Leaflet thrombosis in transcatheter aortic valve intervention: mechanisms, prevention, and treatment options

IntroductionTranscatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVR) has emerged as a promising alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, leaflet thrombosis has raised concerns about the long-term durability and outcomes of TAVR. This study aims to provide an overview of the mechanisms, prevention strategies, and treatment options for leaflet thrombosis in TAVR.Clinical evidenceLeaflet thrombosis refers to the formation of blood clots on bioprosthetic valve leaflets, leading to impaired leaflet mobility, early valve degeneration and dysfunction, and potential clinical implications. While the mechanisms underlying thrombus formation on valve leaflets are not fully understood, several factors, such as altered blood flow patterns within valve neosinuses, prothrombotic surfaces, and patient-related causes, have been implicated. Two distinct entities have been identified, namely, hypoattenuated leaflet thickening and restricted leaflet motion. Their occurrence appears dynamic over time and is related to the valve type. Imaging, including transesophageal echocardiography and multidetector computed tomography, plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and follow-up of leaflet thrombosis.Prevention and treatment optionsPreventing leaflet thrombosis requires a comprehensive and tailored approach involving identifying high-risk patients, close monitoring, and antithrombotic therapy. Antithrombotic therapy with dual antiplatelet agents or anticoagulation is commonly employed in TAVR patients, although the optimal regimen is yet to be defined. Novel antithrombotic agents, such as direct oral anticoagulants, are being investigated for their efficacy and safety in preventing leaflet thrombosis. When leaflet thrombosis is detected, treatment options include intensified antithrombotic therapy, valve-in-valve intervention, or balloon valvuloplasty. The long-term outcomes and impact of leaflet thrombosis on valve durability and patient prognosis are areas of ongoing research.SummaryLeaflet thrombosis in TAVR is a considerable complication affecting valve function and patient outcomes. Understanding the mechanisms underlying thrombus formation and implementing appropriate prevention strategies are essential for mitigating this risk. Treatment options aim to restore leaflet mobility and optimize valve performance. Further research is needed to establish standardized protocols for antithrombotic therapy, identify high-risk patient populations, and determine the long-term consequences of leaflet thrombosis on TAVR outcomes

Therapeutic hypothermia after out of hospital cardiac arrest improve 1-year survival rate for selective patients.

BACKGROUND:Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH) is a standard of care after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Previous reports failed to prove a significant benefit for survival or neurological outcomes. We examined whether the proper selection of patients would enhance treatment efficacy. METHOD:We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Data was collected from January 2000 and August 2018. Patients were enrolled after OHCA and classified into two groups, patients treated with TH and patients who were not treated with TH. RESULTS:A total of 92 patients were included in the study. 57 (63%) patients were in the TH Group and 34 (37%) in the Non-TH group. There was no statistical difference in favorable neurological outcomes between the groups. Patients presenting with ventricular fibrillation had a higher 1-year survival rate from TH, while patients with asystole were found to benefit only if they were younger than 65 years (p < .007, p < .02, respectively). CONCLUSION:Therapeutic Hypothermia patients failed to demonstrate a significant benefit in terms of improved neurological outcomes. Patients treated with TH following ventricular fibrillation experienced the most benefit in terms of 1-year survival, while patients who had suffered from asystole experienced a modest benefit only if they were younger than 65 years of age. Guidelines should address age and primary arrhythmia for proper treatment selection

Postoperative New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation following Noncardiac Operations: Prevalence, Complication, and Long-Term MACE

Background. Postoperative new-onset atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication following cardiothoracic surgery, but little is known regarding its occurrence and outcome following noncardiothoracic surgery. This study was intended to examine the incidence of POAF in noncardiothoracic surgeries performed under general anesthesia and its effects on the length of hospitalization stay, short-term and long-term morbidity, and mortality. Methodology. We conducted a retrospective observational descriptive study. The study population consists of patients hospitalized in surgical wards from January 2014 to December 2017. Surgery was defined as noncardiac or thoracic procedure conducted under general anesthesia. Results. A total of 24,125 general anesthesia operations were performed at 7 surgical wards. About two-fifth of the operations (40%) were operated electively, and the rest underwent emergency surgery. The mean age was 63.78 ± 11.50, and more than half (56.9%) of the participants were female. The prevalence of POAF was 2.69 per 1000 adult patients (95% CI: 2.11–3.43) and vary significantly among wards. The highest prevalence was observed after hip fixation and laparotomy surgeries (54.9 and 26.7 per 1000 patients, respectively). The median length of hospitalization was significantly higher in POAF patients (21.0 vs. 4.8 days, p<0.001). Patients who developed POAF had significantly higher mortality rates, both inhospital (200 vs. 7.56 deaths per 1000, p=0.001) and 1 year (261.5 vs. 33.3 per 1000, p=0.001, respectively). There was no significant association between outcome and treatment modalities such as rate or rhythm control and anticoagulant use. Conclusion. New-onset AF following noncardiac surgery is rare, yet poses significant clinical implications, both immediate and long-term. POAF is associated with a longer length of hospitalization and a significantly higher mortality rate, both in short- and long-term

