Thirty-day outcome of transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the edwards SAPIEN XT prosthesis via the transiliofemoral approach

Obstruction of 2 Coronary Arteries from Different Causes Immediately after Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Coronary obstruction, a rare complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement, can be fatal. Few data exist on this phenomenon, and, to date, authors have reported only single coronary lesions. We present a case in which 2 coronary arteries obstructed immediately after transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The patient was an 81-year-old woman with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Immediately after an Edwards Sapien XT valve was deployed, she experienced sudden cardiogenic shock resulting from obstruction of the left main coronary artery ostium and the distal left anterior descending coronary artery. The left main obstruction was caused by direct compression from a large calcified mass and the valve frame. The left anterior descending coronary artery obstruction was caused by ambient myocardial tightening and external compression around the apical sutures. Revascularization was achieved through coronary stent placement and suture removal, respectively. Our patient's case highlights the risk for coronary obstructions after transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and we discuss how they can be managed.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in Asia

The use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) to treat severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis has increased exponentially in the last decade. This rapid expansion was seen predominantly in Western developed nations and has been fuelled by favorable results reported from a plethora of well-publicized randomized controlled trials, large retrospective series and national registries. Now, TAVI has become the standard of care for inoperable patients and an alternative to open surgery in patients who are at intermediate to high risk for open surgery. Notwithstanding these positive results, Asia has been relatively slow to adopt this technology despite a potentially large patient pool. Unique features of Asian medical environments and differences in Asian anatomy affecting TAVI uptake in Asia will be discussed. This article serves to outline the various challenging aspects of disseminating TAVI in Asian countries.

Favorable Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Japanese Patients - First Report From the Post-Approval K-TAVI Registry

BACKGROUND

Very limited data exist on the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) since Japanese marketing approval of the first TAVI device.Methods and Results:The Kyoto University-related hospital Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (K-TAVI) registry includes prospectively collected data from 6 participating hospitals in Japan. We included 302 patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI using the SAPIEN XT balloon-expandable valve via transfemoral (TF; n=203, 67%) or transapical (TA; n=99, 33%) approach between October 2013 and September 2015. Device success rate, based on the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria, was very high in the TF (97.0%) and TA (99.0%) groups. The 30-day mortality rates were 1.5% and 1.0% in the TF and TA groups, respectively. Major complications included stroke (transient or persistent: 2.3%), annulus rupture (1.0%), coronary intervention (1.0%), major vascular complications (1.7%), and permanent pacemaker implantation (5.4%). The procedure times of the post-proctoring period (n=210) were decreased compared with those of the proctoring period (n=89) without affecting the clinical outcomes. The survival rates at 6 and 12 months were 96.9% and 92.5% in the TF group, and 93.9% and 91.8% in the TA group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The K-TAVI registry data revealed that the early outcomes of TAVI using the SAPIEN XT were favorable in real-world Japanese patients.

Early Results of Simultaneous Transaortic Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Total Arterial Off-Pump Coronary Artery Revascularization in High-Risk Patients

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an alternative procedure for treating aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with advanced age and severe comorbidities. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is present with AS in 40-50% of patients with typical angina. Considering the high operative mortality and morbidity rates in these patients, hybrid TAVI and off-pump CABG (OPCAB) have become realistic treatment options.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between August 2014 and November 2015, 12 patients were evaluated for simultaneous TAVI and OPCAB. Because of their advanced age and comorbidities these patients were not considered suitable for standard open heart surgery. PCI was also considered unsuitable, because of left anterior descending artery (LAD) proximal lesions and/or high SYNTAX score. TAVI was conducted through a median sternotomy after left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to LAD anastomosis. In 11 cases OPCAB with LITA and composite RA graft was performed using an aorta no-touch technique. Mean age at operation was 81±6.3 years. Average number of distal anastomoses was 2.6. Perivalvular leakage was mild in 3 patients, trivial in 8, and none in 1. There was no conversion to on-pump procedure and no hospital deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Simultaneous transaortic TAVI and OPCAB in high-risk patients with severe AS and IHD is a reasonable option. This method could be an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement and CABG. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1946-1950).

Early and Late Outcomes of Aortic Valve Replacement Using Bioprosthetic Versus Mechanical Valve in Elderly Patients: A Propensity Analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

There is still controversy on the use of mechanical valves to treat elderly patients with a small aortic annulus who require aortic valve replacement (AVR). We compared our results in elderly patients who underwent AVR with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve. Propensity matching adjusted for baseline differences in this study.

