Impact of Changes in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction on Survival After Transapical Aortic Valve Implantation

Transapical TAVI: Survival, Hemodynamics, Devices and Machine Learning. Lessons Learned After 10-Year Experience

Aim of this single-center, retrospective study was to assess early and long-term clinical and hemodynamic results of transapical aortic valve implantation (TA-TAVI), and to identify predictors of survival at follow-up. All patients undergoing TA-TAVI for severe aortic valve stenosis at our institution were reviewed. A hybrid approach based on machine-learning techniques was employed to identify survival predictors, using a Bagging-Decision-Tree algorithm and a Random-Forest algorithm, respectively. Two-hundred-thirty-four consecutive patients underwent TA-TAVI (March 2009-May 2019). All-cause 30-day mortality was 5.1%. Device success was 95.7%. Median follow-up time was 35.2 months. Kaplan-Meier overall survival rates at 2, 5, and 8 years were 75%, 44%, and 15%, respectively. Structural-valve-deterioration occurred in 25 patients (11.3%) overall. The strongest predictors of survival at follow-up were age, body-mass-index, and ejection fraction. TA-TAVI provided valid early and long-term outcomes. These data support its choice as an optimal alternative access whenever the transfemoral route is not feasible.

Case report: Treatment of left-sided valve endocarditis using the Transapical AngioVac System and cerebral embolism protection device: A case series

The AngioVac System (AngioDynamics, Latham, NY) was developed for the treatment of right-sided heart and intravenous masses. Lately, it has been employed to deal with left-sided heart masses, in particular, native valve endocarditis (NVE) and valve prostheses endocarditis (VPE) in high-risk patients. Left-sided heart endocarditis has a high morbidity, and it also has a high mortality when open heart surgery is performed. Recently, patients presenting with left NVE and VPE have been treated with the off-label use of the AngioVac System even if the solution presents a considerable cerebral embolization risk issue due to the risk of fragmentation rather than a complete en-bloc aspiration of the masses. A percutaneous cerebral embolism protection system is currently used in TAVI procedures, especially when the native valve presents extensive calcifications and consequent significant embolic risks. We hereby present a clinical case series of a combined utilization of the AngioVac System and cerebral embolism protection system Triguard (Keystone Heart Ltd., Herzliya, Israel) to treat left NVE and VPE in prohibitive-surgical-risk patients.

Access options for transcatheter mitral valve implantation in patients with prior surgical bioprosthesis

Background

Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve (TMVIV) procedure, either transapical (TA) or trans-septal (TS) has become a valuable alternative to conventional redo surgery in case of failing mitral bioprosthesis with good clinical outcomes. Here we present our fourteen-year institutional experience.

Methods

All consecutive patients treated with TMVIV with either TA or TS access at our centre between July 2007 and July 2020 were included. Periprocedural and 30-day follow-up (FU) results are reported and TA and TS data are compared.

Results

Eighty-two patients were included, of those 60 (73.2%) were TA while 22 (26.8%) were TS. Men represented 51.2% of the population with a mean age of 77.3±9.0 years. STS score and EuroSCORE II were 11.4%±6.2% and 11.5%±6.5% respectively. Baseline characteristics of TA and TS groups were comparable. TMVIV was performed at a median time of 9.3 years [interquartile range (IQR), 7.9-12.0 days] from the initial mitral valve surgery. Balloon expandable transcatheter heart valve (THV) prostheses (Edwards LifeSciences Corp., Irvine, CA, USA) were used exclusively. Technical success was 97.6% (96.7% and 100.0% for TA and TS respectively) with two (2.4%) periprocedural death, both in the TA group (P=0.533). We observed four (4.9%) left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstructions with one being hemodynamically significant. Six (7.3%) major bleeding occurred in the TA group, not significantly different from TS group (P=0.279). The median length of stay was 6 days (IQR, 4-12 days, 1.5 vs. 7.0 days for TS and TA groups respectively, P=0.001). The overall 30-day mortality rate was 3.7%. We also observed three (3.7%) structural valve deteriorations and in one (1.2%) case the patient required redo mitral surgery at two months. Eighty-seven-point-eight percent of patients were I-II New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. At 30-day FU mean transmitral valve gradient was 7.3±2.7 mmHg and one patient (1.2%) had mitral regurgitation greater than mild. TA and TS groups were comparable.

