Impact of Cusp-Overlap View for TAVR with Self-Expandable Valves on 30-Day Conduction Disturbances.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively compared 257 consecutive patients undergoing TAVR with self-expandable valves using either CON (n = 101) or COVL (n = 156) in four intermediate/low volume centers. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. The 30-day incidence of new-onset LBBB (12.9% vs. 5.8%; p=0.05) and PPMI rate (17.8% vs. 6.4%; p=0.004) was significantly lower when using the COVL implantation view. There was no difference between the CON and COVL groups in 30-day incidence of death (4.9% vs. 2.6%), any stroke (0% vs. 0.6%), and the need for surgical aortic valve replacement (0% for both groups). CONCLUSION: Using the COVL view for implantation, we achieved a significant reduction of the LBBB and PPMI rate after TAVR in comparison with the traditional CON view, without compromising the TAVR outcomes when using self-expandable prostheses.

Tratamiento endovascular de aneurismas de aorta con estrategia minimalista / Endovascular Treatment of Aortic Aneurysms with Minimalistic Approach

RESUMEN Introducción: Los aneurismas de aorta siguen siendo una patología frecuente, en especial aquellos localizados en la aorta abdominal. Desde 1990, gracias al avance en los dispositivos y las técnicas endovasculares, la cirugía convencional ha dejado de ser la única opción de tratamiento. Presentamos nuestros resultados en el manejo del aneurisma de aorta con técnica endovascular mínimamente invasiva. Objetivos: Analizar los resultados a 30 días del implante de endoprótesis en la aorta torácica y abdominal con una estrategia mínimamente invasiva. Material y métodos: Entre marzo de 2012 y abril de 2019 se realizaron 395 implantes consecutivos de endoprótesis de aorta; en 264 (67%) de los cuales se utilizó una técnica mínimamente invasiva (MIN-A). De este grupo 240 procedimientos (90,9%) fueron llevados a cabo para reparar la aorta abdominal (EVAR) y 24 (9,1%) la aorta torácica (TEVAR). Resultados: De 264 pacientes se logró éxito técnico (ET) del implante en el 99,6% y éxito clínico (EC) en el 97,7%. La mortalidad a 30 días fue del 1,1% dado por neumonía, insuficiencia cardíaca y EPOC. Ningún paciente presentó IAM, ACV o necesitó de conversión a reparación quirúrgica de urgencia. El tiempo promedio del procedimiento fue de 62 minutos (SD ± 17). Algunos pacientes requirieron conversión a cierre quirúrgico del acceso [20 (7%) durante los primeros 100 casos, y 7 (3%) en los últimos 164 pacientes p = 0,05)]. El sangrado mayor que requirió transfusión fue del 1,1%. El tiempo promedio para la deambulación fue de 18 horas (SD ± 10), que luego de los primeros 100 pacientes disminuyó en forma significativa a 13 horas (SD ± 2,9 p = 0,05). La estadía hospitalaria en promedio fue de 1,4 días (SD ± 1,14) con 5 casos externados el mismo día del procedimiento. Conclusiones: Los procedimientos de reparación endovascular de aneurismas de la aorta con una estrategia miniinvasiva fueron factibles y seguros, ya que permitieron convertir estos procedimientos en abordajes percutáneos, con bajas tasas de complicaciones asociadas al acceso, menor tiempo quirúrgico, rápida deambulación y menor estadía hospitalaria, sin modificar la seguridad global del procedimiento. La curva de aprendizaje permitió bajar la tasa de conversiones a cirugía, así como los tiempos de deambulación.

ABSTRACT Background: Aortic aneurysms, particularly of the abdominal aorta, are still common. Since 1990, conventional surgery is no longer the only treatment option due to advances in endovascular devices and techniques. We present our results in the management of aortic aneurysms with a minimally invasive endovascular technique. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the 30-day outcomes of endograft implantation in the thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta using a minimally invasive approach. Methods: Between March 2012 and April 2019, 395 consecutive endografts were implanted in the aorta, and 264 (67%) were performed using a minimally invasive approach (MIN-A). Among this group, 240 (90.9%) corresponded to abdominal endo-vascular aortic repair (EVAR) and 24 (9.1%) to thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Results: Technical success (TS) of the implant was achieved in 99.6% of the 264 patients and clinical success (CS) in 97.7%. Thirty-day mortality was 1.1% due to pneumonia, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There were no cases of myocardial infarction, stroke or need for conversion to urgent surgical repair. Mean duration of the procedure was 62 minutes (SD ± 17). Some patients required conversion to surgical closure of the access site [20 (7%) during the first 100 cases and 7 (3%) in the final 164 patients, p = 0.05]. Three (1.1%) patients presented major bleeding requiring transfusion. Mean time to ambulation was 18 hours (SD ± 10) that significantly decreased to 13 hours after the first 100 patients (SD ± 2.9; p= 0.05). Mean length of hospital stay was 1.4 days (SD ± 1.14) with 5 patients discharged on the same day of the procedure. Conclusions: Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair using a minimally invasive strategy was feasible and safe, turning this procedure into a percutaneous approach, with low access site-related complications, shorter operative time, rapid ambulation and shorter length of hospital stay, without modifying overall safety of the procedure. The learning curve resulted in reduced rate of conversion to surgery and earlier ambulation.

