The Use and Outcomes of Cerebral Protection Devices for Patients Undergoing Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Clinical Practice

OBJECTIVES

This study hypothesized that cerebral protection prevents strokes in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND

Preventing strokes is an important aim in TAVR procedures. Embolic protection devices may protect against cardiac embolism during TAVR, but their use and outcomes in clinical practice remain controversial.

METHODS

Isolated transfemoral TAVR procedures performed in Germany with or without cerebral protection devices were extracted from a comprehensive nationwide billing dataset.

RESULTS

A total of 41,654 TAVR procedures performed between 2015 and 2017 were analyzed. The overall share of procedures incorporating cerebral protection devices was 3.8%. Patients receiving cerebral protection devices were at increased operative risk (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score 13.8 vs. 14.7; p < 0.001) but of lower age (81.1 vs. 80.6 years; p = 0.001). To compare outcomes that may be related to the use of cerebral protection devices, a propensity score comparison was performed. The use of a cerebral protection device did not reduce the risk for stroke (adjusted risk difference [aRD]: +0.88%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.07% to 1.83%; p = 0.069) or the risk for developing delirium (aRD: +1.31%; 95% CI: -0.28% to 2.89%; p = 0.106) as a sign of acute brain failure. Although brain damage could not be prevented, in-hospital mortality was lower in the group receiving a cerebral protection device (aRD: -0.76%; 95% CI: -1.46% to -0.06%; p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large national database, cerebral embolic protection devices were infrequently used during TAVR procedures. Device use was associated with lower mortality but not a reduction in stroke or delirium. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Impact of the introduction of percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve reconstruction on clinical practice in Germany compared to surgical valve repair

BACKGROUND

The introduction of percutaneous mitral valve (MV) repair had an effect on clinical practice in comparison with surgical MV repair. Complete nationwide data are useful in examining how the introduction of a new technique influences clinical practice.

METHODS

We analyzed procedural numbers, patient characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes for all percutaneous edge-to-edge and surgical MV reconstruction procedures performed in Germany between 2009 and 2015.

RESULTS

12,664 percutaneous edge-to-edge and 22,825 surgical MV reconstructions were recorded. Numbers increased steadily, albeit more rapidly in the percutaneous edge-to-edge group (108-4079 vs. 2923-3603 with surgical MV reconstruction). Patients with percutaneous edge-to-edge MV reconstruction were older (75.6 ± 8.8 vs 61.6 ± 13.4 years, P < 0.001) and at higher operative risk (estimated logistic EuroSCORE 13.2% vs. 4.7%, P < 0.001) compared to those undergoing surgery. However, in-hospital mortality did not differ (2.9% vs. 2.8%; P = 0.395). This was also true for the subset of 2103 patients at intermediate operative risk as defined by a logistic EuroSCORE ≥ 4% and ≤ 9%. Of note, complication rates (except acute kidney injury) were more favorable in patients undergoing percutaneous edge-to-edge reconstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous edge-to-edge MV reconstruction has markedly changed clinical practice of MR therapy in Germany. Annual overall procedural numbers more than doubled, with a massive increase in percutaneous edge-to-edge procedures. Our data demonstrate its use mainly in high-risk patients and prove the favorable safety profile of this novel technique, with low in-hospital mortality and complication rates.

Cardiogenic shock: incidence, survival and mechanical circulatory support usage 2007-2017-insights from a national registry

Background

A central element in the management of cardiogenic shock (CS) comprises mechanical circulatory support (MCS) systems to maintain cardiac output (CO). This study aims to quantify incidence, outcome and influence of MCS in CS over the last decade.

Methods

All patients hospitalized with CS in a tertiary university hospital in Germany between 2007 and 2017 were identified utilizing the international coding system ICD-10 with code R57.0. Application of MCS was identified via German procedure classification codes (OPS).

Results

383,983 cases of cardiogenic shock were reported from 2007 to 2017. Patients had a mean age of 71 years and 38.5% were female. The incidence of CS rose by 65.6% from 26,828 cases in 2007 (33.1 per 100,000 person-years, hospital survival 39.2%) to 44,425 cases in 2017 (53.7 per 100,000 person-years, survival 41.2%). In 2007, 16.0% of patients with CS received MCS (4.6 per 100,000 person-years, survival 46.6%), dropping to 13.9% in 2017 (6.6 per 100,000 person-years, survival 38.6%). Type of MCS changed over the years, with decreasing use of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), an increase in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) usage. Significant differences regarding in-hospital survival were observed between the devices (survival: overall: 40.2%; medical treatment = 39.5%; IABP = 49.5%; pVAD = 36.2%; VA-ECMO = 30.5%; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The incidence of CS is increasing, but hospital survival remains low. MCS was used in a minority of patients, and the percentage of MCS usage in CS has decreased. The use rates of the competing devices change over time.