Conclusions

Our 14-year single-center experience with TMVIV confirms procedural safety and is an effective alternative to redo surgery with comparable results with both TA and TS. With device, technical improvements and increasing operators' experience, TS is the preferred option for TMVIV. However, in some highly selected patient, TA may still play an important role.

Transapical Antegrade Ascending Aorta Stent-Grafting: Going Through the Front Door

OBJECTIVE

Ascending aorta stent-grafting (AASG) is a new option that has shown initial promising results. In selected cases, when neither conventional surgery nor transfemoral retrograde approach are feasible, antegrade transapical (TA) access can be performed. The aim of this single-center retrospective study was to evaluate outcomes of patients undergoing AASG through a TA approach.

METHODS

We analyzed all patients undergoing AASG through a TA approach at our institution. Three different devices were used, including Relay Stent-Graft System (Terumo Aortic, UK), Gore Conformable Thoracic Aortic Graft (W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., USA), and Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft (Medtronic, Ireland). All patients underwent clinical and computed tomographic angiogram (CTA) evaluation before hospital discharge.

RESULTS

From May 2010 to December 2019, 3 consecutive patients underwent AASG at our institution. Mean age was 69 years. Three different types of endografts were used in 1 patient each. All patients stayed in the intensive care unit for 24 hr and mean hospital stay was 12 days. We did not observe any major adverse event. One patient died of pneumonia 2 months after the procedure and the other 2 patients are alive and in good clinical conditions at a mean follow-up of 56 months. Predischarge CTA showed good anatomic results with no endoleaks in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This initial experience shows that AASG is feasible and provides encouraging clinical and anatomic results in selected high-risk patients.

Utility of the minimum-incision transsubclavian approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement on clinical outcomes in patients with small vessel anatomy

BACKGROUND

The optimal approach for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), who are contraindicated for a transfemoral (TF) approach, is still controversial. The present study aimed to evaluate the utility of the TAVR via a subclavian artery with a small diameter, by minimal incision and a double Z suture hemostasis technique using 18 Fr DrySeal Flex sheath, namely minimum-incision transsubclavian TAVR (MITS-TAVR), in patients contraindicated for the TF approach.

METHODS

We included consecutive patients who underwent the MITS-TAVR (MITS group; n = 21) and TF-TAVR (TF group; n = 81) using the CoreValve Evolut R/PRO valves and examined the incidence of in-hospital adverse events and post-discharge mortality between the two groups.

RESULTS

The mean body surface area was significantly smaller in the MITS group (1.33 ± 0.04 vs. 1.43 ± 0.02 m2; p = 0.045). The minimal lumen diameter of the femoral artery was significantly smaller in the MITS group (5.01 vs. 6.43 mm; p < 0.01). The lumen diameter of the left subclavian artery (LSA) in the MITS group was 4.97 ± 0.14 mm. The duration of the TAVR procedure to discharge was not significantly different (9.7 ± 2.0 days vs. 13.2 ± 1.0 days; p = 0.239). We did not experience in-hospital death in both groups, and no significant differences were observed in the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events between the two groups. The post-discharge survival rate was not significantly different between the groups (at 2-year; MITS group vs. TF group = 91.0% vs. 89.0%; p = 0.725).

CONCLUSIONS

The MITS-TAVR using 18 Fr Dryseal Flex sheath was safe and effective and might be a promising alternative approach even in patients with a small body and small LSA diameter, who are contraindicated to the TF approach.

