Transcarotid vascular access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation: is choosing the left side always right?

BACKGROUND: The transcarotid (TC) vascular access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as the first-choice alternative to the transfemoral access, in patients unsuitable for the latter. The use of both the left and right common carotid arteries (CCAs) for TC-TAVI has been described, but the optimal side is subject to debate. We conducted this pilot study to compare the level of vessel tortuosity and plaque burden from either the left CCA to the aortic annulus, or the right CCA to the aortic annulus, considering them as surrogates for technical and procedural complexity. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent TC-TAVI between 2018 and 2021 in our institution were included. Using three-dimensional reconstruction, pre-TAVI neck and chest computed tomography angiography exams were reviewed to assess the tortuosity index (TI), sum of angles metric, as well as plaque burden, between each CCA and the aortic annulus. RESULTS: We included 46 patients who underwent TC-TAVI. No significant difference regarding the mean TIs between the left and right sides (respectively 1.20 and 1.19, p = 0.82), the mean sum of angles (left side: 396°, right side: 384°, p = 0.27), and arterial plaque burden (arterial plaque found in 30% of left CCAs and 45% of right CCAs, p = 0.19) was found. CONCLUSIONS: We found no convincing data favoring the use of one particular access side over the other one. The choice of the CCA side in TC-TAVI should to be made on a case-by-case basis, in a multidisciplinary fashion, and may also depend on the operators' experience.

Update on Transcatheter Treatment of Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Mitral and tricuspid regurgitation represents a clinical challenge. They are associated with a poor prognosis, and many patients are not eligible for conventional surgery. Transcatheter therapies have been the focus of numerous studies and devices over the past decade. Here, we provide a summary of current options for transcatheter treatment of these 2 entities. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of edge-to-edge repair for increasing numbers of patients. Encouraging early results with transcatheter valve replacement are also becoming available. To date, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is currently the first-line transcatheter treatment for both mitral and tricuspid regurgitation for many patients who are not candidates for surgery. A number of transcatheter replacement devices are under development and clinical investigation but, for the most part, their current use is limited to compassionate cases or clinical trials.

[Cardiology: what's new in 2022]. / Cardiologie : ce qui a changé en 2022.

The year of 2022 was marked by many novelties in the fields of interventional cardiology, heart failure, electrophysiology, cardiac imaging, and congenital heart disease. These advances will certainly change our daily practice, on top of improving the diagnosis and treatment of many heart conditions. In addition, the European Society of Cardiology has updated its guidelines on pulmonary hypertension, ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death, cardiovascular assessment of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The members of the Cardiology division of Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) here present the publications which they considered to be the most important of the past year.

L'année 2022 a été marquée par de nombreuses nouveautés dans les domaines de la cardiologie interventionnelle, de l'insuffisance cardiaque, de l'électrophysiologie, de l'imagerie cardiaque et des cardiopathies congénitales. Ces progrès vont certainement faire évoluer notre pratique quotidienne, en plus d'améliorer le diagnostic et le traitement de nombreuses cardiopathies. Par ailleurs, la Société européenne de cardiologie a mis à jour ses recommandations portant sur l'hypertension pulmonaire, les arythmies ventriculaires et la mort subite ainsi que le bilan cardiologique avant une chirurgie non cardiaque. Les membres du Service de cardiologie du CHUV vous présentent ici les travaux qui leur ont semblé être les plus importants de l'année écoulée.

Comparison of the prognostic value of impaired stress myocardial blood flow, myocardial flow reserve, and myocardial flow capacity on low-dose Rubidium-82 SiPM PET/CT.

