Treatment of Complete Displacement of the Bilateral Legs into an Aortic Aneurysm Using an Iliac Branch Device.

PURPOSE: Migration is a major cause of reintervention after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). In patients with common iliac artery (CIA) dilation due to proximal migration of the iliac limb, internal iliac blood flow can be preserved by implanting an iliac branch device (IBD). CASE REPORT: In this report, we discuss the case of a patient in whom the bilateral limbs were completely displaced into the aortic aneurysm due to proximal migration of the iliac limb after EVAR. By taking advantage of the characteristics of this migration, we formed a pull-through wire through the native terminal aorta without passing through the flow divider of the stent graft, and the IBD was deployed safely. CONCLUSION: The present case indicates that the preservation of at least 1 internal iliac artery is possible in patients with CIA dilation due to proximal migration of the iliac limb. However, the unique features of each case must be considered to determine the appropriate approach.

Transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Although a number of studies compared mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with that after surgical aortic replacement (SAVR) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), no meta-analysis of them has been conducted to date. To determine whether TAVI or SAVR is associated with better postprocedural survival in patients with COPD, a meta-analysis of all studies currently available was performed. Design. To identify all comparative studies of TAVI with SAVR in patients with COPD, PubMed and Web of Science were searched through January 2020. Studies meeting the following criteria were included in the present meta-analysis: the design was an observational comparative study or a randomized controlled trial; the study population was patients with COPD; patients were assigned to TAVI versus SAVR; and outcomes included all-cause mortality. Adjusted (if unavailable, unadjusted) odds or hazard ratios with their confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality for TAVI versus SAVR were extracted from each study. Study-specific estimates were combined in the random-effects model. Results. Six eligible studies with a total of 4771 patients with COPD were identified and included in the present meta-analysis. The meta-analysis indicated significantly lower early (in-hospital or 30-day) mortality after TAVI than after SAVR (odds ratio, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53-0.90; p = .006) but no significant difference in midterm (1-year to 5-year) mortality between TAVI and SAVR (hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.79-1.44; p = .68). Conclusions. In patients with COPD, TAVI was associated with reduced early mortality, while midterm mortality appeared similar, as compared with SAVR.

Prognostic impact of baseline C-reactive protein levels on mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) levels can predict mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), we performed a meta-analysis of currently available studies. METHODS: All studies investigating the prognostic impact of baseline (preprocedural) CRP levels on all-cause mortality after TAVI were identified by means of searching PubMed and Google Scholar through May 2019. For each study, (preferentially, adjusted rather than unadjusted) odds/hazard ratios (ORs/HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals of mortality per standard-deviation (SD) (or unit) increase in CRP levels or those for high vs low CRP levels. RESULTS: Our search identified 14 eligible studies including a total of 3449 patients undergoing TAVI and reporting early (in-hospital to 3-month) and midterm (1-year to 3-year) all-cause mortality after TAVI. Pooled analyses demonstrated associations of high-baseline CRP levels with a marginal, but statistically nonsignificant increase in early mortality (pooled OR/HR per SD increase in CRP levels, 2.72; P = .09 and pooled OR/HR for high vs low CRP levels, 3.32; P = .07) and a statistically significant increase in midterm mortality after TAVI (pooled OR/HR per SD increase in CRP levels, 1.45; P < .0001 and pooled OR/HR for high vs low CRP levels, 1.78; P < .00001). Excluding HRs for high-sensitivity CRP, combining ORs/HRs of 1-year mortality, pooling HRs of ≥2-year mortality, and combining adjusted HRs did not alter the primary results. CONCLUSION: High-baseline CRP levels may predict increased midterm, but not early, mortality after TAVI.

Baseline left ventricular diastolic dysfunction affects midterm mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether preprocedural left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction impairs midterm mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), we performed a meta-analysis of currently available evidence. METHODS: We identified all studies investigating impact of preprocedural severity of LV diastolic dysfunction on midterm (≥1-year) all-cause mortality after TAVI for patients with AS through a search of databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) until September 2019. From each study, we extracted an adjusted (if unavailable, unadjusted) hazard ratio (HR) of midterm mortality. We pooled study-specific estimates in the random-effects model. RESULTS: Ten eligible studies with a total of 2380 patients with AS undergoing TAVI were identified. In accordance with pooled analyses, higher-grade preprocedural LV diastolic dysfunction was associated with significantly worse midterm all-cause mortality after TAVI compared to lower-grade dysfunction (HR for grade II vs I, 1.15; P = .002; HR for grade III vs I, 1.35; P = .001; HR for grade III vs II; 1.16, P = .002; HR for grade II-III vs I, II-III vs 0-I, or III vs I-II, 1.34; P < .00001 [primary meta-analysis]; HR per grade, 1.16; P = .003). No funnel plot asymmetry for the primary meta-analysis (for grade II-III vs I, II-III vs 0-I, or III vs I-II) was identified, which probably indicated no publication bias (P = .381 by the linear-regression test). CONCLUSION: Higher-grade preprocedural LV diastolic dysfunction was associated with worse midterm all-cause mortality after TAVI for patients with AS compared to lower-grade dysfunction.