Significance of echocardiographic evaluation for transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is widely accepted as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS). Existing scientific evidence demonstrates that TAVI is superior to SAVR, and it is expected that indications for the clinical applications of TAVI will be expanded in the future. Echocardiography plays a key role in perioperative assessment of patients undergoing TAVI. Preprocedural echocardiographic evaluation is important to determine the severity of AS in addition to patients' anatomical suitability for TAVI. Furthermore, echocardiography is essential for intraoperative guidance, assessment of complications, postoperative evaluation, and prognostic prediction. Inaccurate echocardiographic measurements and evaluation can lead to less-than-optimal/inappropriate treatment strategies in patients with AS. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the limitations of echocardiographic evaluation is important. This review summarizes the role of echocardiographic evaluation in patients undergoing TAVI.

Left Ventricular Function Recovery After Transapical TAVR in Patients With Previous Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

OBJECTIVE

The transapical (TA) approach is an alternative access technique for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. The impact of prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and how it affects left ventricular function recovery is not well defined.

METHODS

Patients who had TAVR at a single center between June 2012 and December 2016 were reviewed. High-risk patients who underwent the procedure via a TA approach were divided into 2 groups based on their history of CABG surgery. Postoperative outcomes were compared between groups. CABG/TA-TAVR patients were subdivided into 2 per baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%. The changes in LVEF and valve function at follow-up (1 to 12 months) were analyzed using paired t-tests.

RESULTS

Of 923 cases in total, 183 (19.8%) were performed via a TA approach. The mean ± SD Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score of TA patients was 10.2 ± 4.6. Forty-nine (27%) had a surgical history of CABG. Overall all-cause mortality rates at 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years were similar for both groups (P = 0.59, P = 0.64, P = 0.78). Subgrouping of CABG-TAVR patients (n = 49) identified 24 patients (49%) with LVEF ≥50% vs. 25 (51%) with LVEF <50%. At 1-year follow-up, significant improvements in LVEF (low LVEF group) and valve function for both groups were observed. LVEF ≥50% group (LVEF: ∆: -3%, P = 0.878; aortic valve area [AVA]: ∆: 1.3 cm^2, P < 0.001; mean gradient: ∆: -38 mmHg, P < 0.001); LVEF <50% group (LVEF: ∆: 10%, P = 0.01; AVA: ∆: 1.3 cm², P < 0.001; MG: ∆: -31 mmHg, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

TA-TAVR can be safely performed with acceptable postoperative outcomes in patients with a history of CABG surgery. In those with reduced EF, significant improvements in LV and valve functions are seen at 1-year follow-up.

Impact of preprocedural echocardiographic parameters on increased stroke volume after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Aims

Increased stroke volume (SV) is a prognosticator of severe aortic stenosis (AS) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study aimed to investigate preprocedural echocardiographic predictors of increased SV after TAVR.

Methods and results

Clinical and echocardiographic data were retrospectively analysed in 129 patients with severe AS who underwent TAVR (2013-2015). We compared the echocardiographic data and cardiac events between the decreased SV group (n=28) and the increased SV group (n=101). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the predictors of increasing SV. AS severity significantly diminished, left and right ventricular function improved, and SV index (SVi) increased after TAVR: aortic valve area index (0.46±0.13 vs. 1.18±0.33 cm2, p<0.001); aortic regurgitation (AR) grade (1.85±0.55 vs. 1.60±0.54, p<0.001); left ventricular ejection fraction (59.9±12.7 vs. 64.1±12.0%, p<0.001); right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) (48.8±11.9 vs. 53.3±14.0%, p<0.001); SV index (SVi) (46.7±11.0 vs. 52.8±12.0 ml/m2, p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates suggested that the SVi increase was associated with the decreased cardiovascular events one year after TAVR (hazard ratio 4.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-12.7, p=0.02). On multivariate analysis, preprocedural AR grade (odds ratio [OR] 7.00, 95% CI: 2.76-17.8, p<0.001) and preprocedural RVFAC (OR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.10, p=0.011) correlated with the SV increase.

Conclusions

Preprocedurally, greater AR and higher RVFAC could predict an increased SVi and thus the occurrence of fewer cardiac events. Preserved preprocedural RV systolic function is crucial for an increased SV after TAVR.