Presence and Relevance of Myocardial Bridge in LAD-PCI of CTO and Non-CTO Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies show that one-quarter of left anterior descending (LAD) arteries have a myocardial bridge. An MB may be associated with stent failure when the stent extends into the MB. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate: 1) the association between an MB and chronic total occlusion (CTO) in any LAD lesions; and 2) the association between an MB and subsequent clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in LAD CTOs. METHODS: A total of 3,342 LAD lesions with IVUS-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (280 CTO and 3,062 non-CTO lesions) were included. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis, and ischemic-driven target lesion revascularization). RESULTS: An MB by IVUS was significantly more prevalent in LAD CTOs than LAD non-CTOs (40.4% [113/280] vs 25.8% [789/3,062]; P < 0.0001). The discrepancy in CTO length between angiography and IVUS was greater in 113 LAD CTOs with an MB than 167 LAD CTOs without an MB (6.0 [Q1, Q3: 0.1, 12.2] mm vs 0.2 [Q1, Q3: -1.4, 8.4] mm; P < 0.0001). Overall, 48.7% (55/113) of LAD CTOs had a stent that extended into an MB after which target lesion failure was significantly higher compared to a stent that did not extend into an MB (26.3% vs 0%; P = 0.0004) or compared to an LAD CTO without an MB (26.3% vs 9.6%; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: An MB was more common in LAD CTO than non-CTO LAD lesions. If present, approximately one-half of LAD CTOs had a stent extending into an MB that, in turn, was associated with worse outcomes.

Ostial right coronary artery lesion morphology and outcomes after treatment with drug-eluting stents.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for de novo ostial right coronary artery (RCA) lesions are poor. AIMS: We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to clarify the morphological patterns of de novo ostial RCA lesions and their associated clinical outcome. METHODS: Among 5,102 RCA IVUS studies, 170 de novo ostial RCA stenoses (within 3 mm from the aorto-ostium) were identified. These were classified as 1) isolated ostial lesions (no disease extending beyond 10 mm from the ostium and without a calcified nodule [CN]); 2) ostial CN, typically with diffuse disease (disease extending beyond 10 mm); and 3) ostial lesions with diffuse disease but without a CN. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (TLF: cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis, and ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation). RESULTS: The prevalence of an isolated ostial lesion was 11.8% (n=20), 47.6% (n=81) were ostial CN, and 40.6% (n=69) were ostial lesions with diffuse disease. Compared to ostial lesions with diffuse disease, isolated lesions were more common in women (75.0% vs 42.0%; p=0.01), and CN were associated with older age (median [first, third quartile] 76 [70, 83] vs 69 [63, 81] years old; p=0.002). The Kaplan-Meier rate of TLF at 2 years was significantly higher in patients with CN (21.6%) compared to diffuse lesions (8.2%) (p=0.04), and patients with isolated lesions had no events. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model revealed that CN were significantly associated with TLF (hazard ratio 6.63, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-34.3; p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Ostial RCA lesions have specific morphologies - detectable by IVUS - that may be associated with long-term clinical outcomes.

Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation within stentless landing zones: Procedural insights from a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Valve-in-valve (VIV) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a less invasive therapeutic option compared with redo surgical valve replacement for high-risk patients. Relative to procedures within stented surgical valves, VIV-TAVI within stentless valves is associated with a higher complication rate due to challenging underlying anatomy and absence of fluoroscopic landmarks. AIMS: We share a single-center experience with VIV-TAVI in stentless valves, discussing our procedural insights and associated outcomes. METHODS: Our institutional database was queried, and 25 patients who had undergone VIV-TAVI within a stentless bioprosthesis, homograft, or valve-sparing aortic root replacement between 2013 and 2022 were found. Outcome endpoints were based on the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 criteria. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 69.5 ± 13.6 years. VIV implantation was performed within a homograft in 11 patients, a stentless bioprothesis in 10 patients, and a valve-sparing aortic root replacement in 4 patients. Nineteen (76%) balloon-expandable valves, 5 (20%) self-expanding valves, and one mechanically-expandable (4%) valve were implanted with 100% procedural success, with no instances of significant paravalvular leak, coronary occlusion, or device embolization. There was one (4%) in-hospitality mortality after an emergency procedure; one (4%) patient experienced a transient ischemic attack; and two (8%) patients required permanent pacemaker implantation. The median length of hospital stay was 2 days. After a median follow-up time of 16.5 months, valve function was acceptable in all patients with available data. CONCLUSION: VIV-TAVI within stentless valves can be safely performed with methodical procedural technique and can provide clinical benefit in patients at high reoperation risk.

