Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and Exercise Capacity in Cardiac Rehabilitation for Patients Referred to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA)-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program is essential for patients before and after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study aimed to explore the values of CGA and exercise capacity in CR for patients referred to TAVI. A retrospective analysis was conducted in 90 patients referred to TAVI from January to October 2019. CR strategies started before TAVI. The association between clinical characteristics, CGA, and change in six-minute walk distance (Δ6MWD) was analyzed with multivariate regression models. Most of patients had cognitive impairment (50%), malnutrition (61%), and frailty (83%). After the CR, the proportion of cognitive impairment, malnutrition, and frail patients was significantly decreased by 21%, 40%, and 57%, respectively (p = 0.002, p <0.001, p <0.001). The 6MWD at a month after discharge (291.9 ± 98.8 m) was significantly improved than that at discharge after TAVI (218.8 ± 114.3m, p <0.001). The multivariate regression analysis indicated body mass index (BMI; Δ6MWD:12.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3 to 23.8, p = 0.045), frailty (Δ6MWD: -57.9, 95% CI -81.8 to -34.1, p <0.001) and malnutrition (Δ6MWD: -25.1, 95% CI -47.0 to -3.2, p = 0.026) as the associated predictors of Δ6MWD. In conclusion, functional status in patients referred to TAVI could be improved by CGA-based CR. BMI, frailty, and malnutrition were associated with the efficacy of CR on exercise capacity. CGA can play the important role in the evaluation and making strategies for CR in patients.

Implante percutâneo de válvula aórtica (TAVI) para tratamento da estenose aórtica grave em pacientes inoperáveis / Percutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for treatment of severe aortic stenosis in patients inoperable

