 days. This case shows that early mortality of live threatening acute aortic dissection type B with hemorrhagic pleural effusion may be reduced by total endovascular stent grafting and concomitant mini thoracotomy.

Background: The standard aortic valve replacement operations in young patients are bioprosthetic or mechanical aortic valve replacement. In this study, we present the long-term results of the Ross operation in young patients., Methods: The Ross operation with root replacement was performed on 795 patients between 1995 and 2020. The endpoints were overall survival, re-operation/reintervention rates on the autograft and homograft/RV-PA conduit (RV, right ventricle; PA, pulmonary artery), and the occurrence of serious adverse events., Results: 795 patients (75% male, 25% female; mean age 43 ± 14 years) underwent the Ross operation with root replacement. The 30-day mortality was 1% (8 patients) with a 95% confidence interval of [0.48; 1.9]. The follow-up was 96 % complete and covered 9540 patient-years, with a mean follow-up time of 12 ± 7 years. The survival rates at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years were 97% [96; 98], 96% [93; 96], 92% [89; 94] and 86% [83; 90]. The rate of autograft survival without reoperation was 94% [92; 96] at 10 years and 80% [76; 85] at 20 years. The rate of homograft/RV-PA conduit survival without reoperation was 95% [93; 97] at 10 years and 85% [81; 90] at 20 years. There were 5 cases of hemorrhage, 14 of thromboembolic complications or apoplexy, and 19 of endocarditis., Conclusion: The Ross operation with root replacement was associated with high survival rates over 25 years of follow-up. The rates of reoperation and reintervention, the morbidity and mortality, and the rate of endocarditis are low. The Ross operation is thus an effective surgical treatment option for young patients with aortic valve disease.

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared.

Background:  Mitral valve (MV) repair with annuloplasty is the standard of care in patients with primary degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR). Newer generations of annuloplasty rings have been developed with the goals of closer reproduction of native annular geometry and easier implantation. This study investigates the short-term and 5-year clinical outcomes of MV repair with the Carpentier-Edwards (CE) Physio II annuloplasty ring., Methods:  This is an observational study including a total of 486 patients who underwent MV repair for DMR using the CE Physio II annuloplasty ring between 2011 and 2016., Results:  Mean age was 54.8 ± 12.1 years, 364 patients (74.9%) were males, and 84 patients (17.3%) presented with atrial fibrillation. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 62.3 ± 7.3%. Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 2.7 ± 2.4%. New York Heart Association functional class III-IV symptoms were present in 134 (27.6%) patients preoperatively. Isolated MV repair was performed via a right-sided mini-thoracotomy in 479 patients (98.6%). Concomitant procedures included ablation for atrial fibrillation in 83 patients (17.1%) and closure of atrial septum defect in 88 patients (18.1%). Median size of implanted annuloplasty rings was 34 mm (interquartile range: 34-38 mm). Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 116 ± 34 minutes and mean cross-clamp time was 74 ± 25 minutes. Thirty-day mortality was 0.4%. The Kaplan-Meier 4-year survival was 98.5%. Freedom from MV reoperation was 96.2 and 94.0% at 1 and 4 years., Conclusion:  MV repair with the CE Physio II annuloplasty ring is associated with excellent midterm clinical outcome., Competing Interests: Dr. Borger reports personal fees from Edwards Lifesciences, personal fees from Medtronic, personal fees from Abbott, personal fees from CryoLife, outside the submitted work. Dr. Holzhey reports other from Edwards Lifescience, outside the submitted work., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the association between the localization of the distal anastomosis (zone 2/3), the stent graft length (100-160 mm), the position of the distal end of the hybrid prosthesis and the need for secondary aortic intervention (SAI) in acute and chronic thoracic aortic disease after the frozen elephant trunk procedure., Methods: From 2009 through 2020, a total of 232 patients (137 men; mean age, 61.7 ± 13.8 years) were treated with the frozen elephant trunk procedure. The main indications were acute aortic dissection type A (n = 106, 46%), chronic aortic dissection type A (n = 52, 22%) and degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysm (n = 74, 32%)., Results: The rate of SAI was significantly higher when we performed a distal anastomosis in zone 2 rather than in zone 3, whereas the rate of SAI was less frequent if the distal positioning of the hybrid prosthesis was below TH 4-5. Combining the zone 2 