Position Statement on Cardiac Computed Tomography Following Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion.

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is rapidly growing as valid stroke prevention therapy in atrial fibrillation. Cardiac imaging plays an instrumental role in preprocedural planning, procedural execution, and postprocedural follow-up. Recently, cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has made significant advancements, resulting in increasing use both preprocedurally and in outpatient follow-up. It provides a noninvasive, high-resolution alternative to the current standard, transesophageal echocardiography, and may display advantages in both the detection and characterization of device-specific complications, such as peridevice leak and device-related thrombosis. The implementation of CCT in the follow-up after LAAO has identified new findings such as hypoattenuated thickening on the atrial device surface and left atrial appendage contrast patency, which are not readily assessable on transesophageal echocardiography. Currently, there is a lack of standardization for acquisition and interpretation of images and consensus on definitions of essential findings on CCT in the postprocedural phase. This paper intends to provide a practical and standardized approach to both acquisition and interpretation of CCT after LAAO based on a comprehensive review of the literature and expert consensus among European and North American interventional and imaging specialists.

Association of Relative Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Area and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Related Paravalvular Leak.

Background: Post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), paravalvular leak (PVL) is a quality metric associated with worse clinical outcomes. Transcatheter heart valve (THV) sizing is based primarily on the systolic annular size without regard to the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), which also lies within the THV landing zone. We hypothesized that LVOT size relative to the annulus is associated with post-TAVR PVL. Methods: Data from consecutive patients undergoing TAVR in a single high-volume center from January 2018 to March 2019 were used. Pre-TAVR data from multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) were collected. Relative LVOT area was defined as LVOT area/annular area during systole. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate association with post-TAVR mild or greater PVL by transthoracic echocardiography before discharge. Results: Among 293 patients (median age, 81.1 years; female, 49.5%; White, 88.0%), 81.6% received SAPIEN 3 and 18.4% received CoreValve THV models. Aortic valve morphology was bicuspid in 10.9% of patients. Prevalence of mild or greater PVL was 23.5% (mild in 20.1%). Relative LVOT area had a significant inverse association such that the odds of mild or greater PVL decreased significantly with every 1% increase in relative LVOT area (adjusted odds ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98; P = .002). There was no interaction between the type of implanted valve and the relative LVOT area. Patients in the highest relative LVOT tertile had significantly lower odds of mild or greater PVL (adjusted odds ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.21-0.87; P = .018 vs first tertile). Conclusions: In patients undergoing TAVR with the newer generation of THV (SAPIEN 3 and CoreValve models), a relatively narrower LVOT area vs annular area was independently associated with increased odds of mild or greater PVL before discharge.

Outcomes following TAVR in patients with cardiogenic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: While transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has broadened treatment options for critically ill patients, outcomes among those with concomitant cardiogenic shock (CS) are not well-explored. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of major databases for studies comparing outcomes following TAVR in patients with and without CS since inception up to October 31, 2023. Our meta-analysis included five non-randomized observational. Dichotomous outcomes were assessed using the Mantel-Haenszel method (risk ratio, 95 % CI), and continuous outcomes were evaluated using mean difference and 95 % CI with the inverse variance method. Statistical heterogeneity was determined using the inconsistency test (I2). RESULTS: Among 26,283 patients across five studies, 30-day mortality was higher in the CS group (7267 patients; 27.6 %) compared to those without CS (OR 3.41, 95 % CI [2.01, 5.76], p < 0.01), as well as 30-day major vascular complications (OR 1.72, 95 % CI [1.54, 1.92], p < 0.01). At 1-year follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality rates between the compared groups (OR 2.68, 95 % CI [0.53, 13.46], p = 0.12). No significant between-group differences were observed in the likelihood of 30-day aortic valve reintervention (OR 3.20, 95 % CI [0.63, 16.22], p = 0.09) or post-TAVR aortic insufficiency (OR 0.91, 95 % CI [0.33, 2.51], p = 0.73). Furthermore, 30-day stroke, pacemaker implantation, and in-hospital major bleeding were comparable between both cohorts. CONCLUSION: Among patients undergoing TAVR, short-term mortality is higher but one-year outcomes are similar when comparing those with, to those without, CS. Future studies should examine whether TAVR outcomes are improved when the procedure is delayed to optimize CS and when delay is not possible, whether particular management strategies lead to more favorable periprocedural outcomes.

3-Year Outcomes of Balloon-Expandable Valves: 20-mm vs Larger Valves (≥23 mm).

