Predictors of Persistent Tricuspid Regurgitation after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Baseline Tricuspid Regurgitation

Invasive Assessment of Right Ventricular to Pulmonary Artery Coupling Improves 1-year Mortality Prediction After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Anticipates the Persistence of Extra-Aortic Valve Cardiac Damage

Background

The interplay between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, known as right ventricular to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling, is crucial for assessing right ventricular systolic function against the afterload from the pulmonary circulation. Pulmonary artery pressure levels are ideally measured by right heart catheterization. Yet, echocardiography represents the most utilized method for evaluating pulmonary artery pressure levels, albeit with limitations in accuracy. This study therefore aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of right ventricular to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling expressed as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) related to systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) levels measured by right heart catheterization (TAPSE/sPAPinvasive) or estimated by transthoracic echocardiography (TAPSE/sPAPechocardiography) in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods

Using data from a bicentric registry, this study compares TAPSE/sPAPinvasive vs. TAPSE/sPAPechocardiography in predicting 1-year all-cause mortality after TAVR.

Results

Among 333 patients with complete echocardiography and right heart catheterization data obtained before TAVR, their mean age was 79.8 ± 6.74 years, 39.6% were female, and general 1-year survival was 89.8%. sPAPinvasive and sPAPechocardiography showed only moderate correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient R: 0.53, p value: <0.0001). TAPSE/sPAPinvasive was superior to TAPSE/sPAPechocardiography in predicting 1-year all-cause mortality after TAVR (area under the curve: 0.662 vs. 0.569, p value: 0.025). Patients with reduced TAPSE/sPAPinvasive levels (< 0.365 mm/mmHg) evidenced significantly lower 1-year survival rates than patients with preserved TAPSE/sPAPinvasive levels (81.8 vs. 93.6%, p value: 0.001; hazard ratio for 1-year mortality: 3.09 [95% confidence interval: 1.55-6.17]). Echocardiographic follow-up data revealed that patients with reduced RV-PA coupling suffer from persistent right ventricular dysfunction (TAPSE: 16.6 ± 4.05 mm vs. 21.6 ± 4.81 mm in patients with preserved RV-PA coupling) and severe tricuspid regurgitation (diagnosed in 19.7 vs. 6.58% in patients with preserved RV-PA coupling).

Conclusions

RV-PA coupling expressed as TAPSE/sPAPinvasive can refine stratification of severe aortic stenosis patients into low-risk and high-risk cohorts for mortality after TAVR. Moreover, it can help to anticipate persistent extra-aortic valve cardiac damage, which will demand further treatment.

Multidetector CT-derived tricuspid annulus measurements predict tricuspid regurgitation reduction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

AIM

To use multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT)-derived tricuspid annulus (TA) measurements to identify predictors for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) reduction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and to investigate the impact of TR change on prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective, single-centre study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with concomitant baseline mild or more severe TR from April 2012 to April 2022. TA parameters were measured using MDCT.

RESULTS

The study comprised 266 patients (mean age 74.2 ± 7.6 years, 147 men) and 45.1% had more than one grade of TR reduction at follow-up. Independent predictors of TR reduction at follow-up were distance between TA centroid and antero-septal commissure (odd ratio [OR] 0.776; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.672-0.896, p=0.001), baseline TR of moderate or worse (OR 4.599; 95% CI: 2.193-9.648, p<0.001), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (OR 1.018; 95% CI: 1.002-1.035, p=0.027), age (OR 0.955; 95% CI: 0.920-0.993, p=0.019), and pre-existing atrial fibrillation (OR 0.209; 95% CI: 0.101-0.433, p<0.001). Patients without TR reduction had higher rates of rehospitalisation (hazard ratio [HR] 0.642; 95% CI: 0.413-0.998, p=0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

The MDCT-derived TA parameter was predictive of TR reduction after TAVR. Persistent TR after TAVR was associated with higher rates of rehospitalisation.

Tricuspid Regurgitation and Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The extent of cardiac damage associated with aortic stenosis has important prognostic implications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the role of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in this clinical setting is still unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the association between TR and mortality in patients undergoing TAVR and assess changes in TR severity post TAVR and its relationship with short and mid-term mortality.

METHODS

Relevant databases were searched for articles published from inception until August 2020. Out of 414 screened studies, we selected 24 that reported the degree of TR pre or post TAVR. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and random effects meta-analysis models were conducted (at a significance level of 5%).

