Concomitant transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis in patients undergoing TAVR for aortic stenosis: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a successful treatment for aortic stenosis (AS) patients, and previous studies indicate favorable outcomes for those with concomitant aortic stenosis and transthyretin-associated cardiac amyloidosis (TTRCA-AS). However, the impact of TAVR on more adverse outcomes in TTRCA-AS patients compared to those with AS alone is still uncertain, with conflicting findings reported in the literature. METHODS: PubMed and Scopus were extensively searched from inception till August 2021. Studies were included if they reported data for prevalence and outcomes including mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalization events in TTRCA-AS patients referred for TAVR. The data for these outcomes were pooled using a random effects model and forest plots were created. RESULTS: After initially screening 146 articles, 6 were shortlisted for inclusion in our analysis. Pooled analysis demonstrated a 13.3% [95% CI: 10.9-16.5; p = 0.307] prevalence of TTRCA in patients with AS undergoing TAVR. The incidence of mortality and cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization in patients with TTRCA-AS undergoing TAVR were 28.3% [95% CI: 18.7-39.0, p = 0.478] and 21.1% [95% CI: 10.2-34.5, p = 0.211], respectively. CONCLUSION: The overall pooled TTRCA-AS prevalence was reported to be 13.3% in AS patients who underwent TAVR. Furthermore, transthyretin-associated CA was found to be associated with an increased risk of mortality and hospitalization. Large patient population studies are required to assess the safety and efficacy of TAVR in TTRCA-AS patients, as current research report data from small patient cohorts.

Minimally Invasive Procedure versus Conventional Redo Sternotomy for Mitral Valve Surgery in Patients with Previous Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The heightened morbidity and mortality associated with repeat cardiac surgery are well documented. Redo median sternotomy (MS) and minimally invasive valve surgery are options for patients with prior cardiac surgery who require mitral valve surgery (MVS). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of redo MS and minimally invasive MVS (MIMVS) in this population. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus for studies comparing outcomes of redo MS and MIMVS for MVS. To calculate risk ratios (RRs) for binary outcomes and weighted mean differences (MDs) for continuous data, we employed a random-effects model. Results: We included 12 retrospective observational studies, comprising 4157 participants (675 for MIMVS; 3482 for redo MS). Reductions in mortality (RR, 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.80), length of hospital stay (MD, -4.23; 95% CI, -5.77 to -2.68), length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (MD, -2.02; 95% CI, -3.17 to -0.88), and new-onset acute kidney injury (AKI) risk (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.61) were statistically significant and favored MIMVS (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in aortic cross-clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, or risk of perioperative stroke, new-onset atrial fibrillation, surgical site infection, or reoperation for bleeding (p>0.05). Conclusion: The current literature, which primarily consists of retrospective comparisons, underscores certain benefits of MIMVS over redo MS. These include decreased mortality, shorter hospital and ICU stays, and reduced AKI risk. Given the lack of high-quality evidence, prospective randomized control trials with adequate power are necessary to investigate long-term outcomes.