concept and the short stent graft length (100 mm) was associated with a significantly higher rate of SAIs. Patients with a distal anastomosis in zone 2 were significantly less likely to have a recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (P < 0.001). However, no association between a specific arch zone of a distal anastomosis and the occurrence of spinal cord injury was observed., Conclusions: Rates of SAIs are highest in patients who were treated with a distal anastomosis in zone 2 and a short stent graft (100 mm) with the distal end of the hybrid prosthesis at vertebral level TH 2-3., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Surgical treatment of young and middle-aged patients suffering from aortic valve disease remains an unresolved issue due to the limited durability of bioprosthetic heart valve replacements and the valve-related morbidity of patients with mechanical valve substitutes. Theoretically, the "living valve" principle of the Ross operation may represent a potentially viable solution to this dilemma. In this paper, we report on the surgical techniques of the Ross procedure and present long-term post-operative outcomes using the reinforced full-root technique., Methods: From 1995 to 2020, a total of 832 consecutive patients (mean age, 43.4±13.7 years; 617 males) underwent a Ross operation using the full-root technique. Patients were prospectively monitored with clinical and echocardiographic follow-up. Total follow-up was 9,046 patients-years and was 92% complete. Mean-follow-up was 10.9±6.9 years (range, 0-24.9 years)., Results: Survival at twenty years was 92% (95% CI: 90-94%). Freedom from autograft or right ventricle to pulmonary artery connection reoperation at twenty years was 79% (95% CI: 74-85%). Eighty-nine pulmonary autograft reoperations had to be performed in eighty patients; salvage of the pulmonary autograft could be performed in forty-six of them. Fifty-seven patients required sixty-three reoperations on the right ventricle to pulmonary artery connection. Major cerebral bleeding occurred in one patient and neurological events in seventeen patients, respectively., Conclusions: Over a follow-up interval of up to twenty-five years, the Ross operation with the reinforced full-root technique demonstrated excellent survival in young and middle-aged patients. The rate of pulmonary autograft and right ventricular outflow graft reoperations were low in this patient subset. Therefore, the Ross operation with the reinforced full-root technique represents an enduring and valid treatment option in young and middle-aged patients suffering from aortic valve disease., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Non-leaflet resection techniques including loop chordal replacement are being used with increasing frequency, but the long-term results of these techniques are still unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term results of loop neochord replacement with leaflet resection techniques in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve (MV) repair for MV prolapse., Methods: Between 1999 and 2014, 2134 consecutive MV prolapse patients underwent minimally invasive MV repair with isolated loop (n = 1751; 82.1%) or resection techniques (n = 383, 17.9%) at our institution. Follow-up data were available for 86% of patients with a mean follow-up time of 6.1 ± 4.3 years., Results: The 30-day mortality was 0.8% for all patients (loop: 0.7%, resection: 1.6%; P = 0.09). Leaflet resection was associated with more moderate or more mitral regurgitation on predischarge echocardiography (P = 0.003). The 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 98 ± 1%, 95 ± 1% and 86 ± 2% for the loop technique versus 97 ± 1%, 92 ± 1% and 81 ± 2% for resection patients, respectively (P = 0.003). Significant predictors for late mortality were MV repair technique (P = 0.004), left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001) and myocardial infarction (P < 0.001). Freedom from MV reoperation at 1, 5 and 10 years was 98 ± 1%, 97 ± 1%, 97 ± 1% and 97 ± 1%, 97 ± 1%, 96 ± 1% for patients operated on with the loop technique and leaflet resection (P = 0.4)., Conclusions: In our patient cohort, MV repair with loop chordal replacement is associated with less early recurrent mitral regurgitation and very good long-term results when compared to classical leaflet resection techniques for MV prolapse and is therefore an excellent option for such patients., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Mitral valve (MV) annuloplasty ring dehiscence with subsequent recurrent mitral regurgitation represents an unusual but challenging clinical problem. Incidence, localization and outcomes for this complication have not been well defined., Methods: From 1996 to 2016, a total of 3478 patients underwent isolated MV repair with ring annuloplasty at the Leipzig Heart Centre. Of these patients, 57 (1.6%) underwent reoperation due to annuloplasty ring dehiscence. Echocardiographic data, operative and early postoperative characteristics as well as short- and long-term survival rates after MV reoperation were analysed., Results: Occurrences of ring dehiscence were acute (<30 days), early (≤1 year) and late (>1 year) in 44%, 33% and 23% of patients, respectively. Localization of annuloplasty ring dehiscence was found most frequently in the P3 segment (68%), followed by the P2 (51%) and the P1 segments (47%). The 30-day mortality rate and 1- and 5-year survival rates after MV reoperation were 2%, 89% and 74%, respectively. During reoperation, MV replacement was performed in 38 (67%) and MV re-repair in 19 (33%) patients., Conclusions: Annuloplasty ring dehiscence is clinically less common, localized more frequently on the posterior annulus and occurs mostly acutely or early after MV repair. MV reoperation can be performed safely in such patients., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Mitral regurgitation is common and is associated with excess morbidity and mortality. Despite these poor outcomes, only a minority of affected patients undergo mitral surgery, for several reasons, which underlines the substantial unmet need for treatment for this disorder. Transcatheter mitral valve repair interventions have been developed to treat mitral regurgitation in an undertreated patient population. The aim of this status quo review is to provide an overview of currently available transcatheter mitral valve repair techniques, the different approaches and the clinical outcomes reported so far., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons 2019.)

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the clinical outcomes after isolated mitral valve (MV) repair in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <50%) with focus on perioperative characteristics, survival, and freedom from reoperations., Methods: Between 1997 and 2015, 557 patients with reduced LVEF (age: 62.8 ± 11.7 years, male: 320) underwent MV repair for symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR). Etiologies were dilated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy in 487 (87.4%) and 70 (12.6%) patients, respectively; these were classified into three different subgroups: LVEF 40%-49% (group 1), 30%-39% (group 2), and <30% (group 3)., Results: Overall, 294, 145, and 118 patients had an LVEF of 40%-49%, 30%-39%, and <30%, respectively. Logistic EuroSCORE was significantly higher (P <0.001) as the LVEF worsened. The survival analysis for groups 1-3, respectively, revealed the following: 30-day mortality: 1.4%, 3.4%, and 7.6% (P <0.001); 1-year survival: 93.9%, 89.4%, and 82% (P <0.001); 5-year survival: 81.2%, 75.2%, and 58% (P <0.001)., Conclusion: MV repair in patients with impaired LVEF could be performed safely with good clinical short- and mid-term outcome. Nevertheless, reduced preoperative LVEF correlates with worse perioperative and long-term survival.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to quantify the mitral valve (MV) annulus, the MV shape and the anatomical MV orifice area throughout the cardiac cycle using 4-dimensional MV analysis software in patients with primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) and secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) in comparison to a healthy control group., Methods: Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiograms of the MV were acquired for 29 patients with PMR, for 28 patients with SMR and for 18 healthy control subjects. The MV was quantified with regards to anterior-posterior and lateromedial diameter, annular area and circumference, intertrigonal (IT) distance, annular sphericity index, annular height to commissural width ration, and anatomical MV orifice area throughout the cardiac cycle using 3-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography-based 4-dimensional MV advanced analysis software., Results: Normal annulus dynamics display a systolic enlargement followed by an early-diastolic plateau phase and a late-diastolic contraction. The IT distance showed a linear association with the anterior-posterior diameter (= 1.11 × IT distance) and lateromedial diameter (= 1.44 × IT distance) in the control subjects. Mitral regurgitation is associated with a less dynamic, planar and dilated annulus with small variations between PMR and SMR. The IT distance was less affected by mitral regurgitation compared to the control subjects., Conclusions: The novel 4-dimensional MV analysis allows new insights into the dynamic MV geometry in patients with PMR and SMR compared to the control subjects. The IT distance may be used to predict annuloplasty ring sizing., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background:  The aim of this study was to quantify acute mitral valve (MV) geometry dynamic changes throughout the