Trajectories of Cardiac Function Following Treatment With an Impella Device in Patients With Acute Anterior ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) unloading via the percutaneous micro-axial Impella pump is increasingly used in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and overt cardiogenic shock. In this context, the evolution of cardiac function and dimensions beyond hospital discharge remains uncertain. We aimed to characterize echocardiographic changes over time in patients with acute anterior STEMI treated with an Impella device. Methods: From an ongoing prospective registry, consecutive patients with acute anterior STEMI managed with an Impella device were extracted. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at index hospitalization and at first outpatient follow-up. Predictors of response, defined as a ≥ 10% absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at follow-up, were sought. Results: A total of 66 patients (89.4% male, aged 64.3 ± 11.6 years) with anterior STEMI were treated with an Impella device in the first 24 hours of hospitalization, from 2014 to 2022. In-hospital mortality was 24%. Major bleeding and vascular complications requiring surgery occurred in 24% and 11% of patients, respectively. At baseline, mean LVEF was 34% ±12%. At follow-up, survivors showed a significant increase in LVEF (P < 0.0001), whereas LV dimensions, diastolic parameters, and measures of right ventricular dimension and function remained stable. Overall, 28 patients had a ≥ 10% absolute increase in LVEF at follow-up. Baseline creatinine was the only significant predictor of response at univariate analysis. Conclusions: Among patients with anterior STEMI requiring mechanical hemodynamic support with an Impella device, the majority of survivors showed a sustained increase in LV function, without evidence of adverse remodelling. This signal warrants further investigation in dedicated trials.

Contexte: La décharge du ventricule gauche (VG) à l'aide de la pompe microaxiale percutanée Impella est de plus en plus employée chez les patients qui présentent un infarctus du myocarde avec élévation du segment ST (STEMI) et un choc cardiogénique manifeste. Dans ce contexte, l'évolution de la fonction et des dimensions cardiaques après le congé de l'hôpital demeure incertaine. Nous avons cherché à caractériser les variations des paramètres échocardiographiques au fil du temps chez les patients ayant subi un STEMI antérieur aigu traités au moyen d'un dispositif Impella. Méthodologie: À partir d'un registre prospectif actif, nous avons extrait les dossiers de patients consécutifs ayant subi un STEMI antérieur aigu et pris en charge au moyen d'un dispositif Impella. Une échocardiographie transthoracique a été effectuée durant l'hospitalisation de référence puis à la première visite de suivi ambulatoire. Les facteurs prédictifs de la réponse, définis comme une augmentation absolue ≥ 10 % de la fraction d'éjection ventriculaire gauche (FEVG) au moment du suivi, ont été recherchés. Résultats: Au total, 66 patients (89,4 % d'hommes, âgés de 64,3 ± 11,6 ans) ayant subi un STEMI antérieur ont été traités au moyen d'un dispositif Impella pendant les 24 premières heures de l'hospitalisation, entre 2014 et 2022. Le taux de mortalité hospitalière était de 24 %. Des hémorragies majeures et des complications vasculaires ayant nécessité une intervention chirurgicale sont survenues chez 24 % et 11 % des patients, respectivement. Au début de l'étude, la FEVG moyenne était de 34 % ± 12 %. Lors du suivi, les survivants affichaient une augmentation significative de la FEVG (p < 0,0001), alors que les dimensions du VG, les paramètres diastoliques et les mesures de la taille et de la fonction du ventricule droit étaient demeurés stables. Globalement, 28 patients affichaient une augmentation absolue de la FEVG ≥ 10 % lors du suivi. D'après l'analyse univariée, la créatininémie initiale était le seul facteur prédictif important de la réponse. Conclusions: Parmi les patients ayant subi un STEMI antérieur nécessitant un support mécanique hémodynamique au moyen d'un dispositif Impella, une augmentation durable de la fonction ventriculaire gauche, sans signe de remodelage indésirable, a été observée chez la majorité des survivants. Ce signal justifie une évaluation plus approfondie dans le cadre d'essais cliniques conçus à cet effet.

Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Intervention in Patients With Previous Left Valve Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Scarce data exist on patients with previous left valve surgery (PLVS) undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI). This study sought to investigate the procedural and early outcomes in patients with PLVS undergoing TTVI. METHODS: This was a subanalysis of the multicenter TriValve registry including 462 patients, 82 (18%) with PLVS. Data were analyzed according to the presence of PLVS in the overall cohort and in a propensity score-matched population including 51 and 115 patients with and without PLVS, respectively. RESULTS: Patients with PLVS were younger (72 ± 10 vs 78 ± 9 years; p < 0.01) and more frequently female (67.1% vs 53.2%; P = 0.02). Similar rates of procedural success (PLVS 80.5%; no-PLVS 82.1%; P = 0.73), and 30-day mortality (PLVS 2.4%, no-PLVS 3.4%; P = 0.99) were observed. After matching, there were no significant differences in both all-cause rehospitalisation (PLVS 21.1%, no-PLVS 26.5%; P = 0.60) and all-cause mortality (PLVS 9.8%, no-PLVS 6.7%; P = 0.58). At last follow-up (median 6 [interquartile range 1-12] months after the procedure), most patients (81.8%) in the PLVS group were in NYHA functional class I-II (P = 0.12 vs no-PLVS group), and TR grade was ≤ 2 in 82.6% of patients (P = 0.096 vs no-PVLS group). A poorer right ventricular function and previous heart failure hospitalization determined increased risks of procedural failure and poorer outcomes at follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PLVS, TTVI was associated with high rates of procedural success and low early mortality. However, about one-third of patients required rehospitalisation or died at midterm follow-up. These results would support TTVI as a reasonable alternative to redo surgery in patients with PLVS and suggest the importance of earlier treatment to improve clinical outcomes.

