Quantitative Angiographic Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation among Three Balloon-Expandable Valves

A novel balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve bioprosthesis: Myval and Myval Octacor

INTRODUCTION

Over the past two decades, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has expanded its application across all surgical risk levels, including low-risk patients, where, due to longer life expectancy, reducing common pitfalls of TAVR is essential. To address these needs, many technological advancements have been developed. Myval and the new generation Myval Octacor (Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd) are novel balloon-expandable (BE) transcatheter heart valve (THV) systems designed for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis.

AREAS COVERED

This review aims to illustrate the design features of these novel THVs and the main evidence from available studies. Furthermore, we provide evidence of these THVs' performance in challenging scenarios such as extra-large aortic annuli, bicuspid aortic valves, and valve-in-valve/valve-in-ring procedures.

EXPERT OPINION

Myval and Myval Octacor have demonstrated comparable early safety and clinical efficacy to the leading contemporary THVs, exhibiting remarkably low rates of moderate to severe paravalvular leak (PVL) and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI). The wide range of sizes offered by the Myval family may minimize the risk of under-/oversizing, potentially explaining the lower rates of the aforementioned phenomena. Moreover, the presence of both internal skirt and external reinforced cuff may also explain the low rate of moderate to severe PVL.

LANDMARK comparison of early outcomes of newer-generation Myval transcatheter heart valve series with contemporary valves (Sapien and Evolut) in real-world individuals with severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis: a randomised non-inferiority trial

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an established, guideline-endorsed treatment for severe aortic stenosis. Precise sizing of the balloon-expandable Myval transcatheter heart valve (THV) series with the aortic annulus is facilitated by increasing its diameter in 1·5 mm increments, compared with the usual 3 mm increments in valve size. The LANDMARK trial aimed to show non-inferiority of the Myval THV series compared with the contemporary THVs Sapien Series (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) or Evolut Series (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA).

METHODS

In this prospective, multinational, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial across 31 hospitals in 16 countries (Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Estonia, and Brazil), 768 participants with severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis were randomly assigned (1:1) to the Myval THV or a contemporary THV. Eligibility was primarily decided by the heart team in accordance with 2021 European Society of Cardiology guidelines. As per the criteria of the third Valve Academic Research Consortium, the primary endpoint at 30 days was a composite of all-cause mortality, all stroke, bleeding (types 3 and 4), acute kidney injury (stages 2-4), major vascular complications, moderate or severe prosthetic valve regurgitation, and conduction system disturbances resulting in a permanent pacemaker implantation. Non-inferiority of the study device was tested in the intention-to-treat population using a non-inferiority margin of 10·44% and assuming an event rate of 26·10%. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04275726, and EudraCT, 2020-000137-40, and is closed to new participants.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 6, 2021, and Dec 5, 2023, 768 participants with severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis were randomly assigned, 384 to the Myval THV and 384 to a contemporary THV. 369 (48%) participants had their sex recorded as female, and 399 (52%) as male. The mean age of participants was 80·0 years (SD 5·7) for those treated with the Myval THV and 80·4 years (5·4) for those treated with a contemporary THV. Median Society of Thoracic Surgeons scores were the same in both groups (Myval 2·6% [IQR 1·7-4·0] vs contemporary 2·6% [1·7-4·0]). The primary endpoint showed non-inferiority of the Myval (25%) compared with contemporary THV (27%), with a risk difference of -2·3% (one-sided upper 95% CI 3·8, pnon-inferiority<0·0001). No significant difference was seen in individual components of the primary composite endpoint.

INTERPRETATION

In individuals with severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis, the Myval THV met its primary endpoint at 30 days.

FUNDING

Meril Life Sciences.

Safety and effectiveness of the novel Myval Octacor transcatheter heart valve in severe, symptomatic aortic valve stenosis - A real-world Indian experience (The OCTACOR India Study)

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the novel, next-generation Myval Octacor - Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) in patients with severe, symptomatic, native aortic stenosis (AS).

METHODS

This multicenter, real-world observational registry included 123 patients with severe symptomatic AS, across 16 Indian centers who underwent treatment with the novel Myval Octacor THV. Study endpoints included all-cause mortality, all stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), major vascular complications, moderate or severe paravalvular leakage (PVL) and new permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) until 30 days follow-up.

