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Although cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) assessment of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is feasible, the incremental prognostic value remains uncertain in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) evaluation. This study sought to determine the incremental clinical utility of RVD identification by CCTA while accounting for clinical and echocardiographic parameters.Patients who underwent multiphasic ECG-gated functional CCTA using dual-source system for routine TAVR planning were evaluated. Biphasic contrast protocol injection allowed for biventricular contrast enhancement. CCTA-based RVD was defined as right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) ​ ​50%. The association of CCTA-RVD with all-cause mortality and the composite outcome of death or heart failure hospitalization after TAVR was evaluated and examined for its incremental utility beyond clinical risk assessment and echocardiographic parameters.A total of 502 patients were included (median [IQR] age, 82 [77 to 87] years; 56% men) with a median follow-up of 22 [16 to 32] months. Importantly, 126 (25%) patients were identified as having RVD by CCTA that was not identified by echocardiography. CCTA-defined RVD predicted death and the composite outcome in both univariate analyses (HR for mortality, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.44-3.22; p ​ ​0.001; HR for composite outcome, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.48-3.01; p ​ ​0.001) and in multivariate models that included clinical risk factors and echocardiographic findings (HR for mortality, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.11-2.74; p ​= ​0.02; HR for composite outcome, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.09-2.44; p ​= ​0.02).Functional CCTA assessment pre-TAVR correctly identified 25% of patients with RVD that was not evident on 2D echocardiography. The presence of RVD on CCTA independently associates with clinical outcomes post-TAVR.

Background Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is feasible for selected patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who are poor candidates for valve surgery. Intermediate-term to long-term TMVR outcomes have not been reported. Objectives This study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness through 2-year follow-up of TMVR in high-surgical-risk patients with severe MR. Methods The first 100 patients enrolled in the Expanded Clinical Study of the Tendyne Mitral Valve System, an open-label, nonrandomized, prospective study of transapical TMVR, were followed for 2 years. Results The patients (aged 74.7 ± 8.0 years, 69.0% male) had symptomatic (66.0% New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class III or IV) grade 3+ or 4+ MR that was secondary or mixed in 89 (89.0%). Prostheses were successfully implanted in 97 (97.0%) patients. At 2 years, all-cause mortality was 39.0%; 17 (43.6%) of 39 deaths occurred during the first 90 days. Heart failure hospitalization (HFH) fell from 1.30 events per year preprocedure to 0.51 per year in the 2 years post-TMVR (P 1+ MR. The improvement in symptoms at 1 year (88.5% NYHA functional class I or II) was sustained to 2 years (81.6% NYHA functional class I or II). Among survivors, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 45.6 ± 9.4% at baseline and 39.8 ± 9.5% at 2 years (P = 0.0012). Estimated right ventricular systolic pressure decreased from 47.6 ± 8.6 mm Hg to 32.5 ± 10.4 mm Hg (P Conclusions In this study, the impact of TMVR on severity of MR, reduction in HFH rate, and improvement in symptoms was sustained through 2 years. All-cause mortality and the need for HFH was highest in the first 3 months postprocedure. (Expanded Clinical Study of the Tendyne Mitral Valve System; NCT02321514 )

Despite continued efforts, a majority of patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) remain undiagnosed and untreated. This study aimed to assess the adoptability and accuracy of point-of-care handheld echocardiographic assessments (POCE) in the primary care setting.Eleven previously untrained primary care providers were trained to use the Vscan Extend (GE, WI) POCE to assess VHD, left ventricular function (LVEF), and major extra-cardiac findings. Their assessments were compared to those of three blinded expert readers. A total of 175 patients underwent POCE assessments which were evaluated using Kappa statistics (κ) together with their estimated standard error, p value, and 95% CI bounds.Each patient had a mean of 3.3 ± 1.1 (±SD) assessments performed. Identical or nearly identical agreement between previously untrained primary providers and expert readers was evident for the diagnosis of tricuspid regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, pericardial effusion, and volume status. These agreements were strongest in apical long axis (κ = 1, p 0.001) and parasternal long and short axis views (κ =0.82 p 0.001), though agreement remained robust in apical 4-chamber views (κ ≥ 0.76). The agreements in LVEF assessment were identical in the apical long axis view (κ = 1, p 0.001) and robust in the remaining 3 views (κ =0.66, p 0.001). The assessments of aortic stenosis (parasternal/long, κ = 0.42, and parasternal/short, κ = 0.47, both p 0.001) were weak in their agreement.Compared to expert echocardiography readers, the untrained providers' use of POCE for VHD shows high user adoptability and diagnostic accuracies in the primary care setting.

