Search

Effusive–constrictive pericarditis (ECP) is an uncommon diagnosis, frequently missed due to its heterogeneous presentation, but a potentially reversible cause of heart failure. A 62‐year‐old Caucasian male presented with remittent right heart failure and mild–moderate pericardial effusion. Following an initial diagnosis of idiopathic pericarditis, indomethacin was started, but the patient shortly relapsed, presenting with severe pericardial effusion and signs of cardiac tamponade, requiring pericardiocentesis. ECP was diagnosed on cardiac catheterization. Cardiac computed tomography showed non‐calcified, mildly thickened and inflamed parietal pericardium. Pericardiectomy was performed with symptoms remission. On histological examination of pericardium, chronic non‐necrotizing granulomatous inflammation was noted. Polymerase chain reaction assay was positive for non‐tuberculous mycobacteria. This case represents a rare finding of ECP with unusual presentation due to atypical mycobacteriosis in a non‐immunocompromised patient and in a non‐endemic area. Pericardiectomy can be an effective option in cases unresponsive to anti‐inflammatory treatment, even in the absence of significant pericardial thickening or calcification.

Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the time course of survival advantage of TAVR over SAVR as function of the patients' risk and sex. Background Women have been reported to have better survival than men undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, scant data on the sex-based survival benefit of TAVR over surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are available. Methods A systematic review of studies reporting clinical outcomes of men and women undergoing TAVR or SAVR was performed. Studies were divided into two groups according to average patient's risk score and the interplay of surgical risk and sex on outcomes were analyzed. Results Eight studies involving 6,596 women and 7,204 men patients were extracted. Unlike mens, women patients had survival advantage from TAVR over SAVR that became substantial at 1 year from index procedure and persisted at 2-year of follow-up. Moreover, this sex-based TAVR survival advantage was mainly observed in higher surgical risk patients. Men showed a significantly lower rate of residual paravalvular leak after SAVR. Conclusions Women patients had a selective mortality benefit from TAVR compared to SAVR. This sex-based TAVR benefit was mainly observed in high surgical risk patients beyond 1 year from procedure.

BACKGROUND Previous implantation of a permanent pacemaker (PPM) is common among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Moreover, onset of conduction disturbances needing new PPM implantation after TAVI is frequent. The interplay of pre-existing and new-PPM on mortality after TAVI remains controversial. METHODS We performed a systematic review and study-level meta-analysis on the influence of PPM on mortality after TAVI. Patients were divided into 3 groups: pre-existing PPM, new-PPM (implantation within 30 days after TAVI) and no-PPM (without PPM up to 30 days after TAVI). Outcomes were compared using pairwise and network meta-analysis. RESULTS A total of 28 studies including 40,016 subjects were eligible. Patients of the no-PPM group had a lower mortality outcome compared to the rest of the study population (relative risk [RR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.85, P

Objectives To compare the outcomes of trans-subclavian (TS) and transapical (TA) access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Background A considerable proportion of patients undergoing TAVI are not eligible for transfemoral approach. To date, there are few data to guide the choice between alternative vascular access routes. Methods Among 874 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI, 202 procedures were performed through TA (n = 142, 70.3%) or TS (n = 60, 29.7%) access. Medtronic Corevalve (CV, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) was implanted in 17.3% of the patients, the Edwards-Sapien (ES, Edwards Lifesciences Inc., Irvine, CA) in 81.2% and other prostheses in 0.1%. In-hospital and long-term outcome were assessed using the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-2 definitions. Results Mean age was 82 ± 6 years, STS score 9.3 ± 7.9%. The 2 groups showed a relevant imbalance in baseline characteristics. In hospital mortality was 6.4% (1.7% TS vs. 8.4% TA, P = 0.06), stroke 2.0%, acute myocardial infarction 1.0%, acute kidney injury 39.4%, sepsis 4.0% with no significant differences between groups, while bleeding was more frequent in TA patients (53.5% vs. 11.7% TS, P < 0.001). One- and 2-year survival was 85.2% and 73.2% in TS patients, and 83.9% and 74.9% in TA patients (P = ns for both). Access site was not an independent predictor of mortality at multivariable analysis. Conclusion Transapical compared with trans-subclavian access for TAVI was associated with a nonsignificant trend to increased periprocedural events. However, 1- and 2-year survival appears similar. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The presence of periprocedural conduction disorders (CDs) and the need for permanent pacemaker (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are frequent findings in clinical practice. Notwithstanding, robust information on the prognostic and therapeutic implications of these complications are lacking. The newly occurrence of CD after TAVI seems related to the trauma of the conduction system during procedure. On the contrary, major predictors for PPM implantation after TAVI seem to be the use of CoreValve prosthesis (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) and the presence of CD before TAVI. An accurate pre-TAVI screening, careful valve implantation, as well as post-TAVI monitoring must be pursued to prevent avoidable PPM implantation. The aim of this report is to analyze the available data on this field and to propose some practical clinical tips to prevent or to manage these complications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ths study reports different mechanisms (i.e., microvascular spasm and discrete microinfarction) that may underlie different pattern of slow-reflow after elective coronary stenting on the basis of the different tissue level of perfusion achieved, assessed by blush grade and MRI. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;61:222–226. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We describe the technical aspects and the possible advantages of a modified anchoring-based technique for the implantation of multiple Amplatzer devices, in a case of large anteroseptal mitral paravalvular leak causing massive regurgitation, which was manaed by antegrade transseptal, single-stage, percutaneous approach. Real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic guidance was crucial to ensure successful recrossings of the target defect and the optimal anatomical closure. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.