Cardiac CT beyond coronaries : focus on structural heart disease

Purpose of Review Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is an established non-invasive imaging tool for the assessment of coronary artery disease. Furthermore, it plays a key role in the preinterventional work-up of patients presenting with structural heart disease. Recent Findings CT is the gold standard for preprocedural annular assessment, device sizing, risk determination of annular injury, coronary occlusion or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, calcification visualization and quantification of the target structure, and prediction of a co-planar fluoroscopic angulation for transcatheter interventions in patients with structural heart disease. It is further a key imaging modality in postprocedural assessment for prosthesis thrombosis, degeneration, or endocarditis. Summary CT plays an integral part in the imaging work-up of novel transcatheter therapies for structural heart disease and postprocedural assessment for prosthesis thrombosis or endocarditis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the key role of CT in the context of structural heart interventions

Moderne Therapieoptionen der Trikuspidalklappeninsuffizienz : von den leitliniengerechten chirurgischen Reparatur- und interventionellen Segeltherapiestrategien zum interventionellen Trikuspidalklappenersatz

Das fehlende Bewusstsein für die klinische Relevanz der Trikuspidalklappeninsuffizienz (TI) sowie die hohe intrahospitale Mortalität führten bis vor Kurzem zu einer späten Patientenvorstellung mit häufig bereits irreversibler rechtsventrikulärer Schädigung. Innovative Therapietechniken, neue Bildgebungstechniken und das bessere hämodynamische Verständnis des rechten Herzens revolutionierten in den letzten Jahren die Behandlungsmöglichkeiten der TI. Die vorliegende Arbeit diskutiert die Bedeutung der Rechtsherzfunktion für die Trikuspidalklappentherapie und stellt moderne interventionelle und minimal-invasive chirurgische Techniken vor. Zudem gibt sie einen Ausblick über die aktuelle Entwicklung der innovativen Transkatheter-Trikuspidalklappenersatz-Systeme.The lack of awareness of the clinical relevance of tricuspid valve regurgitation as well as a high intrahospital mortality until recently led to a late patient referral frequently already with irreversible right ventricular damage. Innovative treatment approaches, new imaging techniques and an improved hemodynamic understanding of the right heart have revolutionized tricuspid valve treatment in recent years. The current review discusses the importance of right heart function for tricuspid valve treatment and presents modern interventional transcatheter and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Furthermore, it provides an overview of the current development of innovative transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement systems

Usefulness of 3D-PISA as compared to guideline endorsed parameters for mitral regurgitation quantification.

This study was intended to evaluate the diagnostic value of three dimensional proximal isovelocity surface area (3D PISA) derived effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) and the accuracy of automatic 3D PISA detection in a population resembling clinical practice. Quantification of mitral regurgitation (MR) remains challenging and 3D PISA EROA is a novel diagnostic tool with promising results. However its' usefulness compared to guideline endorsed parameters has not been shown. In 93 consecutive patients examined in routine practice conventional parameters and 3D-datasets for offline 3D PISA evaluation were recorded. EROA was determined from the largest (peak) PISA and also averaged over systole for meanEROA. Results of 3D PISA calculation were compared with a combination of expert grading by two examiners and two scores for MR grading. In receiver operator characteristic-analysis the meanEROA as determined by 3D PISA had the best diagnostic value (AUC = 0.907 CI 0.832-0.983) as compared to peakEROA (AUC 0.840 CI 0.739-0.941), vena contracta width (AUC 0.831 CI 0.745-0.918) and 2D PISA (AUC 0.747 CI 0.644-0.850). A meanEROA of 0.15 cm2 had a sensitivity of 88.2 % and a specificity of 81.4 % for distinguishing severe from non-severe MR. Semiautomatic 3D PISA detection correlated very well with manually corrected values (r = 0.955). Semiautomatic 3D PISA measurement is feasible in a clinical population and has better diagnostic value compared to 2D PISA. Calculation of mean EROA throughout systole further improves diagnostic value compared to conventional parameters

“Unlucky punch”: unexpected annular rupture during TAVR and successful treatment

Although rare, annular rupture in TAVR is a feared and often unpredictable complication with relevant impact on in-hospital prognosis. Severe annular calcification is a common risk factor for annular rupture. We report on a case of annular rupture during TAVR with a balloon-expanded prosthesis in the absence of any annular calcification in the planning CT scan and illustrate the proposed pathomechanism as well as its successful immediate surgical management

Transgastric imaging : the key to successful periprocedural TEE guiding for edge-to-edge repair of the tricuspid valve

Intraprocedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance plays an essential role in transcatheter repair therapy of the tricuspid valve (TV). So far, several different imaging concepts are in use. We propose an imaging protocol that fully addresses the morphological complexity of the TV and further offers efficacious workarounds for the frequently occurring restrictions of TV imaging in edge-to-edge repair of the TV. As a tertiary referral center with a large experience of more than 250 cases of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the TV performed at the Heart Valve Center in Mainz/Germany, we have constantly adapted our peri-interventional echocardiographic approach to accomplish both. As a key measure for success, we intensely rely on the transgastric acoustic windows that not only deliver high-resolution information on the morphology of the TV and all relevant procedural steps but also help to avoid the frequent shadowing artifacts experienced in transesophageal imaging

Percutaneous Mitral Valve Annuloplasty in Patients With Secondary Mitral Regurgitation and Severe Left Ventricular Enlargement.