The outcomes of patients with previous coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG) presenting with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) have received limited study. We compared the clinical and procedural characteristics and outcomes of STEMI patients with and without previous CABG in a contemporary multicenter STEMI registry between 2003 and 2020. The primary outcomes of the study were mortality and major cardiac adverse events (MACE: death, MI or stroke). Survival curves were derived using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Of the 13,893 patients included in the analyses, 7.2% had previous CABG. Mean age was 62.4 ± 13.6 years, most patients (71%) were men and 22% had diabetes. Previous CABG patients were older (69.0 ± 11.7 vs 61.9 ± 13.6 years, p0.001) and more likely to have diabetes (40% vs 21%, p0.001) compared with patients without previous CABG. Previous CABG patients had higher mortality and MACE at 5 years (p0.001). Outcomes were similar with saphenous vein graft vs native coronary culprits. Previous CABG remained associated with mortality from discharge to 18 months (p = 0.044) and from 18 months to 5 years (p0.001) after adjusting for baseline characteristics. Long term outcomes after STEMI were worse among patients with previous CABG compared with patients without previous CABG, even after adjustment for baseline characteristics.

The aim of this study was to compare 5-year cardiovascular, renal, and bioprosthetic valve durability outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).Patients with severe AS and CKD undergoing TAVR or SAVR are a challenging, understudied clinical subset.Intermediate-risk patients with moderate to severe CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate 60 mL/min/mThe study population included 1,045 TAVR patients (512 SAPIEN XT, 533 SAPIEN 3) and 479 SAVR patients. At 5 years, SAVR was better than SAPIEN XT TAVR (52.8% vs 68.0%; P = 0.04) but similar to SAPIEN 3 TAVR (52.8% vs 58.7%; P = 0.89). Perioperative AKI was more common after SAVR than TAVR (26.3% vs 10.3%; P 0.001) and was independently associated with long-term outcomes. Compared with SAVR, bioprosthetic valve failure and stage 2 or 3 structural valve deterioration were significantly greater for SAPIEN XT TAVR (P 0.05) but not for SAPIEN 3 TAVR.In intermediate-risk patients with AS and CKD, SAPIEN 3 TAVR and SAVR were associated with a similar risk for the primary endpoint at 5 years. AKI was more common after SAVR than TAVR, and SAPIEN 3 valve durability was comparable with that of surgical bioprostheses.

Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is a common and complex valve disease, in which severity and risk stratification is still a conundrum. Although risk increases with FMR severity, it is modulated by subjacent left ventricular (LV) disease. The extent of LV remodeling and dysfunction is traditionally evaluated by echocardiography, but a growing body of evidence shows that myocardial fibrosis (MF) assessment by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may complement risk stratification and inform treatment decisions. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the comprehensive evaluation that CMR can provide for patients with FMR, in particular for the assessment of MF and its potential impact in clinical decision-making.

The impact of new-onset persistent left bundle branch block (LBBB) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) on all-cause mortality has been controversial.We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of eleven studies (7398 patients) comparing the short- and long- outcomes in patients who had new-onset LBBB after TAVR vs. those who did not.During a mean follow-up of 20.5±14months, patients who had new-onset persistent LBBB after TAVR had a higher incidence of all-cause mortality (29.7% vs. 23.6%; OR 1.28 (1.04-1.58), p=0.02), rehospitalization for heart failure (HF) (19.5% vs. 17.3%; OR 1.4 (1.13-1.73), p=0.002), and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMi) (19.7% vs. 7.1%; OR 2.4 (1.64-3.52), p0.001) compared with those who did not. Five studies (4180 patients) reported adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality; new LBBB remained associated with a higher risk of mortality (adjusted HR 1.43 (1.08-1.9), p0.01, IPost-TAVR persistent LBBB is associated with higher PPMi, HF hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality. While efforts to identify patients who need post-procedural PPMi are warranted, more studies are required to evaluate the best follow-up and treatment strategies, including the type of pacing device if required, to improve long-term outcomes in these patients.

