It is recommended that the quality of the implantation result be analyzed carefully and repositioning of the MC be considered in the case of an elevated pressure gradient over the mitral valve.

AimsThe implantation of a MitraClip (MC) is a new treatment modality for severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients whose condition is inoperable or who are at high conventional operative risk. This study reports the follow-up data of patients implanted with an MC in our heart centre to find selection criteria for this procedure in patients with severe congestive heart failure. Methods and resultsThis study included 163 implantation procedures in 157 patients between March 2009 and November 2012. The severe MR was caused by functional or organic valve disease. The patients had no surgical treatment option or dramatically increased surgical operative risk due to reduced LVEF or concomitant diseases. Three (2%) implantation procedures were unsuccessful. Eleven (7%) patients died during the first 30 days after MC implantation, and 9 (6%) additional patients died during the first 6 months, both groups mainly due to severe, therapy-resistant endstage heart failure. The 111 patients who were followed up showed significant improvement in NT-proBNP, LVEF, NYHA class, 6 min walk test, and quality of life. Ten (6%) patients needed conventional heart surgery despite high operative risk due to persistent symptomatic MR after MC implantation. ConclusionThe interventional implantation of an MC is a new treatment for severe MR with acceptable periprocedural risk and results in clinical improvement in the majority. Patients with end-stage heart failure and an NT-proBNP value .10 000 pg/mL have a high mortality despite MC implantation, and their treatment should be based on a very individualized decision. Based on this experience, a clinical algorithm for patient selection is proposed.--

Recognition of all diastolic HF in RA requires a complex diagnostic approach. Active rather than inactive RA places patients at a higher risk for HF, whereas influence of RA treatment on HF risk needs to be elucidated in further studies.

Flexible LV pacing configurations are a useful feature of CRT systems for preventing PNS. The optimal LV pacing configuration should be determined on the basis of individual patient testing.

In patients, incipient deterministic radiation effects can theoretically be observed at dose area product >400 Gy*cm(2), a dose applied in 2.9% of CRT implantation procedures. Special follow-up programs are considered necessary for these patients and for operators, as the latter may be exposed over many years given the unknown long-term impact of chronic radiation exposure and the nature of current complex electrophysiology and device procedures.