Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with extra-small aortic annuli.

BACKGROUND: A small aortic annulus (SAA) is a risk factor for prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) in patients undergoing surgical or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Data regarding TAVI in patients with extra-SAA are scarce. AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyse the safety and efficacy of TAVI in patients with extra-SAA. METHODS: A multicentre registry study including patients with extra-SAA (defined as an aortic annulus area <280 mm2 and/or perimeter <60 mm) undergoing TAVI was established. Primary efficacy and safety endpoints were defined as device success and early safety at 30 days, respectively, using the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 criteria, and were analysed according to valve type: self-expanding (SEV) versus balloon-expandable (BEV). RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were included, of which 139 (92.7%) were women, and 110 (73.3%) received an SEV. Intraprocedural technical success was 91.3%, with a higher rate in patients receiving an SEV (96.4% vs 77.5% with BEV; p=0.001). Overall, 30-day device success was 81.3%, (85.5% with SEV vs 70.0% with BEV; p=0.032). The primary safety endpoint occurred in 72.0% of patients (with no difference between groups; p=0.118). Severe PPM occurred in 12% (9.0% with SEV and 24.0% with BEV; p=0.039), with no impact on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or heart failure readmission at 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: TAVI is a safe and feasible treatment in patients with extra-SAA with a high rate of technical success. The use of SEV was associated with a lower rate of intraprocedural complications, higher device success at 30 days and better haemodynamic outcomes compared to BEV.

Prognostic Implications of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Coronary Thrombi of Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

AIMS: The mechanisms of coronary thrombosis can influence prognosis after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and allow for different treatment groups to be identified; an association between neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and unfavorable clinical outcomes has been suggested. Our aim was to determine the role played by NETs in coronary thrombosis and their influence on prognosis. The role of other histological features in prognosis and the association between NETs and bacteria in the coronary thrombi were also explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 406 patients with STEMI in which coronary thrombi were consecutively obtained by aspiration during angioplasty between 2012 and 2018. Analysis of NETs in paraffin-embedded thrombi was based on the colocalization of specific NET components by means of confocal microscopy. Immunohistochemistry stains were used to identify plaque fragments. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect bacteria.NETs were detected in 51% of the thrombi (NET density, median [interquartile range]: 25% [17-38%]). The median follow-up was 47 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 43-51); 105 (26%) patients experienced major adverse cardiac events (MACE). A significant association was found between the presence of NETs in coronary aspirates and the occurrence of MACE in the first 30 days after infarction (hazard ratio 2.82; 95% CI 1.26-6.35, p = 0.012), mainly due to cardiac deaths and stent thrombosis. CONCLUSION: The presence of NETs in coronary thrombi was associated with a worse prognosis soon after STEMI. In some patients, NETs could be a treatment target and a feasible way to prevent reinfarction.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in obese patients: procedural vascular complications with the trans-femoral and trans-carotid access routes.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity may increase the risk of vascular complications in transfemoral (TF) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. The transcarotid (TC) approach has recently emerged as an alternative access in TAVR. We sought to compare vascular complications and early clinical outcomes in obese patients undergoing TAVR either by TF or TC vascular access. METHODS: Multicentre registry including obese patients undergoing TF- or TC-TAVR in 15 tertiary centres. All patients received newer-generation transcatheter heart valves. For patients exhibiting unfavourable ileo-femoral anatomic characteristics, the TC approach was favoured in 3 centres with experience with it. A propensity score analysis was performed for overcoming unbalanced baseline covariates. The primary end point was the occurrence of in-hospital vascular complications (Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria). RESULTS: A total of 539 patients were included, 454 (84.2%) and 85 (15.8%) had a TF and TC access, respectively. In the propensity-adjusted cohort (TF: 442 patients; TC: 85 patients), both baseline and procedural valve-related characteristics were well-balanced between groups. A significant decrease in vascular complications was observed in the TC group (3.5% vs 12% in the TF group, odds ratio: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.07-0.95, P = 0.037). There were no statistically significant differences between groups regarding in-hospital mortality (TC: 2.8%, TF: 1.5%), stroke (TC: 1.2%, TF: 0.4%) and life-threatening/major bleeding events (TC: 2.8%, TF: 3.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with obesity undergoing TAVR with newer-generation devices, the TC access was associated with a lower rate of vascular complications. Larger randomized studies are warranted to further assess the better approach for TAVR in obese patients.

Transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with morbid obesity: a multicentre propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Morbidly obese (MO) patients are increasingly undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, the best therapeutic strategy for these patients remains a matter for debate. AIMS: Our aim was to compare the periprocedural and mid-term outcomes in MO patients undergoing TAVR versus SAVR. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective study including consecutive MO patients (body mass index ≥40 kg/m2, or ≥35 kg/m2 with obesity-related comorbidities) from 18 centres undergoing either TAVR (n=860) or biological SAVR (n=696) for severe AS was performed. Propensity score matching resulted in 362 pairs. RESULTS: After matching, periprocedural complications, including blood transfusion (14.1% versus 48.1%; p<0.001), stage 2-3 acute kidney injury (3.99% versus 10.1%; p=0.002), hospital-acquired pneumonia (1.7% versus 5.8%; p=0.005) and access site infection (1.5% versus 5.5%; p=0.013), were more common in the SAVR group, as was moderate to severe patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM; 9.9% versus 39.4%; p<0.001). TAVR patients more frequently required permanent pacemaker implantation (14.4% versus 5.6%; p<0.001) and had higher rates of ≥moderate residual aortic regurgitation (3.3% versus 0%; p=0.001). SAVR was an independent predictor of moderate to severe PPM (hazard ratio [HR] 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-2.59; p=0.002), while TAVR was not. In-hospital mortality was not different between groups (3.9% for TAVR versus 6.1% for SAVR; p=0.171). Two-year outcomes (including all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and readmissions) were similar in both groups (log-rank p>0.05 for all comparisons). Predictors of all-cause 2-year mortality differed between the groups; moderate to severe PPM was a predictor following SAVR (HR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.10-2.88; p=0.018) but not following TAVR (p=0.737). CONCLUSIONS: SAVR and TAVR offer similar mid-term outcomes in MO patients with severe AS, however, TAVR offers some advantages in terms of periprocedural morbidity.

Impact of Morbid Obesity and Obesity Phenotype on Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background There is a paucity of outcome data on patients who are morbidly obese (MO) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement. We aimed to determine their periprocedural and midterm outcomes and investigate the impact of obesity phenotype. Methods and Results Consecutive patients who are MO (body mass index, ≥40 kg/m2, or ≥35 kg/m2 with obesity-related comorbidities; n=910) with severe aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement in 18 tertiary hospitals were compared with a nonobese cohort (body mass index, 18.5-29.9 kg/m2, n=2264). Propensity-score matching resulted in 770 pairs. Pre-transcatheter aortic valve replacement computed tomography scans were centrally analyzed to assess adipose tissue distribution; epicardial, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat. Major vascular complications were more common (6.6% versus 4.3%; P=0.043) and device success was less frequent (84.4% versus 88.1%; P=0.038) in the MO group. Freedom from all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were similar at 2 years (79.4 versus 80.6%, P=0.731; and 88.7 versus 87.4%, P=0.699; MO and nonobese, respectively). Multivariable analysis identified baseline glomerular filtration rate and nontransfemoral access as independent predictors of 2-year mortality in the MO group. An adverse MO phenotype with an abdominal visceral adipose tissue:subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio ≥1 (VAT:SAT) was associated with increased 2-year all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 3.06; 95% CI, 1.20-7.77; P=0.019) and cardiovascular (hazard ratio, 4.11; 95% CI, 1.06-15.90; P=0.041) mortality, and readmissions (HR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.07-3.07; P=0.027). After multivariable analysis, a (VAT:SAT) ratio ≥1 remained a strong predictor of 2-year mortality (hazard ratio, 2.78; P=0.035). Conclusions Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients who are MO has similar short- and midterm outcomes to nonobese patients, despite higher major vascular complications and lower device success. An abdominal VAT:SAT ratio ≥1 identifies an obesity phenotype at higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes.

