Feldman, Ted

Introduction: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) using aortic transcatheter heart valves (THV) is developing as an alternative to surgery for patients with severely degenerated mitral valve (MV) bioprostheses. Retrospective self-reported registries have collected outcomes on these TMVR procedures in the STS/ACC Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry and in the Valve-in-Valve International Database. Most reported TMVR procedures for failed surgical bioprostheses have been performed using a transapical access approach. A prospective comprehensive evaluation of mitral Valve-in-Valve (VIV) outcomes, including transseptal access has not previously been conducted. Objectives: To evaluate in-hospital and 30-day clinical outcomes of transseptal mitral VIV with SAPIEN 3 THV in patients with very high surgical risk. Methods: Prospective enrollment of very high surgical risk patients with symptomatic severely degenerated MV surgical bioprostheses in 30 patients at 15 sites in the U.S. Candidates were assessed by a case review committee prior to approval. Baseline qualifying echocardiograms and cardiac CT studies were analyzed by independent core labs. Echocardiograms, cardiac CT studies and neurology evaluations were also performed after mitral VIV procedures. Clinical events were adjudicated by a clinical events committee and safety was monitored by a data safety monitoring board. Results: 26 patients have been enrolled between July 2016 and June 2017. Mean age was 83 years, 62% female, mean STS score was 10% and 62% were in New York Heart Association class III or IV. Transseptal access was used in all procedures. Technical success was achieved in all patients and there was no in-hospital mortality. There was no 30-day cardiovascular mortality and 4% (1 patient) 30-day all-cause mortality (1 patient died of asphyxia on day 29 after choking on pills at home), which was lower than the 30-day mortality in the TVT registry (9%). Detailed procedural, in-hospital and 30-day outcomes will be presented on the complete cohort of 30 patients. Conclusions: In patients without surgical alternatives, transseptal mitral ViV procedures in failed surgical bioprostheses are associated with high technical and procedural success and low 30-day mortality.

Introduction: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) using aortic transcatheter heart valves (THV) is developing as an alternative to surgery for patients with severe mitral valve disease due to degenerated mitral bioprostheses or failed surgical rings who are poor surgical candidates. Outcomes of off-label procedures in the United States are being collected in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy (STS/ACC TVT) Registry. A comprehensive analysis of mitral Valve-in-Valve (VIV) versus Valve-in-Ring (VIR) outcomes has not previously been performed. Objectives: To evaluate in-hospital and 30-day clinical outcomes of mitral VIV and VIR procedures in the United States. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data from the STS/ACC TVT Registry on patients who underwent mitral VIV or VIR procedures. Results: 587 patients underwent TMVR VIV (n=494) or VIR (n=93) procedures between January 2013 and December 2016 at 144 hospitals. Median age was 76 (VIV) and 73 (VIR) years, (p=0.024), 60.9% (VIV) and 44.1% (VIR) were female (p=0.003), median left ventricular ejection fraction was 55% in VIV and 50% in VIR (p <0.001), and median STS score was 10.5% (VIV) and 9.2% (VIR), p=0.131. Transseptal access was utilized in 35% VIV and 46.2% VIR procedures, p=0.081. Procedural success was achieved in 74.4% of VIV and 57.8%VIR (p=0.239). Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction was more common in VIR (5.4%) vs VIV (0.06%), p=0.003. Post-procedure median mean mitral valve gradient was 4mmHg in both groups. 95.7% of VIV and 86% of VIR patients had post-procedure mitral regurgitation ≤1(+), p<0.001. In-hospital mortality was 6.9% for VIV and 9.7% for VIR (p=0.343). 30-day mortality was 9% for VIV and 12% for VIR (p=0.387). At 30-day follow up, 85.6% of VIV and 77.7% of VIR patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II (p=0.398). Conclusions: TMVR VIV and VIR using aortic transcatheter heart valves in high surgical risk patients are associated with similar in-hospital and 30-day mortality and symptom benefit. LVOT obstruction post-TMVR and residual mitral regurgitation ≥2 (+) were more frequent in VIR procedures. The long-term effect of these procedures is not known and requires further evaluation.

