Preliminary Outcome of a Novel Edge-to-Edge Closure Device to Manage Mitral Regurgitation in Dogs

Bo Liu; Stacey B Leach; Wenzhi Pan; Fangyu Zheng; Liujun Jia; Xueying Zhou; Jing Li

doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.597879

Preliminary Outcome of a Novel Edge-to-Edge Closure Device to Manage Mitral Regurgitation in Dogs

Front Vet Sci. 2020 Dec 17:7:597879. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.597879. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Bo Liu¹, Stacey B Leach², Wenzhi Pan³, Fangyu Zheng¹, Liujun Jia⁴, Xueying Zhou¹, Jing Li¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
² Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.
³ Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Beijing Key Laboratory of Pre-Clinic Research and Evaluation for Cardiovascular Implant Materials, Fuwai Hospital National Cardiovascular Centre, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Background: Veterinary management of mitral valve regurgitation due to mxyomatous valve disease in dogs is limited to medical treatments, which only postpones the onset of congestive heart failure or alleviates clinical symptoms. Most surgical procedures to manage this condition in humans require cardiopulmonary bypass and have a high risk of complications. Animals: Eight dogs with naturally occurring mitral valve regurgitation. Methods: Prospective observational study. All dogs were treated with a novel edge-to-edge transcatheter device named ValveClamp. The total surgical procedural time and total catheterization time were recorded. Echocardiographic variables measured pre- and post-procedure were compared using Wilcoxin-signed rank test with a P < 0.05 considered significant. Data were expressed as median and interquartile range and absolute numbers and percentages. Results: The procedural success rate was 100% and all the dogs survived without complications. The median (interquartile range) total surgical procedural time was 86.5 (76-96.2) minutes and catheterization time was 23.5 (22-33.8) minutes. Echocardiography revealed a significant reduction in mitral regurgitation severity in all dogs following the procedure based on both a reduced mitral regurgitant maximum jet area (P = 0.012) and a reduced mitral regurgitant maximum jet area to left atrial area (P = 0.018). Conclusion: The ValveClamp device is effective at reducing the severity of mitral regurgitation in dogs with naturally occurring myxomatous valve disease.

Keywords: canine; mitral valve; myxomatous degeneration; transapical; valve surgery.