The Influence of the Learning Curve on Clinical Outcomes in Balloon-Expandable versus Self-Expandable Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

INTRODUCTION: Balloon-expandable (BE) and self-expandable (SE) prostheses are the main types of devices currently used in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Despite the different designs, clinical practice guidelines do not make any specific recommendation on the selection of one device over the other. Most operators are trained in using both BE and SE prostheses, but operator experience with each of the two designs might influence patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the immediate and mid-term clinical outcomes during the learning curve in BE versus SE TAVI. METHODS: The transfemoral TAVI procedures performed in a single center between July 2017 and March 2021 were grouped according to the type of implanted prosthesis. The procedures in each group were ordered according to the case sequence number. For each patient, a minimum follow-up time of 12 months was required for inclusion in the analysis. The outcomes of the BE TAVI procedures were compared with the outcomes of the SE TAVI procedures. Clinical endpoints were defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC-3). RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 28 months. Each device group included 128 patients. In the BE group, case sequence number predicted mid-term all-cause mortality at an optimal cutoff value ≤58 procedures (AUC 0.730; 95% CI: 0.644-0.805; p < 0.001), while in the SE group, the cutoff value was ≤85 procedures (AUC 0.625; 95% CI: 0.535-0.710; p = 0.04). A direct comparison of the AUC showed that case sequence number was equally adequate in predicting mid-term mortality, irrespective of prosthesis type (p = 0.11). A low case sequence number was associated with an increased rate of VARC-3 major cardiac and vascular complications (OR 0.98 95% CI: 0.96-0.99; p = 0.03) in the BE device group, and with an increased rate of post-TAVI aortic regurgitation ≥ grade II (OR 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.99; p = 0.03) in the SE device group. CONCLUSIONS: In transfemoral TAVI, case sequence number influenced mid-term mortality irrespective of prosthesis type, but the learning curve was longer in the case of SE devices.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a patient with interventricular membranous septal aneurysm resulted in cardiac tamponade of unclear etiology.

An 86-year-old lady with severe aortic stenosis and interventricular membranous septal aneurysm underwent transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A balloon-expandable valve was deployed after a difficult native valve crossing. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a rapidly accumulating pericardial effusion, with pericardial thrombus and subsequent cardiac tamponade. The angiographic views raised suspicion of aortic root perforation. Median sternotomy was performed because of sudden hemodynamic collapse.The report presents the uncommon association between severe aortic stenosis and interventricular membranous septal aneurysm in an octogenarian and discusses its impact on the development of a post-TAVI major complication.

Relation Between Plasma Proteomics Analysis and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the advances in the control of traditional risk factors, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to establish the relation between plasma proteomics analysis and the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with stable CAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with stable CAD and documented coronary atherosclerosis were screened for inclusion. Using proximity extension assays, 177 plasma proteins were simultaneously measured. The endpoint consisted of the first major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) and was the composite of cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or acute limb ischemia at 18 months follow-up. Cox proportional-hazards regression with adjustment for multiple comparisons was used to identify biomarkers for the outcomes of interest. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 229 patients. Six mediators were associated with MACE (p < 0.001). For these markers, the risk of MACE was calculated: tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 13B (HR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.30-2.10), C-C motif chemokine-3 (HR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.23-1.98), decorin (HR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.26-2.16), fibroblast growth factor-23 (HR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.23-1.99), tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2) (HR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.23-2.11), and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 10A (HR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.25-2.29). Except for TRAIL-R2, the other proteins were associated with MACE independent of age, sex, diabetes mellitus, or estimated glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable CAD, five novel biomarkers were identified as independent risk factors for adverse outcomes. Novel biomarkers could represent pharmacological targets for the prevention of adverse cardiovascular events.

The invasive intracoronary imaging assessment of left main coronary artery disease.

Left main coronary artery disease is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Evidence-based decision making regarding the optimal revascularization strategy in patients with left main disease has become a challenge, in view of the recently published data. An improvement in outcomes following left main percutaneous interventions could be achieved by reducing the rate of repeat target lesion revascularization through stent optimization techniques. In the setting of left main disease, procedural guidance by intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography is essential for good long-term results, in such a way that intravascular imaging has gained more of a therapeutic connotation. Besides stent optimization, intracoronary imaging quantifies lesion severity, guides lesion preparation through morphological data, facilitates stent selection through accurate vessel sizing, identifies the landing zones, diagnoses acute vessel wall complications such as stent-related edge dissection or intramural hematoma, and defines procedural success.This review focuses on the two main intracoronary imaging techniques used for diagnostic evaluation and procedural guidance in left main coronary artery disease: intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography. Based on the most recently published data, the review discusses each technique's advantages and pitfalls, and summarizes their indications.

