Short-course thrombolysis as the first line of therapy for cardiac valve thrombosis

Bioprosthetic Valve Thrombosis

Degenerative valve disease is on the rise with greater than 100,000 valve operations performed in the US alone per year. The majority of those procedures employ tissue bioprostheses to avoid the attendant risk of anticoagulation, especially in the elderly. Though traditionally this approach has been considered a superior option to avoid anticoagulation, more recent analyses have demonstrated a significant incidence of previously unrecognized thrombosis associated with bioprosthetic valves, especially with the more recent advent of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement implantations. Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is a major cause of either acute or indolent bioprosthetic valve degeneration, and often has an elusive presentation causing delayed recognition and treatment. The literature has extensively addressed the risks and benefits of anticoagulation following bioprosthetic valve replacement to prevent bioprosthetic valve thrombosis (BPVT), without conclusive evidence-based recommendations. The duration of anticoagulation following an episode of BPVT is unclear, and lifelong anticoagulation has been suggested. The increasing use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in various risk groups has introduced new challenges with regards to valve thrombosis, which have been poorly studied with regards to optimal treatment and prevention. The increasing use of valve-in-valve procedures is expected to bring on further uncharted challenges.

Mitral Valve Replacement-Current and Future Perspectives

The favorable outcomes achieved with modern mitral valve repair techniques redefined the role of mitral valve replacement. Various international databases report a significant decrease in replacement procedures performed compared with repairs, and contemporary guidelines limit the application of surgical mitral valve replacement to pathology in which durable repair is unlikely to be achieved. The progressive paradigm shift toward endoscopic and robotic mitral valve surgery is also paralleled by rapid developments in transcatheter devices, which is progressively expanding from experimental approaches to becoming clinical reality. This article outlines the current role and future perspectives of contemporary surgical mitral valve replacement within the context of mitral valve repair and the dynamic evolution of exciting transcatheter alternatives.

A rare case report of early bioprosthetic valve thrombosis presenting with acute heart failure salvaged by thrombectomy

Background

Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is previously considered as an extremely rare complication which hasn’t been systemically recognized and understood.

Case presentation

Herein, we present an unusual case of a patient manifesting with acute heart failure, secondary to thrombus formation in a porcine aortic bioprosthesis which was implanted 11 months prior to hospitalization. Due to the patient’s poor heart function and intraoperative findings, thrombectomy was performed. For our best knowledge, cases of early bioprosthetic valve thrombosis presenting with acute heart failure have seldomly been reported.

Conclusion

Our study reviews predisposing factors, typical echocardiographic features and treatment for bioprosthetic valve thrombosis and it should be considered as a reason for bioprosthetic malfunction. A combination of clinical and echocardiographic features can help for diagnosis preoperatively. In some certain circumstances, early reoperation can be avoided if anticoagulant therapy works.

Prolonged Infusions of Low-Dose Thrombolytics in Elderly Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valve Thrombosis

BACKGROUND

The outcomes of thrombolytic therapy (TT) in elderly patients with prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) have not been evaluated previously. We investigated the outcomes of low-dose and slow infusion TT strategies in elderly patients with PVT.

METHODS

Twenty-seven (19 female) patients aged ≥65 years (median: 70 years, range: 65-82 years) were treated with repeated TT agents for PVT. The TT regimens included 24-hour infusion of 1.5 million units of streptokinase in 2 patients, 6-hour infusion of 25 mg recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in 12 patients, and 25-hour infusion of 25 mg t-PA in 13 patients. Treatment success and adverse event rates were assessed.

