Natural history of severe aortic stenosis: Diastolic wall strain as a novel prognostic marker.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diastolic wall strain (DWS) has been proposed as a simple noninvasive measure of left ventricular (LV) stiffness. This study investigated DWS as a possible predictor of mortality in severe aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS: 138 patients with severe AS (indexed aortic valve area [AVA]<0.6 cm2 /m2 ) and normal ejection fraction (>55%) were included. 52 patients (38%) had aortic valve interventions or poor image quality (n=5) and were excluded leaving 86 in the study group (84±8 years, 70% female, 69% African American). DWS was defined as (LVPWs-LVPWd)/LVPWs where LVPWs=left ventricular posterior wall thickness in systole and LVPWd=left ventricular wall thickness in diastole. RESULTS: Follow-up extended 2.0±1.9 years (median 1.6 years). Mean DWS for the group was 0.21±0.11 (normal=0.4±0.07). In patients who died, DWS was significantly lower than in survivors (0.18±0.09 vs 0.24±0.11, P=.02). By contrast, traditional measures of diastolic dysfunction did not predict death. Regression analysis showed DWS predicted death even after adjusting for age, sex, race, indexed AVA, symptoms (angina, shortness of breath, dizziness, syncope), and clinical factors (creatinine, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia) (HR 2.5 [95% CI 1.02-5.90], P<.05). The best cutoff value for DWS of 0.25 had a sensitivity of 42% and specificity of 83% for predicting death. CONCLUSIONS: DWS is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with severe AS, even after accounting for traditional clinical and echocardiographic parameters.

Percutaneous Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty and Clinical Outcomes in Severe Aortic Stenosis: Correlation of Procedural Technique and Efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) is a palliative therapeutic option for relief of severe aortic stenosis (AS) in patients that are poor surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) candidates or as a bridge to definitive therapy. The outcomes following PBAV are highly variable and studies identifying factors that correlate with outcomes are sparse. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors at the time of the index procedures that can predict 1-year survival or need for repeat PBAV. METHODS: Demographic and procedural information of 505 PBAVs performed on 388 patients from January 1999 to December 2012 at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center were reviewed. Procedural data were compared across many variables and outcomes to identify predictors of outcomes. These predictors were statistically compared using chi-squared tests or Student's t-test. RESULTS: Of the 388 patients analyzed, 145 (37.4%) expired within 1 year following the index procedure. The cohort was then stratified into 3 groups based on the number of balloon inflations. They were similar with regard to baseline characteristics. The mean age was 81.9 ± 9 years. Males constituted 51% of the cohort. Patients who underwent 2 and 3+ inflations had a 47.6% and 93.0% increase in the postprocedural aortic valve area compared to patients who had only 1 inflation. Patients who underwent 3+ inflations were significantly less likely to require a repeat PABV within a year and the repeat procedure free survival rate of 94.5% (P = 0.009). Despite improvement in valve area, there was no statistically significant difference in 1 year mortality between the groups (28.8% vs 42.9% vs 46.1% for 1 vs 2 vs 3+ inflations, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: PBAV provides a modest improvement in valve function and continues to be a safe and feasible option in experienced hands for select patients that are high risk for surgery or TAVR. The use of additional inflations during PBAV resulted in better long-term outcomes.

Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion and Its Association with Mortality in Critically Ill Patients.

BACKGROUND: Transient left ventricular dysfunction can occur under conditions of extreme emotional or physiological stress. There is little data on right ventricular function in such situations. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients admitted to an ICU with a noncardiac illness were studied. Those with documented coronary disease, ejection fraction <40%, sepsis, or intracranial hemorrhage were excluded. Echocardiograms were performed within 24 hours of admission. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was measured to assess right ventricular systolic function. Plasma catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine) were measured on admission. Clinical and demographic data were collected, along with data on ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and in-hospital and long-term mortality. TAPSE was tested for correlation with adverse outcomes and length of stay. RESULTS: Mean TAPSE for the group was 2.05 ± 0.66 cm. Based on area under the ROC curve analysis, TAPSE <2.4 cm was the best cutoff for predicting in-hospital and long-term mortality. There were 13 in-hospital deaths, 12 in the group with TAPSE <2.4 cm and one among those with TAPSE ≥2.4 cm. On multivariate analysis, TAPSE <2.4 cm was a significant predictor of in-hospital mortality (χ(2)  = 4.6, P = 0.03). When tested against hospital LOS, an inverse correlation was found (P = 0.04). No association was found between TAPSE and catecholamine levels. CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricular systolic function, as assessed by TAPSE, has important prognostic value in critically ill patients. Mean values were lower in patients who died in-hospital versus those who survived to discharge. In addition, patients with TAPSE <2.4 cm had a longer hospital length of stay.

