Effect of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement on the Mitral Valve Apparatus and Mitral Regurgitation

Background—The effect of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) on the mitral valve apparatus and factors influencing the reduction of mitral regurgitation with or without mitral leaflet tethering after TAVR are poorly understood. The present 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography study aimed to elucidate early changes further in the structure and function of the mitral valve apparatus after TAVR. Methods and Results—We analyzed 90 patients (nontenting group, 56 patients and tenting group, 34 patients) who underwent TAVR using the Edwards SAPIEN and had intraprocedural 3D transesophageal echocardiography evaluation of the mitral valve. Of all patients, mitral regurgitation improved in 54%, remained the same in 38%, and worsened in 8% 1 day after TAVR. There were no statistically significant differences in mitral annular 3D parameters before and after TAVR in both groups. In the tenting group, tenting area (P<0.01) and tenting height (P<0.01) were decreased, and coaptation length was in...