Spontaneous Recanalization of Coronary Thrombus in a Patient With Polycythemia Vera.

Spontaneous recanalized coronary thrombi (SRCT), a rare and under-diagnosed entity, are old thrombus formations characterized by multiple communicating channels. We report the case of a 72-year-old female patient who presented with SRCT in the context of polycythemia vera. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the diagnostic method of choice. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Two ticking time bombs: giant coronary artery aneurysm and abdominal aortic aneurysm in the setting of urgent vascular surgery-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Giant coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) are rare and treatment strategies various, especially in the setting of a concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) which needs urgent repair. CASE SUMMARY: A 78-year-old Caucasian male was admitted for evaluation of a rapidly expanding AAA. In addition, computed tomography angiography revealed a 5 x 4 cm giant aneurysm of the right coronary artery. After interdisciplinary discussion, the patient underwent aorto-bi-iliac bypass grafting first. In a second step, CAA was successfully excluded and coronary artery bypass grafting of the right coronary artery was performed. DISCUSSION: Treatment strategy of CAA and timing of non-cardiac surgery is challenging. In order to minimize the overall risk of rupture interdisciplinary discussion is crucial. In our case, aorto-bi-iliac bypass grafting was safely performed, and the patient underwent successful CAA excision in a second step.

Percutaneous Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: First-in-Human Experience With a New Transseptal System.

BACKGROUND: Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) conveys significant morbidity and mortality, and surgical repair or replacement may not be a desirable option. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a percutaneous transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) system. METHODS: This first-in-human study was conducted between August 2017 and August 2018. The system comprises a nitinol dock, which encircles the chordae tendineae, and a balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve. The dock and transcatheter heart valve form an ensemble, with the native mitral valve leaflets secured in between, thereby abolishing MR. Key inclusion criteria were severe symptomatic MR and high surgical risk; exclusion criteria included left ventricular ejection fraction <30% or screening suggesting unfavorable anatomy. The primary endpoint was technical success as defined by Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium (MVARC) criteria at completion of the index procedure. The secondary endpoint was freedom from mortality, stroke, and device dysfunction (MR grade >1, mitral gradient >6 mm Hg, left ventricular outflow tract gradient >20 mm Hg) at 30 days. RESULTS: Ten patients with severe MR of various etiologies (4 degenerative, 4 functional, and 2 mixed) were treated. The device was successfully implanted and the primary endpoint was achieved in 9 of 10 patients (90%). By transesophageal echocardiography, total MR was reduced to ≤ trivial in all implanted patients, and mean transmitral gradient was 2.3 ± 1.4 mm Hg. A pericardial effusion occurred in 1 patient: pericardiocentesis was performed, and the device was not implanted. Median length of hospital stay was 1.5 days. At 30 days, there was no stroke, myocardial infarction, rehospitalization, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, device migration, embolization, or conversion to mitral surgery. One patient had recurrent regurgitation due to a paravalvular leak, treated with a closure device. All other treated patients had ≤1+ MR. No patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transvenous transseptal TMVR is feasible and safe in patients with severe MR who are at high risk for mitral valve surgery. Further evaluation is warranted.

SYNTAX score II in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous mitral repair with the MitraClip.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) using the MitraClip™ system has become a valuable alternative in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and high surgical risk. We sought to evaluate the prognostic value of the SYNTAX II score (SSII) in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing a Mitraclip procedure. METHODS: In seventy-five consecutive patients who underwent PMVR at the University Heart Center Zürich and the Cardiocentro Ticino, the SSSII was calculated at baseline. Clinical endpoints comprised of all-cause mortality, mitral valve surgery due to failure of PMVR or reoperation, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, heart transplantation and the composite of all four endpoints. RESULTS: Patients were followed for a median of 271days. And were divided in tertiles of SSII: SSII low ≤46.5 (n=25), SSII mid 46.6-54.4 (n=25) and SSII high ≥54.5 (n=25). Patients in the highest SSII tertile had a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (33% vs. 40% vs. 53%) with a higher log-BNP (3.6 vs. 3.45 vs. 3.16) when compared to SSII mid and SSII low, respectively. However, the anatomical syntax score (SS) did not differ significantly within the tertiles (9.1±6.3 (SSII Low) vs 9.5±7.6 (SSII Mid) vs 10.2±6.7(SSII High), p=0.837). The primary endpoint occurred in 33% of patients (n=25). By multivariate analysis patients in the high SSII tertile (OR=6.12, 95% confidence interval, [CI] 1.45-25.86, p=0.014) and patients with a history of MI (OR=3.57, 95% confidence interval, [CI] 1.17-10.88, p=0.025) were at significantly higher risk of experiencing adverse events. Furthermore, in a combined outcome ROC curve analysis, the SSII showed good discrimination with an AUC of 0.73, p=0.001. A cutoff SSII >49 has been identified to have a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 53% with approximately 45% of the patients experiencing an event during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Using SSII in CAD patients undergoing PMVR is feasible and of prognostic significance hence widening its clinical utility in valvular heart disease.