BACKGROUND: The most reliable quantitative variable on Rubidium-82 (82Rb) cardiac PET/CT for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) has not been characterized with low-dose silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) technology, which allows halving injected activity and radiation dose delivering less than 1.0 mSv in a 70-kg individual. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively enrolled 234 consecutive participants with suspected myocardial ischemia. Participants underwent 82Rb cardiac SiPM PET/CT (5 MBq/kg) and were followed up for MACE over 652 days (interquartile range 559-751 days). For each participant, global stress myocardial blood flow (stress MBF), global myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and regional severely reduced myocardial flow capacity (MFCsevere) were measured. The Youden index was used to select optimal thresholds. In multivariate analysis after adjustments for clinical risk factors, reduced global stress MBF < 1.94 ml/min/g, reduced global MFR < 1.98, and regional MFCsevere > 3.2% of left ventricle emerged all as independent predictors of MACE (HR 4.5, 3.1, and 3.67, respectively, p < 0.001). However, only reduced global stress MBF remained an independent prognostic factor for MACE after adjusting for clinical risk factors and the combined use of global stress MBF, global MFR, and regional MFCsevere impairments (HR 2.81, p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Using the latest SiPM PET technology with low-dose 82Rb halving the standard activity to deliver < 1 mSv for a 70-kg patient, impaired global stress MBF, global MFR, and regional MFC were powerful predictors of cardiovascular events, outperforming traditional cardiovascular risk factors. However, only reduced global stress MBF independently predicted MACE, being superior to global MFR and regional MFC impairments.

Smoking Cessation in People With and Without Diabetes After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: People with diabetes smoke at similar rates as those without diabetes, with cardiovascular consequences. Smoking cessation rates were compared between people with and without diabetes 1 year after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). AIMS AND METHODS: People with ACS who smoked and were part of an observational prospective multicenter study in Switzerland were included from 2007 to 2017 and followed for 12 months. Seven-day point prevalence abstinence was assessed at 12 months follow-up. Association between diabetes and smoking cessation was assessed using multivariable-adjusted logistical regression model. RESULTS: 2457 people with ACS who smoked were included, the mean age of 57 years old, 81.9% were men and 13.3% had diabetes. At 1 year, smoking cessation was 35.1% for people with diabetes and 42.6% for people without diabetes (P-value .01). After adjustment for age, sex, and educational level, people with diabetes who smoked were less likely to quit smoking compared with people without diabetes who smoked (odds ratio [OR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.98, P-value = .037). The multivariable-adjusted model, with further adjustments for personal history of previous cardiovascular disease and cardiac rehabilitation attendance, attenuated this association (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.65-1.12, P-value = .255). Among people with diabetes, cardiac rehabilitation attendance was a positive predictor of smoking cessation, and personal history of cardiovascular disease was a negative predictor of smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: People with diabetes who smoke are less likely to quit smoking after an ACS and need tailored secondary prevention programs. In this population, cardiac rehabilitation is associated with increased smoking cessation. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides new information on smoking cessation following ACSs comparing people with and without diabetes. After an ACS, people with diabetes who smoked were less likely to quit smoking than people without diabetes. Our findings highlight the importance of tailoring secondary prevention to people with diabetes.

[Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy : An update]. / La cardiomyopathie arythmogène du ventricule droit : mise au point.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is a hereditary myocardial condition in most cases that affects the right ventricle, but also the left ventricle with variable degree. It predisposes patients to ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure and sudden death. Its diagnosis remains challenging and is mostly based on reference task-force criteria. The latter, divided between major and minor criteria, include structural abnormalities (visualized on echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance), electrocardiographic anomalies, ventricular arrythmia documentation, histological proof of fibro-fatty infiltrates within myocardial tissue and family history. Following a correct diagnosis, patient-tailored care is essential. First, implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is recommended in case of history of sudden death, sustained ventricular tachycardia or advanced right/left ventricular dysfunction. It should be considered in case of cardiac syncope or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Secondly, eviction of high intensity physical activity is mandatory. Finally, beta-blockers are recommended for all patients with clinically manifest arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Long-term effects of systematic smoking cessation counselling during acute coronary syndrome, a multicentre before-after study.