Long-Term Mortality After Renal Artery Stenting in Patients With Severe Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis and High-Risk Clinical Manifestations.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is a risk factor for cardiovascular death. Observational studies support the benefit of renal revascularization on outcomes in patients with high-risk clinical manifestations. In this context, we evaluated the factors associated with long-term mortality after renal artery stenting in patients with severe renal artery stenosis, impaired kidney function, and/or uncontrolled hypertension. METHODS: The medical records of patients undergoing renal artery stenting between 2004 and 2014 were extracted. Blood pressure and creatinine were recorded at baseline, 24 hours poststenting and in the 1-month to 1-year interval that followed revascularization. Long-term follow-up was performed in March 2020. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 65 patients. Median follow-up was 120 months. In the first year after stenting, less patients had chronic kidney disease (CKD) class 3b-5 as compared with baseline (35.3% vs. 56.9%, P = 0.01). The number of patients with controlled blood pressure after revascularization increased with 69.2% (P < 0.001). Long-term all-cause mortality reached 44.6%. Age (odds ratio (OR) 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.2; P = 0.01), male gender (OR 7.9; 95% CI 1.9-43.5; P = 0.008), poststenting CKD class 3b-5 (OR 5.8; 95% CI 1.5-27.9; P = 0.01), and postrevascularization uncontrolled hypertension (OR 8.9; 95% CI 1.7-63.5; P = 0.01) were associated with long-term mortality independent of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: Improved CKD class and blood pressure were recorded in the first year after renal artery stenting in patients with severe renal artery stenosis and high-risk clinical manifestations. The lack of improvement in kidney function and blood pressure was independently associated with long-term mortality.

Microvascular obstruction in acute myocardial infarction: an old and unsolved mystery.

In the setting of acute myocardial infarction, flow restoration in the culprit epicardial coronary artery is not synonymous with efficient reperfusion. Microvascular obstruction occurs in 50% of cases and represents a predictor of a long-term unfavorable outcome. Its prevalence has remained constant in recent years despite various treatment attempts. However, the success of targeted therapies could be mainly a problem of timing. Recent data bring evidence with regard to the role of pre-procedural distal embolization and highlight the relation between distal embolism, microvascular obstruction and intramyocardial inflammation. As a result, early detection of microvascular injury represents the first step in the development of targeted, individualized therapeutic approaches. In this context, the identification of new invasive surrogate parameters for the timely assessment and quantification of microvascular obstruction in the catheterization laboratory has become an important subject of current research. Among these, coronary wedge pressure is the most practical and revealing in the setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention. It may offer comprehensive details on the mechanisms of microvascular injury and may therefore offer guidance for appropriate treatment selection.

In ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, the echocardiographic parameters of microvascular obstruction are not associated with left ventricular remodeling at five years of follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The correlation between the echocardiographic Doppler flow parameters of microvascular obstruction (MVO) and coronary wedge pressure (CWP) measured as a marker of severe compressive microvascular dysfunction and a predictor of adverse left ventricular remodeling was evaluated in a group of high-risk acute anterior myocardial infarction survivors. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with mechanically reperfused anterior STEMI were divided into two groups based on the 38 mm Hg CWP cutoff for adverse left ventricular remodeling. Diastolic deceleration time (DDT), coronary flow reserve (CFR), systolic retrograde flow, peak systolic and peak diastolic velocities in the infarct-related artery were determined 3-5 days after revascularization. An echocardiographic 20% increase in left ventricular volumes defined adverse remodeling. RESULTS: No significant differences were recorded between groups with regard to the echocardiographic parameters of MVO. No significant correlation was identified between CWP on one side and DDT (P = 0.30) and CFR (P = 0.39) on the other, irrespective of total ischemic time and extracted thrombus length. No difference in 5 years of follow-up left ventricular remodeling was detected in patients with DDT<900 msec as compared to those with DDT≥900 msec. The medium increase in left ventricular end-systolic volume in patients with low CWP was 24.78%, while it reached 127.27% (P = 0.03) in patients with CWP>38 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary wedge pressure did not correlate with the surrogate parameters for MVO, but it was a predictor of left ventricular remodeling. None of the echocardiographic MVO parameters was associated with adverse remodeling at 5 years of follow-up.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome with cardiac involvement in a patient with multiple malignancies.

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