Valvular regurgitation represents an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Imaging is pivotal in the evaluation of native valve regurgitation and echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for this purpose. The imaging assessment of valvular regurgitation should integrate quantification of the regurgitation, assessment of the valve anatomy and function, and the consequences of valvular disease on cardiac chambers. In clinical practice, the management of patients with valvular regurgitation largely relies on the results of imaging. It is crucial to provide standards that aim at establishing a baseline list of measurements to be performed when assessing native valve regurgitation. The present document aims to present clinical guidance for the multi-modality imaging assessment of native valvular regurgitation.

Aims : Isolated tricuspid valve surgery (ITVS) is considered to be a high-risk procedure, but in-hospital mortality is markedly variable. This study sought to develop a dedicated risk score model to predict the outcome of patients after ITVS for severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Methods and results : All consecutive adult patients who underwent ITVS for severe non-congenital TR at 12 French centres between 2007 and 2017 were included. We identified 466 patients (60 ± 16 years, 49% female, functional TR in 49%). In-hospital mortality rate was 10%. We derived and internally validated a scoring system to predict in-hospital mortality using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapping with 1000 re-samples. The final risk score ranged from 0 to 12 points and included eight parameters: age ≥70 years, New York Heart Association Class III–IV, right-sided heart failure signs, daily dose of furosemide ≥125 mg, glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min, elevated bilirubin, left ventricular ejection fraction <60%, and moderate/severe right ventricular dysfunction. Tricuspid regurgitation mechanism was not an independent predictor of outcome. Observed and predicted in-hospital mortality rates increased from 0% to 60% and from 1% to 65%, respectively, as the score increased from 0 up to ≥9 points. Apparent and bias-corrected areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.81 and 0.75, respectively, much higher than the logistic EuroSCORE (0.67) or EuroSCORE II (0.63). Conclusion : We propose TRI-SCORE as a dedicated risk score model based on eight easy to ascertain parameters to inform patients and physicians regarding the risk of ITVS and guide the clinical decision-making process of patients with severe TR, especially as transcatheter therapies are emerging (www.tri-score.com).

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest cardiac rhythm disorder. Evaluation of patients with AF requires an electrocardiogram, but imaging techniques should be considered for defining management and driving treatment. The present document is an expert consensus from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the European Heart Rhythm Association. The clinical value of echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging in AF patients are challenged. Left atrial (LA) volume and strain in echocardiography as well as assessment of LA fibrosis in CMR are discussed. The value of CT, especially in planning interventions, is highlighted. Fourteen consensus statements have been reached. These may serve as a guide for both imagers and electrophysiologists for best selecting the imaging technique and for best interpreting its results in AF patients.

The aim of this study was to identify determinants of in-hospital and mid-term outcomes after isolated tricuspid valve surgery (ITVS) and more specifically the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) mechanism and clinical presentation. Among 5661 consecutive adult patients who underwent a tricuspid valve (TV) surgery at 12 French tertiary centres in 2007–2017 collected from a mandatory administrative database, we identified 466 patients (8% of all tricuspid surgeries) who underwent an ITVS. Most patients presented with advanced disease [47% in New York Heart Association (NYHA) III/IV, 57% with right-sided heart failure (HF) signs]. Tricuspid regurgitation was functional in 49% (22% with prior left-sided heart valve surgery and 27% isolated) and organic in 51% (infective endocarditis in 31% and other causes in 20%). In-hospital mortality and major complications rates were 10% and 31%, respectively. Rates of survival and survival free of HF readmission were 75% and 62% at 5 years. Patients with functional TR incurred a worse in-hospital mortality than those with organic TR (14% vs. 6%, P = 0.004), but presentation was more severe. Independent determinants of outcomes were NYHA Class III/IV [odd ratios (OR) = 2.7 (1.2–6.1), P = 0.01], moderate/severe right ventricular dysfunction [OR = 2.6 (1.2–5.8), P = 0.02], lower prothrombin time [OR = 0.98 (0.96–0.99), P = 0.008], and with borderline statistical significance, right-sided HF signs [OR = 2.4 (0.9–6.5), P = 0.06] while TR mechanism was not [OR = 0.7 (0.3–1.8), P = 0.88]. Isolated TV surgery was associated with high mortality and morbidity, both in hospital and during follow-up, predicted by the severity of the presentation but not by TR mechanism. Our results suggest that TV intervention should be performed earlier in the course of the disease.

Heightened interest in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) stems from the consistent association of mortality with greater severity of TR, and a low use of surgical solutions in the setting of high in-hospital mortality attributed to the late presentation of the disease. The delay in intervention is likely related to a limited understanding of the valvular/ventricular anatomy and disease pathophysiology, along with an underestimation of TR severity by standard imaging modalities. With the rapid development of transcatheter solutions which have shown early safety and efficacy, there is a growing need to understand and accurately diagnose the valvular disease process in order to determine appropriate management solutions. The current review will describe both normal and pathologic tricuspid valvular anatomy, the classification of these anatomic substrates of TR, the strengths and limitations of the current guidelines-recommended multi-parametric echocardiographic approach and the role of multi-modality imaging, as well as the role of transcatheter device therapy in the management of the disease.

Risk stratification scheme. Risk stratification aiming at assessing the risk of VAs and SCD in patients with MVP, involving two phases based on the clinical and imaging context and the uncovered arrhythmia. In the absence of ventricular tachycardia, phenotypic risk features will trigger the intensity of screening for arrhythmia. Green boxes indicate green heart consensus statements and yellow boxes indicate yellow heart consensus statements. High risk - sustained VT, polymorphic NSVT, fast (>180 bpm) NSVT, VT/NSVT resulting in syncope. ICD = implantable cardioverter defibrillator; LA = left atrium; LGE = late gadolinium enhancement; LV-EF = left ventricular ejection fraction; MAD = mitral annular disjunction; MV = mitral valve; PVCs = premature ventricular contractions; TWI = T-wave inversion; VT = ventricular tachycardia. #Additional ECG monitoring method may be used such as loop recorders.