RESULTS

The initial and cumulative success rates were 40.7% and 85.2%, respectively. Adverse events occurred in 6 (22.2%) patients including 4 (14.8%) major (1 death, 1 rethrombosis, and 2 failed TT) and 2 (7.4%) minor (1 transient ischemic attack and 1 access site hematoma) events. Higher thrombus burden (thrombus area ≥1.1 cm² by receiver operating characteristics analysis, sensitivity: 83.3%, specificity: 85%, area under the curve: 0.86, P = .008) and New York Heart Association class (0% vs 15.4% vs 25% vs 100% for classes I-IV, respectively, P = .02) predicted adverse events. By multiple variable analysis, thrombus area was the only independent predictor of adverse events (odds ratio: 13.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-185, P = .04).

CONCLUSION

Slow infusion of low doses of TT agents (mostly t-PA) with repetition is successful and safe in elderly patients with PVT. However, excessive thrombus burden may predict adverse events.

Thrombolytic Therapy for Right-Sided Mechanical Pulmonic and Tricuspid Valves: The Largest Survival Analysis to Date

Data regarding thrombolytic treatment of right-sided mechanical valve thrombosis are almost nonexistent, and all current guidelines arise from very small case series. We retrospectively studied the in-hospital and long-term outcome data of a larger series of patients who had received, from September 2005 through June 2012, thrombolytic therapy for right-sided mechanical pulmonary valve or tricuspid valve thrombosis. We identified 16 patients aged 8-67 years who had undergone thrombolytic therapy for definite thrombotic mechanical valve obstruction in the tricuspid or pulmonary valve position (8 in each position). All study patients except one had subtherapeutic international normalized ratios. The 8 patients with pulmonary mechanical valve thrombosis had a 100% response rate to thrombolytic therapy, and their in-hospital survival rate was also 100%. The 8 patients with tricuspid mechanical valve thrombosis had a 75% response rate to thrombolytic therapy, with an in-hospital survival rate of 87.5%. The one-year survival rate for mechanical valve thrombosis treated with thrombolytic therapy (whether pulmonary or tricuspid) was 87.5%. On the basis of our data, we recommend that thrombolytic therapy remain the first-line therapy for right-sided mechanical valve thrombosis in adults or children-including children with complex congenital heart disease and patients with mechanical pulmonary valve thrombosis. Surgery should be reserved for patients in whom this treatment fails.

Thrombolytic therapy or surgery for valve prosthesis thrombosis: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis is a life-threatening condition for which treatment has not been evaluated by randomized trials.

OBJECTIVES

To compare surgery with thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of prosthetic valve thrombosis.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic review was carried out by independent researchers using PubMed, Web of Knowledge, HINARI, LILACS and EMBASE, including papers indexed up to 23 October 2013 with at least 10 patients, evaluating one or both treatment options. Outcomes of interest were death, stroke, bleeding, embolic events and success. Study quality was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (ranges from 0 to 9). Comprehensive Meta Analysis Software was used to pool study results, for publication bias analysis and for meta-regression.

RESULTS

Forty-eight studies were included (2302 patients). No randomized study was identified, and all were observational in design. Study quality varied from 4 to 6 stars using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Mortality for surgery was 18.1% (95%CI, 14.6-22.1; I(2) , 62% [42-75]), while mortality for thrombolytic therapy was 6.6% (95% CI, 4.8-8.9; I(2) , 0% [0-13]). Surgical mortality appeared to increase with NYHA-class, according to meta-regression. Other results related to surgery and thrombolytic therapy, respectively, were: embolic events, 4.6% (2.9-7.3) and 12.8% (10.8-15.2); stroke, 4.3%,(2.7-6.6%) and 5.6%,(4.3-7.4%); success rate, 81.9% (77.2-85.8) and 80.7% (75.6-85.0); bleeding, 4.6% (2.9-7.1) and 6.8% (5.4-8.6); and death or stroke, 19.0% (14.8-24.2) and 11.4% (8.7-14.7).

CONCLUSION

Mortality in patients treated by thrombolytic therapy for valve prosthesis thrombosis is significantly lower than in patients treated surgically. As we cannot yet ascertain whether this difference is due to the treatment alone, more studies are now necessary to further clarify these findings.

