Impact of the MitraClip Procedure on Left Atrial Strain and Strain Rate.

Background: Although reverse remodeling of the left atrium (LA) has been shown after MitraClip placement in degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR), changes in LA strain and strain rate have not been evaluated in these patients or compared with surgical mitral valve repair.

Methods And Results: We included 87 subjects (mean age 59.7±12.

Echocardiographic predictors of single versus dual MitraClip device implantation and long-term reduction of mitral regurgitation after percutaneous repair.

Objectives: To describe predictors of the number of MitraClip devices implanted during percutaneous repair of mitral regurgitation (MR), and the long-term reduction in MR.

Background: In the EVEREST trials, one or two MitraClip devices were implanted to reduce MR, as needed.

Methods: Preprocedural transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE) of 233 subjects who received 1 or 2 MitraClip devices in the EVEREST II Randomized Trial and High-Risk Study were analyzed.

Effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on reverse remodeling and relation to outcome: multicenter automatic defibrillator implantation trial: cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) plus implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) reduced the risk of death or heart failure event in patients with mildly symptomatic heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, and wide QRS complex compared with an ICD only. We assessed echocardiographic changes in patients enrolled in the MADIT-CRT trial (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) to evaluate whether the improvement in outcomes with CRT plus an ICD was associated with favorable alterations in cardiac size and function.

Methods And Results: A total of 1,820 patients were randomly assigned to CRT plus an ICD or to an ICD only in a 3:2 ratio.

Reduced ventricular volumes and improved systolic function with cardiac resynchronization therapy: a randomized trial comparing simultaneous biventricular pacing, sequential biventricular pacing, and left ventricular pacing.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy has emerged as an important therapy for advanced systolic heart failure. Among available cardiac resynchronization therapy pacing modes that restore ventricular synchrony, it is uncertain whether simultaneous biventricular (BiV), sequential BiV, or left ventricular (LV) pacing is superior. The Device Evaluation of CONTAK RENEWAL 2 and EASYTRAK 2: Assessment of Safety and Effectiveness in Heart Failure (DECREASE-HF) trial is the first randomized trial comparing these 3 cardiac resynchronization therapy modalities.

Septal to posterior wall motion delay fails to predict reverse remodeling or clinical improvement in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a longer septal-to-posterior wall motion delay (SPWMD) would predict greater reverse remodeling and an improved clinical response in heart failure patients randomized to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in the CONTAK-CD trial.

Background: The SPWMD predicted clinical benefit with CRT in two previous studies from the same center.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of the CONTAK-CD trial, SPWMD was measured from the baseline echocardiogram of 79 heart failure patients (ejection fraction 22 +/- 7%, QRS duration 159 +/- 27 ms, 72% ischemic, 84% male) randomized to CRT and compared with six-month changes in echocardiographic and clinical parameters.