Left ventricular performance after aortic valve replacement in patients with low ejection fraction

Cardiac Cachexia Associated With Valvular Heart Failure

Cardiac cachexia (CC) represents a serious complication of heart failure (HF). This condition could be directly related to mortality. The weight or muscle mass loss has to be monitored in our patients with HF to avoid potential complications.

We report a case of an elderly patient with a history of aortic stenosis (AS) who presented with progressive shortness of breath limiting his daily activities associated with weight loss. Signs of heart failure were evident on physical examination, and valvulopathy was also evident. His echocardiogram showed reduced ejection fraction (EF) with structural changes and severe aortic stenosis. He was not a candidate for cardiothoracic surgery, and a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was performed. After the procedure, his symptoms improved, and during the outpatient follow-up, his cardiac function and dry weight improved.

Cardiac cachexia could be caused by reversible cardiomyopathy. Early assessment and approach are critical for the outcome of our patients, impacting their quality of life and outcome in terms of morbidity and mortality consequences.

Predictors of Long-Term Outcome of Isolated Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Aortic Regurgitation With Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Extreme Left Ventricular Dilatation

The management of severe aortic regurgitation (AR) in patients with reduced left ventricular function and extreme left ventricular dilatation presents a therapeutic dilemma. This study aims to assess risk factors of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for these particular population based on its performances. Two hundred twelve severe AR patients accompanied by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) ≥70 mm who underwent isolated AVR between January 2007 and December 2016 were identified retrospectively. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic were used to analyze prognostic indicators for in-hospital mortality while Kaplan-Meier analysis for long-term survival. Mean age was 56 ± 13 years with mean LVEF 40 ± 7% and LVEDD 78 ± 6 mm. In-hospital mortality rate was 7%, and survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 88 ± 4% and 73 ± 10%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated in-hospital mortality was associated with preoperative age and LVEF. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed LVEF = 35% was the best cut-off value at which to predict in-hospital death. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed patients with markedly reduced LV function (LVEF <35%) had lower survival rates compared with other patients with moderate LV dysfunction (LVEF 36% to 50%) (1-, 5-, and 10-year: 90 ± 4%, 64 ± 7%, and 55 ± 14%, vs 97 ± 1%, 94 ± 3%, and 76 ± 7%, p <0.001). An age-matched analysis showed similar trend (p = 0.020). In Conclusion, AVR may be unsafe for severe AR patients with markedly reduced LV function (LVEF <35%) and extreme left ventricular dilatation (LVEDD >70 mm) due to poor postoperative early- and long-term outcomes.

Cardiac energetics analysis after aortic valve replacement with 16-mm ATS mechanical valve

The 16-mm ATS mechanical valve is one of the smallest prosthetic valves used for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with a very small aortic annulus, and its clinical outcomes are reportedly satisfactory. Here, we analyzed the left ventricular (LV) performance after AVR with the 16-mm ATS mechanical valve, based on the concept of cardiac energetics analysis. Eleven patients who underwent AVR with the 16-mm ATS mechanical valve were enrolled in this study. All underwent echocardiographic examination at three time points: before AVR, approximately 1 month after AVR, and approximately 1 year after AVR. LV contractility (end-systolic elastance [Ees]), afterload (effective arterial elastance [Ea]), and efficiency (ventriculoarterial coupling [Ea/Ees] and the stroke work to pressure-volume area ratio [SW/PVA]) were noninvasively measured by echocardiographic data and blood pressure measurement. Ees transiently decreased after AVR and then recovered to the pre-AVR level at the one-year follow-up. Ea significantly decreased in a stepwise manner. Consequently, Ea/Ees and SW/PVA were also significantly improved at the one-year follow-up compared with those before AVR. The midterm LV performance after AVR with the 16-mm ATS mechanical valve was satisfactory. AVR with the 16-mm ATS mechanical valve is validated as an effective treatment for patients with a very small aortic annulus. The cardiac energetics variables, coupling with the conventional hemodynamic variables, can contribute to a better understanding of the patients' clinical conditions, and those may serve as promising indices of the cardiac function.

Left ventricular sphericity index predicts systolic dysfunction in rats with experimental aortic regurgitation

Although an increased left ventricular (LV) diastolic diameter (DD) and a decreased ejection fraction have been used as markers for the surgical replacement of an insufficient aortic valve, these signals may be observed when irreversible myocardium damage has already occurred. The aim of this study was to determine whether change in LV geometry predicts systolic dysfunction in experimental aortic regurgitation. Male Wistar rats underwent surgical acute aorta regurgitation (aorta regurgitation group; n = 23) or a sham operation (sham group; n = 12). After the procedure, serial transthoracic echocardiograms were performed at 1, 4, 8, and 16 wk. At the end of protocol, the LV, lungs, and liver were dissected and weighed. During the follow-up, no animal developed overt heart failure. There was a correlation between the LV sphericity index and reduced fractional shortening ( P < 0.001) over time. A multiple regression model showed that the LVDD-sphericity index association at 8 wk was a better predictor of decreased fractional shortening at week 16 ( R2 = 0.50; P < 0.001) than was the LVDD alone ( R2 = 0.39; P = 0.001). LV geometry associated with increased LVDD improved the prediction of systolic dysfunction in experimental aortic regurgitation.