Interventional treatment of para-valvular leaks after prosthetic valve replacement with plug devices -first results from a prospective registry

Background

Interventional closure of symptomatic paravalvular leaks (PVL) after surgical or interventional valve replacement by plug implantation has emerged as an alternative to surgical correction, which is associated with high morbitity and mortality rates. To date, data on procedural efficacy and clinical outcome after transcatheter closure with plugs is sparse, especially prospective data are missing.

Methods

We analysed data from a multi-center prospective registry on interventional PVL closure with plug devices.

Results

Between 06/2012 and 04/2020 55 interventions were performed with different numbers of plugs (maximal 4) in 51 patients at 9 hospitals. Interventions were performed in 15 women and 36 men at high surgical risk for repeat surgery. 48% of procedures were performed for mitral PVLs and 52% procedures were performed for aortic PVLs. Mean age of the population treated was 69±13 years and mean log. Euro-Score I was 22.5±14.2%. Patients were treated by implantation of Amplatzer Vascular Plug III (80%) and Occlutec occluders (9%). Aortic PVLs were treated using a retrograde transfemoral access, mitral PVLs were treated using either a transseptal (25/26) or transapical access (1/26) with 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance. Indication for PVL closure was previous surgery (n=39), high-risk patients (n=24), heart failure (n=22), age (n=20) and hemolysis (n=12). 40 patients had NYHA class III/IV at admission. Interventional closure of PVL was completely successful in 40 procedures (73%), partially successful in 7 procedures (13%) and failed in 7 procedures (13%). NYHA class I/II after PVL closure was achieved in 75% patients. However, 8 out of 12 patients with hemolysis as indication still hemolyzed at discharge. Complications occurred in 16% of patients. In-hospital mortality rate was 4% of procedures (2/51). After hospital discharge no death occurred during 30-day follow-up.

Conclusions

In this prospective interventional PVL registry inclusion rate was lower than expected. There was an equal distribution of aortal and mitral PVLs. At least partial success could be achieved in 86% of patients, with significant functional improvement in most patients. In this high risk population hospital mortaliy was low (4%), indicating that interventional PVL treatment should be the treatment of choice, when discussed by a heart team.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

4291Six-month outcomes from the multicenter, prospective study with the novel PASCAL transcatheter valve repair system for patients with mitral regurgitation in the CLASP study

Background

Severe mitral regurgitation may lead to an impaired prognosis if left untreated. Transcatheter treatment options have emerged as an alternative to surgery and an adjunct to medical therapy. We report the six-month results of the PASCAL transcatheter valve repair system in treating patients with mitral regurgitation enrolled in the multicenter, prospective, single arm CLASP study.

Methods

The PASCAL Transcatheter Valve Repair System is a leaflet repair therapy that uses clasps and paddles to place a woven Nitinol spacer between the native valve leaflets to fill the regurgitant orifice via a transseptal approach. Eligible patients had clinically significant MR despite optimal medical therapy and were deemed candidates for transcatheter mitral repair by the local Heart Team. Safety, performance, and clinical outcomes were prospectively assessed at baseline, discharge, 30 days, and 6 months post-procedure. All major adverse events (MAE) were adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee and echocardiographic images were assessed by a core lab. The MAE rate was the primary safety endpoint, defined as the composite of cardiovascular mortality, stroke, MI, new need for renal replacement therapy, severe bleeding, and re-intervention for study device-related complications.

Results

Between June 2017 and September 2018, 62 patients were enrolled at 14 sites worldwide for transcatheter mitral valve reconstruction using the PASCAL system. The mean age was 76.5 years (62.9% male). All patients had MR grade ≥3+, with 59% functional, 34% degenerative, and 7% mixed etiology, and 51.6% of patients were in NYHA Class III/IV. Successful implantation of the PASCAL device was achieved in 95% of patients. At discharge, 95% of patients had MR grade ≤2+ with 81% grade ≤1+. There was one cardiovascular mortality and the MAE rate was 4.8%. At 30-day follow-up, paired analyses shows that 98% of patients had MR grade ≤2+ with 81% grade ≤1+ and 88% were in NYHA Class I/II (p<0.0001). The 6MWD improved by 38.9 m (p=0.0015) and was accompanied by average improvements in KCCQ and EQ5D scores by 14.1 points (p<0.0001) and 8.3 points (p=0.0028), respectively. The six-month data will be available for presentation.

