Durability of Mitral Valve Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: An Expert Overview

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a globally endemic heart disease burden with significant morbidity and mortality. Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment with established safety and intermediate-term efficacy.

The aim of this study was to determine M-TEER durability and the incidence, risk factors, and treatment strategies of M-TEER failure.

A comprehensive literature review was performed, identifying 457 records, from which 33 full-text papers were included. Definitions of MR recurrence, reintervention, and M-TEER durability and failure were provided. On the basis of these definitions, weighted means with 95% CIs were calculated for the rates of MR recurrence, reintervention, and their composite for both the overall population and the primary and secondary MR subgroups.

The pooled weighted means of MR recurrence and reintervention ranged between 5% and 10% in the first months after the index procedure, remained relatively stable for the first 3 years, and increased at 5 years to 17% and 9%, respectively. MR recurrence and reintervention weighted means were numerically higher in primary than secondary MR, and 41% of primary MR patients experienced MR recurrence or reintervention at 5 years. Redo transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for M-TEER failure seemed safer than surgery but was associated with 1-year MR recurrence rates between 20% and 40%. Mitral valve replacement was the most common surgical technique for M-TEER failure.

The incidence of M-TEER failure after a successful index procedure increases after 3 years and is more pronounced with primary than secondary MR. More systematic, longer term follow-up data after M-TEER are required to better define M-TEER durability.