A Malignant Course of Anomalous Right Coronary Artery Arising From Left Coronary Cusp Presenting With Exertional Syncope.

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva is a rare congenital disease. It is mostly benign, with malignant variants reported in a few instances. One such "malignant course" is its course between the main pulmonary artery and the aortic root. It is relatively uncommon but may present with angina or sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the absence of significant atherosclerosis, especially in young patients. Therefore, diagnosis becomes pivotal. Here, we report a case of a female in her late 70s with a history of vertigo who presented to the hospital with exertional syncope without prodromal symptoms. Further workup demonstrated high-sensitivity troponin that peaked at 3300 ng/dl. She was evaluated by cardiology for NSTEMI (non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) and underwent a coronary angiogram that identified non-obstructive coronary artery disease but an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery arising from the left coronary cusp. She underwent a CT (computed tomography) chest angiogram, which demonstrated an interarterial course between the aorta and pulmonary artery with multiple areas of significant stenosis. After extensive discussion, she decided to be treated conservatively due to its benign condition and late presentation. Identification of this anomalous course becomes pivotal as surgical correction can improve patient outcomes. Definitive therapy is surgery with unroofing of intramural segments, stenting, or surgical intervention with bypass grafting, reimplantation of the anomalous artery, or osteoplasty. However, in older patients, conservative management with exercise limitations is an acceptable option.

Should Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction be Treated like ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Shorter Door-to-Balloon Time?

It is estimated that each year in the United States >780,000 persons will experience an acute coronary syndrome. Approximately 70% of these will have non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Optimal timing of angiography in NSTEMI is a matter of debate. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate whether and how the timing of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) affects the 1-year rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients presenting with NSTEMI. Within our PCI database, we identified 1550 patients who underwent PCI for NSTEMI. We then divided the population into 3 groups based on door-to-balloon time (D2BT) (group 1 = D2BT <90 minutes; group 2 = D2BT >90 minutes <24 hours; group 3 = D2BT >24 hours). Primary outcome was MACE, a composite of MI, death and target vessel revascularization (TVR), or TVR at 1 year. Baseline characteristics were heterogeneous among the 3 groups, with patients who underwent angiograms >24 hours from presentation being older with more cardiovascular co-morbidities. Patients with D2BT <90 minutes were more likely to present with cardiogenic shock and had higher troponin levels. In-hospital mortality was similar among the 3 groups, but 1-year MACE/TVR was significantly higher in groups 1 and 3, driven by worse mortality. In this large cohort of patients presenting with NSTEMI, patients who underwent PCI between 90 minutes to 24 hours from presentation had better 1-year outcomes but also had fewer co-morbidities and with significantly lower prevalence of cardiogenic shock and high troponin on presentation. Therefore, treatment selection bias makes causal inference concerning rapid revascularization and outcome unreliable. Randomized clinical trials are warranted to assess outcome of rapid revascularization in patients presenting with NSTEMI.

Ischemic Versus Bleeding Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Patients With High Bleeding Risk.

Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) often have high-bleeding-risk (HBR) factors. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) further increases this risk of bleeding. We sought to compare clinical outcomes according to presence or absence of HBR factors in patients with elevated ischemic risk (DAPT score ≥ 2) undergoing PCI. We evaluated all patients undergoing PCI at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (January 2009 to July 2018) with DAPT score ≥2, which is associated with elevated risk of ischemic events. Patients were categorized as HBR group (HBR score ≥1) or low-bleeding-risk (LBR) group (HBR score = 0). Outcomes included major adverse cardiac events such as target vessel revascularization, stent thrombosis, death, and bleeding events at 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The final cohort consisted of 7,499 patients: 3,949 patients had LBR features, and 3,550 patients had HBR features. The 2 groups were different at baseline, with HBR patients being older and having a higher prevalence of congestive heart failure and renal dysfunction than the LBR group. The mean DAPT score was 2.96±1.1 for the LBR group and 3.7±1.4 for the HBR group (p <0.001). During follow-up at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 and 2 years, the rates of target vessel revascularization and stent thrombosis were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Bleeding events and all-cause mortality were significantly more frequent in the HBR group than in the LBR group. In conclusion, patients undergoing PCI often have pre-existing risk factors that predispose them to ischemic and bleeding complications. Prolonged duration of DAPT to mitigate ischemic events could lead to a disproportionate increase in bleeding events, especially in HBR patients.

Transmission of an extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (sequence type ST131) strain between a father and daughter resulting in septic shock and Emphysematous pyelonephritis.