Data regarding outcomes for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) with concomitant aortic insufficiency (AI), undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are limited. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of severe AS with concomitant AI among patients undergoing TAVR and outcomes of TAVR in this patient group.Using data from the STS/ACC-TVT Registry, we identified patients with severe AS with or without concomitant AI who underwent TAVR between 2011 and 2016. Patients were categorized based on the severity of pre-procedural AI. Multivariable proportional hazards regression models were used to examine all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization at 1-year. Among 54,535 patients undergoing TAVR, 42,568 (78.1%) had severe AS with concomitant AI. Device success was lower in patients with severe AS with concomitant AI as compared with isolated AS. The presence of baseline AI was associated with lower 1 year mortality (HR 0.94 per 1 grade increase in AI severity; 95% CI, 0.91-0.98, P.001) and HF hospitalization (HR 0.87 per 1 grade increase in AI severity; 95% CI, 0.84-0.91, P.001).Severe AS with concomitant AI is common among patients undergoing TAVR, and is associated with lower 1 year mortality and HF hospitalization. Future studies are warranted to better understand the mechanisms underlying this benefit.In this nationally representative analysis from the United States, 78.1% of patients undergoing TAVR had severe AS with concomitant AI. Device success was lower in patients with severe AS with concomitant AI as compared with isolated AS. The presence of baseline AI was associated with lower 1 year mortality (HR 0.94 per 1 grade increase in AI severity; 95% CI, 0.91-0.98, P.001) and HF hospitalization (HR 0.87 per 1 grade increase in AI severity; 95% CI, 0.84-0.91, P.001).

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate in-hospital outcomes with use of the Sentinel cerebral protection system (CPS) in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Background The role of the Sentinel CPS in preventing clinical ischemic stroke has been controversial. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from the last three quarters of 2017, after the approval of the Sentinel CPS device, was queried to identify hospitalizations for TAVR. A 1:2 propensity score–matched analysis to compare in-hospital outcomes with versus without use of the CPS. The primary outcome was the occurrence of ischemic strokes. Results A total of 36,220 weighted discharges of patients who underwent TAVR (525 with the CPS and 35,695 without) were identified. The overall percentages of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes were 2.4% and 0.2%, respectively. After propensity score matching (525 CPS, 1,050 no CPS), the risk for ischemic stroke was lower with use of the CPS (1 % vs. 3.8%, odd ratio [OR]: 0.243 (95% confidence interval: 0.095 to 0.619); p = 0.003). The cost of the index hospitalization was higher with use of the CPS ($47,783 vs. $44,578; p = 0.002). In multivariate regression analysis, use of the CPS was independently associated with a lower risk for ischemic stroke (OR: 0.380; 95% confidence interval: 0.157 to 0.992; p = 0.032). Conclusions Use of the Sentinel CPS in patients undergoing TAVR is associated with a lower incidence of ischemic stroke and in-hospital mortality, without an increased risk for procedural complications but with an increased cost of the index hospitalization.

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the anatomic and functional changes in left-sided chambers using computed tomographic angiography (CTA) from baseline to 1 month after transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) with the Tendyne prosthesis. Background Data on changes in left atrial and left ventricular (LV) volumes after TMVR implantation are very limited. Methods Patients who underwent TMVR with the Tendyne prosthesis between 2015 and 2018 were analyzed. Changes in LV end-diastolic volume, ejection fraction, LV mass, left atrial volume, and global longitudinal strain were assessed at baseline and 1 month after TMVR using CTA. Specific Tendyne implant characteristics were identified and correlated with remodeling changes. Results A total of 36 patients (median age 74 years; interquartile range [IQR]: 69 to 78 years; 78% men; 86% with secondary mitral regurgitation) were included in this study. There were significant decreases in LV end-diastolic volume (281 ml [IQR: 210 to 317 ml] vs. 239 ml [IQR: 195 to 291 ml]; p Conclusions TMVR with Tendyne results in favorable left-sided chamber remodeling in the majority of patients treated, as detected on CTA at 1 month after implantation. CTA identifies favorable post-TMVR changes, which could be related to specific characteristics of the device implantation.

Objectives Our study reports the first-in-human experience of a novel approach for left atrial access via the coronary sinus—the percutaneous atriotomy—which is used for left atrial decomp...