Reemplazo valvular aórtico por cateterismo. Estado actual / Aortic valvular replacement by catheterism. Current state

Resumen La estenosis aórtica grave es una enfermedad común cuya prevalencia crece con el envejecimiento de la población. El reemplazo valvular aórtico quirúrgico (SAVR) ha sido la única alternativa efectiva hasta la aparición del reemplazo valvular aórtico por cateterismo (TAVR o TAVI). Este procedimiento se usó inicialmente para pacientes inoperables en quienes dos ensayos clínicos aleatorios y varios registros mostraron su superioridad sobre el tratamiento médico conservador. Dos ensayos clínicos adicionales en pacientes que, a pesar de ser considerados operables, tenían alto riesgo quirúrgico, demostraron la no inferioridad de TAVR versus reemplazo quirúrgico. Investigaciones posteriores probaron también su efectividad en pacientes de riesgo intermedio y bajo. Algunas complicaciones, como las relacionadas al acceso vascular, el accidente cerebro vascular, la necesidad de marcapasos definitivo y la regurgitación periprotésica, han ido disminuyendo con la mejoría de la tecnología, la curva de aprendizaje y la estrategia mínimamente invasiva actual. Queda pendiente determinar la durabilidad para establecer cuál será el papel de TAVR en la práctica clínica.

Abstract Severe aortic stenosis is a common disease whose prevalence is steadily growing with population ageing. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has been the only effective alternative until the introduction of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR or TAVI). This procedure was initially used for non-surgical candidate patients where two randomized clinical trials and several registries showed superiority over conservative medical treatment. Furthermore, two additional clinical trials including high surgical risk patients proved the non-inferiority of TAVR versus surgical replacement. Similar findings regarding effectiveness were observed in other clinical trials including intermediate and low risk patients. Technical and procedural improvements, including learning curve and the current minimally invasive strategy have decreased periprocedural and mid-term complications such as those related with vascular access, stroke, the need for permanent pacemaker implantation and paravalvular leak. All things considered, durability is a pending question to establish which would be the role of TAVR in current and future practice.

Endovascular Repair of an Aortic Arch Aneurysm with Triple Chimney Stent Grafts: A Case Report.

The treatment of an aortic arch aneurysm in high-risk individuals poses a significant challenge. We present a surgical patient with a patent left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft and a large aortic arch aneurysm who underwent aortic stent-graft implantation and complete endovascular branching to preserve the LIMA inflow, with successful exclusion of the aneurysm. A moderate flow, proximal type I endoleak was observed after deployment that disappeared at 2-year follow-up.

Hybrid strategy for unstable patients with severe carotid and cardiac disease requiring surgery.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent severe carotid and cardiac disease is a challenging situation where staged surgery is probably the most common strategy. However, in patients with an unstable clinical presentation, the best approach is still a matter of debate. The aim of the study was to report in-hospital and midterm outcome in patients who received carotid artery stenting and synchronous cardiac surgery. METHODS: From June 1998 to July 2012, 54 consecutive patients who were treated at a high-volume university medical center with this hybrid approach were included in the study. All of the patients received carotid angioplasty while being administered aspirin and regular unfractionated heparin. Then, all of the patients were immediately transferred to the operating room for coronary and/or cardiac valve surgery. All of the patients were administered aspirin and clopidogrel once bleeding was ruled out, after surgery. RESULTS: There were 5 in-hospital surgical related deaths, and no patient suffered a stroke or required carotid urgent re-intervention. At follow-up (55 ± 28 months; range 1-144 months), there were no new neurological deficits, while one additional death occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, synchronous carotid stenting and cardiac surgery were feasible with an acceptable complication rate in a high-surgical-risk population, which could not undergo staged procedures.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation without balloon predilation: a single-center pilot experience.

