Antegrade-transseptal approach for left ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with previous Mitraclip implantation

Antegrade-transseptal approach to treat left ventricular tachyarrhythmia (LVT) is useful and widespread. Meanwhile, Mitraclip has been recently introduced as an alternative to mitral valve surgery for severe mitral regurgitation, usually coexisting with ventricular arrhythmias. However, data on the antegrade approach for mapping and ablating LVT in these patients are insufficient. We evaluated the feasibility and clinical impact of the antegrade approach for LVT after Mitraclip implantation.

We included five patients (all men; age 72.6 ± 10.5 years) with Mitraclip implantation who underwent catheter ablation for LVT and employed the antegrade approach. Post-ablation mitral valve function was systematically evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography. Six procedures with the antegrade approach were performed on the five patients; three of these patients developed electrical storm. The number of implanted Mitraclip was 1 in two patients, 2 in two patients, and 3 in one patient, for a mean duration of 417 ± 324 days before ablation. After 117-day median follow-up, there was no recurrence of electrical storm, but ventricular tachyarrhythmia recurred and required implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in one patient (only sporadic anti-tachycardia pacing); two patients died because of reasons other than ventricular arrhythmia. There was no procedure-related injury on the mitral valve immediately and 3 months after ablation.

Antegrade ablation of LVT after Mitraclip implantation may be feasible. Non-arrhythmic death during follow-up suggested the need for comprehensive evaluation before and after ablation.