Conclusions

In this early device experience, the PASCAL transcatheter valve repair system showed an acceptable safety profile and performed as intended in treating patients with mitral regurgitation. The PASCAL device resulted in significant MR grade reduction, which was associated with clinically and statistically significant improvements in functional status, exercise capacity, and quality of life. Continued follow-up is warranted to validate these initial promising results.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Edwards Lifesciences

P4716One-year outcomes of the tri-repair study assessing cardioband tricuspid valve reconstruction system for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation

Background

Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates with limited treatment options.

Objectives

We report the one-year outcomes of the Cardioband™ Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction System in the treatment of severe functional TR in 30 patients enrolled in the TRI-REPAIR study.

Methods

Between October 2016 and July 2017, 30 patients were enrolled in this single-arm, multicenter, prospective study. Patients were diagnosed with severe, symptomatic TR in the absence of untreated left-heart disease and deemed inoperable because of unacceptable risk for open-heart surgery by the local heart team. Clinical, functional, and echocardiographic data were prospectively collected before and up to one year post-procedure. An independent core lab assessed all echocardiographic data and an independent clinical event committee adjudicated the safety events.

Results

Mean patient age was 75 years, 73% were females, 23% had ischemic heart disease, and 93% had atrial fibrillation. At baseline, 83% were in NYHA Class III-IV, 63% had edema, and LVEF was 58%. Technical success was 100%. Through one year, one patient had a reintervention and exited the study. Five patients died of which one was device-related. Between baseline and one year (paired analyses), echocardiography showed average reductions of annular septolateral diameter of 16% (44mm vs. 37mm; p<0.0001), PISA EROA of 49% (0.73cm2 vs. 0.37cm2, p=0.0037), and mean vena contracta of 30% (1.2cm vs. 0.9cm, p=0.0046). Clinical assessment showed that at one year 78% of patients were in NYHA Class I-II (p=0.0003). Six minute walk distance improved by 42m (p=0.0525). Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score improved by 19 points (p=0.0009). Edema was absent in 70% of the patients.

Conclusions

These results show that the Cardioband tricuspid system performs as intended and appears to be safe in patients with symptomatic and severe functional TR. At one year significant reduction of TR through a sustained decrease of annular dimensions, improvements in heart failure symptoms, quality of life, and exercise capacity were observed. Further studies are warranted to validate these initial promising results.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Edwards Lifescieinces

P3858High H2FPEF score is an independent predictor of adverse outcome in patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction undergoing TAVR

Background

Recently, the H2FPEF score has been developed in an evidence-based approach relying on simple clinical and echocardiographic variables. It enables the identification of patients with high probability of prevalent heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) which is associated with a dismal prognosis. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, a key mechanism in HFpEF, is also a common finding in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Objective

To assess the prognostic impact of the H2FPEF score in patients with preserved ejection fraction and severe aortic stenosis undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Methods

Among 1148 patients with preserved ejection fraction who received TAVR at our institution between 2013 and 2018, data for calculation of the H2FPEF score was available in 535 patients. Score variables include BMI >30 kg/m2, arterial hypertension, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension >35 mmHg, age >60 years, and elevated LV filling pressure. Patients were dichotomized according to “low” (1–5 points; n=377) and “high” H2FPEF scores (6–9; n=158). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses were used to assess the prognostic impact of H2FPEF scores. Median follow-up time was 0.3 years.