Mechanisms and treatment outcomes of ostial right coronary artery in-stent restenosis.

BACKGROUND: Despite a high rate of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after stenting the right coronary artery (RCA) ostium, the mechanism of ostial RCA ISR is not well understood. AIMS: We aimed to clarify the cause of ostial RCA ISR using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). METHODS: Overall, 139 ostial RCA ISR lesions were identified with IVUS, pre-revascularisation. Primary ISR mechanisms were classified as follows: 1) neointimal hyperplasia (NIH); 2) neoatherosclerosis; 3) ostium not covered by the stent; 4) stent fracture or deformation; 5) stent underexpansion (old minimum stent area <4.0 mm2 or stent expansion <50%); or 6) a protruding calcified nodule. RESULTS: The median duration from prior stenting was 1.2 (first quartile 0.6, third quartile 3.1) years. The primary mechanisms of ISR were NIH in 25% (n=35) of lesions, neoatherosclerosis in 22% (n=30), uncovered ostium in 6% (n=9) (biological cause 53%, n=74), stent fracture or deformation in 25% (n=35), underexpansion in 11% (n=15), and protruding calcified nodules in 11% (n=15) (mechanical cause 47%, n=65). Including secondary mechanisms, 51% (n=71) of ostial RCA ISRs had stent fractures that were associated with greater hinge motion of the ostial-aorta angle during the cardiac cycle. The Kaplan-Meier rate of target lesion failure at 1 year was 11.5%. When the mechanically caused ISRs were treated without new stents, they suffered a higher subsequent event rate (41.4%) compared with non-mechanical causes or mechanical causes treated without restenting (7.8%, unadjusted hazard ratio 6.44, 95% confidence interval: 2.33-17.78; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Half of the ostial RCA ISRs were due to mechanical causes. Subsequent event rates were high, especially in mechanically caused ISRs treated without the implantation of a new stent.

Minimum Core Data Elements for Transcatheter Mitral Therapies: Scientific Statement by PASSION CV, HVC, and TVTR.

Mitral regurgitation is the most common valvular disease and is estimated to affect over 5 million Americans. Real-world data collection contributes to safety and effectiveness evidence for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, quality evaluation for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and hospitals, and clinical best practice research. We aimed to establish a minimum core data set in mitral interventions to promote efficient, reusable real-world data collection for all of these purposes. Two expert task forces separately evaluated and reconciled a list of candidate elements derived from: 1) 2 ongoing transcatheter mitral trials; and 2) a systemic literature review of high-impact mitral trials and U.S multicenter, multidevice registries. From 703 unique data elements considered, unanimous consensus agreement was achieved on 127 "core" data elements, with the most common reasons for exclusion from the minimum core data set being burden or difficulty in accurate assessment (41.2%), duplicative information (25.0%), and low likelihood of affecting outcomes (19.6%). After a systematic review and extensive discussions, a multilateral group of academicians, industry representatives, and regulators established and implemented into the national Society of Thoracic Surgery/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapies Registry 127 interoperable, reusable core data elements to support more efficient, consistent, and informative transcatheter mitral device evidence for regulatory submissions, safety surveillance, best practice development, and hospital quality assessments.