Thrombolysis as first choice therapy in prosthetic heart valve thrombosis. A study of 68 patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Valvular thrombosis is a serious complication in patients with prosthetic heart valves. Traditional treatment is emergency surgery, but thrombolysis provides a non invasive alternative. In this paper we evaluate the efficacy and safety of thrombolysis in prosthetic heart valve thrombosis.

METHODS

Data of 68 patients diagnosed of prosthetic valve thrombosis, treated at the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Havana during a 6-years period were analyzed. They received thrombolysis with a recombinant streptokinase infusion at 250,000 IU in 30 minutes followed by 100,000 IU/hour during 72 hours or less if the thrombosis resolved before. The evaluation was based on clinical and echocardiographic findings.

RESULTS

Affected sites were mitral (50 cases), tricuspid (9), and aortic (9). Mean time of prosthesis implantation was 6.8 years. The presentation form was generally heart failure (NYHA functional class III-IV) in 64 (94.1%) patients. Mean time interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 10.6 days. There was total response to treatment in 58 (85.3%) patients, partial in 4 (5.9%) and failure in 6 (8.8%). Recombinant streptokinase overall dose was 5.1 x 10(6) IU and mean infusion time 50 hours. Major hemorrhagic complications were observed in two patients. Five embolic events occurred during thrombolysis. Four patients died. Rethrombosis was noted in 11 patients; 10 were retreated successfully with thrombolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Thrombolysis with recombinant streptokinase is efficacious and safe for the treatment of prosthetic heart valve thrombosis. It does not contraindicate surgical treatment if there is no total response, because patient goes to surgery in better hemodynamic conditions with lower risk. Nowadays it can be considered as first-line treatment in all patients with prosthetic heart valve thrombosis regardless of functional class unless specific contraindications exist.

Case study and review: treatment of tricuspid prosthetic valve thrombosis

Prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) is a severe and life-threatening complication of heart valve replacement. Conventional therapy is surgical thrombectomy or valve replacement. Medical thrombolysis is another emerging option. We report the case of a 57 year old woman with a history of Ebstein anomaly who underwent successful treatment of tricuspid prosthetic valve thrombosis with intra-atrial infusion of very low dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). We review the presentation, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of tricuspid PVT emphasizing a modified medical option as a safe, minimally invasive alternative to surgical intervention or conventional medical therapy for tricuspid valve thrombosis.

Thrombolytic therapy in the treatment of right-sided prosthetic valve thrombosis in adults with congenital heart disease

Valve thrombosis is a potentially dangerous complication for right sided prosthetic valves in adults with congenital heart disease. Thrombolytic therapy is an important alternative to surgery and may be of benefit in patients with a history of multiple surgical interventions. We present two cases of successful thrombolytic therapy for right sided valve thrombosis in patients with congenital heart disease.

Successful thrombolysis of a thrombosed prosthetic mitral valve using a synthetic tissue plasminogen activator: a case report

Introduction

Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a rare but life-threatening condition that requires careful evaluation and prompt treatment. While surgical intervention remains the gold standard, thrombolytic therapy is now emerging as a potential substitute. Various thrombolytic treatments including streptokinase, urokinase and recombinant tissue plasminogen activators have been reported with variable success rates. However, the data on the use of tenecteplase (a synthetic tissue plasminogen activator) is limited.

Case presentation

A 44-year-old Middle Eastern man with a previously implanted prosthetic mitral valve presented with exertional dyspnea and orthopnea. Investigations revealed a thrombosed prosthetic mitral valve. Successful thrombolysis was achieved using tenecteplase which lead to the complete restoration of valve function with no risk to the patient.

Conclusion

Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a rare but life threatening condition, the diagnosis of which requires a high index of suspicion. Tenecteplase can be used successfully in the management of such cases. It has proved to be useful with no extra risk to the patient.

