Safety and effectiveness of the novel Myval Octacor transcatheter heart valve in severe, symptomatic aortic valve stenosis - A real-world Indian experience (The OCTACOR India Study).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the novel, next-generation Myval Octacor - Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) in patients with severe, symptomatic, native aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS: This multicenter, real-world observational registry included 123 patients with severe symptomatic AS, across 16 Indian centers who underwent treatment with the novel Myval Octacor THV. Study endpoints included all-cause mortality, all stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), major vascular complications, moderate or severe paravalvular leakage (PVL) and new permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) until 30 days follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 123 patients (average age 70.07 ± 8.33 years), 37.4 % (n = 46) were female and 39.84 % presented with bicuspid valves. The technical success rate of the procedure was 100 % and the device success rate at 30 days was 98.4 %. At 30 days (n = 123) after the procedure, the overall mortality was 1.6 %. AKI occurred in 1.6 % of patients and there was no incidence of stroke, bleeding (types 3 and 4), and major vascular complications. In an analysis of 31 patients whose echocardiographic parameters were available across all timepoints, there were significant improvements in the mean pressure gradient (54.31 ± 18.19 mmHg vs. 10.42 ± 4.24 mmHg; p < 0.0001) and effective orifice area (0.66 ± 0.21 cm2 vs. 1.80 ± 0.44 cm2; p < 0.0001) from baseline to the 30-day follow-up. None of the patients experienced severe PVL, while moderate PVL was observed in two patients (1.6 %). CONCLUSIONS: Early outcomes of the next-generation, novel Myval Octacor THV proved its safety and effectiveness in the treatment of severe AS.

Aspirin and clopidogrel resistance using the cone and plate(let) analyser in Indian patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to antiplatelet drugs is a well-known entity. However, data for aspirin and clopidogrel resistance, and its clinical significance, in Indian patients are meagre. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the prevalence of resistance to aspirin and clopidogrel in Indian patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD), using the cone and plate(let) analyser (CPA) technology. SETTING AND DESIGN: A single centre prospective study in a cohort of patients with stable CHD on chronic aspirin and clopidogrel therapy attending the cardiology outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Southern India. METHODS: Platelet function was measured using the Impact-R device (DiaMed, Cressier, Switzerland). Resistance to aspirin and clopidogrel was measured in a cohort of 100 patients with stable documented CHD. Relation of antiplatelet resistance to various clinical comorbidities was also assessed. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 85% were men, and 15% were above 65 years of age. 47% patients had diabetes, 29% of patients were hypertensive and 16% were smokers. Using the CPA, 12 patients (12%) were found to be resistant to aspirin and 19 patients (19%) were clopidogrel resistant. In addition, 10 patients (10%) were resistant to both aspirin and clopidogrel. There was no significant correlation between the presence of antiplatelet resistance and several baseline clinical variables, including age, sex, diabetes, hypertension and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance to aspirin and clopidogrel and dual antiplatelet resistance are prevalent in Indian patients, comparable with the prevalence worldwide. The CPA is a feasible assay to determine antiplatelet resistance.

Transjugular approach to balloon mitral valvuloplasty helps overcome impediments caused by anatomical alterations.

Ten patients who had anatomic alterations that cause impediments to successful completion of conventional transfemoral balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) underwent transjugular BMV. They included six patients in whom conventional BMV could not be completed due to cardiac anatomic distortion; two patients with dextrocardia (one with visceroatrial situs solitus and the other with situs inversus); two patients with venous abnormalities (one with azygous continuation of the inferior vena cava and the other with bilateral iliac/femoral vein occlusion). Transjugular BMV was successful in all 10 patients (mean mitral valve area increasing from 0.68 +/- 0.17 to 1.92 +/- 0.40 cm(2); range, 1.56-2.76 cm(2)); it was quick (mean total fluoroscopy time, 10.5 +/- 2.7 min; range, 7.3-15.2 min); and it was safe (no major or minor complications except one patient who developed severe mitral regurgitation that only required medical therapy). The jugular approach to BMV overcomes many of the technical problems caused by anatomic changes that are encountered in transfemoral BMV and complements the latter approach.

Severe intravascular hemolysis after transcatheter closure of a large patent ductus arteriosus using the Amplatzer duct occluder: successful resolution by intradevice coil deployment.

A 21-year-old female developed severe unremitting intravascular hemolysis following closure of a large patent ductus arteriosus using an Amplatzer duct occluder. Percutaneous deployment of fibered platinum coils within the nitinol wire cage of the Amplatzer duct occluder abolished the residual shunt through the device and resulted in cessation of intravascular hemolysis and reversal of its adverse sequelae.