Graphical Abstract

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00392-020-01781-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Use and outcomes of emergency treatment strategies in patients with aortic valve stenosis

Introduction and aim

Current emergency treatment options for severe aortic valve stenosis include surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and balloon valvuloplasty (BV). So far no larger patient population has been evaluated regarding clinical characteristics and outcomes. Therefore we aimed to describe the use and outcome of the three therapy options in a broad registry study.

Method and results

Using German nationwide electronic health records, we evaluated emergency admissions of symptomatic patients with severe aortic valve stenosis between 2014 and 2017. Patients were grouped according to SAVR, TAVR or BV only treatments. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were stroke, acute kidney injury, periprocedural pacemaker implantation, delirium and prolonged mechanical ventilation &gt;48 hours. Stepwise multivariable logistic regression analyses including baseline characteristics were performed to assess outcome risks.

8,651 patients with emergency admission for severe aortic valve stenosis were identified. The median age was 79 years and comorbidities included NYHA classes III-IV (52%), coronary artery disease (50%), atrial fibrillation (41%) and diabetes mellitus (33%). Overall in-hospital mortality was 6.2% during a mean length of stay of 22±15 days. TAVR was the most common treatment (6,357 [73.5%]), followed by SAVR (1,557 [18%]) and BV (737 8.5%]).

Patients who were treated with TAVR or BV were significantly older than patients with SAVR (mean age 81.3±6.5 and 81.2±6.9 versus 67.2±11.0 years, p&lt;0.001), had more relevant comorbidities (coronary artery disease 52–91% vs. 21.8%; p&lt;0.001), worse NYHA classes III-IV (55–65% vs. 34.5%; p&lt;0.001) and higher EuroSCORES (24.6±14.3 and 23.4±13.9 vs. 9.5±7.6; p&lt;0.001) than SAVR patients. Patients treated with BV only had the highest in-hospital mortality compared with TAVR or SAVR (20.9% vs. 5.1 and 3.5%; p&lt;0.001).

Compared with BV only, SAVR patients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14–0.46; p&lt;0.001) and TAVR patients (aOR 0.37; 95% CI 0.28–0.50; p&lt;0.001) had a lower risk for in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion

In-hospital mortality for emergency patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis is high. Our results showed that BV only therapy was associated with highest mortality, which is in line with current research. Yet, there is a trend towards more TAVR interventions and this study might imply that balloon valvuloplasty alone is insufficient. The role of BV as a bridging strategy to TAVR or SAVR needs to be further investigated.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Heart Center Freiburg University, Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

Hospital volumes and the likelihood of stent implantation among patients undergoing catheterization of the left heart: more is more?

Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an established procedure, but recent studies analyzing the indication for stenting are going to change clinical practice. Previous studies suggested that hospital volume is inversely related to in-hospital mortality but its impact on likelihood of stent implantation and the number of stents remains unclear.

Purpose

There is a conflict of objectives between nationwide care including short transfer and intervention times and a few large centers with maximum technology and experience. We examine the effect of hospital volume on in-hospital mortality, likelihood of stent implantation, number of stents, length of hospital stay, and reimbursement in a recent nationwide cohort from Germany.

Methods

Using German national electronic health records, all patients who underwent coronary angiography with a documented coronary artery disease were identified by ICD and OPS codes. Risk-adjustment was applied using a predefined set of patient characteristics to account for differences in the risk factor composition of the patient populations between centers.