Objectives Unbiased information regarding the surgical management of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) at the nationwide level are scarce and mainly US-based. The Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d’Information, a mandatory national database, offers the unique opportunity to assess the presentation and outcomes of all consecutive mitral valve (MV) surgeries performed in France in the contemporary era. Methods We collected all MV surgeries performed for MR in France in 2014–2016. MR aetiology was classified as degenerative (DMR), secondary (SMR) or Other (rheumatic or congenital disease and infective endocarditis). Results During the 3-year period, 18 167 MV surgeries were performed in France (55% repair and 45% replacement; 52% isolated). Age was 66±12 years and 59% were male. Aetiology was DMR in 42%, SMR in 16% and other in 42% including 19% with uncertain aetiologies. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 6.5% and increased with age, female gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index, type of surgery (replacement vs repair), associated surgery (combined vs isolated) and MR aetiology (all p<0.01). In-hospital mortality and rate of death/readmission for heart failure (HF) at 1 year were 3.4% and 13%, respectively for DMR (2.4% and 11% for isolated DMR) and 7.8% and 27%, respectively for SMR (5.5% and 23% for isolated SMR). Repair rate was 55% overall, 68% in DMR and 72% for isolated DMR surgery (70% of all DMR). Repair rates decreased with age, Charlson Comorbidity Index and female sex (all p<0.0001). Conclusion In this cross-sectional contemporary prospective nationwide database, in-hospital mortality and 1 year rate of death and HF readmission were considerable overall and in all subsets. Repair rates were suboptimal overall especially in the elderly and women subsets. These results underline the need to develop strategies to improve management and outcomes of patients with both DMR and SMR.

Background Although US recent data suggest that mitral regurgitation (MR) is severely undertreated and carries a poor outcome, population‐based views on outcome and management are limited. We aimed to define the current treatment standards, clinical outcomes, and costs related to MR at the nationwide level. Methods and Results In total, 107 412 patients with MR were admitted in France in 2014 to 2015. Within 1 year, 8% were operated and 92% were conservatively managed and constituted our study population (68% primary MR and 32% secondary MR). The mean age was 77±15 years; most patients presented with comorbidities. In‐hospital and 1‐year mortality rates were 4.1% and 14.3%, respectively. Readmissions were common (63% at least once and 37% readmitted ≥2 times). Rates of 1‐year mortality or all‐cause readmission and 1‐year mortality or heart failure readmission were 67% and 34%, respectively, and increased with age, Charlson index, heart failure at admission, and secondary MR etiology; however, the event rate remained notably high in the primary MR subset (64% and 28%, respectively). The mean costs of hospital admissions and of readmissions were 5345±6432 and 10 080±10 847 euros, respectively. Conclusions At the nationwide level, MR was a common reason for admission and affected an elderly population with frequent comorbidities. Less than 10% of patients underwent a valve intervention. All subsets of patients who were conservatively managed incurred high mortality and readmissions rates, and MR represented a major societal burden with an extrapolated annual cost of 350 to 550 million euros (390–615 million US dollars). New strategies to improve the management and outcomes of patients with both primary and secondary MR are critical and warranted.

Abstract Aims More evidence is needed to quantify the association between tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods and results Between 2008–2017, using the Optum longitudinal database, a patient-level database that integrates multiple US-based electronic health and claim records from several health care providers, we identified 435 679 patients with new HF diagnosis and both an assessment of the left ventricular ejection fraction and at least 1 year of history. TR was graded as mild, moderate or severe and classified as prevalent (at the time of the initial HF diagnosis) or incident (subsequent new cases thereafter). For prevalent TR, the analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model with adjustment for patient covariates. Incident TR was modelled as a time-updated covariate, as were other non-fatal events during follow-up. Prevalence of mild, moderate and severe TR at baseline was 10.1%, 5.1% and 1.4%, respectively. Over a median follow-up of 1.5 years, 121 273 patients (27.8%) died and prevalent TR was independently associated with survival. Compared to patients with no TR at baseline, the adjusted hazard ratios for mortality were 0.99 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97–1.01], 1.17 (95% CI 1.14–1.20) and 1.34 (95% CI 1.28–1.39) for mild, moderate and severe TR, respectively. In the 363 270 patients free from TR at baseline, incident TR (at least mild, at least moderate, or severe) developed during follow-up in 12.1%, 5.1% and 1.1%, respectively. Adjusted mortality hazard ratios for such new cases were 1.48 (95% CI 1.44–1.52), 1.92 (95% CI 1.86–1.99) and 2.44 (95% CI 2.32–2.57), respectively. Findings were consistent across all patient subgroups based on age, gender, rhythm, associated comorbidities, prior cardiac surgery, B-type natriuretic peptide/N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions In this large contemporary patient-level database of almost half-million US patients with HF, TR was associated with a marked increases in mortality risk overall and in all subgroups. Future randomized controlled trials will evaluate the impact of TR correction on clinical outcomes and the causal relationship between TR and mortality.