INTRODUÇÃO: A estenose aórtica é relacionada a fatores de risco para aterosclerose, principalmente ao envelhecimento. A prevalência na faixa etária entre 65 e 74 anos é de 1,3%, e acima de 75 anos, 2,8%. Pacientes com estenose aórtica têm risco aumentado de morte cardiovascular (HR 2,14; IC 95% 1,21-3,76). As manifestações clínicas são relacionadas à insuficiência cardíaca, podendo também estarem presentes dor no peito (angina) e síncope. O prognóstico, após início dos sintomas, é de 50% de mortalidade em dois anos, sendo recomendada a cirurgia de troca valvar aórtica, mas cerca de 30% dos idosos têm a cirurgia contraindicada pelo alto risco cirúrgico. O TAVI é uma opção de tratamento percutâneo (transapical ou transfemoral), com troca valvar sem necessidade de toracotomia e circulação extracorpórea. Apresenta benefícios em relação ao tratamento clínico tais como maior sobrevida e qualidade de vida, reduzindo sintomas relacionados à insuficiência cardíaca e o número de internações hospitalares, porém, associa-se com riscos imediatos como necessidade de implante de marcapasso, hemotransfusões, insuficiência renal, diálise, acidente vascular cerebral, lesões vasculares, tamponamento cardíaco e morte. Como os resultados de eficácia são distintos de acordo com a via de acesso à valva aórtica, este relatório contempla apenas TAVI por via transfemoral. TECNOLOGIA: Implante percutâneo transfemoral de válvula aórtica (TAVI). PERGUNTA DE PESQUISA: Em pacientes com estenose aórtica grave considerados inoperáveis, o TAVI, em comparação com o tratamento clínico, é seguro e custo-efetivo? EVIDÊNCIAS CLÍNICAS: Um ensaio randomizado (PARTNER B), além de registros e estudos observacionais, apresentaram ganhos em sobrevida e na qualidade de vida com o TAVI. Resultados de 5 anos do PARTNER B, com 179 pacientes em cada braço de intervenção, revelam menor mortalidade (71,8% versus 93,6%), HR 0,50 (IC95% 0,39-0,65), menor chance de hospitalização (47,6% versus 87,3%; p < 0,0001) e maior chance de estar em classe funcional NYHA I e II (New York Heart Association) (86% versus 60%) nos pacientes do grupo TAVI. Acidente vascular cerebral foi mais frequente até o seguimento de três anos do TAVI (14,4% TAVI versus 4,12% braço clínico; p = 0,0007). AVALIAÇÃO ECONÔMICA: Avaliação do tipo custo-utilidade em modelo de Markov, com ciclos mensais, horizonte temporal de 5 anos, perspectiva do SUS, revela razão de custo-utilidade incremental (RCUI) de R$189.920,69/QALY. Na análise de sensibilidade determinística, observou-se que o custo do TAVI é o parâmetro com maior impacto na RCUI. Considerando um limiar de 3 PIB per capita por ano de vida ajustado por qualidade (QALY) e analisando separadamente os componentes do custo TAVI como o custo do procedimento (considerado fixo e equivalente a R$ 28.244,41) e o custo da prótese (variável), estimou-se que, para o TAVI ser considerado custo-efetivo, o custo máximo do procedimento TAVI deve ser de R$ 57.292,1 e consequentemente, o custo máximo isolado da prótese equivalente a R$ 29.047,69. AVALIAÇÃO DE IMPACTO ORÇAMENTÁRIO: O impacto orçamentário é proporcional à quantidade de procedimentos de TAVI realizados. Baseado no pressuposto de realização de um máximo de 80 procedimentos por mês no Brasil, foi estimado um impacto em torno de 78 milhões de reais no primeiro ano e um impacto total, em 5 anos, de aproximadamente 467 milhões de reais. MONITORAMENTO DO HORIZONTE TECNOLÓGICO: Foram realizadas pesquisas nos bancos de dados de ensaios clínicos e patentes Clinical Trials , Cortellis , ECRI, Espacenet e Patentscope e no site do FDA. Para isto, foram utilizados os descritores "severe aortic stenosis" e "aortic stenosis". Dentre os resultados obtidos foram desconsiderados os implantes que já são comercializados no mercado do brasileiro, de modo a proporcionar uma melhor prospecção de mercado. Foi identificado um TAVI registrado no FDA e quatro pedidos patentários internacionais que possuem depósito brasileiro, contudo devido a sua recente inclusão internacional ainda não possui pedido em fase nacional. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: A principal vantagem do TAVI é permitir a troca valvar aórtica sem a necessidade de toracotomia ou circulação extracorpórea, o que o coloca como opção terapêutica para pacientes com estenose aórtica inoperáveis. Demanda expertise médica e estrutura hospitalar com suporte de sala de hemodinâmica e cirurgia cardíaca. O controle na qualidade do atendimento e no impacto orçamentário estão diretamente relacionados a quantidade de centros e de procedimentos por centro que poderão ser autorizados para realização do TAVI. RECOMENDAÇÃO PRELIMINAR DA CONITEC: Pelo exposto, os membros da Conitec, em sua 95ª reunião ordinária, no dia 04 de março de 2021, recomendaram por unanimidade, a não incorporação no SUS do TAVI para tratamento de pacientes com estenose aórtica grave inoperáveis. Considerou-se que, apesar das evidências que suportam o benefício clínico da intervenção, os dados econômicos de relação de custo-utilidade incremental e impacto orçamentário são desfavoráveis. A matéria foi disponibilizada em consulta pública. CONSULTA PÚBLICA: A Consulta Pública nº 15/2021 foi realizada entre os dias 18/03/2021 e 06/04/2021. Foram recebidas 17 contribuições, sendo 12 pelo formulário para contribuições técnico-científicas e cinco pelo formulário para contribuições sobre experiência ou opinião de pacientes, familiares, amigos ou cuidadores de pacientes, profissionais de saúde ou pessoas interessadas no tema. RECOMENDAÇÃO FINAL: Pelo exposto, o Plenário da Conitec, em sua 96ª Reunião Ordinária, no dia 05 de maio de 2021, deliberou por unanimidade recomendar a incorporação do implante percutâneo da válvula aórtica (TAVI) para tratamento da estenose aórtica grave em pacientes com estenose aórtica grave sintomática inoperáveis. Os membros da Conitec consideraram o benefício clínico com ganhos em sobrevida e qualidade de vida dos pacientes para recomendar a incorporação desta tecnologia que está condicionada, no máximo, ao valor considerado custo-efetivo na análise para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Assim, foi assinado o Registro de Deliberação nº 606/2021. DECISÃO: Incorporar o implante percutâneo de válvula aórtica (TAVI) para tratamento da estenose aórtica grave em pacientes inoperáveisno âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde ­ SUS, conforme Portaria nº 32, republicada no Diário Oficial da União nº 123, Seção 1, página 195, em 02 de julho de 2021.