Results

In 2017, a total of 528,188 patients with a documented coronary artery disease underwent coronary angiography in Germany. Mean age was 69.8 years and 29.3% of patients were female. 55% of all patients received PCI, with a mean number of 1.01 stents implanted per patient. In-hospital mortality was 2.9%, length of hospital stay was 6.5 days and mean reimbursement was €5,531. Multivariable regression analyses showed a positive linear association between hospital volumes and the likelihood of stent implantation (p=0.003) as well as the number of implanted stents (p=0.020). No association was found between hospital volumes and in-hospital mortality (p=0.105), length of hospital stay (p=0.201) or reimbursement (p=0.108). Inspection of the non-linear impact of procedure volumes on stent implantation practices indicates a ceiling effect in the volume-outcome relationship: implantation likelihood and number of stents per patient are lowest in centers with less than 100 procedures per year (34.4% and 0.62, respectively). Then, implantation likelihood and number of stents constantly increase until the volume category of 500 procedures per year and center. For centers with &gt;500 procedures per year, the likelihood of stent implantation and the number of implanted stents remained relatively constant (about 60% and 1.07, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients undergoing coronary angiography in low-volume centers are less frequently subject to PCI but at comparable risk for in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, the data suggest that more complex cases are treated in high volume centers with consistent mortality rates and thus constant safety is ensured in high volume hospitals. Thresholds are discussed.

Impact of hospital volumes on PCI

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Impact of Preprocedural Aortic Valve Calcification on Conduction Disturbances after Transfemoral Aortic Valve Replacement

AIM

The present study analyzes in depth the impact of different calcification patterns on disturbances of the conduction system in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 169 preprocedural TAVR multislice computed tomography scans from consecutive transfemoral (TF) TAVRs performed between 2014 and 2017 using either Edwards SAPIEN or Medtronic Evolut R valves were retrospectively evaluated. The volume, distribution, and orientation of annular and valvular aortic valve calcification were measured and their impact on postoperative conduction disturbances was determined using linear and logistic regression analyses. The total volume of calcification and distribution at the aortic annulus or valve did not influence the conduction system. Oval calcification of the left aortic cusp was independently associated with an elevated risk for an increase in atrioventricular block degree (+0.6, p = 0.03). Moreover, orthogonal calcifications at the level of the aortic annulus were associated with an increased risk for QRS prolongation (+26 ms, p = 0.004) and an increased risk for permanent pacemaker implantation (OR 4.3, p = 0.03) after TF TAVR. This was more pronounced in patients undergoing TF TAVR using a balloon-expandable Edwards SAPIEN 3 valve (QRS +38.195 ms, p < 0.001; OR permanent pacemaker 15.48, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

Orthogonal annular calcification confers an increased risk for conduction disturbances after TAVR. This is even more pronounced after implantation of balloon-expandable valves.

Transgenic short-QT syndrome 1 rabbits mimic the human disease phenotype with QT/action potential duration shortening in the atria and ventricles and increased ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation inducibility

AIMS

Short-QT syndrome 1 (SQT1) is an inherited channelopathy with accelerated repolarization due to gain-of-function in HERG/IKr. Patients develop atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and sudden cardiac death with pronounced inter-individual variability in phenotype. We generated and characterized transgenic SQT1 rabbits and investigated electrical remodelling.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Transgenic rabbits were generated by oocyte-microinjection of β-myosin-heavy-chain-promoter-KCNH2/HERG-N588K constructs. Short-QT syndrome 1 and wild type (WT) littermates were subjected to in vivo ECG, electrophysiological studies, magnetic resonance imaging, and ex vivo action potential (AP) measurements. Electrical remodelling was assessed using patch clamp, real-time PCR, and western blot. We generated three SQT1 founders. QT interval was shorter and QT/RR slope was shallower in SQT1 than in WT (QT, 147.8 ± 2 ms vs. 166.4 ± 3, P < 0.0001). Atrial and ventricular refractoriness and AP duration were shortened in SQT1 (vAPD90, 118.6 ± 5 ms vs. 154.4 ± 2, P < 0.0001). Ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) inducibility was increased in SQT1. Systolic function was unaltered but diastolic relaxation was enhanced in SQT1. IKr-steady was increased with impaired inactivation in SQT1, while IKr-tail was reduced. Quinidine prolonged/normalized QT and action potential duration (APD) in SQT1 rabbits by reducing IKr. Diverse electrical remodelling was observed: in SQT1, IK1 was decreased-partially reversing the phenotype-while a small increase in IKs may partly contribute to an accentuation of the phenotype.

CONCLUSION

Short-QT syndrome 1 rabbits mimic the human disease phenotype on all levels with shortened QT/APD and increased VT/VF-inducibility and show similar beneficial responses to quinidine, indicating their value for elucidation of arrhythmogenic mechanisms and identification of novel anti-arrhythmic strategies.

