Acute Kidney Injury Following Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients Without Chronic Kidney Disease

Early Creatinine Changes After Aortic Valve Replacement and Late Survival, Heart Failure, and Chronic Kidney Disease in a National Registry

BACKGROUND

The impact of small increases in serum creatinine after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) that fail to meet the acute kidney injury stage 1 criteria is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate prognosis after primary SAVR in patients with small increases in postoperative serum creatinine.

METHODS

This observational cohort study included all adult patients who underwent primary SAVR in Sweden from 2009 to 2022. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were chronic kidney disease and heart failure. Regression standardization addressed confounding.

RESULTS

In 16,766 patients, 4074 (24.2%) had no change in postoperative serum creatinine, 5764 (34.3%) had a small increase in postoperative serum creatinine (0.06 mg/dL ≤ Δserum creatinine <0.3 mg/dL), and 2753 (16.4%) fulfilled the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes acute kidney injury stage 1 criteria. The mean age was 67 years, and 31% of patients were female. No significant difference in long-term all-cause mortality was observed in the no change group at 13 years compared with the small increase group (absolute survival difference, 2.3% [95% CI, 0%-4.6%]). A stepwise increase in the risk of 30-day mortality was observed with increasing changes in serum creatinine. At 13 years of follow-up, there was a significant difference in the risk of chronic kidney disease (absolute difference, 2.8% [95% CI, 1.0%-4.5%]) and heart failure (absolute difference, 3.5% [95% CI, 1.3%-5.7%]) between the no change and small increase groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A small increase in postoperative serum creatinine after SAVR was associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. The acute kidney injury definition may benefit from including more reliable and specific biomarkers together with small creatinine increases to detect kidney injury.

Renal Function After Combined Treatment for Coronary Disease and Aortic Valve Replacement

OBJECTIVES

 A single-center retrospective study was initialized to investigate the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and its impact on short- and long-term outcomes after aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and complex coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

 Between January 2010 and December 2020, 1,232 patients with severe AS and CAD were treated. Propensity score matching generated 40 patient pairs with intermediate Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk scores (3.2 ± 0.3) and EuroSCORE II (4.1 ± 0.3) undergoing percutaneous (transcatheter aortic valve replacement [TAVR] + percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]) or surgical (surgical aortic valve replacement [SAVR] + coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]) combined procedures. The renal function-corrected ratio of contrast medium to body weight was calculated to determine the risk of postprocedural contrast medium-associated AKI. Renal retention values were recorded daily until the 7th day after the procedure.

RESULTS

 The overall incidence of postprocedural AKI was similar between the groups. There was no correlation between the contrast medium volume to serum creatinine to body weight ratio and AKI occurrence. During the first 7 postprocedural days, creatinine clearance values were comparable: 68.97 ± 4.92 mL/min (SAVR + CABG) vs. 64.95 ± 9.78 mL/min (TAVR + PCI), mean difference 4.02, 95% CI (-24.5 to 16.4), p = 0.691. On the 7th day after the procedure, 35% (8/23) of patients with renal impairment had improved renal function. No correlation between impaired renal function and short- or long-term mortality was found in multivariable models.

CONCLUSION

 Contrast agents may temporarily impair renal function during a minimally invasive percutaneous approach; however, occurrence of AKI was not related to the amount of contrast medium, and AKI was not associated with short- and long-term mortality.

Early safety after TAVR according to VARC-3 criteria: incidence, predictors, and clinical impact

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-3 definition of the early safety (ES) composite endpoint after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) lacks clinical validation. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, predictors, and clinical impact of ES after TAVR as defined by VARC-3 criteria.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter study including 10 078 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transarterial TAVR. According to VARC-3 criteria, ES at 30 days was defined as freedom from all-cause mortality, stroke, VARC type 2-4 bleeding, major vascular, access-related, or cardiac structural complications, acute kidney injury stages 3-4, moderate or severe aortic regurgitation, new permanent pacemaker implantation, and surgery or intervention related to the device. Baseline, procedural, and follow-up data were prospectively collected in a dedicated database.

RESULTS

ES was achieved in 6598 patients (65.5%). The main factors associated with a lack of ES were the occurrence of type 2-4 bleeding (18.9%), and new pacemaker implantation (13.6%). Advanced age, peripheral artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and balloon postdilation were associated with an increased risk of no-ES (P<.01 for all). Failure to achieve ES was associated with higher all-cause mortality up to 1-year after TAVR (HR, 3.17; 95%CI, 2.76-3.65; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

VARC-3 ES was not achieved in up to one-third of contemporary TAVR patients, which was associated with worse mid-term outcomes. The factors associated with increased risk were advanced age, baseline comorbidities, and some procedural features (postdilation). These findings highlight the importance of continued efforts to minimize the risk of TAVR-related procedural complications.