TRIAL DESIGN: In the Special Program University Medicine-Acute Coronary Syndromes (SPUM-ACS) observational study (clinical trial registration: NCT01000701), a multicentre before-after clinical trial, we assessed 5-year outcome after acute coronary syndrome, comparing a systematic with an opportunistic smoking cessation counselling phase. METHODS: We studied smokers who were hospitalised for acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and we assessed self-reported smoking cessation, incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality 5 years after hospital discharge. In the observational phase, from August 2009 to October 2010, only smokers who requested smoking cessation counselling received it during hospitalisation. In the interventional phase, from November 2010 to February 2012, hospitalised smokers with ACS were systematically offered intensive smoking cessation counselling including four telephone calls within 2 months of discharge. Because of the before-after design, the care givers were aware of study phase. The objective was to assess whether systematic counselling to every smoker with ACS has an impact on the long-term smoking cessation rate, incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality. Missing data on smoking cessation were analysed with multiple imputation. The study was not powered to assess differences in 5-year smoking cessation rates or cardiovascular outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 458 smokers with ACS were included at baseline (225 during the intervention phase and 233 during the observation phase). At 5 years, 286 (62.4%) reported their smoking status (140 for the intervention phase and 146 for the observation phase) and 51 (11.1%) had died. There was no statistically significant difference in the abstinence rate between the interventional phase (75/140, 54%), and the observational phase (68/146, 47%), with a risk ratio with multiple imputation adjusted for age, sex, education and ACS type of 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-1.51, p = 0.4). The 5-year risk of major acute cardiovascular event was similar in the intervention phase as compared with the observational phase. The multivariate adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.84 (95% CI 0.45-1.60, p = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: In this controlled long-term interventional study, systematic intensive smoking cessation counselling in all hospitalised smokers with ACS did not increase 5-year smoking cessation rates, nor decrease cardiovascular event recurrence, as compared with opportunistic smoking cessation counselling during hospitalization.

Smoking cessation and depression after acute coronary syndrome.

Smoking and depression are risk factors for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that often co-exist. We investigated the evolution of depression according to smoking cessation one-year after ACS. Data from 1822 ACS patients of the Swiss multicenter SPUM-ACS cohort study were analyzed over a one-year follow-up. Participants were classified in three groups based on smoking status one-year post-ACS - continuous smokers, smokers who quit within the year, and non-smokers. Depression status at baseline and one-year was assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) and antidepressant drug use. A CES-D score ≥ 16 defined depression. A multivariate-adjusted logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) between groups. The study sample mean age was 62.4 years and females represented 20.8%. At baseline, 22.6% were depressed, 40.9% were smokers, and 47.5% of these quit smoking over the year post-ACS. In comparison to depressed continuous smokers, depressed smokers who quit had an adjusted OR 2.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-5.25) of going below a CES-D score of 16 or not using antidepressants. New depression at one-year was found in 24.4% of non-depressed smokers who quit, and in 27.1% of non-depressed continuous smokers, with an adjusted OR 0.85 (95% CI 0.55-1.29) of moving to a CES-D score of ≥16 or using antidepressants. In conclusion, smokers with depression at time of ACS who quit smoking improved their depression more frequently compared to continuous smokers. The incidence of new depression among smokers who quit after ACS was similar compared to continuous smokers.

Prognostic Impact of Upfront Surgery for Locally Advanced Upper Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced upper rectal adenocarcinoma (LAURC) is debated. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between LAURC and locally advanced sigmoid and recto-sigmoid junction cancer (LASC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 149 consecutive patients [42 CRT/LAURC, 16 upfront surgery (US/LAURC) and 91 LASC]. Partial mesorectum excision (PME) was performed for all LAURC. Pathology results as well as short-and-long-term outcomes were compared between the three groups. RESULTS: Overall mortality was nil. Morbidity was comparable (CRT/LAURC 23.8% vs. LASC: 20.8% vs. US/LAURC: 37.5%, p=0.2354). CRT was associated with a reduced risk of positive circumferential margin (CRT/LAURC: 9.5% vs. US/LAURC: 18.7%, p<0.0001). Recurrence rate, 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between the three groups. CONCLUSION: CRT and PME did not improve LAURC oncological outcomes but were associated with improved margins. CRT for LAURC was not associated with increased morbidity.