Results

TAVR patients presenting with high H2FPEF scores had higher prevalence of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (19.4% vs. 33.6%, p<0.001) as well as tricuspid regurgitation (15.2% vs. 35.1%, p<0.001), and presented with lower stroke volume index (42.2 ml/m2 vs. 36.0 ml/m2, p<0.001) compared to those with low H2FPEF scores. All-cause mortality one year after TAVR was significantly higher in patients in the high H2FPEF score group (10.5% vs. 21.0%, p=0.0019, Figure 1). Multivariate analysis revealed a high H2FPEF score to be independently predictive for 1-year all-cause mortality (HR 2.66, 95% CI: 1.41–5.02, p=0.025). Among the single H2FPEF score variables, atrial fibrillation (HR 3.45, 95% CI: 1.86–6.40, p<0.001) and systolic pulmonary hypertension >55 mmHg (HR=2.68, 95% CI: 0.97–7.40, p=0.057) were strong independent predictors of adverse outcome.

Figure 1. All-cause mortality of patients undergoing TAVR after one year stratified by low (1–5 points) and high (6–9) H2FPEF score

Conclusion

An elevated H2FPEF score of >6 is independently predictive for mortality in patients with preserved ejection fraction undergoing TAVR for severe aortic stenosis. Our findings provide evidence that the H2FPEF score, which was meant for diagnostic use originally, is able to serve as a prognostic tool in patients with preserved ejection fraction undergoing TAVR, highlighting the adverse impact of diastolic dysfunction in patients with preserved ejection fraction and aortic stenosis.

P1848Prevalence and outcomes in patients with Heyde syndrome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation, a single centre experience

Introduction

Heyde syndrome is known as the association of severe aortic stenosis (AS) and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) from angiodysplasia. To date only few data exist regarding the prevalence of Heyde syndrome and results after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for the treatment of AS.

Purpose

We sought to evaluate the prevalence of Heyde syndrome in a routine clinical cohort of patients undergoing TAVI and analyze the effectiveness of treatment of AS regarding recurrent GIB in these patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of 2545 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI for the treatment of AS in 2008–2017. Patients with a history of GIB were identified. The diagnosis of Heyde syndrome was defined as a clinical triad of presence of severe AS, a history of recurrent GIB, and an endoscopic diagnosis of angiodysplasia. GIB of unknown origin or related to other causes was defined as bleeding unrelated to angiodysplasia. Clinical outcomes of patients with Heyde syndrome were evaluated with emphasis on bleeding complications and recurrence of GIB.

Results

A history of GIB prior to TAVI was detected in 190 patients (7.5%) of the TAVI cohort. Among them, 143 patients had a GIB unrelated to angiodysplasia (5.6%) and 47 patients (1.8%) were diagnosed with Heyde syndrome. Median age and STS-PROM were 80.7 (75.3, 84.0) years and 4.7 (2.7, 9.0) respectively in Heyde patients. TAVI was successfully performed in all cases (66% endovascular access, 34% transapical access). The effective orifice areas increased from 0.8±0.1 cm2 to 2.1±0.5 cm2. Periprocedural major/life-threatening bleeding was found in 6 patients (12.8%), mainly access-related and none due to GIB. In 51% of Heyde-patients transfusion of 4.5±5.7 packed red blood cells was required during the index hospitalisation. During a mean follow-up of 12 months, recurrent GIB after TAVI was detected in 32% of patients with Heyde syndrome. In contrast only 18% of patients with GIB unrelated to angiodysplasia (Non-Heyde) had recurrent GIB after TAVI. In patients diagnosed with Heyde syndrome and recurrent GIB after TAVI the rate of residual mild or moderate paravalvular regurgitation was higher compared to those with an unremarkable course (73% vs. 37%, p=0.045).

Figure 1. 1-year Follow-Up

Conclusions

A relevant number of patients presenting for treatment of AS can be diagnosed with Heyde syndrome. In these patients TAVI can be successfully performed with moderate incidence of periprocedural bleeding complications but significant transfusion rates. Regardless of successful treatment of AS, recurrent GIB was detected in a significant number of Heyde patients during follow-up. The possible association with residual paravalvular regurgitation requires further investigation to improve treatment options in patients with Heyde syndrome.