Acute kidney injury and in-hospital outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients without chronic kidney disease: insights from the national inpatient sample

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) complicates transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), leading to higher mortality. The incidence and effects of AKI on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TAVR without chronic kidney disease (CKD) are unclear. We aimed to determine the association between AKI and in-hospital outcomes in patients with TAVR using propensity score matching (PSM).

METHODS

Using International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision codes, we queried the National Inpatient Sample for TAVR performed between 2016 and 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to perioperative AKI development. Patients with CKD or on permanent hemodialysis at baseline were excluded. We conducted 1:1 PSM to assemble a cohort of patients with similar baseline characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between AKI and in-hospital outcomes. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the robustness of our inferences.

RESULTS

Of 47,372 unweighted patient admissions for TAVR, 1617 (3.41%) had a concomitant diagnosis of AKI. The incidence of AKI decreased from 4.82 to 3.18% from 2016 to 2021 (P-trend < 0.01). Before PSM, patients with AKI had a significantly higher rate of in-hospital mortality compared with those without AKI (6.12% vs. 0.48%, respectively; odds ratio [OR] 8.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.32-11.68). Using the PSM algorithm, 1579 well-matched patients were included in each group. After PSM, an association was observed between patients with TAVR and concomitant AKI and a higher risk of in-hospital mortality (6.21% vs. 1.08%, respectively; OR 5.96; 95% CI 3.54-10.04). In subgroup analyses stratified according to age (≤ 80 and > 80 years), sex (male/female), and hypertension status, consistent associations were observed between AKI and the risk of in-hospital mortality. AKI patients were at higher risk for acute myocardial infarction (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.35-2.34), major bleeding (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.13-2.33), blood transfusion (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.28-2.11), and cardiogenic shock (OR 3.73, 95% CI 2.77-5.01). No significant betweengroup differences were observed in stroke (P = 0.12).

CONCLUSION

AKI was a strong predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing TAVR without CKD and was associated with higher post-procedure complication rates.

Long-Term Assessment of Survival After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation - Insights From the International Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Registry

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established treatment for severe aortic stenosis (AS), but despite estimates of life expectancy after TAVI being essential in heart team discussion, these data are scarce. Therefore, the current study sought to assess long-term survival and its trends in relation to chronological age, surgical risk, and treatment period.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 2,414 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI for severe symptomatic AS between 2008 and 2021 at 2 international centers. For the analysis, long-term survival was evaluated according to age, surgical risk, and treatment period categorized into 3 groups, respectively. The longest follow-up was 13.5 years. Overall survival was 67.6% at 5 years and 26.9% at 10 years. Younger patients, lower surgical risk, and later treatment period showed better survival (log-rank P<0.001, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, age <75years, lower surgical risk, and later time period were significantly associated with better survival. The incidence of paravalvular leakage ≥moderate, red blood cell transfusion, and acute kidney injury were independently associated with increasing risk of 5-year death.

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world registry, survival was substantial following TAVI, especially in younger and lower surgical-risk patients, with improving outcomes over time. This should be considered in heart team discussions of life-long management for AS patients after TAVI.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: An Update

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a relatively novel minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis. Although it has been proven effective in improving mortality and quality of life, TAVR is associated with serious complications, such as acute kidney injury (AKI).

SUMMARY

TAVR-associated AKI is likely due to several factors such as sustained hypotension, transapical approach, volume of contrast use, and baseline low GFR. This narrative review aims to present an overview of the latest literature and evidence regarding the definition of TAVR-associated AKI, its risk factors, and its impact on morbidity and mortality. The review used a systematic search strategy with multiple health-focused databases (Medline, EMBASE) and identified 8 clinical trials and 27 observational studies concerning TAVR-associated AKI. Results showed that TAVR-associated AKI is linked to several modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors and is associated with higher mortality. A variety of diagnostic imaging modalities have the potential to identify patients at high risk for development of TAVR-AKI; however, there are no existing consensus recommendations regarding their use as of this time. The implications of these findings highlight the importance of identifying high-risk patients for which preventive measures may play a crucial role, and should be maximized.

KEY MESSAGE

This study reviews the current understanding of TAVR-associated AKI including its pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnostic modalities, and preventative management for patients.