Bleeding Complications Drive In-Hospital Mortality of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for poor postoperative outcome after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR). The present study analyses the outcomes after TF-TAVR in patients with or without AF and identifies independent predictors for in-hospital mortality in clinical practice.

Methods and Results Among all 57,050 patients undergoing isolated TF-TAVR between 2008 and 2016 in Germany, 44.2% of patients (n = 25,309) had AF. Patients with AF were at higher risk for unfavorable in-hospital outcome after TAVR. Including all baseline characteristics for a risk-adjusted comparison, AF was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality after TAVR. Among patients with AF, EuroSCORE, New York Heart Association classification class, or renal disease had only moderate effects on mortality, while the occurrence of postprocedural stroke or moderate to major bleeding substantially increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 3.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.61–4.30, p < 0.001 and OR 3.12, 95% CI 2.68–3.62, p < 0.001). However, the strongest independent predictor for in-hospital mortality among patients with AF was severe bleeding (OR 18.00, 95% CI 15.22–21.30, p < 0.001).

Conclusion The present study demonstrates that the incidence of bleeding defines the in-hospital outcome of patients with AF after TF-TAVR. Thus, the periprocedural phase demands particular care in bleeding prevention.

Prone positioning in severe ARDS requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Background

Prone positioning (PP) has shown to improve survival in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). To this point, it is unclear if PP is also beneficial for ARDS patients treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) support.

Methods

We report retrospective data of a single-centre registry of patients with severe ARDS requiring VV ECMO support between October 2010 and May 2018. Patients were allocated to the PP group if PP was performed during VV ECMO treatment or the supine positioning group. VV ECMO weaning success and hospital survival were analysed before and after propensity score matching.

Results

A total of 158 patients could be analysed, and 38 patients (24.1%) received PP. There were no significant differences in VV ECMO weaning rate (47.4% vs. 46.7%, p = 0.94) and hospital survival (36.8% vs. 36.7%, p = 0.98) between the prone and supine groups, respectively. The analysis of 38 propensity score matched pairs also showed no difference in hospital survival (36.8% vs. 36.8%, p = 1.0) or VV ECMO weaning rate (47.4% vs. 44.7%, p = 0.82). Hospital survival was superior in the subgroup of patients treated with early PP (cutoff < 17 h via Youden’s Index) as compared to late or no PP (81.8% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

In this propensity score matched cohort of severe ARDS patients requiring VV ECMO support, prone positioning at any time was not associated with improved weaning or survival. However, early initiation of prone positioning was linked to a significant reduction of hospital mortality.

Risk-Adjusted Comparison of In-Hospital Outcomes of Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Background

Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF‐TAVR) is recommended for patients suffering from aortic valve stenosis at increased operative risk. Beyond that, patients with different comorbidities could benefit from TF‐TAVR. The present study compares real‐world in‐hospital outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement and TF‐TAVR.

Methods and Results

For all 33 789 isolated TF‐TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement procedures performed in Germany in 2014 and 2015, comorbidities and in‐hospital outcomes were identified by International Classification of Diseases (ICD)‐ and OPS (Operation and procedure key)‐codes. Patients undergoing TF‐TAVR were older and at increased estimated risk. Outcomes were risk‐adjusted to allow comparison. TF‐TAVR was associated with a lower risk for acute kidney injuries (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, P<0.001), for bleeding (OR 0.17, P<0.001), and for prolonged mechanical ventilation (>48 hours, OR 0.21, P<0.001). Risk for stroke was similar (OR 1.07, P=0.558). As expected, the risk for pacemaker implantations was higher after TF‐TAVR (OR 4.61, P<0.001). In all patients, none of the treatment strategies had a clear advantage on the risk for in‐hospital mortality (OR 0.83, P=0.068). However, in patients aged >80 years and at high operative risk undergoing TF‐TAVR in‐hospital mortality was lower (TF‐TAVR versus surgical aortic valve replacement 80–84, OR 0.55; P=0.002; ≥85 years, OR 0.42, P=0.006; EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) >9: OR 0.62, P=0.001). TF‐TAVR was superior in patients with renal failure and in NYHA (New York Heart Association)‐Class III/IV. Other risk groups were not found to be factors favoring a treatment strategy.