Probable transmission of an extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli strain (sequence type ST131) between a father and daughter was documented. The father developed severe, recurrent pyelonephritis with multiple small abscesses; the daughter later developed septic shock, bacteremia, and extensive emphysematous pyelonephritis. This multidrug-resistant E. coli clone appears to be highly pathogenic and transmissible.

Validation of digital ankle-brachial index as a screening tool in symptomatic patients with peripheral arterial disease.

INTRODUCTION: There is scarcity of data validating portable digital ankle-brachial index (ABI) with contrast angiography in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Our aim was to provide an objective analysis of the relationship between digital ABI (dABI) and peripheral angiographic data. METHODS: Consecutive patients with symptoms of PAD between May 2014 to May 2015 at Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, who were undergoing simultaneous dABI and peripheral angiography, were evaluated. Measurements were made using the FloChec™ Digital ABI system (Bard) prior to the scheduled peripheral angiogram. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 51 patients. Mean age was 68.8 ±â€¯9.5 years with 55% being male. Aorto-iliac disease accounted for 13% of the total lesions, while femoro-popliteal lesions comprised 55%. The FloChec™ digital ABI had a sensitivity of 84% and a positive predictive value of 84%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.74 (p = 0.007). On multivariate analysis, FloChec™ digital ABI was still an independent predictor of PAD, Odds ratio 6.8 (2.3-20.6, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: A portable, point-of-care digital ABI system can be used as a valuable, simple, cost-effective and reliable screening tool with high sensitivity and accuracy. To date, ours is the first study validating FloChec™ digital ABI with the gold standard angiographic data.

Coronary perfusion pressure and left ventricular hemodynamics as predictors of cardiovascular collapse following percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Appropriate patient selection for mechanical circulatory support following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains a challenge. This study aims to evaluate the role of coronary perfusion pressure and other left ventricular hemodynamics to predict cardiovascular collapse following PCI. METHODS/MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent PCI for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) from 2003 to 2016. Coronary perfusion pressure was calculated for each patient and defined as the difference in mean arterial pressure and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictor of composite outcome of in-hospital mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and cardiogenic shock. RESULTS: Nine hundred twenty-two patients were analyzed. Two-hundred twenty-eight (25%) presented with ST-elevation MI (STEMI) while 694 (75%) underwent PCI for unstable angina or non-Q-wave MI. The mean LVEDP was significantly higher in the STEMI patients (24 ±â€¯9 vs. 19 ±â€¯8 mm Hg, p < 0.05) and perfusion pressure significantly lower (68 ±â€¯24 vs. 74 ±â€¯18 mm Hg, p < 0.05). Eighty-seven (9.4%) reached the composite endpoint, and there was no difference between the STEMI and Not-STEMI groups. Neither LVEDP nor coronary perfusion pressure was a predictor of the composite outcome following multivariable logistic regression analysis for either STEMI or Not-STEMI patients. Increasing age, chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), CHF, and low left ventricular ejection fraction were predictors of the composite outcome for Not-STEMI patients, whereas only history of cerebrovascular accident and CRI were predictors for STEMI patients. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodynamically stable patients presenting with ACS, LVEDP and coronary perfusion pressure are not predictive of in-hospital cardiovascular collapse. SUMMARY: The authors retrospectively analyzed 922 patients from a single center who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes to evaluate the role of coronary perfusion pressure and other left ventricular hemodynamics to predict cardiovascular collapse following PCI. They found that neither coronary perfusion pressure nor left ventricular end diastolic pressure was predictive of in-hospital cardiovascular collapse.

Adverse Events and Modes of Failure Related to Impella RP: Insights from the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Right ventricular (RV) mechanical circulatory support remains an important adjunctive therapy for RV failure refractory to medical therapy. Impella RP (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) is approved for providing temporary RV support for patients with acute right heart failure or decompensation following left ventricular assist device implantation, myocardial infarction, heart transplant, or open-heart surgery. Robust data on the most commonly reported complications and failure modes for the Impella RP are lacking. We analyzed the post-marketing surveillance data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database to assess these endpoints. MATERIALS/METHODS: The MAUDE database was queried for the time period January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2018, for Impella devices by Searching for the following event types: "injury", "malfunction", "death", and "other". The search yielded 436 device reports. Impella RP medical device reports were screened, and 35 reports were included for the final analysis. RESULTS: In cases of reported complications, Impella RP was placed most commonly for right ventricular failure (RVF) developing in postcardiotomy patients (20%). The most commonly reported complications included bleeding (42.9%) and vascular complications (22.8%). The modes of failure included damage or fracture of the device elements (34.2%); thrombus, or clot in the system (17.1%); and device detachment (8.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the MAUDE database highlight the failure modes of the Impella RP device that should be addressed in order to improve the device performance and obtain improved clinical outcomes when utilized for RVF.