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement using aortic transcatheter heart valves has recently become an alternative for patients with degenerated mitral bioprostheses, failed surgical repairs with annuloplasty rings or severe mitral annular calcification who are poor surgical candidates. Outcomes of these procedures are collected in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology/Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry. A comprehensive analysis of mitral valve-in-valve (MViV), mitral valve-in-ring (MViR), and valve-in-mitral annular calcification (ViMAC) outcomes has not been performed. We sought to evaluate short-term outcomes of early experience with MViV, MViR, and ViMAC in the United States. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry. Results: Nine hundred three high-risk patients (median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score 10%) underwent MViV (n=680), MViR (n=123), or ViMAC (n=100) between March 2013 and June 2017 at 172 hospitals. Median age was 75 years, 59.2% female. Technical and procedural success were higher in MViV. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction occurred more frequently with ViMAC (ViMAC=10%, MViR=4.9%, MViV=0.7%; P <0.001). In-hospital mortality (MViV=6.3%, MViR=9%, ViMAC=18%; P =0.004) and 30-day mortality (MViV=8.1%, MViR=11.5%, ViMAC=21.8%; P =0.003) were higher in ViMAC. At 30-day follow-up, median mean mitral valve gradient was 7 mm Hg, most patients (96.7%) had mitral regurgitation grade ≤1 (+) and were in New York Heart Association class I to II (81.7%). Conclusions: MViV using aortic balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves is associated with a low complication rate, a 30-day mortality lower than predicted by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, and superior short-term outcomes than MViR and ViMAC. At 30 days, patients in all groups experienced improvement of symptoms, and valve performance remained stable. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT02245763.

Background: Open surgical closure and small-bore suture-based preclosure devices have limitations when used for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, percutaneous endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, or percutaneous thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. The MANTA vascular closure device is a novel collagen-based technology designed to close large bore arteriotomies created by devices with an outer diameter ranging from 12F to 25F. In this study, we determined the safety and effectiveness of the MANTA vascular closure device. Methods and Results: A prospective, single arm, multicenter investigation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement, percutaneous endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, or thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair at 20 sites in North America. The primary outcome was time to hemostasis. The primary safety outcomes were accessed site-related vascular injury or bleeding complications. A total of 341 patients, 78 roll-in, and 263 in the primary analysis cohort, were entered in the study between November 2016 and September 2017. For the primary analysis cohort, transcatheter aortic valve replacement was performed in 210 (79.8%), and percutaneous endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair or thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair was performed in 53 (20.2%). The 14F MANTA was used in 42 cases (16%), and the 18F was used in 221 cases(84%). The mean effective sheath outer diameter was 22F (7.3 mm). The mean time to hemostasis was 65±157 seconds with a median time to hemostasis of 24 seconds. Technical success was achieved in 257 (97.7%) patients, and a single device was deployed in 262 (99.6%) of cases. Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 major vascular complications occurred in 11 (4.2%) cases: 4 received a covered stent (1.5%), 3 had access site bleeding (1.1%), 2 underwent surgical repair (0.8%), and 2 underwent balloon inflation (0.8%). Conclusions: In a selected population, this study demonstrated that the MANTA percutaneous vascular closure device can safely and effectively close large bore arteriotomies created by current generation transcatheter aortic valve replacement, percutaneous endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair devices. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02908880.