cardiac cycle using three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) in patients undergoing surgical MV repair (MVR) with ring annuloplasty and optional neochord implantation., Methods:  Twenty-nine patients (63 ± 10 years) with severe primary mitral regurgitation underwent surgical MVR using ring annuloplasty with or without neochord implantation. We recorded 3D TEE data throughout the cardiac cycle before and after MVR. Dynamic changes (4D) in the MV annulus geometry and anatomical MV orifice area (AMVOA) were measured using a novel semiautomated software (Auto Valve, Siemens Healthcare)., Results:  MVR significantly reduces the anteroposterior diameter by up to 38% at end-systole (36.8-22.7 mm; p  < 0.001) and the lateromedial diameter by up to 31% (42.7-30.3 mm; p  < 0.001). Moreover, the annular circumference was reduced by up to 31% at end-systole (129.6-87.6 mm, p  < 0.001), and the annular area was significantly decreased by up to 52% (12.8-5.7 cm 2 ; p  < 0.001). Finally, the AMVOA experienced the largest change, decreasing from 1.1 to 0.2 cm 2 during systole (at midsystole; p  < 0.001) and from 4.1 to 3.2 cm 2 ( p  < 0.001) during diastole., Conclusions:  MVR reduces the annular dimension and the AMVOA, contributing to mitral competency, but the use of annuloplasty rings reduces annular contractility after the procedure. Surgeons can use 4D imaging technology to assess MV function dynamically, detecting the acute morphological changes of the mitral annulus and leaflets before and after the procedure., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: The aim of this study was to quantify the acute dynamic changes of mitral valve (MV) geometry throughout the cardiac cycle-during percutaneous MV repair with the MitraClip system by 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE)., Methods: The MV was imaged throughout the cardiac cycle (CC) before and after the MitraClip procedure using 3D TEE in 28 patients (mean age, 77 ± 8 years) with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Dynamic changes in the MV annulus geometry and anatomical MV orifice area (AMVOA) were quantified using a novel semi-automated software., Results: Percutaneous MV repair decreased anterior-posterior diameter by up to 9% (at 50% of CC; from 34.5 to 31.9 mm; p < 0.001) throughout the CC and increased the diastolic lateral-medial diameter by up to 7% (at 60% of the CC; from 39.7 to 42.3 mm; p < 0.001), whereas the annular circumference and area were not significantly affected. Annulus sphericity index was reduced up to 13% (at 50% of the CC; from 0.89 to 0.78, p < 0.001). The AMVOA also decreased during systole, the maximum decrease being from 0.6 to 0.2 mm 2 (at 0% of CC; p = 0.007), and during diastole the maximum decrease being from 4.6 to 1.6 cm 2 (at 50% of CC; p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Percutaneous MV repair reduces the MR by an improved coaptation of MV leaflets joint with a simultaneous indirect reduction of anterior-posterior diameter. Further, the MitraClip procedure leads to a reduction of AMVOA of more than 60% during diastole.

Aims: Results of catheter based interventional treatment for pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation remain suboptimal. Surgical repair may represent an alternative therapy, though long-term results have not been thoroughly investigated., Methods and Results: We retrospectively assessed all patients in our centre undergoing surgical repair for radiofrequency-induced PVS. Data regarding surgical technique, clinical outcome, and rate of pulmonary vein (PV) restenosis were collected and analysed. Between 2004 and 2016, the rate for PVS resulting from RFA for atrial fibrillation in our institution was 0.79% (76/9633). During this period, five male patients with multiple PVS (3 ± 1) underwent surgical repair of a total of 13 symptomatic PVS. Surgery was performed in a standard setting under cardiopulmonary bypass. Stenotic veins were incised longitudinally followed by a patch augmentation plasty using either bovine pericard (n = 7) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patches (n = 5). Localization of incision was on the anterior side of the PV only (n = 8) or on both the anterior and posterior sides (n = 4). In one PVS lesion, mechanical dilatation was sufficient. Long-term follow-up after 60 ± 69 months revealed an average restenosis rate of 38%. Restenosis was defined as narrowing >70%. All patients reported clinical improvement of symptoms at follow-up., Conclusion: Even in the era of wide circumferential lesions, PVS still occurs. While surgical PV patch plasty represents a valuable treatment option, restenosis remains an issue during follow-up. Nevertheless, surgical repair achieves highly acceptable long-term results for RFA-acquired PVS. Hence, it should be routinely discussed as a therapeutic option in cases with multiple PVS.