Conclusions

The present study indicates a superiority of TF‐TAVR in clinical practice for patients at increased operative risk, aged >80 years, in NYHA‐Class III/IV, and with renal failure.

Transgenic LQT2, LQT5, and LQT2-5 rabbit models with decreased repolarisation reserve for prediction of drug-induced ventricular arrhythmias

Background and Purpose

Reliable prediction of pro‐arrhythmic side effects of novel drug candidates is still a major challenge. Although drug‐induced pro‐arrhythmia occurs primarily in patients with pre‐existing repolarisation disturbances, healthy animals are employed for pro‐arrhythmia testing. To improve current safety screening, transgenic long QT (LQTS) rabbit models with impaired repolarisation reserve were generated by overexpressing loss‐of‐function mutations of human HERG (HERG‐G628S, loss of I_Kr; LQT2), KCNE1 (KCNE1‐G52R, decreased I_Ks; LQT5), or both transgenes (LQT2‐5) in the heart.

Experimental Approach

Effects of K⁺ channel blockers on cardiac repolarisation and arrhythmia susceptibility were assessed in healthy wild‐type (WT) and LQTS rabbits using in vivo ECG and ex vivo monophasic action potential and ECG recordings in Langendorff‐perfused hearts.

Key Results

LQTS models reflect patients with clinically “silent” (LQT5) or “manifest” (LQT2 and LQT2‐5) impairment in cardiac repolarisation reserve: they were more sensitive in detecting I_Kr‐blocking (LQT5) or I_K1/I_Ks‐blocking (LQT2 and LQT2‐5) properties of drugs compared to healthy WT animals. Impaired QT‐shortening capacity at fast heart rates was observed due to disturbed I_Ks function in LQT5 and LQT2‐5. Importantly, LQTS models exhibited higher incidence, longer duration, and more malignant types of ex vivo arrhythmias than WT.

Conclusion and Implications

LQTS models represent patients with reduced repolarisation reserve due to different pathomechanisms. As they demonstrate increased sensitivity to different specific ion channel blockers (I_Kr blockade in LQT5 and I_K1 and I_Ks blockade in LQT2 and LQT2‐5), their combined use could provide more reliable and more thorough prediction of (multichannel‐based) pro‐arrhythmic potential of novel drug candidates.

Transapical aortic valve replacement versus surgical aortic valve replacement: A subgroup analyses for at-risk populations

BACKGROUND

If the transfemoral access is not feasible, a transapical access or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are alternatives for patients with aortic valve stenosis.

OBJECTIVES

To identify patient groups who benefit from SAVR or transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TA-TAVR), we compared in-hospital outcomes of patients in a nationwide dataset.

METHODS

We identified 19,016 isolated SAVR and 6432 TA-TAVR performed in Germany from 2014 to 2016. We adjusted for risk factors using a covariate- and propensity-adjusted analysis.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing TA-TAVR were older, had more comorbidities, and accordingly greater estimated operative risk (logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation 5.3 vs 17.0, P < .001). However, adjusted risk for in-hospital complications such as stroke, acute kidney injury, relevant bleeding, and prolonged mechanical ventilation >48 hours was lower in patients undergoing TA-TAVR (all P < .001). When we compared in-hospital mortality of all patients undergoing either TA-TAVR or SAVR, neither treatment strategy had a clear advantage (covariate-adjusted odds ratio [caOR], 1.13, P = .251; propensity-adjusted OR [paOR], 1.12, P = .309). Two patient subgroups seem to benefit more from SAVR than TA-TAVR: patients <75 years (caOR, 1.29, P = .237; paOR, 2.12, P = .001) and those with European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation 4-9 (caOR, 1.32, P = .114; paOR, 1.43, P = .041). Female patients had a tendency toward lower risk for in-hospital mortality when undergoing SAVR (caOR, 1.42, P = .030). In patients with chronic renal failure, TA-TAVR was superior (caOR, 0.56, P = .039, P = .040).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients <75 years and those at low operative risk who underwent SAVR had lower in-hospital mortality than those undergoing TA-TAVR. Patients with chronic renal failure who underwent TA-TAVR had lower in hospital mortality than those that underwent SAVR.

Outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantations in high-volume or low-volume centres in Germany

Objective

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the most common aortic valve replacement in Germany. Since 2015, to ensure high-quality procedures, hospitals in Germany and other countries that meet the minimum requirement of 50 interventions per centre are being certified to perform TAVI. This study analyses the impact of these requirements on case number and in-hospital outcomes.

