Mitral valve-in-valve with 4D intracardiac echocardiography: Procedural and imaging technique.

Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve (ViV) has emerged as a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients with a degenerated mitral bioprosthesis. As procedural techniques mature and operator experience improve, there is a push to adopt a "minimalist" approach of using conscious sedation instead of general anesthesia for faster recovery. The heavy reliance on fluoroscopy for ViV deployment makes feasible the use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) instead of transesophageal echocardiography for other procedural imaging requirements. We hereby use a case example to illustrate a step-by-step approach of using four-dimensional ICE to guide transcatheter mitral ViV under conscious sedation.

Preemptive alcohol septal ablation prior to transcatheter mitral valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) has been shown to increase the neo-left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) area before transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) but there is little literature on its success and use with dedicated devices. AIMS: To describe our experience with preemptive ASA to increase the predicted neo-LVOT area and its utility with both dedicated TMVR devices and balloon-expandable valves. METHODS: All patients who underwent ASA for TMVR candidacy in our center between May 2018 and October 2022 and had computed tomography (CT) scans done before and after ASA were included. Each CT was assessed for the minimum predicted neo-LVOT area at end-systole, using a virtual valve of the desired TMVR device for each patient. The primary outcome was an increase in the predicted neo-LVOT area after ASA that was deemed sufficient for safe implantation of the desired TMVR device. The secondary outcome was the absence of acute LVOT obstruction after TMVR. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients underwent ASA and all but 1 (n = 11, 91.6%) achieved the primary outcome of having sufficient predicted neo-LVOT area to proceed with TMVR. The mean increase in neo-LVOT area after ASA was 126 ± 64 mm2 (median 119.5, interquartile range: 65.0-163.5 mm2 ). Two patients (16.7%) required a permanent pacemaker after ASA. Nine patients went on and underwent TMVR with their respective devices and none had LVOT obstruction after the procedure. Among the remaining three patients, one had insufficient neo-LVOT clearance after ASA, one had unrelated mortality before TMVR, and one had advanced heart failure before TMVR. CONCLUSION: In appropriately selected patients and at centers experienced with ASA, preemptive ASA can achieve sufficient neo-LVOT clearance for TMVR with a variety of devices in approximately 90% of patients.

Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair in Pediatric Patients.

Rigorous clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair to treat severe secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) in adults with primary cardiomyopathy who have failed guideline-directed medical therapy, as well as those with primary MR at high surgical risk. To date, there are only three case reports describing this procedure in the pediatric population. We report a case series of four pediatric patients, including the youngest and smallest reported, who underwent this procedure.

The effect of a nurse-led telephone-based care coordination program on the follow-up and control of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyse the impact of a care coordination protocol on transiting patients with coronary artery disease who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to primary care and its effect on cardiovascular risk factor control. DESIGN: A prospective observational study involving 492 patients who had undergone PCI either electively or after an acute coronary syndrome. SETTING: A tertiary institution in Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who had undergone a PCI either electively or after an acute coronary syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: The SCORE (Standardized Care for Optimal Outcomes, Right-Siting and Rapid Re-evaluation) program was a nurse-led, telephone-based, care coordination protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Transition to primary care within 1 year of enrolment, the achievement of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level of <2.6 mmol/l within 1 year and hospital admissions related to cardiovascular causes within 1 year were studied. RESULTS: Under the SCORE protocol, a significantly higher number of patients transited to primary care and achieved the LDL target within 1 year, as compared with non-SCORE patients. Discharge to primary care and achievement of target LDL continued to be higher among those under the SCORE protocol even after multivariate analysis. Rates of hospital admission due to cardiovascular causes were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Care coordination improved the rate of transition of post-PCI patients to primary care and improved LDL control, with no difference in the rate of hospital admissions due to cardiovascular causes. These findings support the implementation of a standardized follow-up protocol in patients who have undergone PCI.

Catheter-based Interventions in Tetralogy of Fallot Across the Lifespan.

Surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) involves surgical relief of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction and closure of ventricular septal defect. However, some patients may require staged palliation before surgical repair. This traditionally was achieved only with surgery but recently evolved to include catheter-based techniques. RVOT dysfunction occurs inevitably after the surgical repair of TOF and, depending on the surgical approach, manifests as either progressive stenosis, regurgitation, or a combination of both. This predisposes the individual to repeated RVOT interventions with the attendant risks of multiple open-heart surgeries. The advent of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement has reduced the operative burden, and the expansion of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement device platforms has widened the type and size of RVOT anatomies that can be treated. This review will discuss the transcatheter therapies available throughout the lifespan of the patient with TOF.

