Edge-to-Edge Mitral Repair Associated With Septal Myectomy in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND

To assess the long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of the edge-to-edge mitral repair added to septal myectomy in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

METHODS

This is a single-center study of 26 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (septal thickness 17 ± 3 mm, resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient 63 ± 20 mm Hg, MR ≥ 2+/4+) who underwent an EE mitral procedure combined with ventricular septal myectomy. The EE procedure was used to treat MR due to systolic anterior motion in 19 patients (73%) and to posterior leaflet prolapse/flail in 7 (27%).

RESULTS

Hospital mortality was 4%. Follow-up was 100% complete (median 6.5 years; interquartile range, 2.7 to 9). Freedom from cardiac death was 88% ± 8.4% at 8 years. The 8-year cumulative incidence function of reoperation with death as competing risk was 7.7% ± 5.2%. At 8 years, the cumulative incidence function of recurrence of MR 3+ or greater with death as competing risk was 7.9% ± 5.3%. Residual MR at discharge (hazard ratio 8.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.1 to 32.6; P = .002) and preoperative systolic pulmonary artery pressure (hazard ratio 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 1.1; P = .005) were identified as predictors of MR recurrence. At the last follow-up, 92% of patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I-II, and 72% were in sinus rhythm. The last echocardiographic follow-up showed a median resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient of 9 mm Hg (interquartile range, 7 to 12; P < .001 vs preoperative).

CONCLUSIONS

In hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients, when septal thickness was considered inadequate to allow a safe and effective myectomy, the edge-to-edge technique provided a simple, quick, and effective solution by abolishing at the same time residual gradient and systolic anterior motion-related MR. Organic mitral valve lesions such as prolapse and flail could be addressed as well, whenever indicated. Satisfactory clinical and echocardiographic results were maintained at long-term follow-up.