Genetic and Nongenetic Implications of Racial Variation in Response to Antiplatelet Therapy.

Race has been identified as an independent risk factor for poor prognosis and an independent predictor of survival in coronary artery disease. Race-related dissimilarities have been identified in cardiovascular patients in terms of age of presentation, co-morbidities, socioeconomic status, and treatment approach as well as genetically driven race-related disparities in responsiveness to medications. Antiplatelet therapy represents a fundamental component of therapy in cardiovascular patients, especially in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. It has been argued that the different level of platelet reactivity and varying response to antiplatelet therapy among races may account in part for worse outcomes in certain populations. The purpose of this review is to describe genotypic and phenotypic race-related differences in platelet reactivity and responsiveness to cardiovascular treatment, focusing on antiplatelet therapy to highlight the need establish a more effective and targeted antithrombotic strategy.

Adverse Events Associated with the Use of Guide Extension Catheters during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Reports from the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the reported complications and event modes for the GuideLiner and Guidezilla extension catheters. METHODS/MATERIALS: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was queried for reported events. RESULTS: Of the 65 cases with reported GuideLiner-related issues, 15 (23%) involved the inability to pass equipment through or damage to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) devices in the GuideLiner catheter, 38 (58%) involved GuideLiner catheter fracture, 9 (14%) involved coronary artery dissection, 2 (3%) involved coronary artery perforation, and 1 (1.5%) involved thrombus formation in the catheter. Of the 408 cases with reported Guidezilla-related issues, 53 (13%) involved inability to pass or damaged PCI devices into the Guidezilla catheter, 117 (29%) involved inability to advance the Guidezilla catheter to the target lesion, 59 (14%) involved kinked Guidezilla catheter, mostly because of partial or complete catheter fracture upon further investigation, 164 (40%) involved a broken Guidezilla catheter, 10 (2.5%) involved coronary artery dissection, 2 (0.5%) involved coronary artery perforation, 1 (0.2%)involved aortic dissection, 1 (0.2%) involved thrombosis formation, and 1 (0.2%) involved no-reflow phenomenon. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the MAUDE database highlight the complications and modes of events associated with the use of GuideLiner and Guidezilla extension catheters. SUMMARY: To assess the reported complications and event modes for the GuideLiner and Guidezilla extension catheters, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was queried. There were more reports on Guidezilla-related events during the search period. The events for both extension catheters mainly involved the inability to pass equipment through or damage to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) devices in the extension catheter, extension catheter fracture, coronary artery dissection and perforation and, occasionally, the death of the patients.

Racial Disparities in Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Women Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Women are underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical studies. Black women have a higher ischemic heart disease mortality risk than their white counterparts. However, there exist limited outcome data comparing black women and white women after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate for racial disparities in 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in women undergoing PCI. METHODS/MATERIALS: Within our PCI database, we identified 4776 female patients who underwent PCI between 2003 and 2016. Of those, 1916 were black and 2860 were white. Endpoints included MACE, death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR) and stent thrombosis (ST) at 30 days and 1 year. A proportional Cox hazard model analysis was performed to assess outcomes after adjustment for confounding factors. RESULTS: Black women presented at a younger age and had a significantly higher prevalence of risk factors. Periprocedural and in-hospital outcomes were similar in the 2 groups. At 30 days and 1 year, the rates of myocardial infarction, TVR and ST were significantly higher in black women. After adjustment for baseline differences, only ST appears to be more likely to occur in black women than in white women. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of women with coronary artery disease undergoing PCI, we observed racial disparities primarily in baseline characteristics indicative of need for interventions to achieve early diagnosis and better prevention in black women. Future directions should include efforts to identify and better characterize the factors underlying and contributing to cardiovascular outcomes in women after PCI. SUMMARY: In this real-world analysis from a large cohort of women with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention at a US tertiary-care center, racial disparities were observed, especially in baseline characteristics, indicating late presentation.