[Rhabdomyolysis during Perioperative Period after Cardiac Surgery].

We report a case of rhabdomyolysis during a perioperative period after cardiac surgery. A 47-yearold man underwent aortic root replacement for annuloaortic ectasia under general anesthesia using sevoflurane, fentanyl, remifentanil, rocronium bromide and midazolam. On the 1st postoperative day (1 POD), his body temperature rose over 38 ℃, which continued for 3 days despite our attempt to stabilize the fever. On 4 POD, his laboratory data and hemodynamics dramatically worsened, and we commenced continuous hemodialysis filtration (CHDF) and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system (PCPS). In addition, balloon pumping (IABP) was started on 5 POD. At the same time, we initiated dantrolene sodium hydrate infusion according to a clinical grading scale to predict malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility. Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) increased over 350,000 U/l on the 7 POD, and dantrolene sodium hydrate was continuously infused until 9 POD. Despite dantrolene sodium infusion, CHDF, IABP and PCPS, his condition did not improve, and he died of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (DIC) and sepsis on 28 POD. Computed tomography on 21 POD disclosed scattered low-density areas in the erector spinal, lliopsoas and femoral muscles, which indicated rhabdomyolysis. Histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin stain revealed destroyed striated-muscle fibers and swelling rhabdomyocytes. It remained unclear which drug triggered rhabdomyolysis. When MH is suspected, we should consider the use of the clinical grading scale to predict its susceptibility and start dantrolene sodium hydrate infusion.

Network meta-analysis of new-generation valves for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

To comprehensively compare and rank new-generation valves (NGVs) for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, we performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) of all eligible comparative studies. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through September 2018. We included all studies comparing 4 NGVs (ACURATE, Evolut R, Lotus, and SAPIEN 3) and an early generation valve (CoreValve) as the reference transcatheter heart valve (THV) each other and reporting at least one of postprocedural incidence of all-cause death, ≥ moderate aortic regurgitation (AR), and new permanent pacemaker implantation (PMI). To compare different THVs, a random-effects restricted-maximum-likelihood NMA based on a frequentist framework for indirect and mixed comparisons was used. Using surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), the relative ranking probability of each THV was estimated and the hierarchy of competing THVs was obtained. We identified 29 eligible studies enrolling a total of 17,817 patients. In accordance with the estimated SUCRA probability, SAPIEN 3 was the best effective for a reduction in death (80.6%) and the second best for decreased ≥ moderate AR (74.4%) and PMI (74.1%) compared with the other THVs. Lotus was ranked the best for a reduction in ≥ moderate AR (94.5%;), whereas the worst for decreased PMI (1.2%) and the second worst for a reduction in mortality (38.6%). ACURATE was the best for decreased PMI (99.2%) and the second best for a reduction in mortality (77.9%). As a whole, SAPIEN 3 may be the best effective NGV among the 4 examined NGVs (ACURATE, Evolut R, Lotus, and SAPIEN 3).

A meta-analysis of impact of mitral stenosis on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether concomitant mitral stenosis (MS) impairs outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), we performed a meta-analysis of currently available evidence. METHODS: To identify all observational comparative studies of outcomes after TAVI for AS in patients with MS vs patients with no-MS, we searched databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) using web-based search engines (PubMed and OVID). Studies meeting the following criteria were included; the design was an observational study; the study population was patients undergoing TAVI for AS; outcomes in patients with MS were compared with those in patients with no-MS. Study-specific estimates were then pooled using inverse variance-weighted averages of logarithmic odds and hazard ratios in the random-effects model. RESULTS: We identified six eligible studies including 111 621 patients undergoing TAVI. In pooled analyses, postprocedural incidence of ≥ moderate paravalvular aortic regurgitation (PAR) (P = .02), early all-cause mortality (P = .008), early incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) (P = .01), and midterm all-cause mortality (P = .03) after TAVI were significantly higher in patients with MS than in patients with no-MS. There were no significant differences in early incidence of stroke, major bleeding, acute kidney injury, and new permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI between patients with MS and patients with no-MS. When the study for mitral annular calcification was excluded in the pooled analyses, no results except for MI were substantially altered but the significance for early incidence of MI disappeared (P = .10). CONCLUSION: Postprocedural incidence of ≥ moderate PAR, early all-cause mortality, early incidence of MI, and midterm all-cause mortality after TAVI are higher in patients with MS than in patients with no-MS.