Background: The feasibility of minimally invasive mitral valve (MV) surgery in infective endocarditis (IE) has not been reported in detail. We assessed the safety, efficacy, and durability of the minimally invasive approach through a right anterolateral minithoracotomy for surgical treatment of MV IE., Methods: A review of the Leipzig Heart Center database revealed 92 eligible patients operated on between 2002 and 2013. All patients had undergone minimally invasive surgery for IE. The indication for surgery was isolated IE of the MV in all patients. Baseline and intraoperative data, as well as clinical outcomes and short-term follow-up were analyzed retrospectively., Results: The patients' mean age was 60.9 ±  15.3 years, the logistic EuroSCORE II was 19.6 ± 19.1%, and 64.1% (59) were male. MV repair was feasible in 23.9% (22/92) of patients. Repair techniques included annuloplasty ring implantation, anterior mitral leaflet resection, posterior mitral leaflet resection, and implantation of neochordae. MV replacement was performed in 69 patients (75%), a mitral annulus patch in 1 patient, and concomitant tricuspid valve surgery for tricuspid regurgitation in 5 patients. Bacteriological analysis showed staphylococcus infection in 45.5%, streptococcus in 36.4%, enterococcus in 13.6%, and others in 4.5%. The 30-day-mortality rate was 9.8% (9 patients). The 1-year follow-up showed a 1-year survival rate of 77.7 ± 4.4% and freedom from reoperation within 1 year due to reendocarditis of 93.3 ± 2.1%., Conclusions: The minimally invasive approach is suitable for the treatment of IE of the MV. It is a good technique in IE in selected patients., Competing Interests: None., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Mitral valve (MV) insufficiency, classified as primary and secondary mitral regurgitation (MR), is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. In industrialized countries, degenerative forms are the predominant cause of MR; however, an increasing number of patients present with secondary MR (Iung et al. EHJ 24:1231-1243, 2003). During the last decades, MV surgery experienced substantial advancements. Alain Carpentier pioneered the field of reconstructive valve surgery in the beginning of the 1970s and, since then, a plethora of innovations have led to today's landscape of MV surgery. Modern MV repair techniques including minimally invasive approaches represent the gold standard for primary MR with reconstruction rates of > 97% in high-volume reference centers (Castillo et al. JTCS 144(2):308-312, 2012). Although there is a clear strategy for treatment of primary MR with established high-quality results, the optimal course for treatment of secondary MR remains controversial. Results for a variety of MV repair techniques for secondary MR have been uniformly disappointing and there has been a recent resurgence in interest for MV replacement surgery. Innovations in equipment and imaging have led to the development of new techniques for patients with MV disease. High-risk patients who are poor candidates for surgery have been the focus for most of these techniques, usually within the construct of a multidisciplinary heart team. Efforts have been predominantly focused on less invasive strategies, usually transcatheter technologies, in these high-risk patients. This article aims to give an overview about current surgical treatment options for primary and for secondary MR with special focus on new surgical and transcatheter developments.