Sinus Node Dysfunction due to Occlusion of the Sinus Node Artery during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background. Sinus node artery occlusion (SNO) is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyze both the short- and long-term consequences of SNO. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 1379 consecutive PCI’s involving RCA and Cx arteries performed in our heart institute from 2016 to 2019. Median follow-up was 44 ± 5 months. Results. Among the 4844 PCIs performed during the study period, 284 involved the RCA and the circumflex’s proximal segment. Periprocedural SNO was estimated by angiography observed in 15 patients (5.3%), all originated from RCA. The majority of SNO occurred during urgent and primary PCIs following acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Sinus node dysfunction (SND) appeared in 12 (80%) of patients. Four (26.6%) patients had sinus bradycardia, which resolved spontaneously, and 8 (53.3%) patients had sinus arrest with an escaped nodal rhythm, which mostly responded to medical treatment during the first 24 hours. There was no association between PCI technique and outcome. Three patients (20%) required urgent temporary ventricular pacing. One patient had permanent pacemaker implantation. Pacemaker interrogation during follow-up revealed a recovery of the sinus node function after one month. Conclusion. SNO is rare and seen mostly during angioplasty to the proximal segment of the RCA during ACS. The risk of developing sinus node dysfunction following SNO is high. SND usually appears during the first 24 h of PCI. The majority of SND patients responded to medical treatment, and only in rare cases were permanent pacemakers required

Screening of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Using Portable Transthoracic Echocardiography among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) share common risk factors. Objectives. To assess the abdominal aortic diameter (AAD) among patients with ACS using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Methods. Patients with ACS admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit from December 2013 to June 2014 were screened prospectively for AAA via AAD measurement in the subcostal TTE view. AAA was defined as an aneurysm with a transverse diameter of ≥30 mm. Results. Sixty seven patients were included. The male-to-female sex ratio was 7 : 1. The vast majority of patients were admitted due to STEMI (73%), and the rest were equally divided as NSTEMI and unstable angina. The mean patient age was 58.4 ± 10.4 years. AAD measurements were feasible in 57 patients (85%); among them, AAA was diagnosed in six patients (10.5%). The average additional time required to measure the abdominal aorta was 4 ± 1 min. All patients with AAA were men and had a higher prevalence of smoking (83.3% vs. 60.6%, p<0.003) and a lower incidence of diabetes mellitus than those without aneurysm. The prevalence of AAA tended to be related to age (12.5% in those older than 60 years and 18.7% in those older than 65 years). Conclusions. The overall prevalence of AAA is significantly high among patients with ACS and increases with age. AAA screening as a part of routine cardiac TTE can be easily, rapidly, and feasibly performed and yield accurate findings. AAD measurement in the subcostal view should be implemented as a part of routine TTE in patients with ACS

Fractional Ablative CO2 Laser Followed by Topical Application of Sodium Stibogluconate for Treatment of Active Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conventional treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis often leaves permanent scars with frequent psychosocial sequelae. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy, safety, associated pain and final cosmetic outcome of fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser followed by topical application of sodium stibogluconate vs. sodium stibogluconate injections for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. A total of 181 lesions (20 patients) were randomly assigned to receive intralesional injections of sodium stibogluconate (control group) or fractional CO2 laser treatment followed by topical application of sodium stibogluconate (study group). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the control group was much higher than that of the study group (6.85 vs. 3.5, respectively, p < 0.001). Both the patients and 2 blinded dermatologists found the final cosmetic outcome to be superior for laser-treated lesions (p = 0.001 vs. p =0.008 for controls). Fractional CO2 laser treatment followed by topical application of sodium stibogluconate is less painful and leads to a better final cosmetic outcome compared with intralesional injections of sodium stibogluconate

Thrombin generation's role in predicting coronary disease severity.