Energy dynamics of the intraventricular vortex after mitral valve surgery.

Mitral valve morphology after mitral valve surgery affects postoperative intraventricular flow patterns and long-term cardiac performance. We visualized ventricular flow by echocardiography vector flow mapping (VFM) to reveal the impact of different mitral valve procedures. Eleven cases of mechanical mitral valve replacement (nine in the anti-anatomical and two in the anatomical position), three bioprosthetic mitral valve replacements, and four mitral valve repairs were evaluated. The mean age at the procedure was 57.4 ± 17.8 year, and the echocardiography VFM in the apical long-axis view was performed 119.9 ± 126.7 months later. Flow energy loss (EL), kinetic pressure (KP), and the flow energy efficiency ratio (EL/KP) were measured. The cases with MVR in the anatomical position and with valve repair had normal vortex directionality ("Clockwise"; N = 6), whereas those with MVR in the anti-anatomical position and with a bioprosthetic mitral valve had the vortex in the opposite direction ("Counterclockwise"; N = 12). During diastole, vortex direction had no effect on EL ("Clockwise": 0.080 ± 0.025 W/m; "Counterclockwise": 0.083 ± 0.048 W/m; P = 0.31) or KP ("Clockwise": 0.117 ± 0.021 N; "Counterclockwise": 0.099 ± 0.057 N; P = 0.023). However, during systole, the EL/KP ratio was significantly higher in the "Counterclockwise" vortex than that in the "Clockwise" vortex (1.056 ± 0.463 vs. 0.617 ± 0.158; P = 0.009). MVP and MVR with a mechanical valve in the anatomical position preserve the physiological vortex, whereas MVR with a mechanical valve in the anti-anatomical position and a bioprosthetic mitral valve generate inefficient vortex flow patterns, resulting in a potential increase in excessive cardiac workload.

Impact of top end anastomosis design on patency and flow stability in coronary artery bypass grafting.

For coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), free grafts such as a saphenous vein or radial artery are often used for grafts to the lateral and posterior walls. However, the relationship between top-end anastomosis design and long-term patency remains unknown. Because coronary artery blood flow is dominant during diastole, top-end anastomosis may work better if the graft is directed towards the apex, whereas the shortest graft pathway appears to be most efficient. Using computational fluid dynamic models, we evaluated the hemodynamic variables that were affected by the angle of the top-end anastomosis. We created three-dimensional geometries of the aortic root with coronary arteries that involved 75 % stenosis in the obtuse marginal and postero-lateral branches. Two bypass models under vasodilator administration were created: in a"Model A", the top-end anastomosis is parallel to the long axis of the ascending aorta and the graft passed over the conus directed towards the apex; in a "Model B", the top-end anastomosis is directed toward the shortest pathway, and form near the right angles to the long axis of the ascending aorta. Wall shear stress (WSS) and its fluctuation, an oscillatory shear index (OSI) were evaluated to predict fibrosis progression at the anastomosis site and graft flow. Graft flow was 197.3 ml/min and 207.3 ml/min in the "Model A" and "Model B", respectively. The minimal WSS value inside the graft with the "Model A" and "Model B" was 0.53 Pa and 4.09 Pa, respectively, and the OSI value was 0.46 and 0.04, respectively. The top-end anastomosis of a free graft should be directed vertically towards the aorta to achieve the shortest graft pathway to maintain a high graft flow rate and to avoid the risks of endothelial fibrosis and plaque progression over the long-term after CABG.

A case report of persistent fifth aortic arch presenting with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

According to several previous reports on persistent fifth aortic arch (PFAA), the presentation of the patients was usually either very mild when diagnosed by physical examination including upper body systemic hypertension and systolic murmur, or severe with ductal shock in the neonatal period. In our case, the clinical course was unique with relatively mild narrowing at the distal PFAA and an interrupted fourth aortic arch. It can be classified as medium severity based on the timing of presentation to the hospital. In the present case, severe LV dysfunction suggested sustained narrowing at the junction between the PFAA and the descending aorta and insufficient development of collateral arteries.We experienced a case with PFAA with severe LV dysfunction. These findings suggest another differential diagnosis for severe LV dysfunction in infancy.

A case of mitral valve repair complicated by acquired factor V deficiency.