Cardiac Rehabilitation for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

More than 300,000 patients worldwide have undergone transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS). The rise in TAVR as a treatment option is driven in large part by evidence showing its benefits compared with medical treatment in patients with symptomatic severe AS who were too ill to undergo surgical aortic valve replacement. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended after valvular cardiac surgery for improving exercise capacity, with data also now showing its utility to improve quality of life, moderate frailty, and increase survival. This review describes the state of the art of CR for TAVR.

Relation of Postdischarge Care Fragmentation and Outcomes in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation from the STS/ACC TVT Registry.

Fragmented care following elective surgery has been associated with poor outcomes. The association between fragmented care and outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is unknown. We examined patients who underwent TAVI from 2011 to 2015 at 374 sites in the STS/ACC TVT Registry, linked to Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services claims data. Fragmented care was defined as at least one readmission to a site other than the implanting TAVI center within 90 days after discharge, whereas continuous care was defined as readmission to the same implanting center. We compared adjusted 1-year outcomes, including stroke, bleeding, heart failure, mortality, and all-cause readmission in patients who received fragmented versus continuous care. Among 8,927 patients who received a TAVI between 2011 and 2015, 27.4% were readmitted within 90 days of discharge. Most patients received fragmented care (57.0%). Compared with the continuous care group, the fragmented care group was more likely to have severe chronic lung disease, cerebrovascular disease, and heart failure. States that had lower TAVI volume per Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services population had greater fragmentation. Patients living > 30 minutes from their TAVI center had an increased risk of fragmented care 1.07 (confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 1.09, p < 0.001). After adjustment for comorbidities and procedural complications, fragmented care was associated with increased 1-year mortality (hazards ratio 1.18, CI 1.04 to 1.35, p = 0.010) and all-cause readmission (hazards ratio 1.08, CI 1.00 to 1.16, p = 0.051. In conclusion, fragmented readmission following TAVI is common, and is associated with increased 1-year mortality and readmission. Efforts to improve coordination of care may improve these outcomes and optimize long-term benefits yielded from TAVI.

Comparison of Sex-Based Differences in Home or Nonhome Discharge Utilization of Rehabilitative Services and Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in the United States.

Sex-based differences in outcomes have been shown to affect caregiving in medical disciplines. Increased spending due to postacute care transfer policies has led hospitals to further scrutinize patient outcomes and disposition patterns after inpatient admissions. We examined sex-based differences in rehabilitative service utilization after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We queried all TAVI discharges in the National Inpatient Sample database from 2012 to 2014 (n = 40,900). Thirteen thousand eight hundred fifteen patients were discharged to home and 12,175 patients were discharged to rehabilitation facility; those not discharged routinely or to a rehabilitation facility were excluded. Patients with nonhome discharges were older (83.3 vs 79.0 years) and female (58.3% vs 37.7%) with a greater number of chronic conditions (9.91 vs 9.03) and number of Elixhauser co-morbidities (6.5 vs 5.8, all p < 0.05). Nonhome discharge patients also had a significantly longer length of stay (LOS) (11.3 days vs 5.3 days) and higher hospitalization costs ($66,246 vs $48,710, all p < 0.001) compared to home-discharged patients. Overall in-hospital mortality for female patients who underwent TAVI was higher compared to males (4.6% vs 3.6%, p < 0.05). On multivariable logistic regression, female sex was an independent predictor for disposition to rehabilitation facilities after TAVI (odds ratio 2.17; 95% confidence interval: 1.88 to 2.50; p < 0.001). Other independent predictors for females discharged to rehabilitation included the presence of rheumatoid arthritis and collagen vascular disease, body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2, depression, and sum of Elixhauser co-morbidities (all p < 0.001). In conclusion, nonhome discharge TAVI patients added LOS and hospital costs compared to home discharge TAVI patients, and female sex was one of the major predictors despite the lower co-morbidities.

Exercise Training Has Contrasting Effects in Myocardial Infarction and Pressure Overload Due to Divergent Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Regulation.