BACKGROUND: A prior Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT (Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry-based analysis reported similar 1-year clinical outcomes with small (20-mm) vs large (≥23-mm) balloon-expandable valves (BEV). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe mid-term 3-year clinical outcomes for small vs large BEV and the relationship between discharge echocardiographic mean gradient (MG) and different definitions of prothesis-patient mismatch (PPM) with clinical outcomes. METHODS: Using the TVT Registry with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services linkage, a propensity-matched analysis of patients receiving 20- vs ≥23-mm BEVs was performed. Spline curves and Kaplan-Meier plots with adjusted HRs determined the relationship between MG and 3-year mortality. RESULTS: In total, 316,091 patients were analyzed; after propensity matching, 8,100 pairs of each group were compared. The 20-mm BEV was associated with higher MGs compared with ≥23-mm BEVs (16.2 ± 7.2 mm Hg vs 11.8 ± 5.7 mm Hg; P < 0.0001). At 3 years, there was no difference in mortality between 20- and ≥23-mm BEVs (31.5% vs 32.5%, respectively; HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.90-1.05). Compared with an MG of 10 to 30 mm Hg, an MG <10 mm Hg (HR: 1.25; 95% CI:1.22-1.27) was associated with increased 3-year mortality. Measured severe PPM and predicted no PPM were associated with increased 3-year mortality (33.5% vs 32.9% vs 32.1%; P < 0.0001) and (33.5% vs 31.1% vs 30%; P < 0.0001), respectively. Low MG and severe measured PPM were associated with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with small-prosthesis BEVs (20 mm) had identical 3-year survival as those with larger (≥23-mm) BEV valves. Severe measured PPM and low MG (<10 mm Hg), but not predicted severe PPM, were associated with lower LVEF and increased mortality, suggesting that LVEF is the culprit for worse outcomes.

Geographic Mapping of Gender Disparities in Authorship of Cardiovascular Literature.

BACKGROUND: Women in cardiology experience considerable gender disparities in publications, which hinders their career advancements to higher faculty and senior leadership positions. However, the extent of these disparities across different types of cardiovascular literature is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: We investigated gender differences in authorship across various cardiovascular publications over a decade and examined geographic variations in the representation of women authors. METHODS: All papers published from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019, in 4 major cardiovascular journals (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, European Heart Journal, Journal of the American Medical Association Cardiology, and Nature Reviews Cardiology) were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 18,535 papers with 111,562 authors, 20.6% of the authors were women, and 47.7% of the papers had no women authors. Over 10 years, the proportion of women authors remained low (20.7% in 2010 to 21.4% in 2019), with the lowest proportion in editorial papers (14.8%) and the highest in research papers (21.8%). More women as first (34.6%) and last (47.6%) authors were affiliated with institutions in the United States compared with other countries. The proportion of women middle-order authors was higher on papers with women as first authors (29.4% vs 20.5%) or last authors (30.6% vs 21.3%), compared with papers with men as first or last authors, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past decade, the proportion of women authors across all article types in major cardiovascular journals remained low. A call to action is needed to promote women in cardiology and provide them with equitable opportunities.

Efficacy and safety of TAVR versus SAVR in patients with small aortic annuli: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with a small aortic annulus (SAA) undergoing aortic valve replacement are at increased risk of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM), which adversely affects outcomes. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has shown promise in mitigating PPM compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines to compare clinical outcomes, mortality, and PPM between SAA patients undergoing TAVR and SAVR. Eligible studies were identified through comprehensive literature searches and assessed for quality and relevance. RESULTS: Nine studies with a total of 2476 patients were included. There was no significant difference in 30-day Mortality between TAVR vs SAVR groups (OR = 0.65, 95% CI [ 0.09-4.61], P = 0.22). There was no difference between both groups regarding myocardial infarction at 30 days (OR = 0.63, 95% CI [0.1-3.89], P = 0.62). TAVR was associated with a significantly lower 30-day major bleeding and 2-year major bleeding, Pooled studies were homogeneous (OR = 0.44, 95% CI [0.31-0.64], P < 0.01, I2 = 0, P = 0.89), (OR = 0.4 ,95% CI [0.21-0.77], P = 0.03, I2 = 0%, P = 0.62) respectively. TAVR was associated with a lower rate of moderate PPM (OR = 0.6, 95% CI [ 0.44-0.84], p value = 0.01, i2 = 0%, p value = 0.44). The overall effect estimate did not favor any of the two groups regarding short-term Mild AR (OR = 5.44, 95% CI [1.02-28.91], P = 0.05) and Moderate/severe AR (OR = 4.08, 95% CI [ 0.79-21.02], P = 0.08, I2 = 0%, P = 0.59). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that both TAVR and SAVR are viable options for treating AS in patients with a small aortic annulus. TAVR offers advantages in reducing PPM and major bleeding, while SAVR performs better in terms of pacemaker implantation. Future studies should focus on comparing newer generation TAVR techniques and devices with SAVR. Consideration of patient characteristics is crucial in selecting the optimal treatment approach for AS.