Microvascular Resistance Reserve for Assessment of Coronary Microvascular Function: JACC Technology Corner.

The need for a quantitative and operator-independent assessment of coronary microvascular function is increasingly recognized. We propose the theoretical framework of microvascular resistance reserve (MRR) as an index specific for the microvasculature, independent of autoregulation and myocardial mass, and based on operator-independent measurements of absolute values of coronary flow and pressure. In its general form, MRR equals coronary flow reserve (CFR) divided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) corrected for driving pressures. In 30 arteries, pressure, temperature, and flow velocity measurements were obtained simultaneously at baseline (BL), during infusion of saline at 10 mL/min (rest) and 20 mL/min (hyperemia). A strong correlation was found between continuous thermodilution-derived MRR and Doppler MRR (r = 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.72-0.93; P < 0.001). MRR was independent from the epicardial resistance, the lower the FFR value, the greater the difference between MRR and CFR. Therefore, MRR is proposed as a specific, quantitative, and operator-independent metric to quantify coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Effects of the Interactive Web-Based Video "Mon Coeur, Mon BASIC" on Drug Adherence of Patients With Myocardial Infarction: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention strategies after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presentation with the use of drug combinations are essential to reduce the recurrence of cardiovascular events. However, lack of drug adherence is known to be common in this population and to be related to treatment failure. To improve drug adherence, we developed the "Mon Coeur, Mon BASIC" video. This online video has been specifically designed to inform patients about their disease and their current medications. Interactivity has been used to increase patient attention, and the video can also be viewed on smartphones and tablets. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the long-term impact of an informative web-based video on drug adherence in patients admitted for an ACS. METHODS: This randomized study was conducted with consecutive patients admitted to University Hospital of Lausanne for ACS. We randomized patients to an intervention group, which had access to the web-based video and a short interview with the pharmacist, and a control group receiving usual care. The primary outcome was the difference in drug adherence, assessed with the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale (ARMS; 9 multiple-choice questions, scores ranging from 12 for perfect adherence to 48 for lack of adherence), between groups at 1, 3, and 6 months. We assessed the difference in ARMS score between both groups with the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Secondary outcomes were differences in knowledge, readmissions, and emergency room visits between groups and patients' satisfaction with the video. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included at baseline. The median age of the participants was 59 years (IQR 49-69), and 85% (51/60) were male. At 1 month, 51 patients participated in the follow-up, 50 patients participated at 3 months, and 47 patients participated at 6 months. The mean ARMS scores at 1 and 6 months did not differ between the intervention and control groups (13.24 vs 13.15, 13.52 vs 13.68, respectively). At 3 months, this score was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (12.54 vs 13.75; P=.03). We observed significant increases in knowledge from baseline to 1 and 3 months, but not to 6 months, in the intervention group. Readmissions and emergency room visits have been very rare, and the proportion was not different among groups. Patients in the intervention group were highly satisfied with the video. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a lower sample size than we expected to reach, we observed that the "Mon Coeur, Mon BASIC" web-based interactive video improved patients' knowledge and seemed to have an impact on drug adherence. These results are encouraging, and the video will be offered to all patients admitted to our hospital with ACS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03949608; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03949608.