The beneficial effects of exercise training (EX) on cardiac pathology are well recognized. Previously, we found that the effects of EX on cardiac dysfunction in mice critically depend on the underlying etiology. EX exerted beneficial effects after myocardial infarction (MI); however, cardiac pathology following pressure overload produced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was aggravated by EX. In the presented study, we investigated whether the contrasting effects of EX on cardiac dysfunction can be explained by an etiology-specific response of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) to EX, which divergently affects the balance between nitric oxide and superoxide. For this purpose, mice were exposed to eight weeks of voluntary wheel running or sedentary housing (SED), immediately after sham, MI, or TAC surgery. Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed using echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements. EX ameliorated LV dysfunction and remodeling after MI, but not following TAC, in which EX even aggravated fibrosis. Strikingly, EX attenuated superoxide levels after MI, but exacerbated NOS-dependent superoxide levels following TAC. Similarly, elevated eNOS S-glutathionylation and eNOS monomerization, which were observed in both MI and TAC, were corrected by EX in MI, but aggravated by EX after TAC. Additionally, EX reduced antioxidant activity in TAC, while it was maintained following EX in MI. In conclusion, the present study shows that EX mitigates cardiac dysfunction after MI, likely by attenuating eNOS uncoupling-mediated oxidative stress, whereas EX tends to aggravate cardiac dysfunction following TAC, likely due to exacerbating eNOS-mediated oxidative stress.

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty to improve candidacy of patients evaluated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the role of balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in improving candidacy of patients for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND: Patients who are not candidates for TAVR may undergo BAV to improve functional and clinical status. METHODS: 117 inoperable or high-risk patients with critical aortic stenosis underwent BAV as a bridge-to-decision for TAVR. Frailty measures including gait speed, serum albumin, hand grip, activities of daily living (ADL); and NYHA functional class before and after BAV were compared. RESULTS: Mean age was 81.6 ± 8.5 years and the mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality was 9.57 ± 5.51, with 19/117 (16.2%) patients non-ambulatory. There was no significant change in mean GS post-BAV, but all non-ambulatory patients completed GS testing at follow-up. Albumin and hand grip did not change after BAV, but there was a significant improvement in mean ADL score (4.85 ± 1.41 baseline to 5.20 ± 1.17, P = 0.021). The number of patients with Class IV congestive heart failure (CHF) was significantly lower post BAV (71/117 [60.7%] baseline versus 18/117 [15.4%], P = 0.008). 78/117 (66.7%) of patients were referred to definitive valve therapy after BAV. CONCLUSIONS: When evaluating frailty measures post BAV, we saw no significant improvement in mean GS, however, we observed a significant improvement in non-ambulatory patients and ADL scores. We also describe improved Class IV CHF symptoms. With this improved health status, the majority of patients underwent subsequent valve therapy, demonstrating that BAV may improve candidacy of patients for TAVR.

Guía de práctica clínica para la evaluación y el manejo de estenosis aórtica severa: guía en versión extensa / Clinical practice guide for the evaluation and management of severe aortic stenosis: an extensive version guide

Este documento abarca la evaluación y manejo de pacientes con estenosis aórtica severa.

Cardiac rehabilitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared to patients after valve replacement.

AIMS: To evaluate feasibility, safety, and outcome of an exercise-based residential cardiac rehabilitation program in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients compared to elderly patients after surgical valve replacement (sAVR). METHODS: From January 2010 to January 2013, 65 consecutive TAVI and 70 sAVR older than 70 years were enrolled. Six-min walk test (6MWT) distance, Barthel index, Morse Fall Scale (MFS) on admission and discharge, Cumulative Illness Rated State-Comorbidity Index (CIRS-CI), and echocardiography were assessed. Patients underwent a 3-week intensive cardiac rehabilitation program. RESULTS: Compared with sAVR, TAVI had worse CIRS-CI (4.8 ±â€Š1.5 vs. 3.4 ±â€Š1.5; P = 0.00001), left ventricle ejection fraction (55.3 ±â€Š9 vs. 59.2 ±â€Š7.7; P = 0.008), Barthel index (67 ±â€Š24 vs. 79 ±â€Š21; P = 0.0018), and MFS (36 ±â€Š22 vs. 25 ±â€Š19; P = 0.002) on admission and at discharge (Barthel index 85 ±â€Š17 vs. 93 ±â€Š14; P = 0.005 and MFS 30 ±â€Š20 vs. 20 ±â€Š12; P = 0.0001), despite a significant improvement at discharge of Barthel index (85 ±â€Š17 vs. 67 ±â€Š24; P = 0.001) and MFS (36 ±â€Š22 vs. 30 ±â€Š20; P > 0.01). TAVI attended safely cardiac rehabilitation, but tolerated a significantly lower workload and had reduced 6MWT both on admission and discharge compared with sAVR (162 ±â€Š87vs. 216 ±â€Š82; P = 0.00001, and 240 ±â€Š92 vs. 33295; P = 0.00001, respectively), despite a net improvement at discharge in 6MWT (240 ±â€Š92 vs. 162 ±â€Š92; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Intensive cardiac rehabilitation after TAVI is safe, well tolerated, and leads to a net improvement in disability, risk of falls, and exercise capacity, similar to that observed in less disabled sAVR patients, favoring home discharge and relatively independent life at home. A persistent higher disability, comorbidity profile, and risk of falls at discharge characterize TAVI patients compared with sAVR patients of similar age.