METHODS

Between January 2001 and July 2014, 277 patients aged ≥75 years old who underwent AVR were enrolled. Of 277 patients, 104 patients were selected using propensity score matching analysis. Out of this cohort, 52 patients underwent AVR with a bioprosthetic valve (B group) and the remainder AVR with a mechanical valve (M group).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the B and M groups in 30 days mortality (1.9% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.618). The incidence of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) after AVR tended to be lower in the M group than in the B group. The overall survival rates in the B and M groups at eight years were 72.8% and 73.3%, respectively (p = 0.473). No significant differences between the two groups were observed in freedom from valve-related death, cardiac events, bleeding events, or stroke events.

CONCLUSIONS

AVR in elderly patients achieved relatively good short-term and long-term outcomes, and the incidence rates of valve-related complications after using a mechanical valve were low. In a selected population of elderly patients, a mechanical valve may be acceptable. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12719 (J Card Surg 2016;31:195-202).

Transcatheter Balloon Expandable Aortic Valve Implantation through an Aortofemoral Bypass Graft

An 84-year-old woman was diagnosed with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. She had previously undergone aortobifemoral bypass grafting (Y graft) for bilateral iliac stenosis. In view of a high surgical risk, a decision for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was made. An incision was made on the right limb of the Y graft and subsequently a 16 Fr e-sheath was smoothly advanced through the graft. A 23 mm balloon expandable valve was then advanced with no resistance and successfully deployed. This case highlights the feasibility of TAVI through the graft, but requires a thorough preprocedural assessment of the access route using multiple imaging modalities.

Identification of Coronary Artery Orifice to Prevent Coronary Complications in Bioprosthetic and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to identify anatomical variations in coronary artery orifices among high-risk patients with a small aortic root undergoing bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (BAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in order to prevent coronary orifice obstruction perioperatively.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Coronary orifice and root structure were identified in 400 patients using aortic multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). We measured the aortic root diameter; intercommissural distances; and distance from coronary orifice to valve annulus, commissure, and sinotubular junction. We examined positional relationships between the coronary orifice and stent post, or sewing cuff of the bioprosthetic valve and leaflet of the transcatheter aortic valve. Most left coronary artery orifices were distributed near the center of the non-left and left-right commissures; right ones were relatively distributed on the non-right commissural side. Thirty-four patients (8.5%) with BAVR (coronary orifice near the commissure: 31, 7.8%; low takeoff: 5, 1.3%; and both: 2) and 39 (9.8%) with TAVR were at risk for coronary orifice obstruction. During BAVR, one-stitch rotation of the stent and one-stitch rotation with intra-annular implantation were used in near-commissure and low takeoff cases, respectively. During TAVR, percutaneous coronary intervention may be required in the height of the coronary orifice was ≤10 mm from the base of the ventricle aortic junction.

CONCLUSIONS

Potential coronary complications during BAVR and TAVR in high-risk patients for coronary obstruction were identified using preoperative aortic MDCT. Choice of appropriate surgical technique or valve is essential.

Overview of the 79th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society – Late-Breaking Cardiovascular Medicine From Japan

The 79th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society was held in Osaka on April 24-26, 2015. The main theme was "Late-breaking Cardiovascular Medicine from Japan". Recently, optimal medical treatment has been guided by evidence-based medicine. We aim to emphasize the research findings and advances in cardiology from Japan, in the hope that Japan will become one of the leaders in the field worldwide. Unlike previous meetings, this annual scientific meeting was held in late April. Approximately 18,000 people, including medical doctors, healthcare professionals, and management staff, attended. The meeting was successfully completed, and included discussions on state-of-the art medicine.

Report of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions 2015, San Diego

The 64th Annual Scientific Sessions and Exposition of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) were held at the San Diego Convention Center from March 14-16, 2015. The ACC Scientific Sessions are 1 of 2 major scientific cardiology meetings in the United States, with nearly 20,000 attendees, including 15,000 cardiovascular professionals. There were over 2,100 oral and poster abstracts, and more than 15 late-breaking clinical trials (LBCTs) abstructs. This report presents the highlights and several key presentations, especially the LBCTs, from the ACC Scientific Sessions 2015. I hope this review will help cardiologists update to the latest information.