Transcarotid Access Versus Transfemoral Access for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The transfemoral (TF) route is the gold-standard access for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). In 10-15% of patients, alternative accesses are needed, such as the transcarotid (TC) access. We performed a meta-analysis to compare 30-day mortality and complications between TC-TAVR and TF-TAVR. Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to January 2021 to identify articles comparing TC-TAVR and TF-TAVR. Patients' baseline characteristics, procedural outcomes, and clinical 30-day outcomes were extracted. Results: We identified 9 studies, among which 2 used propensity-score matching, including 1,374 TC patients and 3,706 TF patients. TC-TAVR was associated with significantly higher EuroSCORE II and Logistic EuroSCORE values (respectively 8.0 ± 6.7 vs. 6.3 ± 5.4, p = 0.002 and 20.8 ± 14.2% vs. 20.0 ± 13.4%, p = 0.04), a higher prevalence of peripheral artery disease (52.6 vs. 32.8%, p = 0.001), previous cardiac surgery (26.3 vs. 22.4%, p = 0.008) and coronary artery disease (64.6 vs. 60.5%, p = 0.020). The pooled results found TC-TAVR to be associated with a significantly higher 30-day mortality risk (RR, 1.41, 95% CI, 1.02-1.96, p = 0.040), and a lower rate of 30-day major vascular complications (RR, 0.48, 95% CI, 0.25-0.92, p = 0.030). No significant difference was found regarding permanent pacemaker implantation, major bleeding and acute kidney injury. A subgroup analysis of the two propensity-score matched studies found a statistically increased risk of 30-day neurovascular complications (RR, 1.61, 95% CI, 1.02-2.55, p = 0.040). Conclusion: Compared with TF-TAVR, TC-TAVR was associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality, likely related to a higher surgical risk and comorbidity burden, and with an increased risk of 30-day neurovascular complications. Careful preprocedural patient selection and close periprocedural neurological monitoring are paramount.

The transcervical access for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Alternative accesses for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are needed in a certain number of patients, who present contraindications to the standard transfemoral access. We present the transcervical approach, which allows to access the aortic valve via supra-aortic vessels, namely, the brachiocephalic trunk, carotid artery, or subclavian artery. This approach is interesting because it avoids thoracotomy, which is necessary with some other alternative approaches for TAVR, such as the transaortic or transapical ones. Although some points still need clarification, such as the best anesthesia modality (general or local) or the optimal side for vessel access, data suggest the transcervical access might yield similar periprocedural and 30-day outcomes compared with the transfemoral access. Herein, we describe the surgical technique that was developed in our institution for transcervical access.

Feasibility of Quantitative Flow Ratio in Adult Patients With Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Coronary Artery With 5 Years of Clinical Follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (ARCA) represents the most common form of abnormal coronary origin and may potentially increase the risk for sudden cardiac death. Morphological and functional evaluation of ARCA in adult patients referred for invasive coronary angiogram (ICA) is challenging. Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) is an available method able to virtually calculate fractional flow reserve using 3-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) based on ICA. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of QFR analysis in patients with ARCA and its clinical impact. METHODS: Using the registry of proximal anomalous connections of coronary arteries (ANOCOR registry), a multicenter observational registry including 472 adult patients with ANOCOR between 2010 and 2013, we retrospectively performed QFR analysis from ICA and evaluated the rate of death, myocardial infarction, and unplanned revascularization at 5 years. RESULTS: Among 128 patients with ARCA, 41 (32%) could have QFR analysis with median clinical follow-up of 8.3 years. The mean QFR value was 0.90 ± 0.10, and 3D-QCA analysis showed preserved lumen area despite the elliptical shape of the proximal part of the ARCA, which in the worst cases appeared on ICA as a significant narrowing. The event rate was 12.2% (n = 5), including 3 deaths (1 due to cancer, 1 due to stroke, and 1 cause unknown) and 2 unplanned revascularizations at 5 years. No myocardial infarctions were reported. CONCLUSIONS: When QFR analysis of ARCA is feasible, non-significant QFR values are associated with good clinical outcome at 5 years.