Advances in cardiac rehabilitation: cardiac rehabilitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Due to the demographic change and an aging population, the prevalence of the most frequent valve disease, aortic stenosis (AS), is still rising.

The JUPITER registry: 1-year results of transapical aortic valve implantation using a second-generation transcatheter heart valve in patients with aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established therapy for patients with aortic stenosis (AS) at high surgical risk. The JenaValve™ is a second-generation, self-expanding transcatheter heart valve (THV), implanted through transapical access (TA). During stent deployment, a specific 'clipping-mechanism' engages native aortic valve cusps for fixation. We present 1-year outcomes of the JUPITER registry, a post-market registry of the JenaValve for TA-TAVR. METHODS: The JUPITER registry is a prospective, multicentre, uncontrolled and observational European study to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of the Conformité Européenne-marked JenaValve THV. A total of 180 patients with AS were enrolled between 2012 and 2014. End-points were adjudicated in accordance with the valve academic research consortium document no. 1 definitions. RESULTS: The mean age was 80.4 ± 5.9 years and the mean logistic European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation I 21.2 ± 14.7%. The procedure was successful in 95.0% (171/180), implantation of a second THV (valve-in-valve) was performed in 2.2% (4/180) and conversion to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) was necessary in 2.8% (5/180). No annular rupture or coronary ostia obstruction occurred. Two patients required SAVR after the day of index procedure (1.1%). All-cause mortality at 30 days was 11.1% (20/180), being cardiovascular in 7.2% (13/180). A major stroke occurred in 1.1% (2/180) at 30 days, no additional major strokes were observed during 1 year. All-cause mortality after 30 days was 13.1% (21/160) and combined efficacy at 1 year was 80.8% (122/151). At 1-year follow-up, no patient presented with more than moderate paravalvular leakage, while 2 patients (3.2%) showed moderate, 12 (19.0%) mild and 49 (82.4%) trace/none paravalvular regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: In a high-risk cohort of patients undergoing TA-TAVR for AS, the use of the JenaValve THV is safe and effective. In patients at higher risk for coronary ostia obstruction, annular rupture or with limited aortic valve calcification, the JenaValve might be preferable for implantation due to its clipping-mechanism engaging native aortic valve cusps for fixation with reduced radial forces of the self-expanding stent.

Summary: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Evaluation of the evidence and synthesis of organizational issues

