Long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Meta-analysis of Kaplan-Meier-derived data.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is as an alternative treatment to surgical AVR, but the long-term outcomes of TAVR remain unclear. AIMS: This study aimed to analyze long-term outcomes following TAVR using meta-analysis. METHODS: A literature search was performed with MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar through November 2022; studies reporting clinical outcomes of TAVR with follow-up periods of ≥8 years were included. The outcomes of interest were overall survival and/or freedom from structural valve deterioration (SVD). Surgical risk was assessed with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) predicted risk of mortality (PROM) score. A subgroup analysis was conducted for intermediate-/high-surgical risk patients only. RESULTS: Eleven studies including 5458 patients were identified and analyzed. The mean age was 82.0 ± 6.5 years, and mean STS PROM score ranged from 2.9 to 10.6%. Survival rate at 5 and 10 years was 47.7% ± 1.4% and 12.1 ± 2.0%. Five studies including 1509 patients were analyzed for SVD. Freedom from SVD at 5 and 8 years was 95.5 ± 0.7% and 85.1 ± 3.1%. Similar results for survival and SVD were noted in the subgroup analysis of intermediate-/high-risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: Following TAVR, approximately 88% of patients died within 10 years, whereas 85% were free from SVD at 8 years. These date suggest that baseline patient demographic have the greatest impact on survival, and SVD does not seem to have a prognostic impact in this population. Further investigations on longer-term outcomes of younger and lower-risk patients are warranted.

Importance of early diagnosis and surgical treatment of calcified amorphous tumor-related native valve endocarditis caused by Escherichia coli: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Unlike Escherichia coli bacteremia, which is common, E. coli endocarditis is uncommon, particularly in patients with native valve, leading to its delayed diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of infective endocarditis caused by E. coli in a 78-year-old Japanese man with type 2 diabetes, involving persistent bacteremia and vegetation on the mitral valve (measuring 18 × 4.2 mm in diameter). He presented with recurrent fever after antimicrobial treatment for pyelonephritis. He received antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks and required surgical removal of a calcified amorphous tumor and vegetation with mitral valvuloplasty 7 days after admission. Despite an episode of multiple cerebral infarctions, he recovered fully from the infection. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up blood cultures should be performed for Gram-negative bacilli bacteremia among patients with unknown focus and an atypical clinical course after treatment. Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical intervention are paramount to achieving good clinical outcomes.

[Early Structural Valve Deterioration of Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve in a Dialysis Patient].

Choice of prosthetic valve during valve replacement in dialysis patients is still controversial. There is a known risk of early structural valve deterioration of bioprosthesis in dialysis patients, whereas mechanical prosthesis is associated with a higher risk of bleeding and thrombotic events. A 68-year-old dialysis-dependent woman, who had undergone bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement at the age of 66, was admitted to our hospital because of general malaise and hypotension during dialysis. Echocardiography revealed severe mitral stenosis and regurgitation due to restricted motion and dense calcification in prosthetic valve leaflets, which indicated early structural valve deterioration. Redo mitral valve replacement using a mechanical valve was performed, and the patient gradually recovered. However, she eventually died of intracranial hemorrhage three months after the surgery.

[Mitral Valve Replacement and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for Mitral Regurgitation with Left Ventricular Noncompaction:Report of a Case].

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare congenital abnormality resulting from an arrest of the normal process of myocardial compaction. LVNC has been known as a disease of infants, however, some surgical cases of LVNC in adult have been reported. A 61-year-old man who was diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy due to LVNC was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed severe mitral regurgitation and diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis, and the hypokinetic wall consists of a thin compacted epicardial layer and a thicker noncompacted endocardial layer. Mitral valve replacement using a mechanical valve and cardiac resynchronization therapy were performed. The patient was easily weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass with medium-dose inotropic support and scheduled intra-aortic balloon pumping( IABP). Postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged in good condition on the 29th postoperative day.

Anesthetic Management of an Adult Patient Post a Fontan Procedure in Laparoscopic Surgery: A Case Report.

We report the successful anesthetic management of laparoscopic surgery in a 21-year-old female patient with Fontan circulation. A preoperative careful review of cardiac catheterization results helped assess the risk of the surgery and implement anesthetic management. Intraoperative management focused on minimizing the impact on pulmonary vascular resistance and venous return by optimizing ventilation and applying lower pneumoperitoneum pressure without tilting the position. Milrinone was administered to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance and provide inotropic support with minimally invasive monitoring. The patient remained stable throughout the procedure without complications. This case highlights the importance of thorough preoperative assessment, individualized intraoperative management, and collaboration with the surgical team when caring for adult Fontan patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.

Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement with Perceval Bioprosthesis Superior to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Promising Option for the Gray-Zone of Aortic Valve Replacement Procedures-A State-of-the-Art Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Future Directions.

Background: The management of patients with aortic valve pathologies can sometimes fall into a "gray zone", where the optimal treatment approach is not straightforward. The comparative benefits of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SUAVR) using the Perceval bioprosthesis versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for the "gray zone" of aortic valve replacement procedures remain a topic of debate. To further explore this issue, we conducted a study with pairwise, single-arm, and Kaplan-Meier-based meta-analyses to compare the outcomes of SUAVR with the Perceval bioprosthesis versus TAVI, as well as to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and durability of SUAVR with the Perceval bioprosthesis over mid-term and long-term follow-up periods. Methods: The PubMed, PubMed Central, OVID Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. All study types were included, except study protocols and animal studies, without time restrictions. The final search was carried out in May 2024. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) rates between the two groups. SUAVR showed a lower incidence of new-onset myocardial infarction but was associated with higher rates of new-onset atrial fibrillation and major bleeding. TAVI had higher rates of left bundle branch block and major vascular complications. Conclusions: Our findings show that SUAVR has a lower incidence of complications and a favorable mid-term overall survival compared to TAVI. SUAVR has more advantages compared to TAVI and can be considered a valuable and promising option for the "grey zone" of aortic valve pathologies.