RESULTS

Of the 123 patients (average age 70.07 ± 8.33 years), 37.4 % (n = 46) were female and 39.84 % presented with bicuspid valves. The technical success rate of the procedure was 100 % and the device success rate at 30 days was 98.4 %. At 30 days (n = 123) after the procedure, the overall mortality was 1.6 %. AKI occurred in 1.6 % of patients and there was no incidence of stroke, bleeding (types 3 and 4), and major vascular complications. In an analysis of 31 patients whose echocardiographic parameters were available across all timepoints, there were significant improvements in the mean pressure gradient (54.31 ± 18.19 mmHg vs. 10.42 ± 4.24 mmHg; p < 0.0001) and effective orifice area (0.66 ± 0.21 cm2 vs. 1.80 ± 0.44 cm2; p < 0.0001) from baseline to the 30-day follow-up. None of the patients experienced severe PVL, while moderate PVL was observed in two patients (1.6 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Early outcomes of the next-generation, novel Myval Octacor THV proved its safety and effectiveness in the treatment of severe AS.

Short-term outcome after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with a novel balloon-expandable valve

OBJECTIVES

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been expanding rapidly with numerous transcatheter heart valve (THV) systems currently available. The Myval balloon-expandable (BE) valve (Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., India) is a novel THV system indicated for the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis. The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and performance of the Myval BE valve.

METHODS

In this prospective single-centre study, 120 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with the Myval BE valve were included. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at 30 days and 6 months using Valve Academic Research Consortium‑2 criteria. All-cause mortality, stroke, acute kidney injury, major vascular complications, moderate or severe paravalvular leakage (PVL) and need for a permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) were investigated.

RESULTS

At 6‑month follow-up, all-cause death and cardiac death were seen in 5.8% and 0.8% of the patients respectively. Periprocedural stroke and need for PPI were both seen in 3.3% of the patients. Access-site-related vascular and bleeding complications were absent. Improved valve haemodynamics and no moderate to severe PVL could be seen at 30 days. An intermediate valve size was selected in 51% of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The Myval BE valve demonstrates improved valve haemodynamics, absence of moderate to severe PVL and good safety outcomes at 6‑month follow-up with low cardiac death rate and acceptable rates of permanent pacemaker implantation and periprocedural stroke. Future randomised controlled trials will further establish the clinical utility of the Myval BE valve.

Safety and performance parameters of the Myval transcatheter aortic valve bioprosthesis: The SAPPHIRE prospective registry

BACKGROUND

TAVR is an established treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Different THV platforms are nowadays available, each of them with its inherent limitations and others are under development aiming at overcoming such limitations. We thus sought to investigate the performance and 1-year clinical outcome of a new generation, balloon expandable, THV: the Myval™ (Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Vapi, Gujarat, India).

METHODS

This registry included the first 100 consecutive patients (mean age 80.7 ± 7.7; STS 4.3 ± 3.3 %), who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe stenosis of the native aortic valve from May 2020 to December 2020, in two Italian Centers. Clinical and procedural outcomes were defined according to VARC-3 criteria.

RESULTS

Transfemoral Myval THV was successfully implanted in all patients, with no intra-hospital mortality (technical success 100 %): vascular access complications were all "minor" (16 %), and managed by compression/balloon inflation; no cases of annular rupture or coronary obstruction occurred; 5 % of patients required an in-hospital pacemaker implantation (PM). Device success was 99 %. Overall and cardiovascular mortality were 6 % (CI 5 %-7 %) and 4 % (CI 2 %-5 %) at 1- year, while 12 % (CI 9 %-14 %) and 7 % (6-9 %) at 2 years. A total of 9 % of the patients required a PM within 12 months, and no further PM implantation occurred afterwards. No cerebrovascular events, renal failure and myocardial infarction occurred between discharge and 2-year follow-up. No events of structural valve deterioration but a sustained improvement of echocardiographic parameters were observed.

CONCLUSION

The Myval THV has a promising safety/efficacy profile at 2 year follow up. This performance should be further evaluated in the context of randomized trials to better elucidate its potential.