Feasibility of concomitant MitraClip and left atrial appendage occlusion.

AIMS: The aim of our study is to report our single-centre experience with concomitant MitraClip (MC) and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) and further to assess the feasibility, safety and short-term outcome of such an approach. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-five consecutive patients underwent MC with concomitant LAAO at our hospital (combined group). As a control group, 25 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing standalone MC were selected. Baseline parameters were equal between the two groups. Patients in the combined group had longer procedural time (90.0 min vs. 66.0 min, p=0.02) and radiation time (32.0 min vs. 18.0 min, p=0.01). There were no procedural deaths. At 30 days, one patient died due to cerebral haemorrhage (combined vs. CONTROL: 4% vs. 0%, p=0.32) and two had acute kidney injury (combined vs. CONTROL: 4% vs. 4%, p=1.00). In multivariate analysis, the association of LAAO with device or procedural success was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: LAAO along with MC in a single stage procedure is feasible. These preliminary results have to be validated in a large randomised study, in order to assess the efficacy of combined LAAO that can be expected to become evident only after longer follow-up.

Predictors of Early (1-Week) Outcomes Following Left Atrial Appendage Closure With Amplatzer Devices.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess predictors of adverse 1-week outcomes and determine the effect of left atrial appendage (LAA) morphology following LAA closure (LAAC) with Amplatzer devices. BACKGROUND: Percutaneous LAAC is a valuable treatment option for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. Determinants of procedural safety events with Amplatzer occluders are not well established, and the possibly interrelating effect of LAA anatomy is unknown. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2014, 500 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation ineligible or at high risk for oral anticoagulation underwent LAAC using Amplatzer devices. Procedure- and device-related major adverse events (MAEs) were defined as the composite of death, stroke, major or life-threatening bleeding, serious pericardial effusion, device embolization, major access-site vascular complication, or need for cardiovascular surgery within 7 days following the intervention. RESULTS: Patients (mean age 73.9 ± 10.1 years) were treated with Amplatzer Cardiac Plug (n = 408 [82%]) or Amulet (n = 92 [18%]) devices. Early procedural success was 97.8%, and MAEs occurred in 29 patients (5.8%). Independent predictors of MAEs included device repositioning (odds ratio: 9.13; 95% confidence interval: 2.85 to 33.54; p < 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction <30% (odds ratio: 4.08; 95% confidence interval: 1.49 to 11.20; p = 0.006), with no effect of device type or size. Angiographic LAA morphology, characterized as cauliflower (33%), cactus (32%), windsock (20%), or chicken wing (15%), was not associated with procedural success (p = 0.51) or the occurrence of MAEs (p = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: In this nonrandomized study, procedural success of LAAC using Amplatzer devices was high. MAEs within 7 days were predicted by patient- and procedure-related factors. Although LAA morphology displayed substantial heterogeneity, outcomes were comparable across the spectrum of LAA anatomies.

Impact of percutaneous mitral valve repair using the MitraClip system on tricuspid regurgitation.

AIMS: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction have been identified as significant predictors of outcome after mitral valve surgery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) with the MitraClip system on functional TR severity and RV function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 119 consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation who underwent PMVR, 67 had complete baseline and follow-up transthoracic echocardiography after 3-12 months (6.8±2.9 months). TR severity was graded as mild, moderate, and severe. RV systolic function was assessed by fractional area change (FAC) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Clinical endpoints at follow-up included mortality, reoperation of the mitral valve, hospitalisation for congestive heart failure and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class. After PMVR, a significant decrease in TR severity (by at least one grade) was observed in 22 (33%) patients, while an increase occurred in only seven (10%) patients (p=0.02). Overall, systolic RV function (FAC and TAPSE), RV dimensions, and tricuspid annular diameter did not change significantly. Baseline SPAP was significantly higher (57±15 vs. 43±14 mmHg, p=0.002) and SPAP reduction significantly larger (-14±13 versus 1±15 mmHg, p=0.012) in patients who improved their TR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the change in SPAP as the only significant predictor of changes in TR (odds ratio [OR] [for every change in SPAP by 10 mmHg] 1.90, 95% CI: 1.02±3.54; p=0.044). Patients with mild/moderate TR at follow-up after PMVR had lower event rates compared to those with severe TR (35% vs. 78%, respectively, p=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: PMVR using the MitraClip device improves functional TR severity in approximately one third of patients, particularly in those who experience a significant SPAP reduction after the procedure.