Late outcomes comparison of nonelderly patients with stented bioprosthetic and mechanical valves in the aortic position: A propensity-matched analysis

ObjectiveOur study compares late mortality and valve-related morbidities between nonelderly patients (aged <65 years) undergoing stented bioprosthetic or mechanical valve replacement in the aortic position.MethodsWe identified 1701 consecutive patients aged <65 years who underwent aortic valve replacement between 1992 and 2011. A stented bioprosthetic valve was used in 769 patients (45%) and a mechanical valve was used in 932 patients (55%). A stepwise logistic regression propensity score identified a subset of 361 evenly matched patient-pairs. Late outcomes of death, reoperation, major bleeding, and stroke were assessed.ResultsFollow-up was 99% complete. The mean age in the matched cohort was 53.9 years (bioprosthetic valve) and 53.2 years (mechanical valve) (P = .30). Fifteen additional measurable variables were statistically similar for the matched cohort. Thirty-day mortality was 1.9% (bioprosthetic valve) and 1.4% (mechanical valve) (P = .77). Survival at 5, 10, 15, and 18 years was 89%, 78%, 65%, and 60% for patients with bioprosthetic valves versus 88%, 79%, 75%, and 51% for patients with mechanical valves (P = .75). At 18 years, freedom from reoperation was 95% for patients with mechanical valves and 55% for patients with bioprosthetic valves (P = .002), whereas freedom from a major bleeding event favored patients with bioprosthetic valves (98%) versus mechanical valves (78%; P = .002). There was no difference in stroke between the 2 matched groups.ConclusionsIn patients aged <65 years, despite an increase in the rate of reoperation with stented bioprosthetic valves and an increase in major bleeding events with mechanical valves, there is no significant difference in mortality at late follow-up

An up-to-date overview of the most recent transcatheter implantable aortic valve prostheses

Over the past decade transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has evolved towards the routine therapy for high-risk patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. Technical refinements in TAVI are rapidly evolving with a simultaneous expansion of the number of available devices. This review will present an overview of the current status of development of TAVI-prostheses; describes the technical features and applicability of each device and the clinical data availabl

Two Cases of Endocarditis After MitraClip Procedure Necessitating Surgical Mitral Valve Replacement

In the present report, we describe 2 cases of endocarditis after MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) procedures. In both patients, successful bailout surgical treatment was performed despite a high-risk constellation due to significant comorbidities. These cases highlight that surgical treatment may still be an option in patients initially declined for surgical therapy and that endocarditis after MitraClip procedure might be an underrecognized complication

Troubleshooting in Transatrial Tricuspid Valve-in-Valve Implantation

The established treatment for degenerated stenotic tricuspid bioprostheses is reoperation. Recently, transcatheter tricuspid valve implantation has been reported as an alternative option. This case report describes a complex transcatheter tricuspid valve implantation in a degenerated Medtronic intact 31 mm bioprosthesis. Implantation of a 26 mm Edwards Sapien valve failed, subsequent transcatheter implantation of a 29 mm Edwards Sapien valve was successful. (Ann Thorac Surg 2012;94:1349-52) (C) 2012 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeon

Automated CTA based measurements for planning support of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (mini-AVR) procedures are a valuable alternative to conventional open heart surgery. Currently, planning of mini-AVR consists of selection of the intercostal space closest to the sinotubular junction on preoperative computer tomography images. We developed an automated algorithm detecting the sinotubular junction (STJ) and intercostal spaces for finding the optimal incision location. The accuracy of the STJ detection was assessed by comparison with manual delineation by measuring the Euclidean distance between the manually and automatically detected points. In all 20 patients, the intercostal spaces were accurately detected. The median distance between automated and manually detected STJ locations was 1.4 [IQR= 0.91-4.7] mm compared to the interobserver variation of 1.0 [IQR= 0.54-1.3] mm. For 60% of patients, the fourth intercostal space was the closest to the STJ. The proposed algorithm is the first automated approach for detecting optimal incision location and has the potential to be implemented in clinical practice for planning of various mini-AVR procedure

Transcatheter Replacement of Stenotic Aortic Valve Normalizes Cardiac-Coronary Interaction by Restoration of Systolic Coronary Flow Dynamics as Assessed by Wave Intensity Analysis

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) can cause angina despite unobstructed coronary arteries, which may be related to increased compression of the intramural microcirculation, especially at the subendocardium. We assessed coronary wave intensity and phasic flow velocity patterns to unravel changes in cardiac-coronary interaction because of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Intracoronary pressure and flow velocity were measured at rest and maximal hyperemia in undiseased vessels in 15 patients with AS before and after TAVI and in 12 control patients. Coronary flow reserve, systolic and diastolic velocity time integrals, and the energies of forward (aorta-originating) and backward (microcirculatory-originating) coronary waves were determined. Coronary flow reserve was 2.8±0.2 (mean±SEM) in control and 1.8±0.1 in AS (P 30%. The increase in forward compression wave with TAVI was related to an increase in systolic velocity time integral. AS or TAVI did not alter diastolic velocity time integral. Reduced coronary forward wave energy and systolic velocity time integral imply a compromised systolic flow velocity with AS that is restored after TAVI, suggesting an acute relief of excess compression in systole that likely benefits subendocardial perfusion. Vasodilation is observed to be a major determinant of backward wave

Mitral regurgitation prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation influences survival but not symptoms

Current data about the impact of concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) on outcome in patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are conflicting. Our purpose was to analyze the clinical course of MR and to assess the influence of MR on survival and clinical status after TAVI. We included 375 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI. MR grade and NYHA class were determined before TAVI and at follow-up. In total 171 patients (46%) had MR grade ≥ 2 at baseline and of these 29% improved to MR grade ≤ 1 after TAVI. MR grade ≤ 1 at baseline was present in 204 patients (54%) and of these 17% worsened to grade ≥ 2 after TAVI. Improvement of MR was associated with absence of atrial fibrillation (OR: 2.35, 95%CI: 1.17-4.71, p = 0.02). Worsening of MR was associated with moderate or more aortic valve regurgitation after TAVI (OR: 4.2, CI: 1.83-9.49, p = 0.001). NYHA class improved at follow-up. Baseline MR grade did not determine the degree of clinical improvement (MR grade ≤ 1: NYHA ≥ 3 from 67% to 17%; MR grade ≥ 2: NYHA ≥ 3 from 69% to 14%). Although patients with MR grade ≥ 2 at baseline improved symptomatically, this degree of MR was associated with reduced two year survival compared with patients with MR grade ≤ 1(mortality 37% vs 26%; HR 1.99; 95% CI 1.27-3.13; p = 0.003). In patients who undergo TAVI almost half have MR grade ≥ 2 prior to the procedure. TAVI had no influence on MR grade at follow-up. Although patients with MR grade ≥ 2 at baseline improved symptomatically after TAVI, concomitant MR at baseline significantly reduced two year surviva