These results demonstrate that the NeoChord procedure is safe, effective and reproducible. Clinical and echocardiographic efficacy is maintained up to 1 year with significant differences among the anatomical groups. Specific anatomical selection criteria are necessary to achieve stable results.

Initial results with the NeoChord procedure in a small number of patients indicate that transapical off-pump mitral valve repair is feasible and safe. Efficacy is maintained up to the 30-day follow-up with significant clinical benefit for patients.

Beating-heart transapical neochord implantation was feasible, could be performed safely, and resulted in a relatively short procedure time. Larger studies and longer follow-up are needed to validate these promising results.

BackgroundWe performed a systematic review of cor triatriatum sinistrum (CTS) diagnosed in adults. The aim of this review was to describe the clinical presentation, natural history and management of this congenital heart disease.MethodsA PubMed literature search for ‘cor triatriatum sinistrum’ published since 2005 was performed. Included patients were divided into those with and without obstructive membrane physiology. The clinical course differences were compared.ResultsA total of 171 published cases were included. The median age at diagnosis was 43 years (IQR, 30–60). Obstructive membrane physiology was observed in 70 (41%), and this patient group was younger at presentation (median age 39 (IQR, 28–52) vs 50 years (IQR, 32–64), p=0.003).Patients with obstructive membrane more frequently had associated cardiac defects (58.6% vs 42.4%, p=0.039). Overall, the most frequent clinical symptom was atrial fibrillation, as this was present in 56 (32.8%) of all patients. CTS-related symptoms were more frequent in patients with obstructive membrane: congestive heart failure (44.3% vs 15.2%, p<0.001), pulmonary hypertension (27.1% vs 6.1%, p<0.001), haemorrhage (8.6% vs 0%, p=0.004) and infections manifestation (8.6% vs 0%, p=0.004).A total of 71 (41.5%) patients with CTS required interventional treatment, mainly within patients with the obstructive membrane (86.8% vs 12.6%, p<0.001).ConclusionThe natural history of CTS most often manifests with symptoms of congestive heart failure. Patients with obstructive membrane most often have associated cardiac defects and higher risk for infections and haemorrhage. The interventional treatment of CTS remains the first choice for obstructive membrane.

Aims:The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of the Occlutech Paravalvular Leak Device (PLD) for the percutaneous closure of paravalvular leaks (PVL).Methods and results: Patients with PVL were enrolled at 21 sites from nine countries. Indications for PVL closure were heart failure and/or haemolytic anaemia. Endpoint measures were changes in PV regurgitation grade, NYHA class and requirement for haemolysis-related transfusion. One-hundred and thirty-six patients with mitral (67.6%) or aortic (32.4%) leaks were included (mean age 66.7 years, 58% male); 31% had multiple PVLs. The proportion of patients with NYHA Class III/IV decreased from 77.3% at baseline to 16.9% at latest follow-up. The proportion of patients with need for haemolysis-related blood transfusion decreased from 36.8% to 5.9% and from 8.3% to 0% for ML patients and AL patients, respectively. Allcause mortality was 7.4%. Complications included interference with valve leaflets (0.7%), transient device embolisation (percutaneously solved) (0.7%), late device embolisation (0.7%), recurrent haemolytic anaemia (2.2%), new-onset haemolytic anaemia (0.7%), valve surgery (2.2%), need for repeat closure (0.7%), complications at femoral puncture site (0.7%) and arrhythmias requiring treatment (4.4%).Conclusions: PVL closure with the Occlutech PLD demonstrated a high success rate associated with significant clinical improvement and a relatively low rate of serious complications.