989 ANAESTHESIOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TEER: A NEW APPROACH IMPROVES CV OUTCOMES

Abstract Background Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with the MitraClip system is an alternative procedure for the treatment of severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in high-risk patients who are not suitable for conventional surgery and is usually performed under general anaesthesia (GA). GA may be associated with potential haemodynamic complications. A new alternative approach is deep sedation (DS) with spontaneous breathing using a target-controlled infusion (TCI). The aim of this study is to compare TCI during DS with manual administration of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) during GA in patients undergoing TEER evaluating the impact of these approaches on anaesthesia time, remifentanil dose administered, haemodynamic profile, vasopressor requirements, adverse events and postoperative hospital stay. Methods The study population included 90 consecutive patients treated with MitraClip (mean age 73.5 ± 9.54 years). 65 patients (72%) suffered from functional MR. Mean LVEF was 35 ± 13% and logistic EuroSCORE was 23 ± 19%. 24 patients received GA and TIVA; 66 patients underwent DS and TCI, consisting of administration of midazolam and fentanyl citrate as induction of anaesthesia followed by continuous infusion of remifentanil hydrochloride. Results Acute procedural success was 100%, with no major complications during the procedure. No statistical differences were found between the GA-TIVA and the DS-TCI group in terms of demographics and surgical risk profile. Anaesthesia time was significantly shorter in the DS-TCI group (71 ± 30 vs. 118 ± 35 minutes; p < 0.0001), as was procedure duration (54 ± 29 vs. 99 ± 74 minutes; p = 0.00007). In addition, there was a significant reduction in the remifentanil dose administered (249 µg vs. 2865 µg, p < 0.01), the incidence of hypotension (p = 0.08) and the need for vasopressors (29.6% vs. 63%, p = 0.03) in the DS-TCI group. There were no differences in days of hospital stay after the procedure (5.4 days vs. 5.8 days, p = 0.4). Conclusions DS with spontaneous breathing using TCI could be a valid alternative during TEER which can ensure stable anaesthetic conditions, less drug administration, higher haemodynamic stability and fewer side effects, with particular advantages in patients at high risk for general anaesthesia.