Background: Although Doppler evaluation using a multiplanar method is recommended to assess the severity of aortic stenosis (AS) with transthoracic echocardiography, evidence on the diagnostic significance of a non-apical method is limited. This study aimed to compare the use of the apical window (AW) with use of the right parasternal window (RW) method to evaluate AS severity and to examine the diagnostic significance of performing the RW method in addition to the AW method during the evaluation. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 287 consecutive patients (mean age: 79 ± 10 years; women, 56%) with severe AS (aortic valve area [AVA] ≤1.0cm 2). The severity of AS according to the AW method and that according to the RW for all subjects were compared, and the significance of performing the RW method in addition to the AW method was examined. Furthermore, we compared the concordance group, in which the AW and RW methods indicated matching in severity, and the discordant group, in which the AW and RW methods did not indicate matching severity. Results: Peak velocity (PV), mean pressure gradient (PG), and AVA were not significantly different between the AW and RW methods. Performing the RW method in addition to the AW method significantly decreased the number of low PG AS cases (mean PG <40 mmHg) from 71.1% to 65.0% and it increased the number of very severe AS cases (PV ≥5m/s) from 8.7% to 14.5%. Although, there was no significant difference in the Doppler angle (DA) observed using the AW method for the discordant group and the concordant group, the DA observed using the RW method was significantly smaller in the discordant group (8.8±8.2, 16.3±12.3 °, p<0.01). In the receiver-operating characteristic analysis, with the RW method, a DA of 8° was the cutoff value for discrepancies between the two groups. Conclusions: By performing the RW method in addition to the AW method to determine AS severity, different severity is observed in approximately 10% of cases. These results suggest that AS severity may be underestimated by using the AW method alone.

Background Little is known regarding the impact of right ventricular (RV) function on clinical outcomes following MitraClip therapy. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of RV dysfunction and its cut-off value following MitraClip therapy. Methods Consecutive 77 patients (median 79 years, 33% female) who underwent MitraClip therapy were enrolled. Clinical endpoint was defined as cardiovascular (CV) events, including cardiovascular death and rehospitalization for heart failure (HF). Results and conclusions Twenty-two (29%) patients had primary mitral regurgitation (MR). During follow-up, 5 patients died due to CV events, 8 were hospitalized for HF. On univariate Cox regression analysis, CV events were associated with eGFR (HR; 0.960, 95% CI; 0.926–0.995, p = 0.027), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE, HR; 0.874, 95% CI; 0.789–0.968, p = 0.010), and significant residual MR (HR; 11.652, 95% CI; 3.257–41.691, p <0.001). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, TAPSE (HR; 0.788, 95% CI; 0.788–0.987, p = 0.029) and significant residual MR (HR; 9.373, 95% CI; 2.581–34.033, p = 0.001) were independently associated with CV events. TAPSE <11 mm was the best cut-off criteria for predicting CV events. RV function was independently associated with clinical outcomes following MitraClip therapy. TAPSE is a simple parameter for predicting CV events in patients with MR who are undergoing MitraClip therapy.