CONTEXT: Aortic valvular stenosis, or narrowing of the valve orifice, is a progressive disease that generally affects patients over the age of 65 years in Western countries and is usually caused by degenerative calcification. Aortic stenosis causes increasing resistance against the ejection of blood from the left ventricle towards the aorta. After symptoms appear (dyspnea, angina, syncope), the disease rapidly progresses causing severe limitation of physical capacity, heart failure, and high risk of mortality. Aortic stenosis represents the third most common cardiovascular disease among adults and the most frequent cardiac valve illness among elderly persons in the industrialized world. Its prevalence is estimated at at 2.8% in the population aged 75 and older in the United States. In Quebec, the number of octogenarians will double to about 780,000 persons by 2035, representing about 9% of the total population. Aortic stenosis will thus become more frequent and is expected to have an increasingly important impact on the Quebec health care system. Until recently, the only effective therapy for severe or symptomatic aortic stenosis was surgical valve replacement, but about a third of elderly patients can be refused this procedure due to their health status or aortic anatomy, which renders surgery too risky. In 2002, a percutaneous technique for implanting an aortic valve was developed, allowing the delivery by catheter and deployment of an aortic valve bioprosthesis, without recourse to open-heart surgery. Since then, the number of transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVIs) carried out worldwide has increased at a rapid rate. However, there are no Canadian clinical practice guidelines specific to TAVI, and the criteria for selection of patients raise important questions. Currently in Quebec, several institutions either have already set up a TAVI program or are in the process of doing so. A narrative review of the literature up to 2009 and an analysis of the Quebec experience was published in 2010 by a working group of the Réseau québécois de cardiologie tertiaire (RQCT). Following the release of this document, the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) recommended that this procedure be used only for patients who cannot be treated by traditional surgical methods due to an excessive risk of complications and be offered only by university hospitals or institutes with experienced multidisciplinary teams (performing a minimum of 30 procedures a year). Also, the MSSS gave the Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) the mandate to perform an evaluation of TAVI. OBJECTIVES OF THIS EVALUATION: 1. Synthesize, via a systematic review, the recent evidence on effectiveness, safety and economic issues related to TAVI using the Cribier-Edwards / Edwards SAPIEN or CoreValve bioprostheses for adult patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis, with an emphasis on clinical results at 1 year; and to 2. Synthesize, via a narrative review, the principal organizational aspects of delivering this procedure, including the selection of patients before implantation and key considerations concerning ethics and the patient's perspective. METHODS: A systematic search of the scientific literature published between January 2008 and January 2011 was carried out using bibliographic databases, 2008 being the year when clinical results on mortality at 1 year began to become available. Given the relative lack of publications from registries, on quality of life and regarding economic issues, we also selected several oral presentations from scientific conferences. Using primary research articles and registry reports that provided survival data at 1 year as the main source of information, we examined clinical results for TAVI patients at 30 days and at 1 year. In order to summarize issues pertaining to organizational aspects and patient eligibility, we retrieved relevant information from the following sources: 1) the most recent expert consensus documents from North America and Europe; 2) health technology assessment (HTA) reports published between 2008 and 2010, and the 2011 update of a report by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE); 3) relevant articles retrieved from our literature search; and 4) a key research article and accompanying editorial, published in June 2011, concerning cohort A of the PARTNER randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: In the systematic review of clinical results, 17 studies met our selection criteria: 13 were research studies (1 randomized controlled trial, 4 controlled cohort studies, 8 case series), and 4 were analyses of registries (2 national, 2 from industry), which can be considered as case series. Most studies were from outside North America. In the clinical trial (PARTNER B cohort), 179 patients were randomized to transfemoral TAVI, and 179 were randomized to medical treatment (most of the patients in this group also underwent balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) for aggravation of their aortic stenosis). We also retained 3 HTA reports and 2 systematic review. In each of the 17 studies, the patients eligible for TAVI were considered either inoperable, not suitable for surgery or at high surgical risk. In almost every study, it was indicated that patient selection was based on the consensus decision of a multidisciplinary team. In general, TAVI patients were elderly (with a mean age of at least 81 years) and the majority were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3 or 4, but the extent of surgical risk varied greatly across studies.

Conventional aortic valve replacement for high-risk aortic stenosis patients not suitable for trans-catheter aortic valve implantation: feasibility and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: High-risk patients with aortic stenosis are increasingly referred to specialist multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) for consideration of trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A subgroup of these cases is unsuitable for TAVI, and high-risk conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) is undertaken. We have studied our outcomes in this cohort. METHODS: Data prospectively collected between March 2008 and November 2009 for patients (n = 28, nine male) undergoing high-risk AVR were analysed. The mean age was 78.4 ± 9.2 years. The mean additive EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) was 10.0 ± 3.6 and mean logistic EuroSCORE was 19.9 ± 18.8. Three patients had undergone previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). RESULTS: The mean ejection fraction was 51 ± 16%, mean valve area 0.56 ± 0.19 cm², and mean peak gradient 91 ± 27 mm Hg. Ascending aortic, right axillary artery and femoral artery cannulation was used in 64%, 29% and 7% of cases, respectively. Median cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 84 (68-143) min and 111 (94-223) min. The median (range) inserted valve size was 21 (19-25) mm. Median intensive care and overall hospital stay were 5 (2-37) and 11 (5-44) days, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 4% (one patient). Postoperative complications included re-operation for bleeding (7%), renal failure (21%), tracheostomy (14%), sternal wound infection (7%), atrial fibrillation (25%) and permanent pacemaker implantation (7%). Kaplan-Meier survival at median follow-up of 359 (148-744) days was 81% (one further death of non-cardiac aetiology). Quality-of-life assessment at follow-up also yielded satisfactory results. CONCLUSIONS: MDT assessment of high-risk aortic stenosis in the era of TAVI has increased the number of referrals. Conventional open surgery remains a valid option for these patients, with acceptable in-hospital mortality and early/midterm outcomes but high in-hospital morbidity.