RESULTS

Seventeen studies reported associations between pre-TAVR TR and all-cause mortality (> 45,000 participants) and thirteen accessed TR severity post TAVR (709 participants). Moderate/severe baseline TR was associated to higher all-cause mortality both at 30 days (HR 1.65; 95% CI, 1.20-2.29) and 1.2 years (HR 1.56; 95% CI, 1.31-1.84). After TAVR, 43% of patients presented a decrease of at least one grade in TR (30 days, 95% CI, 30-56%), sustained at 12.5 months in 44% of participants (95% CI, 35-52%). Persistence of significant TR was associated with a two-fold increase in all-cause mortality (HR 2.12; 95% CI, 1.53-2.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant TR pre TAVR is associated with higher mortality. Although TR severity may improve, the persistence of significant TR post TAVR is strongly associated with increased mortality. Our findings highlight the importance of a detailed assessment of TR pre and post TAVR and might help identify patients who may benefit from more careful surveillance in this scenario.

CTA-determined tricuspid annular dilatation is associated with persistence of tricuspid regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

AIM

The aim of this study was to analyse the predictive value of CTA-determined tricuspid annular dilatation (TAD) on the persistence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS) and concomitant at least moderate TR.

METHODS AND RESULTS

288 consecutive patients treated with TAVR due to severe AS and concomitant at least moderate TR at baseline were included in the analysis. As cutoff for TAD, the median value of the CTA-determined, to the body surface area-normalized tricuspid annulus diameter (25.2 mm/m²) was used. TAD had no impact on procedural characteristics or outcomes, including procedural death and technical or device failure according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 criteria. However, the primary outcome of the study-TR persistence after TAVR was significantly more frequent in patients with compared to patients without TAD (odds ratio 2.60, 95% confidence interval 1.33-5.16, p < 0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusting for clinical and echocardiographic baseline characteristics, which are known to influence aetiology or severity of TR, confirmed TAD as an independent predictor of TR persistence after TAVR (adjusted odds ratio 2.30, 95% confidence interval 1.20-4.46, p = 0.01). Moreover, 2 year all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with persistence or without change of TR compared to patients with TR improvement (log-rank p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing TAVR for severe AS and concomitant at least moderate TR at baseline, TAD is a predictor of TR persistence, which is associated with increased 2-year all-cause mortality.

Prognostic relevance of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Impact of follow-up time point for decision-making

Background

In patients with aortic stenosis treated by transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), mitral and tricuspid regurgitation (MR and TR) at baseline and after TAVI are likely to be of prognostic relevance, and questions such as whether and when treatment further improves prognosis in these patients arise.

Aims

Against that background, the purpose of this study was to analyze a variety of clinical characteristics including MR and TR with respect to their potential value as predictors of 2-year mortality after TAVI.

Methods

A cohort of 445 typical TAVI patients was available for the study and clinical characteristics were evaluated baseline, 6 to 8 weeks as well as 6 months after TAVI.

Results

In 39% of the patients relevant (moderate or severe) MR and in 32% of the patients relevant (moderate or severe) TR could be detected at baseline. The rates were 27% for MR (p = 0.001, compared to baseline) and 35% for TR (p = n.s., compared to baseline) at the 6- to 8-week follow-up. After 6 months, relevant MR was observable in 28% (p = 0.036, compared to baseline) and relevant TR in 34% (p = n.s., compared to baseline) of the patients. As predictors of 2-year mortality, a multivariate analysis identified the following parameters for the different time points: sex, age, AS entity, atrial fibrillation, renal function, relevant TR, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPsys), and 6-min walk distance at baseline; clinical frailty scale and PAPsys 6-8 weeks after TAVI and BNP and relevant MR 6 months after TAVI. There was a significantly worse 2-year survival in patients with relevant TR at baseline (68.4% vs. 82.6%, p < 0.001; whole population, n = 445) and in patients with relevant MR at 6 months (87.9% vs. 95.2%, p = 0.042; landmark analysis: n = 235).

Conclusion

This real-life study demonstrated the prognostic relevance of repeated evaluation of MR and TR before and after TAVI. Choosing the right time point for treatment is a remaining clinical challenge, which should be further addressed in randomized trials.

Artificial intelligence-enabled phenotyping of patients with severe aortic stenosis: on the recovery of extra-aortic valve cardiac damage after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

OBJECTIVE

A novel artificial intelligence-based phenotyping approach to stratify patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been proposed, based on echocardiographic and haemodynamic data. This study aimed to analyse the recovery of extra-aortic valve cardiac damage in accordance with this novel stratification system following TAVR.

METHODS

The proposed phenotyping approach was previously established employing data from 366 patients with severe AS from a bicentric registry. For this consecutive study, echocardiographic follow-up data, obtained on day 147±75.1 after TAVR, were available from 247 patients (67.5%).