Effects of Cangrelor as Adjunct Therapy to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with angiographic evidence of intracoronary thrombus is associated with in-hospital and 30-day adverse clinical outcomes. Cangrelor, a direct, rapid-onset acting intravenous P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, has been proved to be effective by reducing peri-PCI ischemic complications in subjects who underwent PCI. This study aimed to assess the angiographic and in-hospital clinical outcomes in all-comer patients receiving cangrelor immediately before PCI at a tertiary care center. The study analyzed consecutive unselected subjects treated with cangrelor at the time the decision was made to proceed with PCI. At the end of the procedure, all patients were transitioned to oral antiplatelet therapy. The target lesion angiographic assessment of Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade (TIMI-Flow), TIMI-thrombus grade (TIMI-Thrombus), myocardial blush grade, and TIMI-myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) was performed before and post-PCI. Clinical events were recorded during the procedure and at discharge. In total, 223 patients (244 lesions) were included in the analysis (106, 97, and 20 patientswith TIMI-Flow 0/1, TIMI-Flow 2/3, and cardiogenic shock, respectively). The overall mean age was 63 ± 12 years, 70% men and 38% with diabetes mellitus. Acute myocardial infarction was the main presentation (72%). The use of cangrelor improved TIMI-Flow, MGB, TMPG, and TIMI-Thrombus in patients with initial TIMI-Flow 0 to 2. Major bleeding rate was 2.0%. In conclusion, cangrelor was effective and safe in restoring TIMI-Flow 3, reducing thrombus burden and improving myocardial blush grade and TMPG when administered to unselected subjects who underwent PCI. Therefore, cangrelor should be considered in patients presenting with intracoronary thrombus before intervention.

Relation of Sex and Race to Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Intervention With Drug-Eluting Stents.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in men and women, black and white. However, there exists limited outcomes data for women and blacks after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the 1-year major cardiovascular events in patients who underwent PCI based on gender and race. We retrospectively analyzed data that were prospectively collected over 13 years at a large tertiary hospital in the United States. There were 12,050 patients who underwent PCI for both stable disease and acute coronary syndrome from 2003 to 2016. Of those, 1,952 were black men, 6,013 white men, 1,619 black women, and 2,466 white women. Major cardiovascular events at 1 year were assessed, and proportional Cox hazard model analyses were performed to assess outcome adjusted for confounding factors (i.e., age, body mass index, presentation with acute myocardial infarction, diabetes, smoking, history of coronary artery disease, family history of coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, previous cardiovascular intervention, and chronic kidney disease). At 1 year, white men had significantly lower major cardiovascular events driven by lower rate of death compared with the other groups. Adjusted for confounders, major cardiovascular events were 1.3 to 1.5 times more likely to occur in black men and women and white women than in white men. There was a significant race by gender interaction (p <0.001).

Trends in Death Rate 2009 to 2018 Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Stratified by Acuteness of Presentation.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has evolved dramatically, along with patient complexity. We studied trends in in-hospital mortality with changes in patient complexity over the last decade stratified by clinical presentation. The study population included all patients presenting to the cardiac catheterization lab between January 2009 and July 2018. Expected in-hospital mortality was calculated using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI risk scoring system. Yearly mean in-hospital mortality rates (%) were plotted and smoothed by weighted least squares regression for each presentation: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), and stable ischemic coronary artery disease (SI CAD). The overall cohort included 13,732 patients who underwent PCI during the study period, of whom 2,142 were for STEMI, 2,836 for NSTE-ACS, and 8,754 for SI CAD. Indications for PCI have changed over time, with more PCIs being performed for NSTE-ACS and STEMI than for SI CAD. NSTE-ACS and STEMI patients had a steady decrease in in-hospital mortality over time compared with SI CAD patients. Overall observed mortality continues to decrease in NSTE-ACS patients, with reduction in the observed mortality rate within the STEMI population to below expected since 2013. Patient complexity has not changed significantly. These results may be attributed to improved patient selection coupled with optimal pharmacotherapy with more robust therapies during procedure and hospitalization.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Symptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis and Prior External Chest Radiation.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) and prior chest radiation is associated with poor outcomes in comparison with patients without prior radiation. Our objective was to compare clinical outcomes of patients with and without prior chest radiation undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for symptomatic severe AS. METHODS/MATERIALS: Between January 2003 and January 2017, 1150 patients underwent TAVR at our institution. Of these, 44 had prior chest radiation. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, procedural details, and clinical outcomes were prospectively collected. RESULTS: Patients with prior chest radiation were younger, 76 ±â€¯13 years, compared with those without prior chest radiation, 82 ±â€¯8 years (p = 0.002). Median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score for chest radiation patients was 7 ±â€¯4, compared to 8 ±â€¯5 in those without prior radiation. Despite higher prevalence of complete heart block, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to the need for permanent pacemaker implantation. There was a trend toward longer length of intensive care unit stay in chest radiation patients, but there was no significant difference in 30-day or 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, TAVR appears to be a safe treatment option in the short and medium term for patients with symptomatic severe AS and prior chest radiation.