Impact of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Availability on Volume and Outcomes of Surgical Repair

BackgroundThe impact of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) on national surgical mitral valve repair (MVr) volume and outcomes is unknown.ObjectivesThis study aims to assess the impact of TEER availability on MVr volumes and outcomes for degenerative mitral regurgitation.MethodsMVr volume, 30-day and 5-year outcomes, including mortality, heart failure rehospitalization and mitral valve reintervention, were obtained from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database linked with Medicare administrative claims and were compared within TEER centers before and after the first institutional TEER procedure. A difference-in-difference approach comparing parallel trends in coronary artery bypass grafting outcomes was used to account for temporal improvements in perioperative care.ResultsFrom July 2011 through December 2018, 13,959 patients underwent MVr at 278 institutions, which became TEER-capable during the study period. There was no significant change in median annualized institutional MVr volume before (32 [IQR: 17-54]) vs after (29 [IQR: 16-54]) the first TEER (P = 0.06). However, higher-risk (Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality ≥2%) MVr procedures declined over the study period (P < 0.001 for trend). The introduction of TEER was associated with reduced risk-adjusted odds of mortality after MVr at 30 days (adjusted OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.54-0.99) and over 5 years (adjusted HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.66-0.86). These improvements in 30-day and 5-year mortality were significantly greater than equivalent trends in coronary artery bypass grafting.ConclusionsThe introduction of TEER has not significantly changed overall MVr case volumes for degenerative mitral regurgitation but is associated with a decrease in higher-risk surgical operations and improved 30-day and 5-year outcomes within institutions adopting the technology.