RESULTS

Correction of severe AS by TAVR significantly reduced the proportion of patients suffering from concurrent severe mitral regurgitation (from 9.29% to 3.64%, p value: 0.0015). Moreover, pulmonary artery pressures were ameliorated (estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure: from 47.2±15.8 to 43.3±15.1 mm Hg, p value: 0.0079). However, right heart dysfunction as well as the proportion of patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation remained unchanged. Clusters with persistent right heart dysfunction ultimately displayed 2-year survival rates of 69.2% (95% CI 56.6% to 84.7%) and 74.6% (95% CI 65.9% to 84.4%), which were significantly lower compared with clusters with little or no persistent cardiopulmonary impairment (88.3% (95% CI 83.3% to 93.5%) and 85.5% (95% CI 77.1% to 94.8%)).

CONCLUSIONS

This phenotyping approach preprocedurally identifies patients with severe AS, who will not recover from extra-aortic valve cardiac damage following TAVR and whose survival is therefore significantly reduced. Importantly, not the degree of pulmonary hypertension at initial presentation, but the irreversibility of right heart dysfunction determines prognosis.

Evaluating the effect of multivalvular disease on mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Aims: To determine the prognosis of multivalvular disease in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis. Methods: Patients undergoing TAVR for aortic stenosis with covariate-adjusted risk of mortality associated with concomitant valve disease (mitral regurgitation [MR], mitral stenosis [MS] or tricuspid regurgitation [TR]) were included. Results: Moderate-to-severe MR was associated with increased mortality at 30 days (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.11-2.30; p = 0.01) and 1 year (HR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.22-2.87; p = 0.004). The presence of all-grade MS did not impact 30-day or 1-year mortality (HR, 30 days: 1.60; 95% CI: 0.71-3.63; p = 0.26; and HR, 1 year: 1.90; 95% CI: 0.98-3.69; p = 0.06); however, an increased risk of 1-year mortality (HR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.03-2.70; p = 0.04) was observed with severe MS compared with no MS. Moderate-to-severe TR had a higher risk of all-cause mortality at 1 year (HR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.24-1.78; p < 0.001) compared with no or mild TR. Conclusion: Moderate-to-severe MR or TR, and severe MS, significantly increase mid-term mortality after TAVR.

Potential Candidates for Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Intervention After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Predictors and Prognosis

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to document the prevalence of concomitant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) before and after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), to quantify potential eligibility for transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI), and to report clinical outcomes as a function of the severity of TR and potential candidacy for TTVI.

BACKGROUND

The importance of concomitant TR in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR remains unclear.

METHODS

In a prospective TAVR registry, the severity of TR before and after TAVR was retrospectively evaluated in an echocardiography core laboratory.

RESULTS

Among 2,008 eligible patients, 1,659 patients (82.6%) had mild or less TR, 242 (12.1%) had moderate TR, 57 (2.8%) had severe TR, and 50 (2.5%) had massive TR. More than one-half of patients with moderate or greater TR had a reduction in TR, while a small proportion of patients with severe or less of TR had worsening of TR after TAVR. In contrast to TR at baseline, severe TR (adjusted HR [HR_adjusted]: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.03-3.49) and massive TR (HR_adjusted: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.10-4.30) after TAVR conferred an increased risk for mortality compared with mild or less TR at 1 year after TAVR. After TAVR, 63 patients (3.1%) were deemed potential candidates for TTVI. They had a 2-fold increased risk for mortality between 30 days and 1 year (HR_adjusted: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.15-3.25) and a higher risk for persistent heart failure symptoms (adjusted risk ratio: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.78-4.40).

CONCLUSIONS

A non-negligible proportion of patients were considered potential candidates for TTVI after TAVR and had impaired prognosis and persistently impaired functional status at 1 year. (SwissTAVI Registry; NCT01368250).

The Right Ventricle in the Trans-Catheter Era: A Perspective for Planning Interventions

Dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV) is common in patients with advanced left-sided valve disease and the significant impact of RV dysfunction on both short and long-term outcome is well established. However, considerations of RV function are largely absent in current management guidelines for valve disease and cardiac procedural risk models. As the indications and use of trans-catheter therapies rapidly expand for patients with acquired valvular disease, it is critical for clinicians to understand and consider RV function when making decisions for these patients. This review summarizes contemporary data on the assessment of RV function, the prognostic importance of baseline RV dysfunction on surgical and transcatheter procedures for acquired left-sided valvular disease, and the relative impact of these interventions on RV function. Baseline RV dysfunction is a powerful predictor of poor short- and long-term outcome after any therapeutic intervention for acquired left-sided cardiac valve disease. Surgical intervention for aortic or mitral valve disease is associated with a significant but transient decline in RV function, whereas trans-catheter procedures generally do not appear to have detrimental effects on either longitudinal or global RV function. Guidelines for therapy in patents with acquired left-sided valvular disease should account for RV dysfunction. Whereas surgical intervention in these patients leads to a predictable decline in RV function, trans-catheter therapies largely do not appear to have this effect. Further study is needed to determine the impact of these findings on current practice.