Transcervical approach versus transfemoral approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: The transfemoral (TF) approach is the gold-standard access route for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Alternative approaches, among which the transcervical (TC) approach, are needed in some patients. We aimed to compare TC-TAVR with TF-TAVR. METHODS: All patients who underwent TAVR in our institution between 2016 and 2020, using Edwards SAPIEN family balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves, were retrospectively included. Endpoints included 30-day all-cause mortality, procedural complications (according to the VARC-2 criteria), procedure duration, hospital length of stay (LOS) and echocardiographic outcomes. For 30-day all-cause mortality, we furthermore used a Cox proportional-hazards model to adjust for significant between-group differences in baseline characteristics as well as anesthesia modality. RESULTS: TAVR was performed in 306 patients, using a TF approach (n = 255) or a TC approach (n = 51). TC-TAVR was associated with significantly higher STS scores (4.06 [IQR (interquartile range), 2.05, 5.56] vs. 2.97 [IQR, 2.08, 4.88], p < 0.001) and higher prevalence of peripheral artery disease, history of stroke, previous cardiovascular surgery. 30-day mortality (hazard ratio, 0.87 [0.77, 9.77], p = 0.909) and stroke rates (2.0% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.840) were similar, as well as procedural duration (74.0 [53.0, 99.5] vs. 77.0 [58.0, 98.0] minutes, p = 0.370), LOS (6.0 [IQR, 3.0, 8.0] vs. 6.0 [IQR, 4.0, 9.0] days, p = 0.175) and postprocedural mean transvalvular gradient (10.00 [IQR, 8.00, 13.00] vs. 10.00 [IQR, 8.00, 12.00] mmHg, p = 0.724). CONCLUSION: Despite a higher cardiovascular disease burden in TC patients, TC-TAVR and TF-TAVR yielded similar outcomes. TC-TAVR may be a safe alternative when TF-TAVR is contraindicated.

Temporal trends in cardiovascular risk factors' prevalence in patients with myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about changes in cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) profile over time in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: We assessed changes in age and CVRF profile in consecutive AMI patients enrolled in the Swiss nationwide AMIS Plus registry between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2018. RESULTS: A total of 57 995 AMI patients were included in the analysis. Mean age at presentation was 71.5 ± 11.3 years for women and 63.9 ± 12.8 years for men and did not change over time. Overall, the mean (standard deviation) number of CVRF increased from 1.76 (1.07) in 1997/98 to 2.26 (1.10) in 2017/18 in men (Ptrend  < .001), while the corresponding rates in females were 1.83 (1.11) and 2.24 (1.08) (Ptrend  < .001). In terms of active smoking, no significant trend was detected for males, while there was a significant increase in females (P < .001). As a result, the gap in smoking rates between men and women presenting with AMI decreased from 19.9% (45.3% vs 25.4%) in 1997/98 to 7.9% (41.2% vs 33.3%) in 2017/18. Reassuring was the stability in terms of diabetes prevalence for both genders. Obesity was more prevalent over time in men, while the prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia increased in both genders. CONCLUSION: Among patients with AMI in Switzerland over two decades, age at presentation remained stable, while the mean number of CVRF increased in both men and women. Striking was the increase in the prevalence of smoking in women, leading to a reduction of the gender gap over time.

Prognostic role of plasma galectin-3 levels in acute coronary syndrome.

AIM: Cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and galectin-3 have emerged as biomarker candidates to predict cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in the general population as well as in patients with coronary artery or renal disease. However, their predictive role and clinical utility in patients with acute coronary syndromes alone or in combination beyond currently used risk scores remains to be determined. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and galectin-3 were measured in plasmas of 1832 patients at the time of presentation with acute coronary syndromes requiring percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (defined as the composite of all-cause mortality, cerebrovascular events, any repeat revascularization or myocardial infarction) and all-cause mortality after 1 year and occurred in 192 (10.5%) and 78 (4.3%) of patients, respectively. All three biomarkers were increased in those with major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events compared with those without (p<0.001). However, only galectin-3 (all-cause mortality: hazard ratio=1.027 (95% confidence interval (1.011-1.043); p=0.001), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events: hazard ratio=1.025 (95% confidence interval (1.012-1.037); p<0.001)) but not cystatin C nor neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin emerged as independent predictors of both major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and death. The risks were particularly high in the highest quartile of galectin-3. The integration of galectin-3 into the global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) score improved the prediction of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality significantly. The areas under the receiver operator characteristics curves increased from 0.6701 to 0.6932 for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (p=0.0474) and from 0.804 to 0.8199 for all-cause mortality (p=0.0197). Finally, we applied net reclassification improvement index using different cut-offs for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events which showed negative results (for the cut-offs of 5% and 15%, net reclassification improvement index 0.028, p=0.586, for the cut-offs of 10% and 20%, net reclassification improvement index 0.072, p=0.1132 and for the cut-offs of 10% and 30% the net reclassification improvement index is 0.0843, p=0.077). CONCLUSION: In acute coronary syndromes patients, galectin-3 has moderate prognostic accuracy, provides statistically significant incremental value in some, but not all models, and that the magnitude of any improvement would seem of questionable clinical value.