This study sought to compare the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with and without cardiogenic shock (CS) or cardiac arrest (CA) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Patients with STEMI complicated by CS or CA are underrepresented in STEMI registries.Consecutive patients with STEMI or new left bundle branch block within 24 h of symptom onset were included in a regional STEMI program comprising a PCI center (Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital), 11 hospitals 60 miles from PCI center (zone 1), and 19 hospitals 60 to 210 miles from PCI center (zone 2). No patients were excluded. Patients were stratified based on the presence (+) or absence (-) of CS or CA before PCI. Patients with CA were further classified based on initial rhythm. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and 5-year mortality.Between March 2003 and December 2014, 4,511 STEMI patients were included in the regional program, including 398 (9%) with CS and 499 (11%) with CA. Hospital mortality was: CS+ and CA+, 44%; CS+ and CA-, 23%; CS- and CA+, 19%; and CS- and CA-, 2% (p 0.001). The 5-year survival probability for CS+ and CA+ patients was 0.69 (95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.76) and 0.89 (95% confidence interval: 0.84 to 0.93), respectively (p 0.01). Compared with patients with shockable rhythms, CA patients with nonshockable rhythms had significantly lower odds of survival at hospital discharge and at 5 years (both p 0.001).The combination of CS and CA significantly increases short-term mortality in patients with STEMI. After 5 years of follow-up, CS patients remained at high risk of fatal events, whereas the prognosis of CA patients was determined by initial rhythm at presentation.

Background We sought to quantify and compare changes in quality of life measures after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with low-flow (LF) and normal-flow (NF) aortic stenosis (AS). Methods We included 297 patients treated with TAVR at Abbott Northwestern Hospital from January 2015 to October 2017. Health status was assessed at baseline and 30 days post-procedure using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire 12 (KCCQ-12). Overall (KCCQ-OS) and domain-specific (physical limitation, symptom frequency, quality of life, and social limitation) scores were compared in three subsets of patients as defined by stroke volume index (≤ or >35 ml/m2 ), ejection fraction (EF) (≤ or >40%), and mean gradient (≤ or >40 mmHg). Results Of the 297 patients included, 129 (43%) had NF high-gradient (NF AS group) and 168 (56%) had LF severe AS, including 25 (8%) with low EF (8%) ("Classical" low-flow low-gradient LEF [LF-LG-LEF] group) and 143 (48%) with preserved EF ("Paradoxical" LF-LG group). At baseline, patients with LF-LG-LEF AS had more severe impairment in symptoms frequency (p = .06) but similar KCCQ-OS. At 1-month after TAVR, all groups had moderate improvements in quality of life (Delta KCCQ-OS: "Classical" LF-LG-LEF 18 ± 21, paradoxical AS 14 ± 18, and NF AS 15 ± 16, p = .57). During a median follow-up time of 2.4 years, there was no difference in mortality (p = .34) but patients with paradoxical LF-LG AS had a higher risk of rehospitalization for heart failure (p = .01). Conclusions Patients with LF severe AS derive significant improvements in quality of life measures after TAVR, indistinguishable from patients with NF AS.

Background Chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) causes left ventricular (LV) volume overload resulting in progressive LV remodeling, which negatively affect clinical outcome. Clinical Guidelines recommend assessment of LV remodeling by echocardiography, but little is known about comparative remodeling quantification by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and association with outcomes. Purpose To assess LV remodeling in AR by CMR, compared with echocardiographic measures and determine its impact on clinical outcome. Methods Patients with native, ≥moderate, chronic AR by echocardiography who underwent CMR exam within 90 days of diagnosis from January 2012 to February 2020 were enrolled. The endpoint was a composite of death, heart failure hospitalization, and heart failure symptom exacerbation during follow-up. Results The 178 patients included had median age (IQR) of 58 years (44–69), and most (88%, n=158) presented with no or minimal symptoms (NYHA class I/II). At diagnosis symptomatic vs. no/minimal symptoms patients presented with much more advanced LV remodeling by CMR (EDVI 133 [83–151] vs. 96 [80–123] p=0.024, ESVI 66 [46–85] vs. 42 [30–58], P=0.001) while echocardiography showed limited differences (EDVI 76 [57–93] vs. 65 [54–87] p=0.507, ESVI 38 [30–58] vs. 27 [20–42], p=0.072). During follow-up (3.3 years [1.6–5.8]), aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed in 49 patients. In patients with no/minimal symptoms, the composite endpoint occurred in 54 (34%) patients including eight deaths and 30 heart failure hospitalizations. Patients with LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) >45 ml/m2 by CMR had higher likelihood for composite endpoint (Panel A) confirmed in multivariate models, adjusting for age, sex, AVR (time-dependent), EuroSCORE2, and LV End-systolic-dimension-index (LVESDi) >25 mm/2, with adjusted hazard ratio 1.84 [1.02–3.33], p Conclusion Assessment of LV remodeling by CMR in patients with clinically significant AR is feasible in routine clinical practice, detects with high sensitivity LV remodeling associated with development of HF symptoms and is independently predictive of clinical outcome. Hence, CMR provides a powerful tool for evaluation and risk stratification of patients with AR. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Panel APanel B

Dual pathology of aortic stenosis (AS) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is increasingly recognized in our aging population. In hindsight, this may not come as a surprise as AS is the most common valvul...