Minimum Core Data Elements for Evaluation of TAVR: A Scientific Statement by PASSION CV, HVC, and TVT Registry.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the standard of care for severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis. Real-world TAVR data collection contributes to benefit/risk assessment and safety evidence for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, quality evaluation for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and hospitals, as well as clinical research and real-world implementation through appropriate use criteria. The essential minimum core dataset for these purposes has not previously been defined but is necessary to promote efficient, reusable real-world data collection supporting quality, regulatory, and clinical applications. The authors performed a systematic review of the published research for high-impact TAVR studies and U.S. multicenter, multidevice registries. Two expert task forces, one from the Predictable and Sustainable Implementation of National Cardiovascular Registries/Heart Valve Collaboratory and another from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT (Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry convened separately and then met to reconcile a final list of essential data elements. From 276 unique data elements considered, unanimous consensus agreement was achieved on 132 "core" data elements, with the most common reasons for exclusion from the minimum core dataset being burden or difficulty in accurate assessment (36.9%), duplicative information (33.3%), and low likelihood of affecting outcomes (10.7%). After a systematic review and extensive discussions, a multilateral group of academicians, industry representatives, and regulators established 132 interoperable, reusable essential core data elements essential to supporting more efficient, consistent, and informative TAVR device evidence for regulatory submissions, safety surveillance, best practice, and hospital quality assessments.

Minimum Core Data Elements for Evaluation of TAVR: A Scientific Statement by PASSION CV, HVC, and TVT Registry.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the standard of care for severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis. Real-world TAVR data collection contributes to benefit/risk assessment and safety evidence for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, quality evaluation for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and hospitals, as well as clinical research and real-world implementation through appropriate use criteria. The essential minimum core dataset for these purposes has not previously been defined but is necessary to promote efficient, reusable real-world data collection supporting quality, regulatory, and clinical applications. The authors performed a systematic review of the published research for high-impact TAVR studies and U.S. multicenter, multidevice registries. Two expert task forces, one from the Predictable and Sustainable Implementation of National Cardiovascular Registries/Heart Valve Collaboratory and another from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT (Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry convened separately and then met to reconcile a final list of essential data elements. From 276 unique data elements considered, unanimous consensus agreement was achieved on 132 "core" data elements, with the most common reasons for exclusion from the minimum core dataset being burden or difficulty in accurate assessment (36.9%), duplicative information (33.3%), and low likelihood of affecting outcomes (10.7%). After a systematic review and extensive discussions, a multilateral group of academicians, industry representatives, and regulators established 132 interoperable, reusable essential core data elements essential to supporting more efficient, consistent, and informative TAVR device evidence for regulatory submissions, safety surveillance, best practice, and hospital quality assessments.

Depression and Perceived Stress After Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Comparison With Other Acute Myocardial Infarction (the VIRGO Experience).

Data on depression and stress among patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) are limited. Using data from the VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients) study, which prospectively enrolled 3,572 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients between 18 and 55 years of age, we identified 67 SCAD cases. We compared Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) scores obtained at baseline, 1 month, and 12 months between SCAD and AMI of all other causes. Using longitudinal linear mixed-effects analysis, we compared depression and stress scores between SCAD and other AMI, adjusting for time and selected covariates. Patients with SCAD had lower baseline PHQ-9 scores (6.1 ± 6.0 vs 7.7 ± 6.4 for other patients with AMI, p = 0.03), similar 1-month scores, and lower 12-month scores (3.2 ± 4.3 vs 4.9 ± 5.5, p = 0.004). At baseline and 1 month, patients with SCAD had similar PSS-14 scores to those of other patients with AMI. At 12 months, patients with SCAD had lower scores (18.4 ± 8.8 vs 21.5 ± 9.3 for other patients with AMI, p = 0.009). After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, co-morbidities, and clinical acuity, no differences in PHQ-9 or PSS-14 scores remained between SCAD and other AMI. Similar results were obtained in a subgroup analysis of only women with SCAD and other AMI. In conclusion, patients with SCAD had a relatively lower burden of depression and perceived stress than other patients with AMI, potentially because of fewer co-morbidities and favorable socioeconomic factors. However, given high depression and stress burden in both SCAD and other patients with AMI, routine screening can help identify and treat these patients.

