RESUMEN
Right ventricular (RV) function is a determining factor for clinical outcomes in patients undergoing tricuspid valve surgery (TVS). Our aim was to investigate the importance of the function of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), which is an important anatomical region of the RV, in patients underwent TVS. 104 patients who underwent TVS were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with previous cardiac surgery, congenital heart disease, or heart failure were excluded. The parasternal short-axis view at the level of the aortic root was used to measure RVOT dimensions and RVOT fractional shortening (RVOT-FS). The effect of RVOT diameter and function on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after TVS was investigated. In our study, MACE, consisting of pacemaker implantation, acute kidney injury, postoperative atrial fibrillation and mortality, was developed at 44 (42.3%) patients.We compared the predictive performances of RVOT end-systolic (RVOTs) diameter, RVOT end-diastolic (RVOTd) diameter, RVOT-FS and RV diameters in prediction of MACE. The model including the RVOTs had higher AUC, R2 and likelihood ratio X2 values (0.775, 0.287 and 25.0, respectively) than RVOTd (0.770, 0.279 and 24.2, respectively) and RVOT-FS (0.750, 0.215 and 18.1, respectively). RVOT diameters showed better performance in predicting MACE than RV diameters. Moreover, there was statistically significant association between RVOTs, RVOTd and MACE (p value were 0.014 and 0.027, respectively), while no association between RVOT-FS and MACE (p value was 0.177). In summary, we determined that the RVOT diameters are important predictors for the in-hospital clinical outcomes of patients who underwent TVS.
RESUMEN
With the increase in transcatheter procedures, the use of bioprosthetic valves has become more frequent in clinical practice. However, the optimal antithrombotic management of patients with bioprosthetic valves remains controversial. In this case report, we describe a patient with a bioprosthetic aortic valve who developed a thrombus while receiving effective dose direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy. A 73-year-old male patient with a bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement 2 years prior presented with a mobile thrombus and early degeneration of the valve, detected during routine follow-up while being treated with apixaban. Although the valve thrombus regressed after switching to a different anticoagulant drug, we observed that the decreased but still high gradient persisted due to the early degeneration. Anticoagulant management of bioprosthetic valve patients demands careful attention. Although evidence supporting the use of DOACs is growing, close patient follow-up and further evaluation in case of doubt remain critical. The development of a thrombus in a bioprosthetic valve patient who is receiving anticoagulation therapy, as in this case, highlights the need for optimal management to prevent thromboembolic complications and valve degeneration.
