How to remove an embolized TriClip from the femoral vein? Case report

Background and case summary We report a case of a 76-year old female who was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnoea caused by a known high-grade tricuspid valve regurgitation. The patient received an edge-to-edge reparation of the tricuspid valve one month before the current admission using the TriClip XTR (Clip) system. The postinterventional echocardiographic results were satisfying, and the patient was discharged with tricuspid valve regurgitation grade I. At this new admission, the echocardiographic control showed a missing Clip on the tricuspid valve with a recurrent high-grade regurgitation. Fluoroscopy showed the dislocated Clip at the level of the femoral vein. This was also confirmed using Duplex sonography with no signs of thrombosis or embolization. The challenge was how to extract the Clip using endovascular methods as the patient refused any kind of surgical removal. We managed to remove the 20 x 10 mm big clip using transfemoral access and an endovascular snare system. No postinterventional complications were registered. The patient was discharged after the intervention with a new scheduled Clip procedure. Discussion This case shows a possible safe and challenging alternative to removing dislocated Clip from the femoral vein. Experienced operators are required to have the knowledge and skills to manage these possible procedural complications using the appropriate apparatus. A surgical technique would be, in this case, common practice, however as the patient declined surgical intervention, the endovascular approach was the alternative option.

Modified Starnes procedure as a bridge to 2-ventricle repair in neonatal Ebstein’s anomaly: A paradigm shift

Severe tricuspid valve regurgitation secondary to Ebstein’s anomaly represents several challenges in neonates. It can result in significant respiratory and/or hemodynamic compromise that mandates urgent interventions. When conservative management fails, 2 surgical options are available: tricuspid valve repair or single ventricle palliation. The overall results of neonatal tricuspid valve repair are unsatisfactory especially in sick neonates and those with preoperative hemodynamic instability. Single ventricle palliation utilizing the Starnes procedure with right ventricular exclusion provides a quicker way to improve hemodynamics and allows rapid decompression of the right ventricle but carries the long-term disadvantages of the single ventricle pathway. We were recently faced with a challenging case of neonatal Ebstein’s anomaly resulting in severe tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) and significant hemodynamic and respiratory instability. We performed an initial stage I palliation with a modified Starnes’ procedure, which allowed stabilization and rapid recovery of the patient to be followed 5 months later with conversion to 2-ventricle repair using the cone technique. We believe combining these 2 strategies for suitable neonatal candidates may be a useful technique that should be considered in the algorithm for neonatal Ebstein’s anomaly.

Rediscovered and Unforgotten: Transcatheter Interventions for the Treatment of Severe Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation

Tricuspid valve regurgitation is both globally prevalent and undertreated. Historically, surgical intervention for isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was avoided despite the prevalence of TR, largely due to poor surgical outcomes and an incomplete understanding of how it independently affects mortality. Over the past two decades, TR has been shown by several studies to be an independent predictor of worse functional status and poor survival on long-term follow-up. During this same time period, transcatheter interventions for the treatment of valvular heart disease have evolved dramatically. While the transcatheter repair and replacement of the tricuspid valve in patients with severe TR remains in the early stages of investigation relative to the mitral or aortic valve, the field is rapidly expanding. Here, the authors review the field of transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions for severe TR, focusing on the orthotropic devices and valves currently available worldwide.

Pulmonary Vascular Resistance Estimated by Echocardiography in Dogs With Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension Probability

Post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening complication in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). An increase in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is associated with post-capillary PH progression. In humans, PVR estimated by echocardiography (PVRecho) enables the non-invasive assessment of PVR in patients with PH. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of PVRecho in dogs with MMVD, PH probability, and right-sided congestive heart failure (R-CHF). Dogs with MMVD and detectable tricuspid valve regurgitation were included in the study. Dogs were classified into three PH probability groups (low/intermediate/high) and according to the presence or absence of R-CHF. All dogs underwent echocardiographic measurements for right ventricular (RV) morphology and function. PVRecho was calculated by two methods using tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity and velocity–time integral of the pulmonary artery flow (PVRecho and PVRecho2). RV size indicators were significantly higher with a higher probability of PH. RV strain and velocity–time integral of the pulmonary artery flow in the high probability group were significantly lower than those in the other groups. Tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity, PVRecho, and PVRecho2 were significantly higher with an increase in PH probability. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the presence of R-CHF and increased PVRecho2 and end-diastolic RV internal dimension normalized by body weight. PVRecho and PVRecho2 showed significant differences among the PH probability groups. These non-invasive variables may be useful for the diagnosis and stratification of PH and the determination of the presence of R-CHF in dogs with MMVD.

Effect of concomitant atrioventricular valve regurgitation on the outcome after transcatheter aortic-valve implantation

Background Many patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) of moderate grade or more. The impact of coexistent tricuspid regurgitation (TR) remains to be determined. Methods Patients with severe and symptomatic aortic stenosis [effective orifice area (EOA)≤1cm2] referred for TAVI at our institution were consecutively enrolled. Prospectively collected demographic, laboratory and echocardiographic data were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to MR and TR severity pre-procedurally: no/mild MR and TR, moderate/severe MR, moderate/severe TR, moderate/severe MR and TR. Primary clinical endpoint was all-cause mortality, as defined by the criteria proposed by the Valve Academic Research Consortium2. Results A total of 244 consecutive patients were enrolled in the study: 148 (60.7%) patients no/mild MR and TR, 32 (13.1%) moderate/severe MR, 35 (14.3%) moderate/severe TR, 29 (11.9%) moderate/severe MR and TR pre-procedurally. There was significant difference in pre-procedural pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) among groups (no/mild MR and TR: 40.8±10 mmHg, moderate/severe MR: 46.6±11.2 mmHg, moderate/severe TR: 49.9±13mmHg, moderate/severe MR and TR: 59.8±15.2mmHg, p<0.0001). The Kaplan–Meier curves for 2 year mortality showed that the severity of TR was associated with poor survival. Interestingly, patients with moderate/severe MR and TR had the worse survival (no/mild MR and TR (91.2%), moderate/severe MR (78.1%), moderate/severe TR (62.9%), moderate/severe MR and TR (62.1%), p<0.0001). Conclusion The presence of concomitant moderate or severe mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation was associated with the higher mortality. This suggests that a thorough evaluation of the mechanisms underlying concomitant mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation should be performed to determine the best strategy for avoiding TAVI-related futility. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.