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Background-Precise knowledge of left atrial appendage (LAA) orifice size is crucial for correct sizing of LAA closure devices. The aim of the present study was to determine the performance of real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (RT3DTEE) for LAA orifice size assessment, compared with 2D transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE), and to investigate the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on LAA orifice size.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous mitral valve repair (MVR) using the MitraClip system has become a valid alternative for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and high operative risk. OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and periprocedural factors that may have an impact on clinical outcome. DESIGN: Multi-centre longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centres. PATIENTS: Here we report on the first 100 consecutive patients treated with percutaneous MVR in Switzerland between March 2009 and April 2011. All of them had moderate-severe (3+) or severe (4+) MR, and 62% had functional MR. 82% of the patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV, mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 48% and the median European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation was 16.9%. INTERVENTIONS: MitraClip implantation performed under echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance in general anaesthesia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, echocardiographic and procedural data were prospectively collected. RESULTS: Acute procedural success (APS, defined as successful clip implantation with residual MR grade 2+) was achieved in 85% of patients. Overall survival at 6 and 12 months was 89.9% (95% CI 81.8 to 94.6) and 84.6% (95% CI 74.7 to 91.0), respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis identified APS (p=0.0069) and discharge MR grade (p=0.03) as significant predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: In our consecutive cohort of patients, APS was achieved in 85%. APS and residual discharge MR grade are important predictors of mid-term survival after percutaneous MVR.

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ObjectiveAnalyse 2-year outcomes after MitraClip therapy and identify predictors of outcome.MethodsConsecutive patients (n=74) undergoing MitraClip therapy were included in the MitraSWISS registry and followed prospectively.ResultsA reduction of mitral regurgitation (MR) to ≤ mild was achieved in 32 (43%) patients and to moderate in 31 (42%) patients; 16/63 (25%) patients with initially successful treatment developed recurrent moderate to severe or severe MR during the first year and only 1 patient did so during the second year. At 2 years, moderate or less MR was more frequently present in patients with a transmitral mean gradient <3 mm Hg at baseline (73% vs 23%, p < 0.01) and in patients with a left atrial volume index (LAVI) <50 mL/m2 at baseline (86% vs 52%, p=0.03). More than mild MR post MitraClip, N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide ≥5000 ng/L at baseline, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were associated with reduced survival.ConclusionsA mean transmitral gradient <3 mm Hg at baseline, an LAVI <50 mL/m2, the absence of COPD and CKD, and reduction of MR to less than moderate were associated with favourable outcome. Given a suitable anatomy, such patients may be excellent candidates for MitraClip therapy. Between 1 and 2 years follow-up, clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were stable, suggesting favourable, long-term durability of the device.

During the last ten years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a reliable and valid alternative treatment for elderly patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis requiring valve replacement and being at high or intermediate surgical risk. While common femoral arteries are the access site of choice in the vast majority of TAVI patients, in up to 15–20% of TAVI candidates this route might be precluded due to the presence of diffuse atherosclerotic disease, tortuosity or small vessel diameter. Therefore, in order to achieve an antegrade or retrograde implant, several alterative access routes have been described, namely trans-axillary, trans-aortic, trans-apical, trans-carotid, trans-septal, and trans-caval. The aim of this paper is to give a concise overview on vascular access sites for TAVI, with a particular focus on patient's selection criteria, imaging, technical aspects, and clinical outcome.