AIM: To assess the results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the Medtronic CoreValve prosthesis (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN), without balloon predilation, in high-risk patients with degenerated severe aortic stenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-one consecutive patients who underwent direct TAVI, 98% through a transfemoral approach. Patients were 79 ± 8 years of age, 74% in New York Heart Association classes III or IV and at high risk for surgical valve replacement (mean logistic EuroScore 20 ± 15). Mean aortic valve area was 0.7 ± 0.2 cm(2). Procedural success rate was 94.2%. In-hospital, there were 2 deaths, 1 minor stroke with minimal sequelae, and 14 (28%) pacemaker implantation. At 30 days, there was one additional stroke and no new deaths. The mean postprocedural transprosthetic gradient was 15 ± 5 mm Hg; periprosthetic severe regurgitation was absent and moderate in one case. After a median follow-up of 7 months, there were five additional deaths (two cardiac), while 84% of survivors were in New York Heart Association classes I or II. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that direct CoreValve implantation in patients with severe aortic stenosis is feasible and may lead to hemodynamic and clinical improvement in patients who are poor candidates for aortic valve surgery, pending confirmation in larger series with longer follow-up.

Beneficios y complicaciones del implante directo de prótesis aórtica autoexpandible para el tratamiento de la estenosisvalvular aórtica grave / Outcomes of Direct Implantation of Self-Expandable Aortic Valve Prosthesis for Severe Aortic Stenosis / Outcomes of Direct Implantation of Self-Expandable Aortic Valve Prosthesis for Severe Aortic Stenosis

Objetivo Describir la experiencia inicial con el implante directo de la prótesis aórtica autoexpandible CoreValve® en un centro argentino de alta complejidad cardiovascular. Material y métodos Desde mayo a diciembre de 2010 se incluyeron en forma consecutiva pacientes con estenosis aórtica grave (EAG) de alto riesgo sometidos a implante directo de prótesis CoreValve® (n = 21). Los criterios de inclusión fueron: área de la válvula aórtica < 1 cm2 (< 0,6 cm2/m2), anillo valvular aórtico de entre 20 y 27 mm, diámetro de la aorta ascendente a nivel de la unión sinotubular ≤ 40 (prótesis pequeña) o ≤ 43 mm (prótesis grande) y diámetro de la arteria femoral > 6 mm. Resultados La edad fue de 79 ± 8 años, el área valvular aórtica fue de 0,7 ± 0,2 cm2 y el EuroSCORE logístico fue del 26% ± 15% (50% con EuroSCORE logístico ≥ 20%). Tras el implante, el gradiente transaórtico máximo por ecocardiograma descendió de 80 ± 22 mm Hg a 14 ± 5 mm Hg. Dos pacientes presentaron insuficiencia aórtica de grado grave, que mejoraron luego de la posdilatación. La tasa de éxito del procedimiento fue del 95%, ya que un paciente falleció luego del implante valvular. Se implantó un marcapasos definitivo por bloqueo auriculoventricular en 6 pacientes. La sobrevida acumulada (media de seguimiento 5 ± 2,8 meses) fue del 75%. Conclusión Nuestra experiencia inicial sugiere que el implante directo de la prótesis CoreValve® es una opción terapéutica segura y factible para los pacientes con EAG de alto riesgo quirúrgico.

Objective To describe the initial experience with aortic valve implantation via a direct approach using a self-expanding CoreValveTM aortic valve prosthesis in a tertiary care center from Argentina. Material and methods From May to December 2010, 21 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS) and high surgical risk undergoing percutaneous aortic valve replacement with CoreValveTM prosthesis were included. The inclusion criteria were the following: aortic valve area <1 cm2 (<0.6 cm2/m2); aortic annulus diameter of 20-27 mm; diameter of the ascending aorta at the level of the sinotubular junction ≤ 40 (small prosthesis) or ≤ 43 mm (large prosthesis), and femoral artery diameter >6 mm. Results Mean age was 79±8 years, mean aortic valve area was 0.7±0.2 cm2 and mean logistic EuroSCORE was 26±15% (50% with logistic EuroSCORE ³ 20%). After valve implantation, peak transaortic pressure gradient measured by echocardiography decreased from 80±22 to 14±5 mm Hg. Two patients developed severe aortic regurgitation which improved with post-dilation. The success rate of the procedure was of 95% as a patient died immediately after valve implant. A definite pacemaker was implanted to six patients due to atrioventricular block. Cumulative survival was 75% after a mean follow-up of 5±2.8 months. Conclusion Our initial experience suggests that direct implantation of CoreValveTM prosthesis is a safe and feasible therapeutic option for patients with SAS and high surgical risk.

Clinical outcome after saphenous vein stenting with Taxus Liberté stent: results from the OLYMPIA Registry (TAXUS Liberté Postapproval Global Program).