Methods

All isolated TAVI procedures and in-hospital outcomes between 2008 and 2016 were identified by International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the German Operation and Procedure Classification codes.

Results

73 467 isolated transfemoral and transapical TAVI procedures were performed in Germany between 2008 and 2016. During this period, the number of TAVI procedures per year rose steeply, whereas the overall rates of hospital mortality and complications declined. In 2008, the majority of procedures were performed in hospitals with fewer than 50 cases per year (54.63%). Until 2014, the share of patients treated in low-volume centres constantly decreased to 5.35%. After the revision of recommendations, it further declined to 1.99%. In the 2 years after the introduction of the minimum requirements on case numbers, patients were at decreased risk for in-hospital mortality when treated in a high-volume centre (risk-adjusted OR 0.62, p=0.012). The risk for other in-hospital outcomes (stroke, permanent pacemaker implantation and bleeding events) did not differ after risk adjustment (p=0.346, p=0.142 and p=0.633).

Conclusion

A minimum volume of 50 procedures per centre and year appears suitable to allow for sufficient routine and thus better in-hospital outcomes, while ensuring nationwide coverage of TAVI procedures.

A logistic regression analysis comparing minimalistic approach and intubation anaesthesia in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Aims

Patients with postoperative delirium (POD) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are ventilated and hospitalized longer and suffer increased in-hospital mortality. This study hypothesized that a minimalistic approach with conscious sedation during transfemoral aortic valve replacement (TF-AVR) protects against delirium, time of mechanical ventilation, and increased length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) compared to intubation anaesthesia.

Methods and results

308 patients which underwent TF-AVR in our centre between 01/2013 and 08/2017 were retrospectively evaluated regarding postoperative delirium, time of mechanical ventilation, and days in ICU. TF-AVR was performed with intubation anaesthesia in 245 patients and with conscious sedation in 63. The operative risk estimated by the logEUROScore was similar in both groups (intubation: 13.28 +/-9.06%, conscious sedation: 12.24 +/-6.77%, p = 0.395). In the conscious sedation group procedure duration was shorter (0.61 +/-0.91h vs. 1.75 +/-0.96h, p<0.001). The risk for intraprocedural complications was not influenced by the anaesthesia method (OR conscious sedation instead of intubation 1.66, p = 0.117), but days on ICU (-2.21 days, p<0.0001) and minutes of mechanical ventilation (-531.2 min, p < 0.0001) were reduced. Furthermore, the risk of POD was decreased when TF-AVR was performed under conscious sedation (6.35% vs. 18.18%, OR 0.29, p = 0.021).

Conclusions

Time of mechanical ventilation, risk of POD, and days on ICU were substantially reduced in patients who underwent TF-AVR under conscious sedation. Our data suggest that TF-AVR with conscious sedation is safe with a beneficial postoperative course in clinical practice, and should be considered the favoured approach.

Predictors of survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis

OBJECTIVE

Aim of this study was to investigate predictors of survival in unstable patients with high SYNTAX-1-score.

BACKGROUND

In significant unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis, treatment options include percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). While CABG is recommended for stable patients with ULMCA stenosis and a SYNTAX-1-score > 32, PCI may be preferable in unstable or high operative risk patients.

METHODS

Retrospective single-center all-comers registry study.

RESULTS

A total of 142 patients underwent ULMCA-PCI (~72.9 years, 23.2% females, 54.2% survival in 2-year follow-up), 84 of whom had a SYNTAX-1 > 32 (37.4 ± 12.8). Patients in the high-SYNTAX-1-group (score > 32) were more often in an acute condition compared to low-SYNTAX-2-group (score ≤ 32) including acute myocardial infarction (76.2% vs. 57.4%, p = .024), cardiogenic shock (48.2% vs. 14.8%, p = .001), or need for mechanical support (36.1% vs. 11.1%, p = .001). Survival was predicted by the acute condition including cardiogenic shock (OR 0.06 and 0.05) and myocardial infarction (OR 0.03 and 0.34) in both groups. Performance of the SYNTAX-1-score was limited in our patient collective in both groups (c-index 0.65 vs. 0.63) while SYNTAX-2-PCI-score performed better (c-index 0.67 vs. 0.67). EuroScore II had the best discriminative ability (c-index 0.87 vs. 0.78).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients undergoing ULMCA-PCI presented in acute conditions with high SYNTAX-1-score, and is therefore underrepresented in clinical trials. Prognosis was best predicted by the acute condition and the EuroScore II. These data suggest that therapy in unstable patients should be guided by clinical condition over the anatomical SYNTAX-1-score.