Thrombosed mechanical pulmonary valve successfully treated with thrombolysis

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis is a serious complication with a high mortality. We report the case of a thrombosed St Jude Medical valve placed in the pulmonary position, in a patient who had undergone repair of tetralogy of Fallot, which was successfully treated with intravenous thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase.

Transesophageal echocardiography improves risk assessment of thrombolysis of prosthetic valve thrombosis: results of the international PRO-TEE registry

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to evaluate whether quantitation of thrombus burden with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can help risk-stratify patients undergoing thrombolysis of prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT).

BACKGROUND

Thrombolytic therapy of PVT has an unpredictable risk of embolization and complications.

METHODS

An international registry of patients with suspected PVT undergoing two-dimensional/Doppler and TEE before thrombolysis was established. All TEE studies were reviewed and quantitated by a single observer blinded to all data.

RESULTS

From 1985 to 2001, 107 patients (71 females; age 24 to 86 years) from 14 centers (6 in the U.S.) were identified. The majority of cases involved the mitral valve (79 mitral, 13 aortic, and 15 tricuspid). Hemodynamic success rate was achieved in 85% and was similar across valves. Overall complications were observed in 17.8%, and death in 5.6%. Predictors of complications were: New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, presence of shock, sinus tachycardia, hypotension, previous history of stroke, thrombus extension beyond the valve ring, and thrombus area. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that two variables were independent predictors of complications: thrombus area by TEE (odds ratio [OR] 2.41 per 1 cm2 increment, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 5.19) and prior history of stroke (OR 4.55, 95% CI 1.35 to 15.38). A thrombus area <0.8 cm2 identified patients at lower risk for complications from thrombolysis, irrespective of NYHA functional class.

CONCLUSIONS

In PVT, the thrombus size imaged with TEE is a significant independent predictor of outcome. Transesophageal echocardiography can identify low-risk groups for thrombolysis irrespective of symptom severity and is therefore recommended in the management of prosthetic valve thrombosis.

Prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis: can fluoroscopy predict the efficacy of thrombolytic treatment?

BACKGROUND

Thrombolysis (T) is an effective therapy for prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT). Debate still exists as to which clinical or noninvasive finding best predict the result of T. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of fluoroscopy (F) to predict efficacy of T in pts with mitral PVT.

METHODS

We evaluated 17 consecutive pts with bileaflet mitral PVT. F criteria for PVT were: abnormal disc motion and calculated opening angle >25 degrees. T was carried out with tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA; 100 mg over 3 hours followed by heparin infusion for 24 hours) and was considered successful when normalization of leaflet motion and opening angle occurred. Results were evaluated according to symptom duration (<21 days, early PVT; >21 days, late PVT) and to F pattern of PVT (blocked leaflet versus hypomobile leaflet).

RESULTS

F showed disc motion alteration in 24 of 34 leaflets: 8 leaflets were blocked, whereas 16 were hypomobile. Early (12.7+/-6.1 days, range 3-21) and late (113+/-114 days, range 28-365) PVT was present in 8 and 7 pts, respectively. Thrombolysis was successful in 20 of 24 leaflets. Blocked leaflet fully recovered only in early PVT (n=4) pts, whereas they remained blocked in late PVT (n=4). On the contrary, in all of the cases with hypomobile leaflet, disc motion normalized regardless duration of symptoms and extent of disc motion reduction. Interestingly, 4 leaflets with late PVT was diagnosed as blocked by trans-thoracic (TTE). F showed a residual disc movement in all: they fully recovered after T. Two pts with late PVT had both leaflets affected (1 blocked +1 hypomobile); although blocked leaflet did not respond to T, the normalization of hypomobile significantly improved clinical condition.