Analysis of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in advanced cardiac light-chain amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Prognosis of advanced cardiac light-chain amyloidosis (ACAL) is ominous. Diagnosis of ACAL is frequently preceded by several biopsies of non-clinically affected tissues, which can result in dangerous treatment delays. Combinations of alkylators and steroids have a limited role in its therapy. Definitive efficacy of bortezomib in ACAL is not widely described. In this study we analyze the diagnostic yield of biopsies and compare the effect of bortezomib with other therapeutic strategies in ACAL patients. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of 40 consecutive ACAL patients treated at our hospital (2005 to 2015). For comparison purposes, the cohort was divided into 2 groups: patients treated with bortezomib (n = 23) and those treated with other therapeutic approaches (non-bortezomib, n = 8). RESULTS: Sensitivity of biopsies of non-clinically affected organs was 23%, as compared with 97% for affected organ biopsies (p < 0.0001). The need for >2 biopsies resulted in an average delay in diagnosis of 4.1 months (p = 0.007). Hematologic response was observed in 96% of patients in the bortezomib group compared with 25% in the non-bortezomib group (relative risk = 3.8; 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 12.75; p = 0.0002). Cardiac response criteria were met by 60% of patients in the bortezomib group as compared with none in the non-bortezomib group (p = 0.005). Survival at 6 months and 1 and 2 years for bortezomib patients was 91%, 91% and 73%, as compared with 58%, 15% and 0% for non-bortezomib patients (log rank, p < 0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the sensitivity of biopsies from non-affected organs in ACAL is poor and could result in diagnostic delay. Bortezomib was associated with higher hematologic and cardiac response rates as well as survival when compared with other therapies.

[Unusual complications of cardiac catheterization via the radial artery]. / Complicaciones inusuales del cateterismo por vía radial.

Use of the radial artery for cardiac catheterization has significantly reduced the incidence and severity of complications at the access site. Nevertheless, occasionally unusual complications or atypical responses to treatment are observed. We describe two cases: a radial artery pseudoaneurysm that was unresponsive to compression treatment and a foreign-body inflammatory reaction at the radial artery access site. The characteristics, development and treatment of the 2 cases are described, and the pathogenic mechanisms are discussed.