A 69-year-old woman presented with recurrent heart failure, mild hypertrophy (13.5-mm septal thickness), and severe functional mitral regurgitation. The heart team recommended nonsurgical therapy. Leaflet calcifications precluded edge-to-edge repair; therefore, transcatheter mitral valve replacement

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is frequently performed during mitral valve surgery. Dedicated transcatheter mitral valve bioprostheses have anchoring atrial cuffs that interfere with transcatheter LAAO. We highlight the challenges of Watchman LAAO after Tendyne transcatheter mitral valve

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is approved for treatment of symptomatic aortic stenosis in patients at increased risk for surgical valve replacement, but outcomes data in patients with severe native aortic regurgitation (AR) treated with TAVI remain limited. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate outcomes among patients identified in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapies Registry who underwent TAVI for native AR with a commercially available self-expanding valve system. From January 2014 to December 2017, 230 patients in the TVT Registry underwent TAVI for primary severe native AR using a commercially available self-expanding valve (n = 81, CoreValve; n = 149, Evolut R). For inclusion, AR was either pure or mixed with predominantly moderate/severe AR and mean aortic valve gradient ≤20 mm Hg. Thirty-day outcomes were evaluated using time-to-event methods. Device success was reported in 81.7% of patients (CoreValve, 72.2%; Evolut R, 86.9%; p = 0.0.01). Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 13.3%. All patients presented with moderate/severe AR at baseline; at 30 days, 9.1% of implanted patients with data continued to have moderate and 1.4% severe AR. There was a significant reduction in residual moderate/severe AR from the CoreValve to Evolut R device (19.1% vs 6.3%, p = 0.02). Multivariable analysis revealed factors associated with 30-day all-cause mortality include number of valves used (hazard ratio [HR] 2.361, 1.643 to 3.391, p0.001), albumin3.3 mg/dL (HR 3.358, 1.551 to 7.273, p=0.002), and left ventricular ejection fraction (HR 0.978, 0.957 to 1.000, p = 0.047). Despite higher 30-day all-cause mortality, self-expanding TAVI may be an option in selected patients with AR who have no surgical options.

Transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a viable alternative to surgical valve implantation, particularly for higher risk patients; however, vascular complications (VCs) remain a concern in transfemoral TAVI. We aimed to determine clinical and computed tomographic angiography-derived risk factors associated with Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-2 criteria VCs in patients who underwent TAVI. From 2011 to 2017, 481 patients underwent percutaneous transfemoral TAVI at the Minneapolis Heart Institute and were screened for procedural and postprocedural access-related VC according to VARC-2 criteria. Clinical and clinical and computed tomographic angiography-derived data were collected to establish risk factors for VC. A total of 99 (21%) patients had VARC-2 VCs. Closure device failure (CDF) occurred in 56 of 99 (57%), minor VCs in 37 of 99 (37%), and major VCs occurred in 6 of 99 (6%). Access site-related VCs were preceded by CDF in 18 of 43 (42%) patients and the risk of major/minor VCs was 14 times greater in patients who experienced closure complications. The incidence of CDF was higher in common femoral artery (CFA) access sites with circumferential vessel wall calcification of more than 90° (p = 0.02) and when skin-surface to CFA access-site distance at an optimal access angle of 45° exceeded 80 mm (p = 0.03). In conclusion, both the degree of circumferential CFA access site calcification and distance to skin surface at an optimal access angle may improve risk stratification of access planning in patients who underwent percutaneous transfemoral TAVI.

Mitral regurgitation is the most commonly occurring valvular heart disease in developed countries. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged as a novel potential therapy for patients with severe mitral valve disease who are unsuitable candidates for conventional surgery or transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral repair. TMVR with the Tendyne prosthesis has shown potential at short-term follow-up to be an effective and safe treatment alternative for high-risk patients with severe mitral valve disease.