Health status outcomes after spontaneous coronary artery dissection and comparison with other acute myocardial infarction: The VIRGO experience.

BACKGROUND: Data on health status outcomes after spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) are limited. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using the Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) study we compared patients with SCAD and other acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at presentation (baseline), 1-month, and-12 months using standardized health status instruments. Among 3572 AMI patients ≤ 55 years, 67 had SCAD. SCAD patients were younger (median age (IQR) 45 (40.5-51) years vs. 48 (44-52) in other AMI, p = 0.003), more often female (92.5% vs. 66.6%), have college education (73.1% vs. 51.7%) and household income >$100,000 (43.3% vs. 17.7% (All p<0.001). SCAD patients at baseline had higher mean ± SD Short Form-12 [SF-12] physical component scores [PCS] (48.7±10.2 vs. 43.8±12.1, p<0.001) and mental component scores [MCS] (49.6±12.4 vs. 45.4±12.5, p = 0.008), and at 12-months [PCS (50.1±9.0 vs. 44.3±12.3, p<0.001) and MCS (53±10.1 vs 50.2±11.0, p = 0.045)]. The Euro-Quality of Life Scale [EQ-5D] VAS and EQ-5D index scores were similar at baseline, but higher at 12-months for SCAD (EQ-5D VAS: 82.2±10.2 vs. 72.3±21.0, p<0.001; EQ-5D index scores; 90.2±15.3 vs. 83.7±19.8, p = 0.012). SCAD patients had better baseline Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ] physical limitation (88.8±20.1 vs. 81.2±25.4, p = 0.017). At 12-months SCAD patients had better physical limitation (98.0±8.5 vs. 91.4±18.8, p = 0.007), angina frequency (96.4±8.8 vs. 91.3±16.8, p = 0.018) and quality of life scores (80.7±14.7 vs 72.2±23.2, p = 0.005). Magnitude of change in health status from baseline to 12-months was not statistically different between the groups. After adjustment for time and comorbidities there remained no difference in most health status outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: SCAD patients fare marginally better than other AMI patients on most health status instruments and have similar 12-month health status recovery. Better pre-event health status suggests a need to modify exercise prescriptions and cardiac rehabilitation protocols to better assist this physically active population to recover.

Invasive Right Ventricular Pressure-Volume Analysis: Basic Principles, Clinical Applications, and Practical Recommendations.

Right ventricular pressure-volume (PV) analysis characterizes ventricular systolic and diastolic properties independent of loading conditions like volume status and afterload. While long-considered the gold-standard method for quantifying myocardial chamber performance, it was traditionally only performed in highly specialized research settings. With recent advances in catheter technology and more sophisticated approaches to analyze PV data, it is now more commonly used in a variety of clinical and research settings. Herein, we review the basic techniques for PV loop measurement, analysis, and interpretation with the aim of providing readers with a deeper understanding of the strengths and limitations of PV analysis. In the second half of the review, we detail key scenarios in which right ventricular PV analysis has influenced our understanding of clinically relevant topics and where the technique can be applied to resolve additional areas of uncertainty. All told, PV analysis has an important role in advancing our understanding of right ventricular physiology and its contribution to cardiovascular function in health and disease.

Suprasternal Versus Transfemoral Access for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From a Propensity Score Matched Analysis.