Magnetic Resonance for Noninvasive Detection of Microcirculatory Disease Associated With Allograft Vasculopathy: Intracoronary Measurement Validation.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy affects both epicardial and microcirculatory coronary compartments. Magnetic resonance perfusion imaging has been proposed as a useful tool to assess microcirculation mostly outside the heart transplantation setting. Instantaneous hyperemic diastolic flow velocity-pressure slope, an intracoronary physiology index, has demonstrated a better correlation with microcirculatory remodelling in cardiac allograft vasculopathy than other indices such as coronary flow velocity reserve. To investigate the potential of magnetic resonance perfusion imaging to detect the presence of microcirculatory remodeling in cardiac allograft vasculopathy, we compared magnetic resonance perfusion data with invasive intracoronary physiological indices to study microcirculation in a population of heart transplantation recipients with macrovascular nonobstructive disease demonstrated with intravascular ultrasound. METHODS: We studied 8 heart transplantation recipients (mean age, 61 [12] years, 100% male) with epicardial allograft vasculopathy defined by intravascular ultrasound, nonsignificant coronary stenoses and negative visually-assessed wall-motion/perfusion dobutamine stress magnetic resonance. Quantitative stress and rest magnetic resonance perfusion data to build myocardial perfusion reserve index, noninvasively, and 4 invasive intracoronary physiological indices were determined. RESULTS: Postprocessed data showed a mean (standard deviation) myocardial perfusion reserve index of 1.22 (0.27), while fractional flow reserve, coronary flow velocity reserve, hyperemic microvascular resistance and instantaneous hyperemic diastolic flow velocity-pressure slope were 0.98 (0.02), cm/s/mmHg, 2.34 (0.55) cm/s/mmHg, 2.00 (0.69) cm/s/mmHg and 0.91 (0.65) cm/s/mmHg, respectively. The myocardial perfusion reserve index correlated strongly only with the instantaneous hyperemic diastolic flow velocity-pressure slope (r=0.75; P=.033). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial perfusion reserve index derived from a comprehensive dobutamine stress magnetic resonance appears to be a reliable technique for noninvasive detection of microcirculatory coronary disease associated with cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Usefulness of Two-Dimensional Strain Parameters to Diagnose Acute Rejection after Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is still a relevant complication after orthotopic heart transplantation. The diagnosis of ACR is based on endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). Recent advances in two-dimensional strain imaging may allow early noninvasive detection of ACR. The objective of this study was to analyze the usefulness of conventional and new echocardiographic parameters to exclude ACR after orthotopic heart transplantation. METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive adult heart transplant recipients admitted to a single center between January 2010 and December 2012 for orthotopic heart transplantation were prospectively included. A total of 235 pairs of EMB and echocardiographic examination were performed. A median of seven studies per patient (interquartile range, six to eight studies per patient) were performed during the first year of follow-up. Classic echocardiographic parameters; speckle-tracking-derived left ventricular (LV) longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain; and global and free wall right ventricular (RV) longitudinal strain were analyzed. RESULTS: ACR was detected in 26.4% of EMB samples (n = 62); 5.1% (n = 12) required specific treatment (ACR degree ≥ 2R). Lower absolute values of global LV longitudinal strain and free wall RV longitudinal strain were present in patients with ACR degree ≥ 2R compared with those without ACR (13.7 ± 2.7% vs 17.8 ± 3.4% and 16.6 ± 3.6% vs 23.3 ± 5.2%, respectively). An average LV longitudinal strain < 15.5% had 85.7% sensitivity, 81.4% specificity, 98.8% negative predictive value, 25.0% positive predictive value, and 81.7% accuracy for the presence of ACR degree ≥ 2R. Free wall RV longitudinal strain < 17% had 85.7% sensitivity, 91.1% specificity, 98.8% negative predictive value, 42.9% positive predictive value, and 90.7% accuracy for ACR degree ≥ 2R. Both variables were normal in 106 echocardiograms (57.6%); none of these patients presented with ACR degree ≥ 2R. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of two new echocardiographic measures, global LV and RV free wall longitudinal strain, may be able to identify a group of heart transplant patients who are unlikely to have ACR. If these findings are confirmed independently, it may be possible to use LV and RV strain measures as reliable tools to exclude ACR and to reduce the burden of repeated EMB.

Peri-aortic hematoma complicated with aortic regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: description of a novel mechanism of paravalvular leak.

The recent development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) offers a feasible option for high-risk surgical patients. However, several complications are specifically related to this technique. The present case describes a novel complication associated with TAVI, a severe paravalvular leak related to "stretch-induced" peri-aortic hematoma. The possible mechanisms of this complication, as well as its potential solutions, are discussed.

Failure of percutaneous closure of prosthetic, aortic paravalvular leak.

We report the progression of aortic insufficiency after percutaneous closure of an aortic prosthesis paravalvular leak with the Amplatzer vascular plug (AGA Inc, Golden Valley, MN). Removal of the device and replacement of the aortic prosthesis was successfully performed. Based on operative findings, we hypothesize that shape mismatch between the occluder system and the leak might promote tearing at the end of slanted defects further enhancing the regurgitant area.