CONCLUSIONS

F can predict result of T in mitral PVT. PVT with F evidence of hypomobile leaflet always recovers regardless of symptom duration and extent of disc motion reduction, suggesting that the small amount of thrombus needed to interfere with discs motion in bileaflet prostheses remains sensitive to T even after a long time. PVT with F evidence of blocked leaflet has a favorable response to T only in case of early PVT. Late PVT with blocked leaflet does not respond to T, suggesting a larger and stratified thrombus and the coexistence of pannus and, in our series, always required surgery. However, if a hypomobile leaflet coexists, T may be used to restore normal movement of hypomobile leaflet so that to improve patient clinical and hemodynamic condition before operation.

The safety and efficacy of repeated courses of tissue-type plasminogen activator in patients with stuck mitral valves who did not fully respond to the initial thrombolytic course

In carefully selected patients with stuck mitral valves, thrombolytic therapy is becoming an established therapeutic modality. However, the management of patient with a suboptimal response to an initial thrombolytic course is unclear. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of re-administration of tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in patients with stuck mitral valves in whom the first thrombolytic course has failed to restore normal prosthetic valve function. The study group included patients who received rt-PA and did achieve a full restoration of valve function after the initial course. Data were gathered on the safety and success rates of additional thrombolytic courses in the same hospitalization period, and their predictors. Twelve patients with stuck mitral valves experienced a total of 13 episodes in which a full resolution of leaflet abnormality was not achieved after the initial thrombolytic course. A repeated thrombolytic course was attempted in 10 patients (11 episodes). Six patients (60%) showed full success rate with repeated thrombolysis, one (10%) showed partial success, and three patients (30%) had no improvement following the second course. These last three were those with initial failure. Age, gender, valve model, worst functional class, time since valve implantation and International Normalized Ratio (INR) levels were similar in both groups. No major adverse events were noted. In this small group of patients with stuck mitral valves, re-administration of rt-PA after a partial response to an initial thrombolytic course was effective and safe. However, total failure of the first thrombolytic course predicted inefficiency of further courses.

Successful thrombolysis of st. Jude medical aortic prosthesis with tissue-type plasminogen activator in a pregnant woman: a case report

Mechanical valve thrombosis is a life-threatening event. Pregnancy is associated with a hypercoagulable state that further emphasizes the importance of adequate anticoagulation. This is associated with a therapeutic dilemma. Continued anticoagulation with warfarin throughout the first trimester can result in fetopathic effects, while replacement of warfarin by heparin between 6 and 12 weeks of gestation does not completely prevent the risk of valve thrombosis. There are a small number of reported cases of pregnant women with prosthetic heart valve thrombosis under low molecular weight heparin and consecutive lytic therapy. The authors report a 33-year-old pregnant woman with a St. Jude Medical aortic prosthesis, anticoagulated with a therapeutic dosage of low molecular weight heparin from 6 weeks of gestation, who developed prosthetic heart valve thrombosis at 17 weeks of gestation. A thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (50 mg for 2 hours) was performed. Under thrombolysis, ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, aVF, V5, and V6 developed electrocardiographically with a maximal creatine kinase (CK) of 349 U/L (CK-MB isoenzyme of 48 U/L). Echocardiography revealed normal function of the St. Jude Medical aortic prosthesis 2 hours after thrombolysis and normal wall motions. Short-course thrombolytic therapy appears to be an effective alternative to surgical intervention for the treatment of thrombotic dysfunction of valve prostheses in pregnancy.

Thrombolytic therapy with recombinant streptokinase for prosthetic valve thrombosis

BACKGROUND

Thrombosis is a serious complication of prosthetic heart valves, and management is often difficult. Thrombolytic therapy is a promising alternative to valve re-operation in the prosthetic valve thrombosis.