Quantitative aortography for assessment of aortic regurgitation in the era of percutaneous aortic valve replacement

Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a shortcoming that can erode the clinical benefits of transcatheter valve replacement (TAVR) and therefore a readily applicable method (aortography) to quantitate PVL objectively and accurately in the interventional suite is appealing to all operators. The ratio between the areas of the time-density curves in the aorta and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT-AR) defines the regurgitation fraction (RF). This technique has been validated in a mock circulation; a single injection in diastole was further tested in porcine and ovine models. In the clinical setting, LVOT-AR was compared with trans-thoracic and trans-oesophageal echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. LVOT-AR > 17% discriminates mild from moderate aortic regurgitation on echocardiography and confers a poor prognosis in multiple registries, and justifies balloon post-dilatation. The LVOT-AR differentiates the individual performances of many old and novel devices and is being used in ongoing randomized trials and registries.

Myval: A Novel Transcatheter Heart Valve for the Treatment of Severe Aortic Stenosis

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) performed using femoral arterial access is now a guideline recommended treatment for severe calcific aortic stenosis (AS) in elderly patients. Technological advancements and procedural refinements have focused on making TAVI simpler, safer, more effective and durable. Myval (Meril Lifesciences) is a new generation balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve (THV) developed in India that possesses novel features to improve deliverability and aid precise deployment. Following the first-in-human study, Myval was approved in India for commercial implantation in October 2018 and was subsequently given a CE mark in April 2019. This article reviews the science, technology and up-to-date clinical evidence for the Myval THV.

Angiographic quantification of aortic regurgitation following myval octacor implantation; independent core lab adjudication

BACKGROUND

The balloon expandable Myval transcatheter heart valve (THV) showed encouraging results regarding residual aortic regurgitation (AR) from multiple observational studies. The newly designed Myval Octacor has been introduced recently, aiming for a reduction in AR and improved performance.

OBJECTIVES

The focus of this study is to report the incidence of AR using the validated quantitative Videodensitometry angiography technology (qLVOT-AR%) in the first in human use of the Myval Octacor THV system.

METHODOLOGY

We report on the first in human use of the Myval Octacor THV system in 125 patients in 18 Indian centres. Independent retrospective analysis of the final aortograms following implantation of the Myval Octacor was performed using the CAAS-A-Valve software. AR is reported as a regurgitation fraction. The previously validated cutoff values have been used to identify ≥moderate AR (RF% >17%), mild (6% < RF% ≤17%), and none or trace AR (RF% ≤ 6%).

RESULTS

Final aortogram was analysable for 103 patients (84.4%) among the 122 available aortograms. 64 (62%) patients, had tricuspid aortic valve (TAV), 38 (37%) with bicuspid AV (BAV), and one with unicuspid AV. The median absolute RF% was 2% [1, 6], moderate or more AR incidence was 1.9%, mild AR in 20.4%, and none or trace AR in 77.7%. The two cases with RF% >17% were in the BAV group.

CONCLUSION

The initial results of Myval Octacor using quantitative angiography-derived regurgitation fraction demonstrated a favourable outcome regarding residual AR, possibly due to improved device design. Results must be confirmed in a larger randomised study, including other imaging modalities.

One-Year Outcomes after Myval Implantation in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis-A Multicentre Real-World Experience

BACKGROUND

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) affects approximately 1.5% of the general population and is seen in nearly 50% of candidates for aortic valve replacement (AVR). Despite increasingly utilised transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in aortic stenosis (AS) patients, its use among patients with severe bicuspid AS is limited as BAV is a heterogeneous disease associated with multiple and complex anatomical challenges.

AIM

To investigate the one-year outcomes of TAVI using the balloon-expandable Myval transcatheter heart valve (THV) (Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Vapi, India) in patients with severe bicuspid AS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We collected data from consecutive patients with bicuspid AS who underwent TAVI with the Myval THV and had at least one-year follow-up. Baseline characteristics, procedural, and 30-day echocardiographic and clinical outcomes were collected. Sixty-two patients were included in the study. The median age was 72 [66.3, 77.0] years, 45 (72.6%) were males, and the mean STS PROM score was 3.2 ± 2.2%. All TAVI procedures were performed via the transfemoral route. The median follow-up duration was 13.5 [12.2, 18.3] months; all-cause mortality was reported in 7 (11.3%) patients and cardiovascular hospitalisation in 6 (10.6%) patients. All-stroke was reported in 2 (3.2%), permanent pacemaker implantation 5 (8.3%), and myocardial infarction 1 (1.6%) patients. The echocardiographic assessment revealed a mean pressure gradient of 10 [8, 16.5] mmHg, effective orifice area 1.7 [1.4, 1.9] cm2, moderate AR in 1 (2%), mild AR in 14 (27%), and none/trace AR in 37 (71%). In total, 1 patient was diagnosed with valve thrombosis (2.1%), Stage II (moderate) haemodynamic deterioration was seen in 3 (6.4%), and stage III (severe) haemodynamic deterioration in 1 (2.1%) patient.