BackgroundThrombin, a key enzyme of the clotting system, is involved in thrombus formation, platelet activation, and atherosclerosis, thereby possessing a central role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease. Studies have shown an association between thrombin generation (TG) and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but results have been equivocal. Our aim was to study the predictive ability of TG assay in evaluating coronary stenosis severity.MethodsIn this prospective study we recruited patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or acute chest pain (without evidence of myocardial injury) planned for coronary angiography. Thrombin generation was evaluated by Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT) prior to angiography. Primary end points were significant coronary stenosis and the Syntax I score evaluated by coronary angiography.ResultsFrom April 2018 through September 2019, we recruited 128 patients. In the primary analysis there was no significant association between TG and significant coronary stenosis nor between TG and syntax I score, however, there was a positive correlation between peak height and troponin peak (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.194, P-value = 0.035). In sub-group analysis, the chest pain group bare no association between TG and coronary stenosis. In unstable angina group there was an association between peak height and significant coronary stenosis (P-value = 0.029), and in non ST-elevation myocardial infarction group, TG values possessed a relatively good predictive ability of significant coronary stenosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ~65%) and a positive correlation between both lag time and ttpeak with the syntax I score was noticed (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.31, P-value = 0.099 and Spearman correlation coefficient 0.37, P-value = 0.045 respectively).ConclusionIn patients with acute chest pain, TG values, evaluated by CAT, do not predict severity of coronary stenosis, nor do they possess prognostic value. Yet, in ACS patients, TG may have the ability to predict coronary disease severity

Low venous thromboembolism incidence in high risk medical patients in an Israeli hospital. Can risk assessment be extrapolated to different populations?

BACKGROUND:Guidelines recommend venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in hospitalized medical patients with Padua prediction score (PPS) ≥4 points. This recommendation is based on the high risk of symptomatic VTE observed among these patients in the Italian PPS derivation study, and the fivefold risk reduction with VTE-prophylaxis. This study aims to assess the incidence of VTE in high risk medical patients in a medium sized hospital in Israel. METHOD:In this retrospective cohort study, data was collected of all medical patients hospitalized between January and June 2014. Patients were classified into low and high risk groups according to their PPS score, and according to whether they received anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis for VTE. Patients were further randomly selected to compare high risk patients that did or did not receive anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis. We further compared VTE incidence in high and low risk patients not treated with thromboprophylaxis. A search was conducted for diagnoses of venous thromboembolism and death during hospitalization and the following 90 days. RESULTS:568 high risk patients (PPS ≥4 points) were included, 284 treated with prophylactic anticoagulation and 284 not. There were no VTE events in either group. There was no difference in mortality. A total of 642 non anticoagulated patients were randomly selected, 474 low risk and 168 high risk. There were no VTE events in either group. CONCLUSIONS:The risk of VTE appears to be very low in our study, suggesting that among medical patients with PPS ≥4, the risk of VTE may differ dramatically between populations

Quality of Life, Procedural Success, and Clinical Outcomes following Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair

Background. Limited data exist regarding the association between the quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes following transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr). We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of QoL assessment following TMVr and to characterize those who had procedural success, yet reported a low Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12) score. Methods. We reported the experience of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center patients between 2013 and 2020. Patients were allocated into four groups according to the 30-day KCCQ: <25, 25–49, 50–74, and ≥75. Primary outcome included 1-year all-cause death or heart failure (HF) hospitalizations. We also examined the association between QoL and the primary outcome in those with procedural success. Results. A total of 555 patients were included in our analysis, median follow-up of 650 days (IQR 243–1113). The lower KCCQ groups had a higher prevalence of functional mitral regurgitation (65%, 60%, 56%, and 43%, p=0.001), as well as a higher Society of Thoracic Surgeon (STS) score. These groups had a significantly higher occurrence of 1-year all-cause death or HF hospitalizations in a stepwise fashion (40%, 22%, 16%, and 10%, p<0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed 30-day KCCQ as the strongest predictor of the 1-year primary outcome (HR 0.98, 95%CI (0.97–0.99), p=0.006). Approximately a quarter of patients with procedural success had a low KCCQ score. These patients had a higher rate of the combined 1-year outcome regardless of procedural success or failure. Conclusion. QoL following TMVr is a powerful prognostic factor. KCCQ assessment is an important indicator for identifying patients prone to adverse outcomes even after procedural success