Factor V deficiency is an extremely rare hematologic disorder with an incidence of one in one million. However, the risks related to cardiac surgery employing cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with factor V deficiency are not well established. Herein, we report the case of a 71-year-old male who was incidentally diagnosed with acquired factor V deficiency underwent mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation. The patient was treated preoperatively with an adrenocorticosteroid immunosuppressant therapy; the procedure was performed safely with a positive outcome.

Meta-analysis of impact of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors on survival after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

INTRODUCTION: To determine whether renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RASI) prescription is associated with better survival after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), we performed the first meta-analysis of currently available studies. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: To identify all studies reporting impact of RASI prescription on survival after TAVI, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, etc. through October 2019. We extracted adjusted (if unavailable, unadjusted) hazard ratios (HRs) with their confidence intervals (CIs) of midterm (up to ≥6-month) all-cause mortality for RASI prescription from each study and combined study-specific estimates using inverse variance-weighted averages of logarithmic HRs in the random-effects model. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: We identified 13 eligible studies with a total of 26,132 TAVI patients and included them in the present meta-analysis. None was a randomized controlled trial, 5 were observational studies comparing patients with versus without RASI prescription (including 3 propensity score matched studies), and 8 were observational studies investigating RASI prescription as one of covariates. The primary meta-analysis of all studies demonstrated that RASI prescription was associated with significantly lower midterm mortality (HR=0.83; 95% CI: 0.76 to 0.92; P=0.0002). Although we identified significant funnel plot asymmetry (P=0.036 by the rank correlation test) suggesting publication bias, correcting for it using the trim-and-fill method did not substantially alter the result favoring RASI prescription (corrected HR=0.85; 95% CI: 0.76 to 0.95; P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: RASI prescription may be associated with better midterm survival after TAVI.

Spontaneous splenic rupture, mesenteric ischemia and spinal infarction after aortic repair for acute type A dissection in a patient with sickle cell trait.

Sickle cell trait (SCT), a benign hematological condition affecting approximately 300 million individuals globally, is associated with an increased risk of vaso-occlusive disease. However, the risks related to surgery employing cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with SCT are not well established. Herein, we report the case of a 27-year-old African American man with SCT who underwent an emergency aortic repair for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection using hypothermic circulatory arrest. The patient developed a sickle cell crisis, which was followed by spontaneous splenic infarction and rupture, nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia, and spinal infarction.

Meta-analysis of propensity matched studies of robotic versus conventional mitral valve surgery.

BACKGROUND: To compare early outcomes after robotic versus conventional mitral valve surgery (R-MVS versus C-MVS), we performed a meta-analysis of currently available propensity score matched (PSM) studies. METHODS: To identify all PSM studies of R-MVS versus C-MVS, PubMed and Web of Science were searched thorough November 2018 using the terms of robotic or robot, mitral, and propensity. Inclusion criteria were PSM studies of isolated R-MVS versus C-MVS. Odds ratios of dichotomous data and mean differences for continuous data were generated for each study and combined in a meta-analysis using the random-effects model. RESULTS: We identified 7 PSM studies of R-MVS versus C-MVS enrolling a total of 3764 patients. Pooled analyses demonstrated significantly longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (p < 0.00001) and cross-clamp time (p = 0.004) in R-MVS than C-MVS. However, intensive care unit (ICU) (p = 0.0005) and hospital stay (p < 0.0001) was significantly shorter; and incidence of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion (p = 0.03), prolonged ventilation (p = 0.048), and atrial fibrillation (AF) (p = 0.01) was significantly less frequent after R-MVS than C-MVS. There was no significant difference in incidence of reoperation for bleeding and valve dysfunction, ≥moderate mitral regurgitation, renal failure, dialysis, pneumonia, stroke, cardiac arrest, and all-cause death (p = 0.27) between R-MVS and C-MVS. CONCLUSIONS: ICU/hospital stay was shorter and RBC transfusion/prolonged ventilation/AF was less frequent after R-MVS than C-MVS despite longer CPB and cross-clamp time in R-MVS than C-MVS. The other early outcomes including all-cause mortality were similarly frequent after R-MVS and C-MVS.

A meta-analysis of ≥5-year mortality after transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement.