Impact of hypertension on left ventricular hypertrophy regression and exercise capacity in patients operated for aortic valve stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the influence of concomitant hypertension on left ventricular hypertrophy regression and exercise capacity in patients operated for aortic stenosis. DESIGN: We performed echocardiography 1 week, 6- and 18-month postoperatively in 78 patients, aged 70 (28-86) years, who received Medtronic Hall (33), Biocor (8), Carpentier-Edwards S.A.V. (14) and Freestyle (23) prosthetic valves for severe aortic stenosis. Forty nine patients participated in treadmill tests with ergospirometry at the 6- and 18-month visits. RESULTS: Left ventricular mass index was comparably reduced in normotensive and hypertensive patients (34 vs. 40 g/m2 after 6 months, and 43 vs. 46 g/m2 after 18 months, ns). In multiple regression analysis, adjusting for baseline left ventricular mass index, larger reduction in left ventricular mass index was associated with younger age and having a Freestyle prosthesis, but not with gender or history of hypertension (multiple R2=0.68, p < 0.05). Exercise capacity assessed as peak oxygen uptake increased from early to late evaluation in normotensive patients (VO2max 24.27 vs. 27.08 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05) while remained unchanged in hypertensive patients (VO2max 22.2 vs. 21.1 ml/kg/min). In multiple regression analysis, higher improvement in exercise capacity was predicted by male gender, younger age and absence of hypertension, while no independent association was found with Freestyle prosthesis (multiple R2 = 0.37, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients operated for aortic stenosis, concomitant hypertension is associated with lack of improvement in exercise capacity in spite of early left ventricular hypertrophy reduction comparable to what is found in normotensive patients.

Multidisciplinary work to provide cardiac rehabilitation for patients.

Cardiac rehabilitation is an important aspect of cardiac care strategies. This article outlines the importance of such care using a case-study approach to highlight the impact that rehabilitation programmes can have on individual patients.

Exercise testing in aortic stenosis.

Physician-supervised exercise testing in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis allows an objective assessment of the hemodynamic response to exercise and it provides a measure of exercise capacity. Exercise testing cannot be used to determine the presence or absence of coronary artery disease, but limited data indicate that exercise testing can provide prognostic information. The results of such testing can be used to provide an exercise prescription and to reassure the patient who might otherwise excessively limit his or her activity.

The effect of moderate exercise training on oxygen uptake post-aortic/mitral valve surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study determined the response of aortic and/or mitral valve replacement/reconstruction (AVR/MVR) surgery patients to a 3-month exercise rehabilitation program (ERP) of moderate intensity, frequency, and duration that commenced approximately 9 weeks post-operatively. METHODS: Based on geographic proximity and availability of transportation to attend ERP classes, 29 experimental subjects were enrolled in the ERP and 20 control subjects received standard care that did not include the ERP, but did not prohibit activity/exercise. Exercise tolerance was determined from estimated oxygen uptake (VO2) during exercise tolerance testing (GXT) before and after standard care or the ERP. RESULTS: VO2 at the maximum stage of the GXT increased significantly (P < or = 05) for the experimental (4.89 +/- 5.07 mL/kg/min) and control (5.11 +/- 4.48 mL/kg/min) groups. No significant between-group differences were noted in VO2 at the maximum stage of the exercise testing or at the target heart rate (HR). Furthermore, reported exercise levels of subjects in both groups were comparable and sufficient for training effects to occur. CONCLUSION: Alternate strategies to improve exercise tolerance such as home-based rehabilitation programs should be investigated for relatively healthy aortic and/or mitral valve surgical patients.