CONCLUSIONS

TAVI with the Myval THV in selected BAV anatomy is associated with favourable one-year hemodynamic and clinical outcomes.

Quantitative Angiographic Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation Following 11 TAVR Devices: An Update of a Multicenter Pooled Analysis

Background

Aortic regurgitation (AR) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a major predictor of short- and long-term survival. Thus far, no independent quantitative comparison of AR among commercially available transcatheter heart valves (THVs) has been performed.

Objectives

We sought to assess and compare the degree of acute AR following TAVR between 11 commercially available THVs and update our previous multicenter, pooled analysis.

Methods

Analyses were performed by an independent academic core lab using quantitative videodensitometry, a technique relying solely on the aortogram acquired after TAVR. The pooled analysis (n = 2665) included data from the initial cohort of 7 valves (Lotus [n = 546], Evolut PRO [n = 95], SAPIEN 3 [n = 397], Evolut R [n = 295], SAPIEN XT [n = 239], ACURATE neo [n = 120], and CoreValve [n = 532]) to which data from 4 new valves were added (ACURATE neo2 [n = 120], Myval [n = 108], VitaFlow [n = 105], and Venus-A [n = 113]).

Results

The Lotus valve had the lowest mean AR (3.5% ± 4.4%) followed by ACURATE neo2 (4.4% ± 4.8%), VitaFlow (6.1% ± 6.4%), Myval (6.3% ​± ​6.3%), Evolut PRO (7.4% ± 6.5%), SAPIEN 3 (7.6% ± 7.1%), Evolut R (7.9% ± 7.4%), SAPIEN XT (8.8% ± 7.5%), Venus-A (8.9% ​± ​10%), ACURATE neo (9.6% ± 9.2%), and CoreValve (13.7% ± 10.7%, analysis of variance P-value < .001). The only valves that statistically differed from all their counterparts were Lotus, with the lowest regurgitation in comparison to other valves except ACURATE neo2, which had less regurgitation compared with SAPIEN 3, Evolut R, SAPIEN XT, Venus-A, ACURATE neo, and CoreValve. CoreValve had the highest mean of AR, with the rates of moderate/severe AR: ACURATE neo2 (1.7%), Lotus (2.2%), Myval (2.8%), VitaFlow (4.7%), Evolut PRO (5.3%), SAPIEN 3 (8.3%), Evolut R (8.8%), SAPIEN XT (10.9%), ACURATE neo (11.3%), Venus-A (14.2%), and CoreValve (30.1%)-χ2 P-value < .001.

Conclusions

In this updated pooled analysis, the Lotus valve had the lowest mean AR, while ACURATE neo2 had the lowest rate of moderate/severe AR. Myval, VitaFlow, and Venus-A THVs showed promising results.

Clinical Comparison of a Novel Balloon-Expandable Versus a Self-Expanding Transcatheter Heart Valve for the Treatment of Patients with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: The EVAL Registry

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an effective treatment option for patients with severe, symptomatic AS, regardless of the transcatheter heart valve (THV) implanted. Prior studies demonstrated a higher device success with lower paravalvular leak (PVL) using the balloon-expandable (BE) Sapien/XT THV vs. a self-expanding (SE) THV. However, few data are available on the performance of a novel BE THV.

PURPOSE

to compare early clinical performance and safety of the newly available BE Myval THV (Myval, Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., India) vs. the commonly used SE (Evolut R, Medtronic) THV.

METHODS

 A single-center, retrospective cohort analysis was performed with 166 consecutive patients undergoing TAVR from March 2019 to March 2021 for severe symptomatic AS treated with either the novel BE Myval or the SE Evolut R (ER) bioprosthesis. The primary endpoint was device success at day 30 according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 (VARC-3). Secondary endpoints included 30-day all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, more than mild PVL, permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) rates and a composite of all-cause mortality and disabling stroke at 6 months.