Tricuspid regurgitation and in-hospital outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients

Background

The prognostic impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is uncertain, and the management of patients with severe aortic stenosis and significant TR undergoing TAVR is unclear.

Methods

Retrospective study investigating the role of TR severity on hospital outcomes in high risk patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR.

Results

A total of 174 participants were included in the present study. The median age was 84 years and 48% were women. The median (IR) STS score was 7.3 (4.7-13.6). The pre-procedural mean (SD) aortic valve area (AVA) was 0.69 (0.2) cm² and the average (SD) peak and mean gradients were 71 [23]/42 [15] mmHg. Pre TAVR, 28.7% of patients had significant (moderate or severe) TR. Significant TR pre-TAVR increased the risk of in-hospital cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause and mortality [adjusted relative risk (RR) (95% CI): 14.67 (1.35-159.51) and 5.09 (1.14-22.72), respectively], and those with severe TR post-TAVR had longer hospital stay [median (IR): 9.9 (2.9-17.0) days]. No improvement or worsened TR (greater than mild) post-TAVR was associated with higher CV and all-cause mortality [adjusted RR (95% CI): 21.5 (1.81-255.96) and 8.19 (1.67-40.29), respectively]. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was independently associated with TR severity pre and post TAVR.

Conclusions

Significant TR was common among patients undergoing high risk TAVR, and is associated with increased in hospital mortality and longer hospital stay. Patients with elevated RVSP and persistent moderate or severe TR after TAVR are at higher risk of in hospital death.

Adaptive development of concomitant secondary mitral and tricuspid regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

AIMS

Concomitant secondary atrioventricular regurgitation is frequent in patients with severe aortic stenosis scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The future implications of leaving associated valve lesions untreated after TAVR remain unknown. Aim of the present study was to characterize the evolution of concomitant secondary atrioventricular regurgitations and to evaluate their impact on long-term prognosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We prospectively enrolled 429 consecutive TAVR patients. All patients underwent comprehensive clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic assessments prior to TAVR, at discharge, and yearly thereafter. All-cause mortality was chosen as primary study endpoint. At baseline, severe concomitant secondary mitral regurgitation (sMR) was present in 54 (13%) and severe concomitant secondary tricuspid regurgitation (sTR) in 75 patients (17%). After TAVR 59% of patients with severe sMR at baseline experienced sMR regression, whereas analogously sTR regressed in 43% of patients with severe sTR. Persistence of sTR and sMR were associated with excess mortality after adjustment for our bootstrap-selected confounder model with an adjusted HR of 2.44 (95% CI 1.15-5.20, P = 0.021) for sMR and of 2.09 (95% CI 1.20-3.66, P = 0.01) for sTR. Patients showing regression of atrioventricular regurgitation exhibited survival rates indistinguishable to those seen in patients without concomitant atrioventricular regurgitation (sMR: P = 0.83; sTR: P = 0.74).

CONCLUSION

Concomitant secondary atrioventricular regurgitation in patients with severe AS is a highly dynamic process with up to half of all patients showing regression of associated valvular regurgitation after TAVR and subsequent favourable post-interventional outcome. Persistent atrioventricular regurgitation is a major determinant of unfavourable outcome after TAVR and proposes a window of early sequel intervention.

Predictors and Outcomes of Persistent Tricuspid Regurgitation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Persistent tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been reported to increase mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical and echocardiographic determinants and outcome of persistent TR after TAVI. We reviewed 1,085 patients who underwent TAVI. Among them, 100 patients who had ≥moderate TR without organic dysfunction of the tricuspid valve apparatus were studied. Preprocedural and follow-up transthoracic echocardiography after TAVI were analyzed. After TAVI, patients were divided into persistent TR group and improved TR group. Clinical event was defined as all-cause mortality and readmission for heart failure within 1,000 days. Fifty-three (53%) patients had persistent TR, whereas 47 (47%) patients had improved TR. Risk of clinical event was significantly higher in the persistent TR group compared with the improved TR group. Atrial fibrillation (AF) and tricuspid annular dimension (TAD; p <0.05 for all) were independent predictors of persistent TR. Receiver operating characteristic curve showed the optimal cut-off value of TAD for predicting persistent TR was 37 mm. The combination of AF and TAD ≥37 mm was associated with persistent TR (p <0.001). In conclusion, AF and dilated TAD before TAVI predicted persistent TR which was associated with higher all-cause mortality and readmission for heart failure.

The Year in Perioperative Echocardiography: Selected Highlights from 2018

This article is the third of an annual series reviewing the research highlights of the year pertaining to the subspecialty of perioperative echocardiography for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief, Dr. Kaplan, and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series. In most cases, these will be research articles targeted at the perioperative echocardiography diagnosis and treatment of patients after cardiothoracic surgery; but in some cases, these articles will target the use of perioperative echocardiography in general.