We evaluated the incidence of clinical events after implantation of the TAXUS Liberté paclitaxel-eluting stent in saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions in an unselected patient population. The OLYMPIA (TAXUS Liberté Post-Approval Global Registry) program gathered data on 21 954 patients receiving at least 1 TAXUS Liberté stent, including 345 patients with SVG lesions. All cardiac events were monitored with independent adjudication of end points. Patients enrolled at procedure started with no mandated inclusion/exclusion criteria. In SVG-OLYMPIA (n = 345), baseline comorbidities/complex disease were more frequent than the rest of the OLYMPIA (n = 21 560). SVG-OLYMPIA had similar cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, and definitive stent thrombosis rates than the rest of OLYMPIA. Despite higher baseline risk, the SVG-OLYMPIA had similar 12-month clinical outcome than the rest of the OLYMPIA registry, confirming the safety and efficacy of the TAXUS Liberté stent in this high-risk group.

Initial experience with transradial access for carotid artery stenting.

We report our experience using transradial access (TRA) for carotid artery stenting (CAS). Eighty-eight patients underwent CAS using a nonfemoral approach, 79 of them by TRA. Carotid artery stenting was performed using standard techniques with a long hydrophilic sheath. Mean age was 69.5 years. A total of 46 patients were symptomatic and 34 were asymptomatic. Transradial access and procedural success were achieved in 98.8% and 96.6% of the cases, respectively. There were no deaths, myocardial infarction, or radial access site complications. In all, 2 patients sustained a stroke, 1 hemorrhage, and 1 ischemia. Carotid artery stenting using TRA was safe and technically feasible.

Estratégia híbrida combinando angioplastia carotídea e cirurgia cardiovascular / Hybrid strategy combining carotid stenting and cardiovascular surgery

Fundamentos: Lesões carotídeas estão presentes em 8% a 14% dos candidatos a cirurgia cardiovascular e aumentam o risco de acidente vascular cerebral perioperatório. Esse problema é particularmente importante em pacientes com doença coronária e/ou valvar grave que não são candidatos a procedimentos de revascularização em momentos diferentes. Avaliamos os resultados de uma estratégia híbrida de tratamento, na qual angioplastia carotídea e cirurgia cardiovascular foram realizadas de forma sequencial, com intervalo de algumas horas. Método: Foram tratadas lesões carotídeas > 70% em pacientes sintomáticos e > 80% nos assintomáticos. Ácido acetilsalicílico foi administrado antes da angioplastia carotídea e heparina, no momento do procedimento. Finalizada a intervenção percutânea, os pacientes foram transferidos para a sala de cirurgia para realização do procedimento cardiovascular. Clopidogrel foi administrado habitualmente 8 horas após o término da cirurgia...

Background: Carotid lesions are observed in 8% to 14% of cardiovascular surgery candidates and increase the risk of perioperative stroke. This is particularly important in patients with coronary disease and/or severe valve disease who are not candidate to revascularization procedures at different time points. We assessed the results of a hybrid strategy, where carotid angioplasty and cardiovascular surgery were performed sequentially with an interval of a few hours. Method: Carotid lesions > 70% in symptomatic patients and > 80% in asymptomatic patients were treated. Acetylsalicylic acid was administered prior to carotid stenting and heparin was administered at the time of the procedure. Once the percutaneous intervention was over, patients were transferred to the surgery room to carry out the cardiovascular procedure. Clopidogrel was administered 8 hours after the end of the surgery...

Angioplastia infrapatelar en la isquemia de miembros inferiores / Bellow-the-Knee angioplasty for inferior limb claudication

Analizar la evolución hospitalaria y alejada de los pacientes (ptes.) que recibieron una angioplastia periférica infrapatelar (ATP-IFP) por claudicación de miembros inferiores...

To analyze in-hospital and long term evolution of patients who underwent bellow-the knee (BTK) Angioplaty for inferior limb claudication...

Stent ductal en cardiopatías congénitas dependientes del ductus: seguimiento a mediano plazo / Ductal stenting in congenital heart disease with ductus dependent circulation: mid-term follow up

Objetivo: Presentar nuestra experiencia con el empleo de stent para mantener la permeabilidad ductal en cardiopatías congénitas dependientes del ductus. Método y resultados: En tres pacientes de entre 2 y 9 días de vida con atresia pulmonar se colocaron cuatro stents por cateterismo, sin complicaciones. El tiempo de seguimiento promedio fue de 411 días (123 a 721 días). Dos stents se redilataron exitosamente. Un paciente fue sometido a cirugía, uno interrumpió sus controles cuatro meses después y otro espera cirugía. La saturación promedio aumentó del 61 por ciento al 80 por ciento. Conclusiones: En pacientes con cardiopatías cuya circulación depende del ductus arterioso, el implante del stent fue factible y efectivo a corto y mediano plazos.