RESULTS

 Among the 166 included patients, 108 patients received the SE ER THV and 58 patients were treated with the BE Myval THV. At baseline, the two groups showed comparable demographic characteristics. The primary composite endpoint of early device success occurred in 55 patients (94.8%) in the BE Myval group and in 90 patients (83.3%) in the SE ER group (OR 3.667, 95% CI 1.094-12.14; p = 0.048). At day 30, the BE Myval THV group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of more than mild PVL (BE Myval 3.45% vs. SE ER 14.8%, OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.05-0.8; p = 0.0338), along with a lower rate of PPI (BE Myval 11% vs. SE ER 24.2%, OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15-0.99; p = 0.0535). At the 6-month follow-up, the incidence of all-cause mortality and disabling stroke did not significantly differ between the two groups, while the incidence of PPI (BE Myval 11% vs. SE ER 27.5%, OR 0.32, CI 95% 0.1273-0.8; p = 0.02) and ≥moderate PVL (BE Myval 6.9% vs. SE ER 19.8%, OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.1-0.94; p = 0.0396) was significantly lower in the BE Myval group.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe symptomatic AS undergoing TAVR, the novel Myval BE THV provided a comparable performance to the well-known ER SE THV, and it was associated with a lower rate of PPI and ≥moderate PVL within 30 days and 6 months after the procedure. Randomized, head-to-head comparison trials are needed to confirm our results.

Comparative Quantitative Aortographic Assessment of Regurgitation in Patients Treated With VitaFlow Transcatheter Heart Valve vs. Other Self-Expanding Systems

Objectives

To compare the quantitative angiographic aortic regurgitation (AR) of six self-expanding valves after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Background

Quantitative videodensitometric aortography (LVOT-AR) is an accurate and reproducible tool for assessment of AR following TAVR.

Methods

This is a retrospective central core-lab analysis of 1,257 consecutive cine aortograms performed post-TAVR. The study included 107 final aortograms of consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with first-generation VitaFlow in four Chinese centers and 1,150 aortograms with five other transcatheter aortic valves (Evolut Pro, Evolut R, CoreValve, Venus A-Valve, and Acurate Neo). LVOT-AR analyses of these five valves were retrieved from a previously published pooled database.

Results

Among 172 aortograms of patients treated with VitaFlow, 107 final aortograms (62.2%) were analyzable by LVOT-AR. In this first in man eight cases necessitated a procedural valve in valve due to inappropriate TAVR positioning and severe aortic paravalvular regurgitation. In the VitaFlow group, the mean LVOT-AR of the intermediate aortograms was 7.3 ± 7.8% and the incidence of LVOT-AR >17% was 8.6%. The mean LVOT-AR of the final aortogram was 6.1 ± 6.4% in the VitaFlow group, followed by Evolut Pro (7.3 ± 6.5%), Evolut R (7.9 ± 7.4%), Venus A-valve (8.9 ± 10.0%), Acurate Neo (9.6 ± 9.2%), and lastly CoreValve (13.7 ± 10.7%) (analysis of variance p < 0.001). Post hoc 2-by-2 testing showed that CoreValve had significantly higher LVOT-AR compared with each of the other five THVs. No statistical difference in LVOT-AR was observed between VitaFlow, Evolut Pro, Evolut R, Acurate Neo, and Venus A-valves. The VitaFlow system had the lowest proportion of patients with LVOT-AR >17% (4.7%) (AR after the final aortograms), followed by Evolut Pro (5.3%), Evolut R (8.8%), Acurate Neo (11.3%), Venus A-valve (14.2%), and CoreValve (30.1%) (chi-square p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Compared to other commercially available self-expanding valves, VitaFlow seems to have a low degree of AR and a low proportion of patients with ≥moderate/severe AR as assessed by quantitative videodensitometric angiography. Once the learning phase is completed, comparisons of AR between different transcatheter heart valves should be attempted in a prospective randomized trial.

An Update on New Generation Transcatheter Aortic Valves and Delivery Systems

Over the last 15 years, the management of aortic valve disease has been changed by transcatheter aortic valve replacement, which has become the standard of care across the entire spectrum of surgical risk. As a result of continuous evolution of this technique, several next-generation transcatheter heart valves (THVs) have been developed to minimize procedural complications and improve patient outcomes. This review aims to provide an update on the new generation THVs and delivery systems.