Residual inflammatory risk in coronary heart disease: incidence of elevated high-sensitive CRP in a real-world cohort

Background

Inflammation drives atherosclerosis and its complications. Anti-inflammatory therapy with interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) antibody reduces cardiovascular events in patients with elevated high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). This study aims to identify the share of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and residual inflammation who may benefit from anti-inflammatory therapy.

Methods

hsCRP and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were determined in 2741 all-comers admitted to the cardiological ward of our tertiary referral hospital between June 2016 and June 2018. Patients without CHD, with acute coronary syndrome, chronic or recurrent systemic infection, use of immunosuppressant or anti-inflammatory agents, chronic inflammatory diseases, chemotherapy, terminal organ failure, traumatic injury and pregnancy were excluded.

Results

856 patients with stable CHD were included. 42.7% of those had elevated hsCRP ≥ 2 mg/l. Within the group of patients with LDL-cholesterol < 70 mg/dl, 30.9% shared increased hsCRP indicating residual inflammation. After multivariate adjusted backward selection elevated Lipoprotein (a) (OR 1.61, p = 0.048), elevated proBNP (OR 2.57, p < 0.0001), smoking (OR 1.70, p = 0.022), and obesity (OR 2.28, p = 0.007) were associated with elevated hsCRP. In contrast, the use of ezetimibe was associated with normal hsCRP (OR 0.51, p = 0.014). In the subgroup of patients with on-target LDL-cholesterol < 70 mg/dl, backward selection identified elevated proBNP (OR 3.49, p = 0.007) as independent predictor of elevated hsCRP in patients with LDL-cholesterol < 70 mg/dl.

Conclusion

One-third of all-comers patients with CHD showed increased levels of hsCRP despite a LDL-cholesterol < 70 mg/dl potentially qualifying for an anti-inflammatory therapy. Elevated proBNP is an independent risk factor for hsCRP elevation.

Graphic abstract

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00392-019-01511-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Real-time magnetic resonance imaging - guided coronary intervention in a porcine model

X-ray fluoroscopy is the gold standard for coronary diagnostics and intervention. Magnetic resonance imaging is a radiation-free alternative to x-ray with excellent soft tissue contrast in arbitrary slice orientation. Here, we assessed real-time MRI-guided coronary interventions from femoral access using newly designed MRI technologies. Six Goettingen minipigs were used to investigate coronary intervention using real-time MRI. Catheters were custom-designed and equipped with an active receive tip-coil to improve visibility and navigation capabilities. Using modified standard clinical 5 F catheters, intubation of the left coronary ostium was successful in all animals. For the purpose of MR-guided coronary interventions, a custom-designed 8 F catheter was used. In spite of the large catheter size, and therefore limited steerability, intubation of the left coronary ostium was successful in 3 of 6 animals within seconds. Thereafter, real-time guided implantation of a non-metallic vascular scaffold into coronary arteries was possible. This study demonstrates that real-time MRI-guided coronary catheterization and intervention via femoral access is possible without the use of any contrast agents or radiation, including placement of non-metallic vascular scaffolds into coronary arteries. Further development, especially in catheter and guidewire technology, will be required to drive forward routine MR-guided coronary interventions as an alternative to x-ray fluoroscopy.

Estimating the additional costs per life saved due to transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a secondary data analysis of electronic health records in Germany