This study sought to determine the effect of percutaneous mitral valve annuloplasty with the Carillon device versus guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) alone in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) and severe left ventricular (LV) enlargement.The clinical impact of the Carillon device in patients with severe LV dilation is not well established.This is a pooled analysis involving 3 prospective trials (TITAN [Transcatheter Implantation of Carillon Mitral Annuloplasty Device], TITAN II, and REDUCE FMR [CARILLON Mitral Contour System for Reducing Functional Mitral Regurgitation] trials) in which patients with functional MR and severe LV enlargement (LV end-diastolic diameter65 mm) were treated with GDMT and the Carillon device versus GDMT alone. Key outcomes of this analysis were changes over 1 year of follow-up in mitral valve and LV echocardiographic parameters, functional outcome, quality of life, mortality, and heart failure hospitalization (HFH).A total of 95 patients (67 in the Carillon group, 28 in the GDMT group) with severe LV enlargement were included. In the Carillon group, all mitral valve and LV morphology parameters were significantly improved at 1 year. Regurgitant volume decreased by 12 ml (p 0.001), MR grade decreased by 0.6 U (p 0.001), LV end-diastolic volume decreased by 25 cmIn patients with functional MR and severe LV enlargement, the Carillon device improved mitral valve function, LV morphology, and functional outcome compared with patients receiving GDMT only. Preoperative LV dimension should not be a limiting factor when evaluating patient eligibility or anticipated response to therapy with the Carillon device

Late-Onset Prosthetic Endocarditis with Paraaortic Abscess Caused by Cutibacterium acnes

Cutibacterium acnes, an integral component of the skin’s customary bacterial flora, represents a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium characterized by its low virulence. Despite its low virulence, the pathogen can cause profound-seated infections as well as infections linked to medical devices. We report a case study of a prosthesis endocarditis accompanied by a paraaortic abscess caused by C. acnes, a development occurring five years prior to composite aortic root and valve replacement. At the point of admission, the patient presented with a combination of symptoms hinting at a subacute progression, such as weight loss, chest pain, and limitations of cardiopulmonary functionality. An anaerobic pathogen, namely C. acnes, was detected in a singular blood culture vial. Since first-line imaging modalities such as echocardiography did not reveal any signs of inflammation, and in the case of a suspected diagnosis for IE, did not show high pretest probability, further diagnostic imaging such as 18F-FDG PET CT was put to use. Here, a highly elevated glucose metabolism around the aortic valve ring was detected, pointing to an inflammatory process. The patient received adjusted intravenous antibiotic therapy over a course of six weeks; he then underwent surgical therapy via re-replacement of the aortic root and valve using a composite conduit. Advanced microbiological analyses, including the amplification of PCR and valve sequencing via 16S rDNA, mainly detected one pathogen: C. acnes. Delayed onset with mild symptoms and laboratory findings is characteristic of infective endocarditis by C. acnes. Due to its high rate of complications, mortality, and morbidity, an infection should not be disregarded as contamination. Recommendations from different studies underline a combination of a positive blood culture and microbiological evidence to differentiate between contamination and true infection in the case of an infection involving C. acnes. Serial blood cultures with prolonged incubation, advanced microbiological analyses, and modified Duke criteria including second-line imaging techniques should be utilized for further evaluation

The Neochord Procedure After Failed Surgical Mitral Valve Repair

Surgical mitral valve reintervention is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and repeat repair is not always feasible. We examine the clinical outcomes of the NeoChord procedure after failed conventional mitral valve repair. A total of 312 patients were treated with the NeoChord repair procedure between January 2014 and December 2018 at 5 European centers. Clinical and echocardiographic data were reviewed to identify patients who had a prior surgical mitral valve repair procedure. The primary endpoint (Patient Success) was a composite of placement of at least 2 neochordae and end-procedure mitral valve regurgitation (MR) ≤ mild, freedom from death, stroke, structural or functional procedure failure (MR > moderate), procedure or device-related unplanned procedures, cardiac-related rehospitalization, or worsening NYHA functional class at 1 and 2-year FU. Fifteen (15) patients were identified who required reoperation for failed surgical mitral valve repair. Mean time-to-reoperation was 2.7 years (2.2-6.1). Median intensive care unit stay was 24 hours and median hospitalization time was 7 days (6-8). No in-hospital deaths were observed. At discharge, mitral regurgitation was ≤ mild in 13 patients (86.7%). Patient success and freedom from more than mild MR were 92.3 ± 7.4% and 83.9 ± 10.4% at 1 and 2-year follow-up respectively. One high-risk patient presented with severe recurrent MR and died during surgical reintervention due to an acute aortic dissection. Selected patients can be successfully treated with the NeoChord procedure after failed surgical mitral valve repair. These results support a wider adoption of the NeoChord procedure as a first-line minimally invasive, alternative therapy to treat failed mitral valve repair

Predictors of short- and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair

OBJECTIVES Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) by edge-to-edge therapy is an established treatment for severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR). BACKGROUND Symptomatic and prognostic benefit in functional MR has been shown recently; nevertheless, data on long-term outcomes are sparse. METHODS AND RESULTS We analyzed survival of patients treated with isolated edge-to-edge repair from June 2010 to March 2018 (primarily combined edge-to-edge repair with other mitral valve interventions was excluded) in a retrospective monocentric study. Overall, 627 consecutive patients (47.0% females, 78.6 years in mean) were included. Leading etiology was functional MR (57.4%). Follow-up regarding survival was available in 97.0%. While 97.6% were discharged alive, 75.7% were alive after a 1-year, 54.5% after 3-year, 37.6% after 5-year and 21.7% after 7-year follow-up. Higher logistic Euroscores and comorbidities such as COPD and renal insufficiency were associated with higher in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Importantly, in-hospital survival increased over the years. CONCLUSIONS With the present study we established high survival rates at discharge and after 1 year of patients treated with TMVR. This goes along with high implantation numbers, increased interventional experience and a better in-hospital survival over the years. Long-term mortality in turn was substantially influenced by comorbidities