Background: Transapical, beating heart, off-pump implantation of neochordae for repair of mitral valve (MV) prolapse is of increasing interest. The aim of this study was to evaluate long term results for MV repair using the NeoChord system (NeoChord, St. Louis Park, MN)., Methods: Six patients underwent treatment for severe primary mitral regurgitation (MR) with the NeoChord DS1000 system as part of the initial device safety and feasibility Transapical Artificial Chordae Tendinae (TACT) trial at our institution (University of Leipzig-Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany). The primary pathology in all patients was isolated posterior leaflet prolapse of the P2 or P3 segment, or both., Results: Successful repair resulting in no or trace MR was achieved in 5 of 6 patients by implantation of three neochordae under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance and normal left ventricular loading conditions. One patient underwent intraoperative conversion to an open MV replacement as a result of leaflet injury. The early postoperative course was uneventful in all remaining patients. Two patients had to undergo reoperation for recurrent MR at 3 and 16 months postoperatively. The remaining 3 patients were followed up for a period of 5 years. These patients were free of cardiac symptoms, and transthoracic examination showed trace or mild to moderate MR at 1-, 2-, and 5-year follow-up. A trend toward reverse remodeling of the left ventricle with no increase in mitral annular dilatation over 5 years was observed., Conclusions: In select patients, MV repair using the NeoChord system results in very good long-term results without recurrent prolapse, MR, or annular dilatation., (Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a challenging procedure to conceptualize, yet it is an integral component of dermatology residency. The cantaloupe analogy is a tool that can be used to assist in visualizing MMS specimen processing, which transitions the 3-dimensional multilayered skin to a 2-dimensional histologic slide.

Objectives: The present study aimed to test the clinical benefit of combined transcatheter mitral plus tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair (TMTVR) as compared with transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair (TMVR) alone in patients with both significant mitral (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) at high surgical risk., Background: A growing number of patients with severe MR at increased surgical risk are treated by transcatheter techniques. Evidence suggests that residual TR remains a predictor of adverse outcome in these patients., Methods: Sixty-one patients (mean age 79.5 ± 8.4 years, EuroSCORE II 8.6 ± 5.9%) underwent TMTVR (n = 27) or TMVR (n = 34). Echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed before and after the procedure., Results: Reduction of MR was similar in patients undergoing TMTVR and TMVR. Effective regurgitant orifice area of TR was reduced from 0.51 to 0.29 cm 2 in patients with TMTVR (p < 0.01), but remained unchanged after TMVR. On cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, only patients in the TMTVR group exhibited improved effective right and left ventricular stroke volume, and increased cardiac index (2.1 vs. 2.5 l/min/m 2 ; p < 0.01). TMTVR led to superior improvement in New York Heart Association functional class, NT-proBNP levels, and 6-min walking distance as compared with TMVR. After up to 18 months of follow-up, patients with TMTVR experienced fewer hospitalizations for heart failure when compared with patients with TMVR (p = 0.02), whereas rates of death were comparable between both groups of patients., Conclusions: TMTVR appears superior to TMVR in terms of cardiac output and functional improvement early after the intervention, and improves clinical outcome up to 18 months of follow-up., (Copyright © 2018 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The aim of this study was to analyse the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of tricuspid valve (TV) repair using the MitraClip system in patients at high surgical risk., Methods and Results: Forty-two elderly high-risk patients (76.8±7.3 years, EuroSCORE II 8.1±5.7) with isolated TR or combined TR and mitral regurgitation (MR) underwent edge-to-edge repair of the TV (n=11) or combined edge-to-edge repair of the TV and mitral valve (n=31). Procedural details, success rate, impact on TR severity and predictors of success at 30-day follow-up were analysed. Successful edge-to-edge repair of TR was achieved in 35/42 patients (83%, 68 clips in total, 94% in the anteroseptal commissure, 6% in the posteroseptal commissure). In five patients, grasping of the leaflets was impossible and two patients had no decrease in TR after clipping. In those with procedural success, clipping of the TV led to a reduction in effective regurgitant orifice area by -62.5% (from 0.8±0.4 to 0.3±0.2 cm2; p<0.0001). In both patients with isolated TV and combined procedures, six-minute walking distance improved (from 285±118 to 344±81 m and from 225±113 to 261±130 m, p=0.02 and 0.03, respectively). Predominant anteroseptal or central TR was identified as a predictor of procedural success (p=0.025)., Conclusions: Edge-to-edge repair of the TV is feasible with a promising reduction in TR, which could result in clinical improvement.