METHODS

Fifteen consecutive patients with prosthetic heart valve thrombosis (10 mitral, 3 aortic, 2 tricuspid) were treated with intravenous recombinant streptokinase: 250,000 UI given over 30 minutes followed by an infusion an 100,000 UI per hour, always with clinical monitoring and echocardiographic examinations repeated at 24, 48, and 72 hours after starting thrombolytic therapy. Doppler echocardiography was the primary method use for diagnosis and was also used to follow the response to therapy

RESULTS

Fibrinolytic treatment was successful in 14 (93.3%) patients. Total response was achieved in 13 (86.6%)patients and partial response in 1 (6.7%) patient; one patient died of ventricular fibrillation. No major hemorrhagic events were observed, peripheral embolism occurred in two cases, and one case of minor peripheral bleeding occurred in another. Some patients experienced fever and chills.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates the feasibility, safety and efficacy of thrombolytic therapy, which may be considered as first-line therapy for prosthetic heart valve thrombosis.

Evaluating the etiology of mechanical valve obstruction: use of clinical parameters, fluoroscopy, and echocardiography

Prosthetic valve obstruction is a life-threatening complication most commonly caused by thrombus, pannus, or both. We report a St. Jude tricuspid valve obstruction, initially treated with thrombolytic therapy, found to be caused by pannus on pathologic examination. Clinical evaluation and diagnostic evaluation with fluoroscopy and echocardiography in distinguishing pannus from thrombus are reviewed.

[Prosthetic valve thrombosis: which is the most appropriate initial therapy?]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate what is the best initial therapy for patients with obstructive prosthetic valve thrombosis.

METHODS

Data from 47 patients diagnosed with prosthetic valve thrombosis in two tertiary hospitals during an 8-years period were analyzed.

RESULTS

The involved prostheses were in mitral position in 34 cases (2 biological valves), in aortic position in 12, and in double mitral and aortic position in one. The thrombosis was not obstructive in 12 patients. In the remaining 35 patients, the prosthetic obstruction was treated by heparin (n = 2), thrombolysis (n = 19), or direct surgery (n = 14). There was no mortality in the thrombolytic group, although 6 patients needed surgery before discharge because of an abnormal prosthetic residual gradient (n = 5) or a persisting abnormal disc valve motion (n = 1). Five out of 14 patients of direct surgery died, 2 before the planned operation could be performed. Thus, mortality rate, in an intention to treat analysis, was very favourable to thrombolytic therapy (p = 0.008); and this, despite the higher index of clinical severity (on a scale from 0 to 4) was superior in this group of thrombolyzed patients: 3.3 0.6 vs. 2.1 0.9 in those who underwent surgery; p < 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS

In terms of mortality rate, thrombolysis is a better alternative than direct surgery to fight against obstructive prosthetic valve thrombosis. Even if the result is suboptimal, it allows the performance of surgery in better clinical conditions and, thus, with minor risk.

[Mitral prosthesis thrombosis treated by fibrinolysis with accelerated administration of r-TPA]

We report the case of a 53-year-old patient with a mitral prosthesis hospitalized for heart failure. Diagnosis of mitral prosthetic thrombosis, led to a therapeutic disjunction between thrombolysis and surgery. Because of the high risk of surgical intervention, the patient was treated with r-TPA (accelerated infusion), showing immediate, successful response.

Thrombolytic therapy of a left-sided prosthetic valve thrombosis without hemodynamic obstruction: a case report

We report a case of a 38-year-old woman with a prosthetic mitral valve who presented with multiple embolic events. Transesophageal echocardiography was used to diagnose nonobstructive thrombi on the prosthetic valve. She underwent successful thrombolytic therapy. The patient was discovered to be in a hypercoagulable state, which probably was caused by the concomitant use of phenytoin. We review the literature for diagnosis and treatment of nonobstructive prosthetic valve thrombosis.

[Fibrinolytic treatment for patients with prosthesis thrombosis and high surgical risk]

We retrospectively analyzed the response to fibrinolytic treatment in a group of 5 patients with prosthetic thrombosis, one of whom was a pregnant woman. All the patients were in functional class IV (NYHA), and the risk of surgery was considered very high for the following reasons: cardiogenic shock in 2 cases, severe depression of ventricular function in 1 case, and 3 and 4 prior interventions in 2 patients. The treatment was effective in 4 cases and the fifth patient died in cardiogenic shock. There were no major hemorrhagic complications and one case of peripheral embolism was detected. The treatment was effective and no obstetric or fetal complications were observed in the pregnant woman. We believe that fibrinolytic treatment is a good alternative for patients with prosthetic thrombosis and very high surgical risk and it may even be effective during pregnancy.