INTRODUCTION: It remains unclear whether long-term survival is superior following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) than following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). We performed a meta-analysis of mortality with ≥5-year follow-up in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propensity-score matched (PSM) studies of TAVI versus SAVR. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched through March 2019. Eligible studies were RCTs or PSM studies of TAVI versus SAVR enrolling patients with severe aortic stenosis and reporting all-cause mortality with ≥5-year follow-up as an outcome. A hazard ratio of mortality for TAVI versus SAVR was extracted from each individual study. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Our search identified 3 RCTs and 7 PSM studies enrolling 5498 patients. A pooled analysis of all 10 studies demonstrated a statistically significant 38% increase in mortality with TAVI relative to SAVR. A subgroup meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between TAVI and AVR in RCTs and a statistically significant 68% increase with TAVI relative to SAVR in PSM studies. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of a meta-analysis of 7 PSM studies, TAVI is associated with greater all-cause mortality with ≥5-year follow-up than SAVR. However, another meta-analysis of 3 RCTs suggests no difference in mortality between TAVI and SAVR.

Matrix metalloproteinases and acute aortic dissection: Et Tu, Brute?

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the present evidence for the association of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) with acute aortic dissection (AAD), we performed the first meta-analysis of all currently available case-control studies comparing circulating MMP levels between AAD patients and control subjects. METHODS: To identify all studies investigating the levels of circulating MMPs in AAD patients, PubMed and Web of Science were searched up to July 2019. The levels of MMPs in AAD patients and control subjects were extracted from each study, and the standardized mean differences (SMDs) in MMP levels were generated. The study-specific estimates were combined in the random-effects model. RESULTS: Twelve studies enrolling a total of 458 AAD patients and 711 control subjects were identified and included. Pooled analyses demonstrated no significant differences in MMP-1 (4 studies; P = 0.21), MMP-2 (5 studies; P = 0.62) and MMP-3 levels (2 studies; P = 0.94) between AAD patients and control subjects; and significantly higher MMP-8 (2 studies; SMD 2.11; P = 0.020), MMP-9 (9 studies; SMD 1.54; P < 0.001) and MMP-12 levels (2 studies; SMD 1.33; P < 0.001) in AAD patients than in control subjects. CONCLUSION: High circulating MMP-9 levels are associated with AAD, and MMP-8 and MMP-12 levels may be related to AAD.

Echocardiographic outcomes from seven randomized trials of transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement.

AIMS: We performed meta-analyses of echocardiographic outcomes, including postprocedural aortic valve area (AVA), aortic valve mean pressure gradient (MPG), and paravalvular aortic regurgitation (PAR), exclusively from all currently available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). METHODS: To identify all RCTs providing echocardiographic outcomes (AVA, MPG, and PAR) up to 2 years after TAVI versus SAVR, PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through June 2019. Mean differences in AVA (and MPG) between the TAVI and SAVR groups and odds (or hazard) ratios of at least moderate PAR for TAVI versus SAVR were pooled using the random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: We identified seven eligible RCTs. At 30 days (P = 0.004), 1 year (P = 0.006), and 2 years (P = 0.03), AVA was significantly larger after TAVI than after SAVR. After TAVI than after SAVR, MPG was significantly lower at 30 days (P = 0.03) and 2 years (P = 0.01), and nonsignificantly lower at 1 year (P = 0.06). At 30 days (P < 0.00001), 1 year (P < 0.00001), and 2 years (P < 0.00001), incidence of at least moderate PAR was significantly greater after TAVI than after SAVR. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the present meta-analyses of all the seven currently available RCTs, AVA is larger, MPG is lower, and incidence of at least moderate PAR is greater 30 days, 1 and 2 years after TAVI than after SAVR.

Meta-analysis of impact of troponins on mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

INTRODUCTION: To determine whether troponin (Tn) can predict mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), we performed a meta-analysis of currently available studies investigating impact of baseline and postprocedural Tn. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through April 2019 using PubMed and OVID. Studies considered for inclusion met the following criteria: the study investigating impact of baseline and postprocedural Tn on mortality; the study population was patients undergoing TAVI for aortic stenosis (AS); outcomes included early (30-day or in-hospital)/late (including early) mortality. For each study, data regarding early/late mortality in both high and low (defined in each study) level of baseline/postprocedural Tn groups were used to generate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), or reported ORs and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were directly extracted. Study-specific estimates were combined using inverse variance-weighted averages of logarithmic ORs/HRs in the random-effects model. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: We identified 19 eligible studies including a total of 7555 patients undergoing TAVI. Pooled analyses demonstrated associations of high levels of baseline Tn with statistically significant increases in both 30-day (P=0.002) and midterm mortality (P<0.00001), no correlation of high postprocedural Tn with 30-day mortality (P=0.13), and an association of high postprocedural Tn with a statistically significant increase in midterm mortality (P=0.002). High levels of baseline/postprocedural TnT predicted statistically significant increases in both 30-day (P=0.002/<0.0001) and midterm mortality (P<0.00001/0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Both baseline and postprocedural Tn, especially TnT, may predict mortality after TAVI for AS.