376 Incomplete functional revascularization is associated with adverse clinical outcomes after TAVI

Abstract Aims Whether incomplete functional revascularization has an impact on the clinical outcome of patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is still unknown. We aim to assess the prognostic value of residual functional Syntax score (rFSS) in a cohort of patients undergoing TAVI. Methods and results One-hundred-twenty-four patients (229 lesions) with severe aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided revascularization. The primary endpoint of the study was the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and revascularization at last available follow-up after TAVI. Median Syntax score (SS) and Functional Syntax score (FSS) at baseline were 7 (range 5–12) and 0 (range 0–7) respectively. After revascularization or deferral according to FFR, residual SS (rSS) and rFSS were 5 (range 0–8) and 0 (range 0–0), respectively. At COX regression analysis, angiographic incomplete revascularization (rSS = 0) was not associated with the primary endpoint (HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 0.40; 3.95; P-value 0.698), whereas functional incomplete revascularization was associated with worse event-free survival at Follow-up after adjusting for clinical confounders (HR: 3.74, 95% CI: 1.02–13.75, P = 0.047). Conclusions Incomplete functional revascularization is associated with adverse clinical outcome after TAVI. rFSS may be regarded as a treatment goal for patients with CAD undergoing TAVI. Further studies are warranted to confirm our hypothesis. 376 Central FigureMACEs free survival analysis of patients stratified according to complete revascularization vs. incomplete revascularization assessed according to anatomy (residual SYNTAX score) (A) or physiology (residual functional SYNTAX score) (B)

994-98 Patients’ Radiation Risk During Diagnostic and Interventional Coronary Procedures

Uncertainties in radiation risk estimates at low doses (<0.1Gy) include the shape of the dose-response curve, use of a relative or absolute risk model, and the length of the latent cancer induction period. Coronary procedures are often repeated within short in many patients, but neither absorbed doses nor imparted energies are routinely measured. We used LiF thermoluminescence dosimeters in 15 consecutive diagnostic (D) and 15 PTCA (1) procedures, with stent implantation in 1 case, multivessel PTCA in 2, and PTCA of chronic occlusion in 2. A Philips Optimus 2000 DCI was used, with a standard dose of 10microR/f for an image intensifier format (lIF) of 23cm. Fluoroscopy times (2.9±1min for D and 16±6min for I) number of cine runs (9±2 for D and 17±7 for I) and length of cine runs (5.3±1.5sec for D and 2.9±2sec for I) were representative of our standard procedures. A rate of 12.5f/s was used for cine coronary imaging, with 25f/s for left ventriculograms in 2 projections. IIF 18 and 13cm were used for D and I, respectively. Patient absorbed doses (mGy) were [mean±s.d.(range)]:ThyroidR+L Thorax/2ColumnGonadsD0.6±0.318±27 (1.3–127)21±360.08±0.05I2.0±0.829±50 (1.2–245)26±190.08±0.02Patient radiation exposure during D and I, despite dose-effective technique, is substantial, especially in areas (thorax) which cannot be shielded. It should be routinely measured since radiation risk may not be negligible when repeated procedures are performed. The risk/benefit ratio of repeated D and I must be weighed

Coronary Artery Plaque Phenotype and 5-Year Clinical Outcomes in Older Patients with Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND Lesions with thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), small luminal area and large plaque burden (PB) have been considered at high risk of cardiovascular events. Older patients were not represented in studies which demonstrated correlation between clinical outcome and plaque characteristics. This study aims to investigate the prognostic role of high-risk plaque characteristics and long-term outcome in older patients presenting with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). METHODS This study recruited older patients aged 75 years with NSTEACS undergoing virtual-histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) imaging from the Improve Clinical Outcomes in high-risk patieNts with acute coronary syndrome (ICON-1). Primary endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) consisting of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and any revascularisation. Every component of MACE and target vessel failure (TVF) including MI and any revascularisation were considered as secondary endpoints. RESULTS Eighty-six patients with 225 vessels undergoing VH-IVUS at baseline completed 5-year clinical follow-up. Patients with minimal lumen area (MLA) 4 demonstrated increased risk of MACE (hazard ratio [HR] 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-5.59, p = 0.048) with a worse event-free survival (Log Rank 4.17, p = 0.041) than patients with MLA 4 . Patients with combination of TCFA, MLA 4 and PB 70% showed high risk of MI (HR 5.23, 95% CI 1.05-25.9, p = 0.043). Lesions with MLA 4 had 6-fold risk of TVF (HR 6.16, 95% CI 1.24-30.5, p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS Small luminal area appears as the major prognostic factor in older patients with NSTEACS at long-term follow-up. Combination of TCFA, MLA 4 and PB 70% was associated with high risk of MI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT01933581

devices for mechanical circulatory support and strategies for their management in cardiogenic shock

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322 Atrial morphological and functional parameters in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: cardiovascular outcome implication

