Aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation of the edwards SAPIENtm valve

Comparison of postoperative outcomes following multidetector computed tomography based vs transesophageal echocardiography based annulus sizing for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the difference in postoperative outcomes following multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-based annulus sizing for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

METHODS

Electronic search of PubMed, Biomed Central, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases was conducted until August 15, 2019. We included all types of studies comparing MDCT-based annulus sizing with TEE-based annulus sizing and assessing paravalvular regurgitation (PVR). Data were summarized using the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

A total of six studies were included. Pooled analysis of 431 participants in the MDCT group and 509 participants in the TEE group demonstrated that MDCT-based annulus sizing is associated with a significantly lower incidence of more than moderate PVR as compared to 2DTEE-based sizing (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.18-0.54, P < .0001; I2  = 0%). There was no statistical difference in annulus rupture (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.12-2.66, P = .91; I2  = 0%), procedural mortality (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.19-4.86, P = .97; I2  = 0%), and 30-day mortality (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.26-1.50, P = .29; I2  = 0%) with MDCT or 2DTEE-based annulus sizing. Compared with 3DTEE, the incidence of PVR in the MDCT group was lower, but there was no statistical difference in 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

Use of MDCT in comparison with 2DTEE is associated with significantly lower incidence of more than moderate PVR after TAVR. There seems to be no difference in annulus rupture and 30-day mortality with either imaging modality.

Aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: mechanisms and implications

In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an established treatment option for selected high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Favorable results with regard to both hemodynamics and clinical outcome have been achieved with transcatheter valves. Aortic regurgitation (AR) remains a major concern after TAVI. Echocardiography is the imaging modality of choice to assess AR in these patients due to its wide accessibility and low cost. Mostly mild residual AR has been observed in up to 70% of patients. However, as even a mild degree of AR has been associated with a decreased survival up to two years after TAVI, accurate evaluation and classification of AR is important. AR in transcatheter valves can be divided into three types according to different pathophysiological mechanisms. Besides the well-known transvalvular and paravalvular forms of regurgitation, a third form termed supra-skirtal has recently been observed. A thorough understanding of AR in transcatheter valves may allow to improve device design and implantation techniques to overcome this complication. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the three types of AR after TAVI focussing on the different pathophysiological mechanisms.

Three-dimensional multidetector computed tomography versus conventional 2-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for annular sizing in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Influence on postprocedural paravalvular aortic regurgitation

OBJECTIVES

In transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the influence of aortic annular assessment with either multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) or conventional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) on the incidence of postprocedural paravalvular aortic regurgitation (PAR) was evaluated.

BACKGROUND

PAR remains a major limitation in TAVR. Appropriate selection of transcatheter heart valve (THV) size is crucial to prevent PAR.

METHODS

Outcomes following TAVR with a balloon-expandable THV were compared in two retrospective cohorts identified according to whether THV size selection was based on TEE (study group 1, n = 80) or MDCT (study group 2, n = 58).

RESULTS

The two study groups were comparable with regard to baseline clinical, risk score, and echocardiographic characteristics. The incidence of moderate/severe PAR was lower in study group 2 than in group 1, 8.6% versus 28.8% (P < 0.01). The difference between the THV nominal diameter and MDCT annular diameter was predictive of moderate/severe PAR (AUC 0.84; 95% CI: 0.72-0.92). Neither age, gender, body mass index, annular eccentricity index, aortic valve calcification nor the difference between the THV diameter and the TEE annular diameter predicted postprocedural PAR. Increased THV oversizing relative to the MDCT mean annular diameter was associated with reduced severity of PAR. No difference in perprocedural complications between two study groups was observed.

CONCLUSION

MDCT-based annular sizing in TAVR significantly reduces postprocedural PAR, and THV oversizing appears pivotal in this aspect. Further delineation of the optimal degree of THV oversizing is needed.