An unusual case of bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis

Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis and related embolism are considered extremely unlikely, thus allowing most patients to avoid long-term anticoagulation. There is, however, limited experience in the diagnosis and treatment of such a condition. We present the case of a patient with a porcine mitral bioprosthesis who presented with acute thrombosis with unusual echocardiographic features. A favorable outcome was observed after conventional anticoagulant treatment.

Thrombolytic therapy for prosthetic valve thrombosis: short- and long-term results

BACKGROUND

Thrombolytic therapy (TT) has evolved as an alternative to surgery for prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT), but its utility in patient management is still debated and the long-term results are not available.

METHODS

From 1990 through 1999, we treated 110 consecutive patients (52 men, mean age 35.4 +/- 10.8 years) of left-sided obstructive PVT (96 mitral, 14 aortic) with TT (streptokinase in 108, urokinase in 2) according to a specified protocol of prolonged infusion. Serial echo Doppler parameters were monitored in all patients to guide the duration of TT and to quantify its efficacy. Ninety of the 102 survivors of the index episode were followed up for a mean period of 31.3 +/- 27.8 months (range 1-112 months).

RESULTS

Complete hemodynamic response (on cinefluoroscopy and echo Doppler criteria) was seen in 90 (81.8%) episodes, partial response in 11 (10%), and failure in 9 (8.2%). The mean duration of TT was 42.8 +/- 20.4 hours. Five of the 7 patients who were initially seen in cardiogenic shock/overt pulmonary edema died during therapy. After these patients were excluded, the rate of complete response did not differ among patients with New York Heart Association class I/II (80%), class III (86.3%), or class IV (81.5%). The response rate also did not vary with the type, position of prosthesis, duration of symptoms, or time lag since surgery. There were 21 (19.1%) embolic episodes during therapy, including 6 strokes. These were significantly more frequent in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) (odds ratio on multivariate analysis 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.3-3.9, P =.01). On follow-up, there were 25 recurrences of PVT, of which 20 again received TT with a complete response in 14 (70%). At 5 years the actuarial survival was 85.2% and the event-free survival was 61.5%. The presence of chronic AF was a significant predictor of recurrence of PVT (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.9, P =.008).

CONCLUSIONS

TT is effective in the majority of patients with PVT but is associated with a high rate of embolism, especially in patients with AF. Excluding patients with cardiogenic shock/overt pulmonary edema (in whom TT is largely ineffective), the success of TT does not vary with the New York Heart Association class, duration of symptoms, or other patient variables. The recurrence rates of PVT are high after even successful TT, especially in patients with AF.

Intravenous thrombolytic treatment of mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis: a study using serial transesophageal echocardiography

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed the results of intravenous thrombolytic treatment under transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) guidance in prosthetic valve thrombosis.

BACKGROUND

Thrombotic occlusion of prosthetic valves continues to be an uncommon but serious complication. Intravenous thrombolytic treatment has been proposed as an alternative to surgical intervention.

METHODS

In a four-year period, 32 symptomatic patients with prosthetic valve related thrombosis underwent 54 thrombolytic treatment sessions for the treatment of 36 distinct episodes. All patients had low international normalized ratio values at the presentation. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed at baseline and repeated after each thrombolytic treatment session (total 98 TEE examinations). Streptokinase was used as the initial agent with a repeat dose given within 24 h when necessary. Recurrent thrombosis was treated either with tissue plasminogen activator or urokinase.