Les traitements chirurgicaux de la tétralogie de Fallot (TF) comprennent la correction de l'obstruction de la voie de chasse du ventricule droit (VCVD) et la fermeture de la malformation du septum interventriculaire. Toutefois, chez certains patients, une palliation par étapes doit être entreprise avant la correction chirurgicale. Cette palliation était autrefois réalisée par des interventions chirurgicales, mais des techniques de cathétérisme interventionnel sont récemment apparues. La dysfonction de la VCVD survient inévitablement après une correction chirurgicale de la TF et peut se manifester par une sténose progressive, une régurgitation ou les deux, selon l'approche chirurgicale utilisée. Les personnes qui vivent avec la TF sont ainsi susceptibles de subir plusieurs interventions à cœur ouvert et d'être exposées aux risques que cela comporte. L'arrivée de la valvulation pulmonaire percutanée (VPP) a permis de réduire le fardeau chirurgical, et la multiplication des plateformes pour les appareils de VPP rend possible le traitement d'une plus grande diversité d'anomalies de la VCVD. Notre article de synthèse présente les traitements par cathétérisme interventionnel qui peuvent être offerts aux patients atteints de TF au fil de leur vie.

Role of Invasive Strategy for Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have traditionally been excluded from randomized trials. We aimed to compare percutaneous coronary intervention versus conservative management, and early intervention (EI; within 24 hours of admission) versus delayed intervention (DI; after 24 to 72 hours of admission) in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and concomitant CKD. An electronic literature search was performed to search for studies comparing invasive management to conservative management or EI versus DI in patients with NSTEMI with CKD. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes were acute kidney injury (AKI) or dialysis, major bleeding, and recurrent MI. Hazard ratios (HRs) for the primary outcome and odds ratios for secondary outcomes were pooled in random-effects meta-analyses. Eleven studies (140,544 patients) were analyzed. Invasive management was associated with lower mortality than conservative management (HR 0.62, 95% confidence interval 0.57 to 0.67, p <0.001, I2 = 47%), with consistent benefit across all CKD stages, except CKD 5. There was no significant mortality difference between EI and DI, but subgroup analyses showed significant benefit for EI in stage 1 to 2 CKD (HR 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.58 to 0.97, p = 0.03, I2 = 0%), with no significant difference in stage 3 and 4 to 5 CKD. Invasive strategy was associated with higher odds of AKI or dialysis and major bleeding, but lower odds of recurrent MI compared with conservative management. In conclusion, in patients with NSTEMI and CKD, an invasive strategy is associated with significant mortality benefit over conservative management in most patients with CKD, but at the expense of higher risk of AKI and bleeding. EI appears to benefit those with early stages of CKD. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42023405491.

Cardiac evaluation for end-stage kidney disease patients on the transplant waitlist: a single-center cohort study.

Background: Cardiac evaluation before deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT) remains a matter of debate. Data on Asian countries and countries with prolonged waiting times are lacking. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of patients referred for DDKT after a cardiac evaluation at an Asian tertiary transplant center. Methods: This single-center retrospective review analyzed patients who were referred for waitlist placement and underwent cardiac stress testing between January 2009 and December 2015. Patients with cardiac symptoms were excluded. The primary outcome was three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and cardiovascular death. Results: Of 468 patients referred for DDKT, 198 who underwent cardiac stress testing (myocardial perfusion studies in 159 patients and stress echocardiography in 39 patients) were analyzed. MACE occurred in 20.7% of the patients over a median follow-up of 4.6 years. Cardiac stress tests were positive for ischemia in 19.7% of the patients. Coronary angiography was performed in 63 patients, including 29 patients with diabetic kidney disease and negative cardiac stress tests. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was detected in 27 patients (42.8%), of whom 18 underwent revascularization. MACE was associated with significant CAD on coronary angiography in the multivariable analysis. Cardiac stress test results were not associated with MACE. Amongst diabetic patients who had negative cardiac stress tests, 37.9% had significant CAD on coronary angiography. Conclusions: The cardiovascular disease burden is significant amongst DDKT waitlist candidates. Pretransplant cardiac screening may identify patients with significant CAD at higher risk of MACE.

Real-World Experience of Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy in an Asian Population: A Retrospective, Observational, Single-Center, All-Comers Registry.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical and angiographic outcomes of coronary intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) use in an all-comers population with moderate-to-severely calcified coronary lesions. BACKGROUND: IVL has been shown to modify coronary calcific plaques with minimal vascular complications. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study of patients treated with IVL. The primary endpoint was in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), which included cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target-vessel revascularization (TVR). Secondary endpoints were clinical success (stent expansion with <30% in-stent residual stenosis and no in-hospital MACE) and angiographic success. RESULTS: Between August 2019 and December 2019, a total of 50 calcified lesions were treated in 45 patients using the Shockwave C2 IVL catheter (Shockwave Medical). They were further studied in 3 treatment subgroups: (1) primary IVL group with de novo lesions (n = 23 lesions); (2) secondary IVL group in which non-compliant balloon dilation failed (n = 15 lesions); and (3) tertiary IVL group with IVL to underexpanded stents (n = 12 lesions). The mean diameter stenosis of calcified lesions was 63.2 ± 10.2% at baseline, and decreased to 33.5 ± 10.9% immediately post IVL (P<.001) and 15 ± 7.1% post stenting (P<.001). Mean minimal lumen diameter was 1.1 ± 0.3 mm at baseline, and increased to 1.90 ± 0.5 mm post IVL (P<.001) and 2.80 ± 0.50 mm post stenting (P<.001). In-hospital and 30-day MACE occurred in 3 and 4 patients, respectively. Overall, clinical success and angiographic success were achieved in 90% and 94% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: IVL appears to be a safe, effective, and feasible strategy for calcium modification in an all-comers cohort with high success rate, minimal procedural complications, and low MACE rates.