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare 1-year outcomes following transcatheter mitral valve (MV) repair in patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF). Background The development of AF in degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) is considered a sign of MR progression and is associated with adverse clinical events. However, the impact of AF in patients undergoing transcatheter MV repair remains uncertain. Methods The TVT (Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry was used to identify patients undergoing transcatheter MV repair with the MitraClip between November 2013 and June 2016. Using Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services–linked data, the 1-year rate of death, heart failure hospitalization, stroke, and bleeding following transcatheter MV repair was compared in patients with and without AF. Outcomes were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression modeling. Results A total of 5,613 patients underwent commercial transcatheter MV repair in the United States during the study period, including 3,555 (63%) with pre-existing AF. Compared with patients without AF, patients with AF were older, were more likely to be male and Caucasian, had more comorbidities, and had higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality scores (median 7% vs. 5%; p Conclusions In patients undergoing transcatheter MV repair, AF is common and is associated with worse clinical outcomes at 1 year despite similar acute procedural success. Further study is needed to investigate if early treatment of MR reduces the future risk for developing AF and to identify therapies that improve outcomes in these patients.

BackgroundThe natural history of patients with moderate aortic stenosis (AS) is poorly understood. We aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of patients with moderate AS.MethodsWe examined patients with moderate AS defined by echocardiography in our healthcare system, and performed survival analyses for occurrence of death, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and progression of AS, with accounting for symptoms, left ventricular dysfunction, and comorbidities.ResultsWe examined 729 patients with moderate AS (median age, 76 years; 59.9 % men) with a median follow-up of 5.0 years (interquartile range: 2.0 to 8.1 years). The 5-year overall survival was 52.3 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 48.6 % to 56.0 %) and survival free of death or HF hospitalization was 43.2 % (95 % CI: 39.5 % to 46.9 %). Worse New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was associated with poor long-term survival, with mortality rates ranging from 7.9 % (95 % CI: 6.6–9.2 %) to 25.2 % (95 % CI: 20.2–30.3 %) per year. Among patients with minimal or no symptoms, no futility markers, and preserved left ventricular function, 5-year overall survival was 71.9 % (95 % CI: 66.4–77.4 %) and survival free of death or HF hospitalization was 61.4 % (95 % CI: 55.5–67.3 %). Risk factors associated with adverse events were age, NYHA class, low ejection fraction and high aortic valve velocity (allp ConclusionsPatients with moderate AS are at significant risk of death. Our findings highlight the need for more study into appropriate therapeutic interventions to improve the prognosis of these patients.

Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is associated with heart failure and impaired survival with an annual mortality risk in excess of 5% per year for unoperated patients. Despite availability of surgical mitral valve interventions, as many as half of all patients with severe MR do not receive interventions. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with MitraClip has been a revolutionary therapy for MR, with over 100,000 treated patients worldwide. The usage has also expanded to different challenging anatomies as well as tricuspid regurgitation. Additionally, other transcatheter edge-to-edge repair devices are being studied. The evolution of these devices as well as what to expect in the future will be discussed here.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. onbehalf Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation Background Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) assessment by echocardiography is often challenging. Functional dual-source CT (DSCT) with third-generation scanners allows accurate evaluation of leaflet anatomy and mobility. Purpose Investigate the reproducibility of tricuspid anatomical regurgitant orifice area (AROA) by DSCT, and its correlation with TR quantification by 3D TEE. Methods We evaluated patients with symptomatic TR referred for transcatheter tricuspid repair. DSCT (SOMATOM Force [Siemens, Erlangen, Germany]) and 3D TEE was performed on the same day as part of our institutional registry. DSCT scans were retrospective and ECG-gated, with a contrast protocol to enhance the right heart. The reproducibility of tricuspid AROA was assessed in 20 patients. The tricuspid AROA was compared with the TR severity (5-grade classification) and the 3D VCA by TEE (Panel 1). Results We included 60 patients (Table). The AROA had excellent intra and interobserver reliability (ICC 0.99 [0.97, 0.99] and 0.99 [0.96, 0.99]). We found a stepwise increase in tricuspid AROA from moderate to torrential TR (Panel 2A). Of 60 patients, 3D VCA was feasible in 39; in those, we found an excellent linear correlation of AROA and 3D VCA (Panel 2B). Conclusions Tricuspid AROA by DSCT was reproducible, showed a stepwise increase from moderate to massive TR and correlated with 3D VCA by TEE. Baseline Patient Characteristics All (n = 60) Age, years 82 ± 7 BSA, m2 1.8 ± 0.2 NYHA III-IV, n(%) 42 (70) Atrial Fibrilation 55 (91) Hypertension 44 (73) Pulmonary Hypertension 34 (56) Chronic Kidney Disease 25 (44) Coronary Artery Disease 17 (28) Chronic Lung Disease 14 (23) Permanent Pacemaker 13 (21) Diabetes Mellitus 10 (17) Mitral Valve Repair (MitraClip) 9 (15) Mitral Valve Replacement 7 (12) Mitral Valve Repair 3 (5) Aortic Valve Replacement 5 (8) Values are mean ± SD and n (%). BSA = body surface area. Abstract Figure. Panels