Background Interatrial shunt device (IASD) effects have been described in patients with heart failure and ejection fractions (EFs) ≥40%. However, baseline characteristics that correlate with greatest hemodynamic effects are unknown. On the basis of fundamental principles, we hypothesized that larger pressure gradients between left and right atria would yield greater shunt flow and greater hemodynamic effects. Methods and Results REDUCE LAP-HF (Reduce Elevated Left Atrial Pressure in Patients With Heart Failure) was a multicenter study that investigated IASD safety and performance. Sixty-four patients with EF ≥40% underwent device implantation followed by hemodynamic assessments at rest and exercise, including pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP, surrogate for left atrial pressure) and central venous pressure (CVP). At 6 months, IASD resulted in an average pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio of 1.27 and increased exercise tolerance. The PCWP-CVP gradient (ie, the driving pressure for shunt flow) decreased at peak exercise from 16.8±6.9 to 11.4±5.5 mm Hg, because of increased CVP (17.5±5.4 to 20.3±7.9 mm Hg; P =0.04) and decreased PCWP (34.1±7.6 to 31.6±8.0 mm Hg; P =0.025). Baseline PCWP-CVP gradient during exercise correlated with changes of both PCWP-CVP and PCWP: Δ(PCWP-CVP)=10.0−0.89·(PCWP-CVP) baseline ( r 2 =0.56) and ΔPCWP=7.54−0.60·(PCWP-CVP) baseline ( P =0.001). Hemodynamics of patients with EF ≥50% and those with EF <50% responded similarly to IASD. Conclusions In heart failure patients with EF ≥40%, IASD significantly reduced PCWP and PCWP-CVP at peak exercise. Patients with higher baseline PCWP-CVP gradient had greater reductions in both parameters at follow-up. Results were sustained through 12 months and were independent of whether EF was ≥50% or between 40% and 49%. Additional studies will help further define the baseline hemodynamic predictors of exercise, hemodynamic, and clinical efficacy of the IASD. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01913613.

Bioprostheses are prone to structural valve degeneration, resulting in limited long-term durability. A significant challenge when comparing the durability of different types of bioprostheses is the lack of a standardized terminology for the definition of a degenerated valve. This issue becomes especially important when we try to compare the degeneration rate of surgically inserted and transcatheter bioprosthetic valves. This document, by the VIVID (Valve-in-Valve International Data), proposes practical and standardized definitions of valve degeneration and provides recommendations for the timing of clinical and imaging follow-up assessments accordingly. Its goal is to improve the quality of research and clinical care for patients with deteriorated bioprostheses by providing objective and strict criteria that can be utilized in future clinical trials. We hope that the adoption of these criteria by both the cardiological and surgical communities will lead to improved comparability and interpretation of durability analyses.

Background— There is a paucity of data on the use of optimal medical therapy (OMT) in patients with complex coronary artery disease undergoing revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and its long-term prognostic significance. Methods and Results— The Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial is a multicenter, randomized, clinical trial of patients (n=1800) with complex coronary disease randomized to revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention or CABG. Detailed drug history was collected for all patients at discharge and at the 1-month, 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year follow-ups. OMT was defined as the combination of at least 1 antiplatelet drug, statin, β-blocker, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker. Five-year clinical outcomes were stratified by OMT and non-OMT. OMT was underused in patients treated with coronary revascularization, especially CABG. OMT was an independent predictor of survival. OMT was associated with a significant reduction in mortality (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.85; P =0.002) and composite end point of death/myocardial infarction/stroke (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.92; P =0.007) at the 5-year follow-up. The treatment effect with OMT (36% relative reduction in mortality over 5 years) was greater than the treatment effect of revascularization strategy (26% relative reduction in mortality with CABG versus percutaneous coronary intervention over 5 years). On stratified analysis, all the components of OMT were important for reducing adverse outcomes regardless of revascularization strategy. Conclusions— The use of OMT remains low in patients with complex coronary disease requiring coronary intervention with percutaneous coronary intervention and even lower in patients treated with CABG. Lack of OMT is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Targeted strategies to improve OMT use in postrevascularization patients are warranted. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT00114972.