Percutaneous Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair.

Percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair, using the MitraClip device for severe mitral regurgitation (MR) was first introduced in 2003. Since then, more than 100,000 cases have been performed worldwide and it remains the most established percutaneous therapy available for the treatment of severe MR. Currently, it is indicated for severe, symptomatic functional MR in patients who continue to have significant symptoms despite optimal guideline directed medical therapy, as well as in symptomatic patients with severe degenerative MR who are deemed too high risk for conventional surgical therapy in the opinion of the heart team. In this paper, we discuss the evolution of the MitraClip device, the clinical studies supporting its use as well as the important concept of proportionate and disproportionate MR.

MitraClip in Asia　- Current Adoption and Regional Data.

In the United States and Europe, percutaneous edge-to-edge repair of the mitral valve with the MitraClip device for patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation who are at prohibitive surgical risk has been well-established. Recent randomized controlled trials have also demonstrated significant clinical benefits with the use of the device in selected patients with functional mitral regurgitation. Thus far, >80,000 patients in more than 50 countries have undergone the MitraClip procedure. Despite the exponential growth worldwide, the rate of MitraClip adoption in Asia has been more gradual. In addition, very few publications describe the use of MitraClip in Asian populations. This review aims to describe the Asian experience with the MitraClip device and the challenges faced.

Successful MitraClip for severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Anatomical exclusion criteria for the MitraClip procedure have included rheumatic heart disease (RHD) involving the mitral valve. This was primarily because RHD is typically associated with mitral stenosis (MS). CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of an 85-year-old male who had recurrent heart failure admissions from severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation (MR). This was successfully treated with the MitraClip system. DISCUSSION: Our case demonstrated the possibility of rheumatic MR being treated by the MitraClip system in appropriately selected patients. Careful examination of the mechanism of MR to determine suitability for MitraClip must be done as well as exclusion of significant MS.

Killing two birds with one stone-MitraClip for flail P2 and systolic anterior motion of mitral valve: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The MitraClip system has been used extensively in high-risk patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). Recent reports have demonstrated the feasibility of using the MitraClip device to treat systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM). CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of a 76-year-old lady who had both symptomatic severe degenerative MR and HOCM that were refractory to medical therapy. Both pathologies were treated successfully using the MitraClip system. DISCUSSION: In patients who are deemed to be at high risk for open surgery, our case demonstrated the feasibility of a percutaneous avenue, the MitraClip system, to treat not just degenerative MR, but also SAM from HOCM in a single procedure.

Early outcome following emergency gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency gastrectomy has been shown to be associated with poor morbidity and mortality rates. The aims of this study were to review the outcomes of emergency gastrectomy in our institution and to determine any factors that were associated with worse perioperative outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent emergency gastrectomy for various indications from October 2003 to April 2009 was performed. All the complications were graded according to the classification proposed by Clavien and group. RESULTS: Eighty-fi ve patients, median age 70 (range, 27 to 90 years), underwent emergency gastrectomy. The indications for the surgery included perforation, bleeding and obstruction in 45 (52.9%), 32 (37.6%) and 8 (9.4%) patients, respectively. The majority of the patients (n = 46, 54.1%) had an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3. Partial or subtotal, and total gastrectomy were performed in 75 (88.2%) and 10 (11.8%) patients, respectively. Malignancy was the underlying pathology in 33 (38.8%) patients. The perioperative mortality rate was 21.2% (n = 18) with another 27 (31.8%) patients having severe complications. Twelve (14.1%) patients had a duodenal stump leak. The independent factors predicting worse perioperative complications included high ASA score and in perforation cases. Other factors such as malignancy, age and extent of surgery were not signifi cantly related. The presence of a duodenal stump leak was the only independent factor predicting mortality. CONCLUSION: Emergency gastrectomy is associated with dismal morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with high ASA scores and perforations fared worse, and duodenal stump leak increases the risk of mortality.

Emergency surgery for perforated gastric malignancy: An institution's experience and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate the outcome of patients who underwent surgery for perforated gastric malignancies. METHODS: A review of all patients who underwent surgery for perforated gastric malignancy was performed. RESULTS: Twelve patients (nine gastric adenocarcinoma and three B-cell lymphoma) formed the study group. Ten (83.3%) had subtotal gastrectomy performed, while two (16.7%) underwent total gastrectomy. All eight patients with adenocarcinoma who survived the initial operation fared poorly. The two patients with lymphoma who survived the surgery underwent subsequent chemotherapy has no disease recurrence currently. CONCLUSION: Surgery in perforated gastric malignancy is fraught with numerous challenges.