INTRODUCTIONS & AIMS: Heart failure (HF) is a common comorbidity in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to access the temporal trends and outcomes of TAVR or SAVR in HF patients. METHOD: The NIS database from 2011-2014 was queried for patients that underwent TAVR or SAVR and were subsequently diagnosed with HF. Temporal trends in the utilization of TAVR or SAVR in HF patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 27,982 patients who were diagnosed with HF of whom 17,681 (63.2%) had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) while 10,301 (36.8%) had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), 9,049 (32.3%) underwent TAVR and 16,933 (76.7%) underwent SAVR. Patients with HFrEF and HFpEF had higher utilization of TAVR compared to SAVR over the course of the study period (p trend < 0.001). TAVR was associated with lower mortality [2.8% in 2012 and 1.8% in 2014 (p 0.013)] compared with SAVR. Similarly, multiple logistic regression showed a statistically significant lower in-hospital mortality in the TAVR group compared to SAVR (aOR 0.634; CI 0.504, 0.798, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: For patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and heart failure who undergo aortic valve intervention, TAVR is associated with less odds of in-hospital mortality compared with SAVR.

Aim This executive summary of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy clinical practice guideline provides recommendations and algorithms for clinicians to diagnose and manage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in adult and pediatric patients as well as supporting documentation to encourage their use. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January 1, 2010, to April 30, 2020, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports, and other relevant databases. Structure Many recommendations from the earlier hypertrophic cardiomyopathy guidelines have been updated with new evidence or a better understanding of earlier evidence. This summary operationalizes the recommendations from the full guideline and presents a combination of diagnostic work-up, genetic and family screening, risk stratification approaches, lifestyle modifications, surgical and catheter interventions, and medications that constitute components of guideline directed medical therapy. For both guideline-directed medical therapy and other recommended drug treatment regimens, the reader is advised to follow dosing, contraindications and drug-drug interactions based on product insert materials.

Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) refers to percutaneous septal reduction therapy of alcohol septal ablation, which has been available for nearly three decades as a non-surgical treatment for HCM, predominantly involving the left ventricular outflow tract. It has emerged as an alternative to surgical myectomy for the management of drug refractory obstructive symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Although randomized controlled trials comparing surgical myectomy and PTSMA are highly unlikely, greater insights into PTSMA can be gleaned from real world experience from established registries and the mandatory reporting of septal reduction therapies in patients with HCM. The outcome of PTSMA is heavily reliant on appropriate patient selection, operator expertise, and multidisciplinary care within a comprehensive HCM center.

The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel clinically relevant nomenclature system for the TV and determine the relative incidence of each morphological type.With the rapid development of transcatheter tricuspid valve (TV) repair techniques, there is a growing recognition of the variability in leaflet morphology and a need for a unified nomenclature, which could aid in procedural planning and execution.Patients from 4 medical centers (2 in Europe, 2 in the United States) referred for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to assess native TV function, were retrospectively analyzed for leaflet morphology with the use of a novel classification scheme. Four morphological types were identified: type I, 3 leaflets; type II, 2 leaflets; type IIIA, 4 leaflets with 2 anterior; type IIIB, 4 leaflets with 2 posterior; type IIIC, 4 leaflets with 2 septal; and type IV,4 leaflets.A total of 579 patients were analyzed: mean age 78.1 ± 8.0 years, 50.4% female, 70.9% in atrial fibrillation, and 32.2% with previous left heart surgery or transcatheter intervention. Tricuspid regurgitation was moderate or less in 9.4%, severe in 40.5%, massive in 32.3%, and torrential in 17.7%. The etiology of tricuspid regurgitation was primary in 9.4%, mixed in 10.8%, and secondary in all of the other patients (18.6% atriogenic/isolated). The incidence of type I morphology was 312 of 579 (53.9%), type II was 26 of 579 (4.5%), type IIIA was 15 of 579 (2.6%), type IIIB was 186 of 579 (32.1%), type IIIC was 22 of 579 (3.8%), and type IV was 14 of 579 (2.4%).A novel TV leaflet nomenclature classification scheme can be used to identify 4 types of TV morphologies with the use of TEE imaging. From this multinational retrospective study, the TV has 3 well defined leaflets in only ∼54% of patients and 4 functional leaflets in ∼39% of patients, with type IIIB (2 posterior leaflets) being the most common of the latter. The utility of this classification scheme deserves further study.

