Zeitpunkt der Reoperation bei degenerierten aortalen und mitralen Bioprothesen

A Case of Valve-in-Valve-in-Valve for Severe Aortic Regurgitation: Is Lifetime Management Upon Us?

BACKGROUND

The incremental use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement will inexorably lead to structural valve deterioration and the need for both a second and third valvular interventions, raising the question of feasibility.

CASE SUMMARY

We present the case of a 76-year-old man that presented with cardiogenic shock refractory to inotropic support. His workup revealed severe bioprosthetic aortic regurgitation 5 years after undergoing transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation. After confirming anatomical suitability with multimodality imaging, he underwent uncomplicated valve-in-valve-in-valve (ViViV) implantation of a 23 mm Edwards S3 Ultra valve with rapid clinical improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Whether in the form of stenosis or severe regurgitation as in our patient, ViViV is feasible. Careful preprocedural planning and confirmation of anatomical suitability with multimodality imaging are key for success and safety.

Reoperation of the Aortic Valve in Octogenarians

BACKGROUND

Because of increasing life expectancy of patients with heart valve replacement and a limited durability of heart valve bioprostheses, cardiac reoperation becomes necessary in a significant percentage of patients. Reliable data on mortality and risk factors in octogenarians after replacement of aortic valve prostheses are scanty, however.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 71 patients aged 80 years and older who underwent cardiac reoperation of the aortic valve (69 bioprostheses, 2 mechanical prostheses) between 1991 and 2004 at our heart center. Survival rate of the study cohort was compared with a control group of octogenarians matched for age, sex, and year of aortic valve replacement. To assess predictors of 30-day survival and 3-year survival, we performed univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Survival rates at 30 days, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years were 83.6%, 76.1%, 70.8%, and 51.3%, respectively. Results did not differ significantly between the study cohort and the controls. Patients with reoperation had an estimated median survival of 5.6 years. Postoperative complications such as low cardiac output syndrome and intestinal failure were the only independent predictors of 30-day survival (p = 0.020 and p = 0.015, respectively). Low cardiac output, intestinal failure, and diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of 3-year survival (p = 0.001 to 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that it is possible to achieve an acceptable outcome in octogenarians who have reoperation of the aortic valve prosthesis. Early and mid-term survival is predominantly influenced by unexpected postoperative complications and not by preoperative risk factors, with the exception of diabetes mellitus.