Abstract Aims The impact of atrial function measured by standard and advanced echocardiographic techniques is emerging in various clinical settings but remains poorly explored in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods and results Consecutive patients with HCM referred to the heart failure outpatient clinic were prospectively enrolled. Complete clinical and echocardiographic evaluation was performed, including fully automated 2D speckle tracking analysis software (AutoStrain, TomTec). Atrial function was assessed by means of left atrial (LA) volume, LA diameter, a'-TDI, and global peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS). The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular (CV) events (cardiovascular death or hospitalization, new-onset atrial fibrillation, surgical myectomy, sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) during the follow-up. A total of 40 patients with confirmed HCM diagnoses and complete follow-up were included, mean age was 61 ± 14 years, 62% male, ejection fraction 64 ± 8%. LA was frequently enlarged (indexed LA volume 43 ± 14 ml/m2, LA diameter 39 ± 7 mm), and dysfunctional (a'-TDI 7.1 ± 2.2 cm/s, PALS 21 ± 7%). During a mean follow-up of 460 ± 300 days, seven patients had a CV event. Among LA parameters, septal a'-TDI seems to characterize patients with events the most (5.5 ± 2.1 vs. 7.5 ± 2.3, P = 0.03). This was confirmed in an age-adjusted survival model [HR: 0.62 (0.39–0.92), P = 0.03]. The spline curve in the Figure illustrates the relationship between a'-TDI and the age-adjusted probability of CV events; the association began at about 7 cm/s and increased steeply for lower values. Of note, the association between PALS and CV events was highly significant in younger patients (<70 years, P < 0.001). Conclusions According to our pilot study, a'-TDI can be considered a simple, feasible, and routinely available parameter of left atrial function, which can help to identify HCM patients at higher risk of CV events

440 Assessing cardiac output by echocardiography: is contrast always better?

Abstract Aims Contrast echocardiography is very useful in clinical cardiology. It is mainly performed for the assessment of global left ventricular (LV) function, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and stroke volume (SV), thanks to improved visualization of endocardial LV borders. Contrast echocardiography, however, is not always easily available, it is more expensive than an ordinary echocardiography and it can be contraindicated in some situations (e.g. in the presence of egg allergy). This study aimed to compare the estimation of cardiac output during traditional transthoracic echocardiography and after the injection of (Sonovue) contrast. Methods and results Patients who underwent an echocardiography with and without injection of (Sonovue) contrast between April 2019 and September 2021 were enrolled in the study. A complete transthoracic echocardiography was performed and Sonovue contrast was then injected. End-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular volume in apex 4 and 2 chamber views, biplane LVEF with Simpson's formula, end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular diameters in parasternal long axis were measured prior and after injecting contrast. Left ventricular outflow tract diameter (LVOTd) was measured and LV outflow tract velocity time integral was traced in order to calculate LVOT VTI SV, as the product of LVOT cross sectional area (assuming that LVOT is circular) to the LVOT VTI. LVOT VTI SV obtained during traditional echocardiography was compared to LVEF SV, calculated as the difference between end-diastolic and end-systolic volume traced after injecting Sonovue contrast. Seventy-eight patients were enrolled in the study. Forty-two had history of CAD, 22 presented dilatative cardiomyopathy, 2 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HMC), 1 arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia; 16 had atrial fibrillation, 66 arterial hypertension, and 20 diabetes. The main indications for contrast echocardiography were measurement of EF (39 cases) and exclusion of thrombi in LV apex (18 cases). Other indications were suspect of HCM, atrial myxoma or LV non-compaction. LVOT VTI stroke volume was calculated in 64 patients (LVOT diameter was not well visualized in 8 patients and LVOT VTI could not be measured in 14 patients due to poor acoustic windows). In the same patients LVEF Stroke Volume was also calculated. A strong correlation (P-value < 0.0001) between LVOT stroke volume and LVEF Stroke Volume was found (Figure 1). Conclusions Contrast echocardiography is very useful in clinical practice, however, requires trained physicians and its use is not widespread. This study demonstrates that estimating cardiac output through LVOT VTI SV, in patients with suboptimal echo images can be equally accurate as measuring LVEF SV with contrast echocardiography. This could be particularly useful in the acute settings when contrast echocardiography isn't always feasible and knowing cardiac output can be important for therapeutic implications

Why, When and How Should Clinicians Use Physiology in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes?

Current data support the use of coronary physiology in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In patients with ST-elevation MI, the extent of myocardial damage and microvascular dysfunction create a complex conundrum to assimilate when considering clinical management and risk stratification. In this setting, the index of microcirculatory resistance emerged as an accurate tool to identify patients at risk of suboptimal myocardial reperfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention who may benefit from novel adjunctive therapies. In the context of non-ST-elevation ACS, coronary physiology should be carefully interpreted and often integrated with intracoronary imaging, especially in cases of ambiguous culprit lesion. Conversely, the functional assessment of bystander coronary disease is favoured by the available evidence, aiming to achieve complete revascularisation. Based on everyday clinical scenarios, the authors illustrate the available evidence and provide recommendations for the functional assessment of infarct-related artery and non-culprit lesions in patients with ACS

In-hospital and thirty-day outcomes of the SAPIEN 3 Ultra balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve : the S3U registry

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate 30-day safety and efficacy outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) performed with the SAPIEN 3 Ultra system. Methods and results: The S3U registry is a physician-led, post-approval, multicentre, observational registry of transfemoral TAVI with the SAPIEN 3 Ultra. New features include an improved sealing skirt, a 14 Fr expandable sheath and a new delivery catheter. Overall, 139 consecutive patients at nine participating centres were enrolled. Mean age was 81.4 +/- 8.3 years, average STS score 3.8 +/- 2.4%. The vast majority (97.2%) underwent TAVI with local anaesthesia (28.8%) or conscious sedation (68.3%). Balloon predilatation was performed in 30 patients (21.6%), post-dilatation in three (2.2%). In-hospital, there were no cases of death, stroke, or conversion to open heart surgery. Major vascular complications occurred in three patients (2.2%), as well as major or life-threatening bleedings in three patients (2.2%). There were two moderate (1.4%) and no moderate/severe paravalvular leaks. Median length of stay after TAVI was three days (IQR 3-5 days). At 30 days, there were no deaths, MI, or strokes, and the incidence of new permanent pacemaker implantation was 4.4%. Conclusions: This first multicentre international experience of transfemoral TAVI with the SAPIEN 3 Ultra transcatheter heart valve shows good in-hospital and 30-day clinical outcomes.Peer reviewe