Background Suprasternal access is an alternative access strategy for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) where the innominate artery is cannulated from an incision above the sternal notch. To date, suprasternal access has never been compared with transfemoral TAVR. Thus, we sought to assess safety, feasibility, and early clinical outcomes between suprasternal and transfemoral access for patients undergoing TAVR. Methods and Results We evaluated patients from 2 institutional prospective, observational registries containing 1348 patients. Patients were selected in a 2:1 ratio (transfemoral:suprasternal) on the basis of propensity score matching. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included the incidence of ischemic stroke, major bleeding, vascular injury, left bundle-branch block, and permanent pacemaker implantation at 30-day follow-up. Propensity score matching identified 89 patients undergoing suprasternal TAVR and 159 patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR suitable for analysis. There was no significant difference between suprasternal TAVR and transfemoral TAVR with respect to in-hospital mortality (1.1% versus 0.6%; odds ratio [OR], 1.80; 95% CI, 0.11-29.06; P=0.680). No patients in either cohort suffered an ischemic stroke. The incidence of major bleeding (2.2% versus 2.5%; OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.16-4.96; P=0.895) and vascular injury (1.1% versus 1.9%; OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.06-5.77; P=0.651) did not differ significantly. The frequency of left bundle-branch block (9.4% versus 15.8%; OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.24-1.30; P=0.177) and permanent pacemaker implantation (11.2% versus 5.9%; OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 0.75-5.45; P=0.169) were not statistically significantly different. Conclusions Suprasternal TAVR was safe and achieved promising short-term clinical outcomes when compared with transfemoral TAVR. Future studies seeking to identify the optimal alternative access site should evaluate suprasternal TAVR access alongside other substitutes for transfemoral TAVR.

Long-Term Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease.

Background Aortic stenosis is prevalent in end-stage renal disease. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a plausible alternative for surgical aortic valve replacement. However, little is known regarding long-term outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease who undergo TAVR. Methods and Results We identified all patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent TAVR from 2011 through 2016 using the United States Renal Data System. The primary end point was 5-year mortality after TAVR. Factors associated with 1- and 5-year mortality were analyzed. A total of 3883 TAVRs were performed for patients with end-stage renal disease. Mortality was 5.8%, 43.7%, and 88.8% at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years, respectively. Case volumes increased rapidly from 17 in 2011 to 1495 in 2016. Thirty-day mortality demonstrated a dramatic reduction from 11.1% in 2012 to 2.5% in 2016 (P=0.01). Age 75 or older (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.23 [P=0.002]), body mass index <25 (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08-1.28 [P<0.001]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.1-1.35 [P<0.001]), diabetes mellitus as the cause of dialysis (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.11-1.35 [P<0.001]), hypertension as the cause of dialysis (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.29 [P=0.004]), and White race (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.3 [P=0.002]) were independently associated with 5-year mortality. Conclusions Short-term outcomes of TAVR in patients with end-stage renal disease have improved significantly. However, long-term mortality of patients on dialysis remains high.

Treatment of Acute Aortic Insufficiency With a Dedicated Device.

A 66-year-old man with refractory multiple myeloma presented with acute severe aortic insufficiency leading to cardiogenic shock and multiorgan failure. After comprehensive heart team evaluation, he underwent successful JenaValve transcatheter aortic valve (JenaValve Technology, Inc., Irvine, California) implantation resulting in resolution of his aortic insufficiency and improvement in his clinical status. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry-Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry.

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Proposed Standardized Neurological Endpoints for Cardiovascular Clinical Trials: An Academic Research Consortium Initiative.

Surgical and catheter-based cardiovascular procedures and adjunctive pharmacology have an inherent risk of neurological complications. The current diversity of neurological endpoint definitions and ascertainment methods in clinical trials has led to uncertainties in the neurological risk attributable to cardiovascular procedures and inconsistent evaluation of therapies intended to prevent or mitigate neurological injury. Benefit-risk assessment of such procedures should be on the basis of an evaluation of well-defined neurological outcomes that are ascertained with consistent methods and capture the full spectrum of neurovascular injury and its clinical effect. The Neurologic Academic Research Consortium is an international collaboration intended to establish consensus on the definition, classification, and assessment of neurological endpoints applicable to clinical trials of a broad range of cardiovascular interventions. Systematic application of the proposed definitions and assessments will improve our ability to evaluate the risks of cardiovascular procedures and the safety and effectiveness of preventive therapies.