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease, with a dismal prognosis when untreated. Recommended therapy is surgical (SAVR) or transcatheter (TAVR) aortic valve replacement. Based on a retrospective cohort of isolated SAVR and TAVR procedures performed in Germany in 2015 (N = 17,826), we examine the impact of treatment selection on in-hospital mortality and total in-hospital costs for a variety of at-risk populations. Since patients were not randomized to the two treatment options, the two endpoints in-hospital mortality and reimbursement are analyzed using logistic and linear regression models with 20 predefined patient characteristics as potential confounders. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated as a ratio of the risk-adjusted reimbursement and mortality differences with 95% confidence intervals obtained by Fieller's theorem. Our study shows that TF-TAVR is more costly that SAVR and that cost differences between the procedures vary little between patient groups. Results regarding in-hospital mortality are mixed. SAVR is the predominant procedure among younger patients. For patients older than 85 years or at intermediate and higher pre-operative risk TF-TAVR seems to be the treatment of choice. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) are most favorable for patients older than 85 years (ICER €154,839, 95% CI €89,163-€302,862), followed by patients at higher pre-operative risk (ICER €413,745, 95% CI €258,027-€952,273). A hypothetical shift from SAVR towards TF-TAVR among patients at intermediate pre-operative risk is associated with a less favorable ICER (€1,486,118, 95% CI €764,732-€23,692,323), as the risk-adjusted mortality benefit is relatively small (- 0.97% point), while the additional reimbursement is still eminent (+€14,464). From a German healthcare system payer's perspective, the additional costs per life saved due to TAVR are most favorable for patients older than 85 and/or at higher pre-operative risk.

Postpartum hormones oxytocin and prolactin cause pro-arrhythmic prolongation of cardiac repolarization in long QT syndrome type 2

Aims

Women with long QT syndrome 2 (LQT2) have a particularly high postpartal risk for lethal arrhythmias. We aimed at investigating whether oxytocin and prolactin contribute to this risk by affecting repolarization.

Methods and results

In female transgenic LQT2 rabbits (HERG-G628S, loss of IKr), hormone effects on QT/action potential duration (APD) were assessed (0.2–200 ng/L). Hormone effects (200 ng/L) on ion currents and cellular APD were determined in transfected cells and LQT2 cardiomyocytes. Hormone effects on ion channels were assessed with qPCR and western blot. Experimental data were incorporated into in silico models to determine the pro-arrhythmic potential. Oxytocin prolonged QTc and steepened QT/RR-slope in vivo and prolonged ex vivo APD75 in LQT2 hearts. Prolactin prolonged APD75 at high concentrations. As underlying mechanisms, we identified an oxytocin- and prolactin-induced acute reduction of IKs-tail and IKs-steady (−25.5%, oxytocin; −13.3%, prolactin, P < 0.05) in CHO-cells and LQT2-cardiomyocytes. IKr currents were not altered. This oxytocin-/prolactin-induced IKs reduction caused APD90 prolongation (+11.9%/+13%, P < 0.05) in the context of reduced/absent IKr in LQT2 cardiomyocytes. Hormones had no effect on IK1 and ICa,L in cardiomyocytes. Protein and mRNA levels of CACNA1C/Cav1.2 and RyR2 were enhanced by oxytocin and prolactin. Incorporating these hormone effects into computational models resulted in reduced repolarization reserve and increased propensity to pro-arrhythmic permanent depolarization, lack of capture and early afterdepolarizations formation.

Conclusions

Postpartum hormones oxytocin and prolactin prolong QT/APD in LQT2 by reducing IKs and by increasing Cav1.2 and RyR2 expression/transcription, thereby contributing to the increased postpartal arrhythmic risk in LQT2.

[Development and Results of Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Germany 2014 and 2015]

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of aortic valve stenosis has been changing since the introduction of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The present study investigates the treatment of aortic valve stenosis in a real-world population 2014 and 2015 in Germany.

METHODS

Patient characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of all 38 414 isolated surgical aortic valve replacements (SAVR) or TAVR were analyzed.

RESULTS

Since 2014 more TAVR than SAVR were performed in Germany. Overall interventions on the aortic valve increases: from 10 858 in 2009 to 19 929 in 2015. In 2015 patients > 75 were mainly treated with transfemoral (TF) TAVR. SAVR was performed in 474 patients over 80 years (for comparison: TF-TAVR: 7519; transapical (TA) TAVR: 1192). Patients treated with TAVR were older, more often female, and had more co-morbidities. Consequently, they were at higher operative risk. Overall in-hospital mortality was 2 % after SAVR, 3 % after TF-TAVR, and 6 % after TA-TAVR. Stroke rates were similar. Relevant bleeding events occurred after SAVR and TA-TAVR in 9 % and 8 % respectively and 3 % after TF-TAVR. 66 % of patients after TF-TAVR and 40 % after SAVR were discharged home.

DISCUSSION

TF-TAVR has become the most often performed therapy for patients > 75. Despite a higher operative risk, patients can be treated safely with TF-TAVR.