In-hospital outcomes following percutaneous versus surgical intervention in the treatment of aortic stenosis and concomitant coronary artery disease

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) is prevalent among aortic stenosis patients; however the optimal therapeutic strategy remains debated. We investigated periprocedural outcomes among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation with percutaneous coronary intervention (TAVI/PCI) vs surgical aortic valve replacement with coronary artery bypass grafting (SAVR/CABG) for aortic stenosis with CAD.

METHODS

Using discharge data from the Spanish National Health System, we identified 6194 patients (5217 SAVR/CABG and 977 TAVI/PCI) between 2016 and 2019. Propensity score matching was adjusted for baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital complications and 30-day cardiovascular readmission.

RESULTS

Matching resulted in 774 pairs. In-hospital all-cause mortality was more common in the SAVR/CABG group (3.4% vs 9.4%, P <.001) as was periprocedural stroke (0.9% vs 2.2%; P=.004), acute kidney injury (4.3% vs 16.0%, P <.001), blood transfusion (9.6% vs 21.1%, P <.001), and hospital-acquired pneumonia (0.1% vs 1.7%, P=.001). Permanent pacemaker implantation was higher for matched TAVI/PCI (12.0% vs 5.7%, P <.001). Lower volume centers (< 130 procedures/y) had higher in-hospital all-cause mortality for both procedures: TAVI/PCI (3.6% vs 2.9%, P <.001) and SAVR/CABG (8.3 vs 6.8%, P <.001). Thirty-day cardiovascular readmission did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large contemporary nationwide study, percutaneous management of aortic stenosis and CAD with TAVI/PCI had lower in-hospital mortality and morbidity than surgical intervention. Higher volume centers had less in-hospital mortality in both groups. Dedicated national high-volume heart centers warrant further investigation.

Acute Kidney Injury After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Mediates the Effect of Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is associated with increased mortality. However, it is controversial whether AKI affects prognosis per se, being linked to baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD) and bleeding complications. The aim of this study was to disentangle, applying mediation analysis, the association between AKI and clinical outcome, considering CKD and bleedings. Methods and Results Consecutive patients undergoing TAVR were prospectively enrolled at 5 high-volume centers in Italy. AKI was defined according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 consensus, whereas bleeding with Bleeding Academic Research Consortium. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality after 1-year follow-up. Among 2621 patients undergoing TAVR, AKI occurrence was associated with 1-year mortality. This association of AKI with the primary end points remained significant after adjusting for baseline risk estimators, either Society of Thoracic Surgeons score (hazard ratio [HR], 2.78 [95% CI, 1.95-3.80], P<0.001) or EuroSCORE-II (HR, 1.85 [95% CI, 1.35-2.56], P<0.001). Both AKI and CKD significantly and independently affected primary outcome (HR, 3.06 [95% CI, 2.01-4.64], P<0.001 and HR, 1.82 [95% CI 1.27-2.65], P<0.01, respectively). The estimated proportion of the total effect of CKD mediated via AKI was, on average, 15%, 95% CI, 4%-29%, P<0.001. The significant effect of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 2-5 bleedings on the primary outcome was not mediated by AKI. Conclusions AKI occurs in 1 out of 6 patients and significantly mediates one fifth of the effect of baseline CKD on all-cause mortality after TAVR. Our analysis supports a systematic effort to prevent AKI during TAVR, which may potentially translate into improved patients' 1-year survival.

Extravalvular Cardiac Damage and Renal Function Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Severe Aortic Stenosis

BACKGROUND

In this study we sought to determine the differences in incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute kidney recovery (AKR) among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), according to the degree of extravalvular cardiac damage (EVCD).

METHODS

From the Verona Valvular Heart Disease Registry, 674 symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients were selected and retrospectively analysed. Using echocardiographic data, patients were classified based on the degree of EVCD.

RESULTS

After dichotomized analysis, patients in EVCD stage 3 or 4 reported a significantly higher rate of AKI (29.5% vs 11.2%; P < 0.001). Using a multivariate analysis model, higher EVCD stage, lower glomerular filtrate rate (GFR) at admission, and amount of contrast used were found to be independent predictors of AKI, whereas stage of cardiac damage and GFR were found to be independent predictors of AKR. For the overall population after multivariate analysis AKI was associated with a higher incidence of 12-month all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 2.142; 95% confidence interval, 1.082-4.239; P = 0.029) with a significant impact in the advanced cardiac damage stages, but not in the early stages (P for interaction = 0.006). AKR did not reduce adverse clinical outcomes but was associated with improved renal function at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Increase in EVCD stage was associated with a higher rate of AKI after TAVI. AKI had a negative impact on long-term clinical outcomes but only in patients with advanced cardiac damage. AKR did not reduce adverse clinical outcomes but was associated with improved renal function at 12 months.