The various perioperative issues of structural heart diseases and cardiogenic shock.

Up to 20 % of patients presenting with acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock have a structural etiology. Despite efforts in timely management, mortality rates remain alarmingly high, ranging from 50 % to 80 %. Surgical intervention is often the definitive treatment for structural heart disease; however, many patients are considered high risk or unsuitable candidates for such procedures. Consequently, there has been a paradigm shift towards the development of novel percutaneous management strategies and temporizing interventions. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the pathophysiology of valvular and structural heart conditions presenting in cardiogenic shock, focusing on the evolving landscape of mechanical circulatory support devices and other management modalities.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of alcohol septal ablation in the era of transcatheter valve interventions.

BACKGROUND: The clinical efficacy and safety of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have been well-established; however, less is known about outcomes in patients undergoing preemptive ASA before transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). AIMS: The goal of this study is to characterize the procedural characteristics and examine the clinical outcomes of ASA in both HCM and pre-TMVR. METHODS: This retrospective study compared procedural characteristics and outcomes in patient who underwent ASA for HCM and TMVR. RESULTS: In total, 137 patients were included, 86 in the HCM group and 51 in the TMVR group. The intraventricular septal thickness (mean 1.8 vs. 1.2 cm; p < 0.0001) and the pre-ASA LVOT gradient (73.6 vs. 33.8 mmHg; p ≤ 0.001) were higher in the HCM group vs the TMVR group. The mean volume of ethanol injected was higher (mean 2.4 vs. 1.7 cc; p < 0.0001). The average neo-left ventricular outflow tract area increased significantly after ASA in the patients undergoing TMVR (99.2 ± 83.37 mm2 vs. 196.5 ± 114.55 mm2; p = <0.0001). The HCM group had a greater reduction in the LVOT gradient after ASA vs the TMVR group (49.3 vs. 18 mmHg; p = 0.0040). The primary composite endpoint was higher in the TMVR group versus the HCM group (50.9% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.0404) and had a higher incidence of new permanent pacemaker (PPM) (25.5% vs. 18.6%; p = 0.3402). The TMVR group had a higher rate of all-cause mortality (9.8% vs. 1.2%; p = 0.0268). CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive ASA before TMVR was performed in patients with higher degree of clinical comorbidities, and correspondingly is associated with worse short-term clinical outcomes in comparison to ASA for HCM patients. ASA before TMVR enabled percutaneous mitral interventions in a small but significant minority of patients that would have otherwise been excluded. The degree of LVOT and neoLVOT area increase is significant and predictable.

Physical and Computational Modeling for Transcatheter Structural Heart Interventions.

Structural heart disease interventions rely heavily on preprocedural planning and simulation to improve procedural outcomes and predict and prevent potential procedural complications. Modeling technologies, namely 3-dimensional (3D) printing and computational modeling, are nowadays increasingly used to predict the interaction between cardiac anatomy and implantable devices. Such models play a role in patient education, operator training, procedural simulation, and appropriate device selection. However, current modeling is often limited by the replication of a single static configuration within a dynamic cardiac cycle. Recognizing that health systems may face technical and economic limitations to the creation of "in-house" 3D-printed models, structural heart teams are pivoting to the use of computational software for modeling purposes.