Safety and Efficacy of Myval Implantation in Patients with Severe Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis-A Multicenter Real-World Experience

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common valvular congenital anomaly and is apparent in nearly 50% of candidates for AV replacement. While transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a recommended treatment for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) at all surgical risk levels, experience with TAVI in severe bicuspid AS is limited. TAVI in BAV is still a challenge due to its association with multiple and complex anatomical considerations. A retrospective study has been conducted to investigate TAVI's procedural and 30-day outcomes using the Myval transcatheter heart valve (THV) (Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. Vapi, Gujarat, India) in patients with severe bicuspid AS. Data were collected on 68 patients with severe bicuspid AS who underwent TAVI with the Myval THV. Baseline characteristics, procedural, 30-day echocardiographic and clinical outcomes were collected. The mean age and STS PROM score were 72.6 ± 9.4 and 3.54 ± 2.1. Procedures were performed via the transfemoral route in 98.5%. Major vascular complications (1.5%) and life-threatening bleeding (1.5%) occurred infrequently. No patient had coronary obstruction, second valve implantation or conversion to surgery. On 30-day echocardiography, the mean transvalvular gradient and effective orifice area were 9.8 ± 4.5 mmHg and 1.8 ± 0.4 cm2, respectively. None/trace aortic regurgitation occurred in 76.5%, mild AR in 20.5% and moderate AR in 3%. The permanent pacemaker implantation rate was 8.5% and 30-day all-cause death occurred in 3.0% of cases. TAVI with the Myval THV in selected BAV anatomy is associated with favorable short-term hemodynamic and clinical outcomes.

Chronic haemodynamic performance of a biorestorative transcatheter heart valve in an ovine model

BACKGROUND

The Xeltis biorestorative transcatheter heart valve (BTHV) leaflets are made from an electrospun bioabsorbable supramolecular polycarbonate-urethane and are mounted on a self-expanding nitinol frame. The acute haemodynamic performance of this BTHV was favourable.

AIMS

We sought to demonstrate the preclinical feasibility of a novel BTHV by evaluating the haemodynamic performances of five pilot valve designs up to 12 months in a chronic ovine model.

METHODS

Five design iterations (A, B, B', C, and D) of the BTHV were transapically implanted in 46 sheep; chronic data were available in 39 animals. Assessments were performed at implantation, 3, 6, and 12 months including quantitative aortography, echocardiography, and histology.

RESULTS

At 12 months, greater than or equal to moderate AR on echocardiography was seen in 0%, 100%, 33.3%, 100%, and 0% in the iterations A, B, B', C, and D, respectively. Furthermore, transprosthetic mean gradients on echocardiography were 10.0±2.8 mmHg, 19.0±1.0 mmHg, 8.0±1.7 mmHg, 26.8±2.4 mmHg, and 11.2±4.1 mmHg, and effective orifice area was 0.7±0.3 cm2, 1.1±0.3 cm2, 1.5±1.0 cm2, 1.5±0.6 cm2, and 1.0±0.4 cm2 in the iterations A, B, B', C, and D, respectively. On pathological evaluation, the iteration D demonstrated generally intact leaflets and advanced tissue coverage, while different degrees of structural deterioration were observed in the other design iterations.

CONCLUSIONS

Several leaflet material iterations were compared for the potential to demonstrate endogenous tissue restoration in an aortic valve in vivo. The most promising iteration showed intact leaflets and acceptable haemodynamic performance at 12 months, illustrating the potential of the BTHV.

Paravalvular Aortic Regurgitation Severity Assessed by Quantitative Aortography: ACURATE neo2 versus ACURATE neo Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

The new-generation ACURATE neo2 system was commercially released in September 2020. In this study, we sought to compare the aortic regurgitation (AR) severity of the ACURATE neo2 versus the ACURATE neo transcatheter heart valve, using quantitative videodensitometric angiography (qAR). This is a retrospective, Corelab analysis of final post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) aortograms of patients treated with the ACURATE neo2 and ACURATE neo systems. The ACURATE neo2 cohort comprised consecutive patients treated between September 2020 and January 2021 at two centers. The ACURATE neo cohort included consecutive patients treated before September 2020. Our primary objective was to compare AR severity on qAR following TAVI with ACURATE neo2 and ACURATE neo. Out of 401 aortograms, 228 (56.9%) were analyzable, with 120 in the ACURATE neo2 cohort, and 108 in the ACURATE neo cohort. The mean AR fraction was 4.4 ± 4.8% in the neo2 cohort, and 9.9 ± 8.2% in the neo cohort (p < 0.001). Furthermore, moderate or severe AR (qAR > 17%) was detected in 2 aortograms (1.7%) in the neo2 cohort and 15 aortograms (13.9%) in the neo cohort (p < 0.001). Quantitative aortography shows a lower rate of moderate or severe paravalvular AR in what is the first European experience of the new-generation, self-expanding ACURATE neo2 when compared to the first-generation ACURATE neo. Moreover, aortographic data need to be correlated and compared to Core Laboratory-adjudicated 30-day echocardiographic data.