RESULTS

The initial success after first dose was only 53% (17/32) but increased up to 88% (28/32) after repeated thrombolytic sessions upon documentation of suboptimal results on TEE examination (p < 0.01). In addition, four asymptomatic patients with large thrombi were also successfully treated with single infusion. The TEE characteristics of thrombus correlated with clinical presentation and response to lytics. Success was achieved with single lytic infusion in 40% of the obstructive thrombi as compared with 75% of the nonobstructive ones (p < 0.05). The success rates of lytic treatment were similar for mitral versus aortic valves, and for tilting disk versus bileaflet valves. Rapid (3 h) and slow (15 to 24 h) infusion of streptokinase resulted in similar success rates. However, major complications (three patients) occurred only in the rapid infusion group.

CONCLUSION

In patients with prosthetic valve thrombosis, intravenous slow infusion thrombolysis given in discrete, successive sessions guided by serial TEE and transthoracic echocardiography can be achieved with a low risk of complications and a high rate of success.

[Practice guidelines of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. Recommendations for the use of antithrombotic treatment in cardiology]

The indications for the use of antithrombotic therapy are evolving as new drugs become available or new indications or dosages are recommended for drugs already in use. This document reviews and updates the former one published in 1994. To that end, an exhaustive revision of the literature published in the last 15 years has been undertaken. Following the evidence based medicine dictates, and aiming to select all the relevant publications for each pathology, all studies were selected through MEDLINE, using the specified key words for each subject, and were filtered using the following steps: a) only randomized, controlled studies, meta-analysis, guidelines and review articles were chosen; b) then, the Best-Evidence and Cochrane Collaboration databases were consulted; c) finally, the evidence based medicine validation, relevance and applicability criteria were assessed for each publication. The use of antiaggregants and anticoagulants are given for the following conditions: a) prevention of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; b) prevention of systemic emboli in patients with lone atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrillation associated or not with rheumatic heart disease, in patients with biological or mechanical cardiac valvular prostheses and in dilated cardiomyopathy; c) antithrombotic therapy in coronary heart disease and in coronary intervention; d) the interactions with oral anticoagulants and how to control these therapies are also discussed.

Surgery for mitral valve disease in the pediatric age group

OBJECTIVES

We reviewed a 20-year experience with the surgical treatment of mitral valve disease in the pediatric age group at our institution with 2 objectives: to clarify the long-term results over the last 2 decades and to evaluate the recent advances in mitral valve operation in children.

METHODS

Since December 1978, 56 patients have undergone a total of 36 mitral valve repairs and 30 mitral valve replacements. Associated cardiac anomalies were present in 46 patients (82%), and concurrent repair of associated lesions was performed in 37 patients (66%). The age of the patients ranged from 3 months to 15 years (mean, 3.6 years) at mitral valve repair, and ranged from 2 months to 16 years (mean, 5.7 years) at mitral valve replacement. Mean follow-up period was 92.0 months (range, 1-235 months).

RESULTS

There were 2 hospital deaths and 2 late deaths in patients who underwent mitral valve repair. Reoperation was performed in 4 patients. Three of these patients underwent mitral valve replacement because of residual mitral incompetence. No hospital deaths occurred in patients who underwent mitral valve replacement. Two late deaths occurred after mitral valve replacement. Six patients had a total of 10 episodes of prosthetic valve thrombosis. Thrombolytic therapy with urokinase was successful in all episodes without serious complications. Five patients required reoperations 49 to 141 months (mean, 78.4 months) after the initial valve replacement for relative prosthetic valve obstruction as the result of somatic growth. A valve 2 or 3 sizes larger than the original prostheses was inserted without death. Actuarial survival and freedom from cardiac events at 10 years after the operation were 87.2% and 72.7% in children who underwent mitral valve repair, and 90.3% and 67.3% for those children who underwent mitral valve replacement.

CONCLUSIONS

The current risk of mitral valve operation in the pediatric age group is low, and the long-term results are satisfactory, irrespective of severe deformation of the mitral valve apparatus and associated complex cardiac anomalies.