Incidence, Timing, and Predictors of Valve Hemodynamic Deterioration After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Multicenter Registry.

BACKGROUND: Scarce data exist on the incidence of and factors associated with valve hemodynamic deterioration (VHD) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the incidence, timing, and predictors of VHD in a large cohort of patients undergoing TAVR. METHODS: This multicenter registry included 1,521 patients (48% male; 80 ± 7 years of age) who underwent TAVR. Mean echocardiographic follow-up was 20 ± 13 months (minimum: 6 months). Echocardiographic examinations were performed at discharge, at 6 to 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Annualized changes in mean gradient (mm Hg/year) were calculated by dividing the difference between the mean gradient at last follow-up and the gradient at discharge by the time between examinations. VHD was defined as a ≥10 mm Hg increase in transprosthetic mean gradient during follow-up compared with discharge assessment. RESULTS: The overall mean annualized rate of transprosthetic gradient progression during follow-up was 0.30 ± 4.99 mm Hg/year. A total of 68 patients met criteria of VHD (incidence: 4.5% during follow-up). The absence of anticoagulation therapy at hospital discharge (p = 0.002), a valve-in-valve (TAVR in a surgical valve) procedure (p = 0.032), the use of a 23-mm valve (p = 0.016), and a greater body mass index (p = 0.001) were independent predictors of VHD. CONCLUSIONS: There was a mild but significant increase in transvalvular gradients over time after TAVR. The lack of anticoagulation therapy, a valve-in-valve procedure, a greater body mass index, and the use of a 23-mm transcatheter valve were associated with higher rates of VHD post-TAVR. Further prospective studies are required to determine whether a specific antithrombotic therapy post-TAVR may reduce the risk of VHD.

Preprocedure Anemia Management Decreases Transfusion Rates in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Periprocedural blood transfusions are associated with long-term mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We sought to assess the impact of a preoperative blood conservation approach in treating anemia and preventing blood transfusions in patients undergoing TAVI. METHODS: Our cohort consisted of all patients evaluated in our structural heart clinic between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2014. From March 2013, all anemic TAVI candidates were referred to the blood conservation clinic (BCC). We evaluated the effectiveness of the program to increase hemoglobin levels and to decrease the blood transfusion rates in the TAVI cohort. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association of being assessed by the BCC with receipt of a blood transfusion. RESULTS: The cohort included 239 patients, 62% of whom were anemic. Beginning in March 2013, 60 patients were evaluated in the BCC and treated with intravenous/oral iron or subcutaneous epoetin alfa, or both. Patients who underwent blood conservation had a significant increase in hemoglobin levels from 10.8 ± 1.1 g/dL to 11.8 ± 1.2 g/dL (P < 0.001). Implementation of the BCC was associated with a substantial decrease in the average blood transfusion rate from 33.3% before program initiation to 15.3% after implementation (P < 0.001). After adjusting for baseline hemoglobin values and comorbidities, being assessed at the BCC was strongly associated with a reduction in the need for transfusion (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.69; P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Preprocedural anemia management was successful in improving hemoglobin levels in anemic patients and in decreasing transfusion rates in TAVI.