Complex cardiac surgery in a high-risk patient with new-onset severe mitral regurgitation and aorta to right ventricular fistula after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the procedure of choice for aortic stenosis in high surgical risk patients, but it is no free from complications. CASE SUMMARY: A 86-year-old patient with severe aortic stenosis underwent TAVI 3 years ago with an Edwards Sapiens valve by femoral access. In the echocardiography follow-up, an aorta-right ventricular (Ao-RV) fistula was noted with restrictive flow and no significant shunt and it was treated conservatively. Three years after TAVI, the patient underwent cardiac surgery because of worsening heart failure due to a severe degenerative mitral regurgitation with tethering of P2 due to left ventricular remodelling, a posterior jet of severe regurgitation, and left ventricular dilatation. Surgical replacement of the TAVI and aortic root with a bioprosthesis (Medtronic Freestyle) and direct closure of the fistula was performed along with the mitral valve replacement. The patient was discharged with a good clinical result and no evidence of remaining Ao-RV fistula at transthoracic echocardiography. DISCUSSION: Aorta-right ventricular fistula is a rare entity. Most reported cases arise after rupture of a congenital coronary sinus aneurism, endocarditis, trauma, and aortic valve or aortic root surgery. This is the 10th reported case after TAVI (9 after an Edwards Sapiens TAVI). Non-significant shunt can be treated conservatively but development of heart failure and death are described in significant shunts. Balloon post-dilatation and the absence of surgical calcium debridement inherent to TAVI may theoretically contribute to the development of the fistula. Surgical replacement and closure of the fistula is a therapeutic option for this entity even in high-risk patients.

Transapical approach versus transcervical approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a retrospective monocentric study.

OBJECTIVES: Transfemoral approach is the standard access-route for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, alternative approaches are needed in a number of patients and accesses such as transapical (TA) TAVR or transcervical (TC) are used. We aimed to compare clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after TA-TAVR or TC-TAVR. METHODS: All patients who underwent TA- and TC-TAVR for severe aortic stenosis in our institution between 2008 and 2020 were retrospectively included. End points included 30-day all-cause mortality, procedural complications (according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria), procedure duration, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) and overall hospital LOS. For 30-day all-cause mortality, we furthermore used a Cox proportional-hazards model to adjust for significant between-group differences in baseline characteristics as well as difference in year of intervention. RESULTS: TAVR was performed in 176 patients, using a TA approach (n = 127) or a TC approach (n = 49). Baseline clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups, except age and peripheral artery disease. All-cause 30-day mortality rates were not significantly different (8.5% in the TA group vs 2.3% in the TC group, P = 0.124). TC approach was associated with significantly shorter procedure duration {71.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 52.5-101.0] vs 93 [IQR 80.0-120.0] min, P < 0.001}, shorter ICU LOS [0.0 (IQR 0.0-0.0) vs 1.0 (IQR 1.0-3.0) days, P < 0.001] and shorter hospital LOS [7.0 (IQR 5.0-9.5) vs 14.0 (IQR 10.0-22.0) days, P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: The TC approach may be a good first-choice alternative in case of contraindications to transfemoral-TAVR.