Feasibility and technicality of aortic valve lithotripsy-facilitate balloon valvuloplasty in patients with severe aortic stenosis unsuitable for immediate valvular replacement.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve lithotripsy can fragment aortic valve calcium deposits and potentially restore leaflet pliability in animal model and ex-vivo, but clinical data is limited. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVR) might not be feasible as an urgent procedure in critically ill patients. Balloon valvuloplasty has the major limitation of valve recoil and inducing aortic regurgitation. AIMS: To determine the clinical feasibility of aortic valve lithotripsy-facilitated balloon valvuloplasty in patients with severe aortic stenosis unsuitable for valvular replacement. METHODS: We performed lithotripsy as adjunctive therapy to balloon aortic valvuloplasty in ten consecutive patients, most of whom were deemed unfit for TAVR. Lithotripsy of the aortic valve was performed with simultaneous inflation of one to three peripheral lithotripsy balloons to deliver ultrasound pulses. Rapid pacing was not used during lithotripsy. Aortic valve velocity, gradient, and valve area were measured before and after the procedure by echocardiogram. Transvalvular pressure gradient was recorded intra-procedurally. Periprocedural and ninety-day clinical outcomes were followed. RESULTS: Procedure was technically successful in 9 out of 10 patients and aborted in one patient due to cardiogenic shock. One patient had femoral closure device related complication. There was a statistically significant decrease in valvular gradient and increase in aortic valve area. 9 out of 10 patients recovered from acute episode and were discharged. 6 patients had improvement in NYHA class. 4 patients were subsequently able to receive TAVR. 90-day mortality occurred in 3 patients. There was no stroke or bradyarrhythmia peri-procedurally and no heart failure hospitalization at 90 days. CONCLUSION: Aortic valve lithotripsy-facilitated balloon valvuloplasty has reasonable feasibility, safety and technical reproducibility and acute clinical result. Hemodynamic effect is similar to that of balloon valvuloplasty reported in the literature. Subsequent Prognosis is not altered in critically ill patients.

Contemporary experience of percutaneous management of complex aortic and ventricular pseudoaneurysms associated to perivalvular leak: A case series and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous closure of aortic and ventricular pseudoaneurysms (PSA) has only been reported on a case report and series basis. In previous case reports, percutaneous closure has been performed successfully in patients of prohibitive surgical risk. This case series aims to show feasibility of percutaneous closure of aortic and ventricular pseudoaneurysm secondary to perivalvular leak (PVL) in a small patient population and the utility of multimodality imaging as an integral tool in procedural planning. This is the largest complex case series to date describing the feasibility and success rate of complex PSA closure, with a follow-up period of up to 4 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed institutional review and systemic literature review to identify all paravalvular leak cases with associated pseudoaneurysm formation for which a closure procedure was performed. Ten patients were identified. Pooled analysis for cases from institutional review (n = 10) and systemic literature review (n = 39) was performed. The success rate was 100 %. At 30-days, the mortality was 0 %. CONCLUSION: In paravalvular leak patients with subsequent pseudoaneurysm formation, exhaustive imaging evaluation is required for closure. However, it can be achievable with favorable rates of success.

Echocardiographic Outcomes With Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation in Prohibitive Surgical Risk Patients.

BACKGROUND: The CLASP IID randomized trial (Edwards PASCAL TrAnScatheter Valve RePair System Pivotal Clinical Trial) demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the PASCAL system for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) in patients at prohibitive surgical risk with significant symptomatic degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR). OBJECTIVES: This study describes the echocardiographic methods and outcomes from the CLASP IID trial and analyzes baseline variables associated with residual mitral regurgitation (MR) ≤1+. METHODS: An independent echocardiographic core laboratory assessed echocardiographic parameters based on American Society of Echocardiography guidelines focusing on MR mechanism, severity, and feasibility of M-TEER. Factors associated with residual MR ≤1+ were identified using logistic regression. RESULTS: In 180 randomized patients, baseline echocardiographic parameters were well matched between the PASCAL (n = 117) and MitraClip (n = 63) groups, with flail leaflets present in 79.2% of patients. Baseline MR was 4+ in 76.4% and 3+ in 23.6% of patients. All patients achieved MR ≤2+ at discharge. The proportion of patients with MR ≤1+ was similar in both groups at discharge but diverged at 6 months, favoring PASCAL (83.7% vs 71.2%). Overall, patients with a smaller flail gap were significantly more likely to achieve MR ≤1+ at discharge (adjusted OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50-0.99). Patients treated with PASCAL and those with a smaller flail gap were significantly more likely to sustain MR ≤1+ to 6 months (adjusted OR: 2.72 and 0.76; 95% CI: 1.08-6.89 and 0.60-0.98, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The study used DMR-specific echocardiographic methodology for M-TEER reflecting current guidelines and advances in 3-dimensional echocardiography. Treatment with PASCAL and a smaller flail gap were significant factors in sustaining MR ≤1+ to 6 months. Results demonstrate that MR ≤1+ is an achievable benchmark for successful M-TEER. (Edwards PASCAL TrAnScatheter Valve RePair System Pivotal Clinical Trial [CLASP IID]; NCT03706833).