Next-generation balloon-expandable Myval transcatheter heart valve in low-risk aortic stenosis patients

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to describe hemodynamic performance and clinical outcomes at 30-day follow-up of the balloon-expandable (BE) Myval transcatheter heart valve (THV) in low-risk patients.

BACKGROUND

The results of the next-generation BE Myval THV in low-risk aortic stenosis (AS) patients are still unknown.

METHODS

Retrospective registry performed in nine European centers including patients with low predicted operative mortality risk according to Society of thoracic surgeons (STS) and European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE-II) scores.

RESULTS

Between September 2019 and February 2021, a total of 100 patients (51% males, mean age 80 ± 6.5 years) were included. Mean STS score and EuroSCORE-II were 2.4 ± 0.8% and 2.2 ± 0.7%, respectively. Intermediate sizes were used in 39% (21.5 mm: 8%, 24.5 mm: 15%, 27.5 mm: 15%). There were no cases of valve embolization, coronary artery occlusion, annulus rupture, or procedural death. A definitive pacemaker implantation was needed in eight patients (8%). At 30-day follow-up aortic valve area (0.7 ± 0.2 vs. 2.1 ± 0.6 cm² ) and mean aortic valve gradient (43.4 ± 11.1 vs. 9.0 ± 3.7 mmHg) improved significantly (p < 0.001). Moderate aortic regurgitation occurred in 4%. Endpoints of early safety and clinical efficacy were 3 and 1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemodynamic performance and 30-day clinical outcomes of the BE Myval THV in low-risk AS patients were favorable. Longer-term follow-up is warranted.

Quantitative Angiographic Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation After Transcatheter Implantation of the Venus A-valve: Comparison with Other Self-Expanding Valves and Impact of a Learning Curve in a Single Chinese Center

Objectives

We aimed to compare the quantitative angiographic aortic regurgitation (AR) into the left ventricular out flow tract (LVOT-AR) of five different types of transcatheter self-expanding valves and to investigate the impact of the learning curve on post-TAVR AR.

Background

Quantitative video densitometric aortography is an objective, accurate, and reproducible tool for assessment of AR following TAVR.

Methods and results

This retrospective academic core-lab analysis, analyzed 1150 consecutive cine aortograms performed immediately post-TAVR. Quantitative angiographic AR of post-procedural aortography in 181 consecutive patients, who underwent TAVR with the Venus A-valve in a single Chinese center, were compared to the results of Evolut Pro, Evolut R, CoreValve, (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) and Acurate Neo (Boston Scientific, Massachusetts, US) transcatheter heart valves (THVs), from a previously published pooled database. Among the 181 aortograms of patients treated with the Venus A-Valve, 113 (62.4%) were analyzable for quantitative assessment of AR. The mean LVOT-AR was 8.9% ± 10.0% with 14.2% of patients having moderate or severe AR in the Venus A-valve group. No significant difference in mean LVOT-AR was observed between Evolut Pro, Evolut R, Acurate Neo, and Venus A-valve. The incidence of LVOT-AR >17%, which correlates with echocardiographic derived ≥ moderate AR, with the Evolut Pro was lower than with the Venus A-valve (5.3% vs. 14.2%, p = 0.034), but was not different from the Evolut R (5.3% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.612), or the Acurate Neo (5.3% vs. 11.3% p = 0.16) systems. A landmark analysis after recruitment of the first half of patients treated with the Venus A valve (N = 56), showed a significantly lower mean LVOT-AR in the second half of the series (11.3% ± 11.9% vs. 6.5% ± 7.1%, p = 0.011). The incidence of LVOT-AR >17% in the latest 57 cases was also numerically lower (7.0% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.857) and compared favorably with the best in class of the self-expanding valves.

Conclusion

The Venus A-valve has comparable mean LVOT-AR to other self-expanding valves but has a higher rate of moderate or severe AR than the Evolut Pro THV. However, after completion of a learning phase, results improved and compared favorably with the best in class of the commercially available self-expanding valves. These findings should be confirmed in prospective randomized comparisons of AR between different THVs.