Background Current echocardiographic guidelines recommend five parameters to define severity of aortic stenosis (AS): peak velocity (PV), mean gradient (MG), aortic valve area (AVA), index AVA (AVAi), and dimensionless index (DI). However, the clinical utility of these parameters for patients with moderate AS largely remain unknown. Objective To investigate the clinical profiles and outcomes of patients with moderate AS according to five different definitions for severity. Methods Using standard echocardiographic definitions, we identified patients with moderate AS who were evaluated in our health care system from 2011 to 2012. Patient demographics, morbidities, and adverse events were reviewed, including death, heart failure (HF) admission, and aortic valve replacement (AVR). Results We enrolled 1,042 patients (age, 75±12 yrs; 40% women). Very few patients (4%) met all five criteria for moderate AS, while 49% had only one or two criteria met. DI was the most common parameter for defining moderate AS, employed in 93% of patients. Patients with area-based indices (i.e., AVA, AVAi, DI) had lower stroke volume index, lower mean gradients, lower peak velocities, and more morbidities in comparison to those flow-based definitions of severity (i.e., PV, MG). During a median follow-up of 5.7 years, overall survival was poor with all-cause mortality of 62.8%. Notably, there was no difference in the rates of mortality (range, 56.4 to 63.3%) or HF hospitalization (range, 28.9 to 32.2%) for groups defined by the five parameters, though patients with flow-based definitions more likely had AVR in follow-up. Conclusions Most patients with moderate AS meet the definition for severity with one or few criteria. Regardless of the method of definition for severity, a high rate of mortality and morbidity can occur in patients with moderate AS. Further study to optimize the clinical outcomes of patients with moderate AS is warranted. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation

Background Data on changes in left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) volumes after transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) are limited. Purpose This study sought to describe the anatomical and functional changes in left-sided cardiac chambers by computed tomography angiography (CTA) from baseline to 1-month after TMVR with Tendyne prosthesis. Methods We analyzed patients who underwent TMVR with Tendyne prosthesis (Abbott Structural, Menlo Park, CA) between 2015 and 2018. Changes in LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), ejection fraction (LVEF), mass (LV mass), LA volume and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were assessed at baseline and at 1-month after TMVR with CTA. Specific Tendyne implant characteristics were identified and correlated with remodeling changes. Results A total of 36 patients (mean age 73±8 years, 78% men, 86% secondary MR) were studied. There were significant decreases in LVEDV (268±68 vs. 240±66ml, p Conclusions TMVR with Tendyne results in favorable left-sided chamber remodeling in the majority of patients treated, as detected on CTA at 1-month after implantation. CTA identifies the favorable post-TMVR changes, which could be related to specific characteristics of the device implantation. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Background While mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with valvular regurgitation or stenosis, this disease entity remains poorly understood. Purpose We sought to evaluate the prevalence and outcomes of patients with MAC. Methods Between January 2014 and December 2015, we reviewed all patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and were identified as having MAC with either mitral regurgitation (MR) or stenosis (MS). Medical records were manually examined for demographics, morbidities, type and severity of mitral disease, and clinical outcomes for this cohort. Results Of 41,136 patients who had undergone TTE, MAC was identified in 2,855 (6.9%) patients, including 434 (1.0%) patients who had significant concomitant MR or MS (mean age, 78.9±10.4 years; 63% women). Severe heart failure (NYHA III or IV, 37%), renal failure (mean GFR, 47.3±15.7 ml/min), aortic stenosis (26% with severe stenosis or prior aortic intervention), diabetes (35%), and atrial fibrillation (50%) were common. The mean mitral gradient was 6.2±3.0 mmHg. Fifty-eight patients (13%) underwent surgical or transcatheter mitral valve intervention, with two procedural deaths (3.4%). Overall, the 3-year survival free of all-cause mortality was 53.9%, while freedom from all-cause mortality, hospitalization for heart failure, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident was only 26.5% (Figure 1). Three-year survival free of all-cause mortality for those who had surgery or transcatheter therapy was better in comparison to those treated medically (77.6% vs. 50.3%; p Conclusions Patients with MAC with MR or MS are common, have severe co-morbidities, and have poor long-term survival. Further study is needed to improve the clinical outcomes of these patients. KM curves for MAC and MR/MS patients Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Current guidelines empirically recommend serial clinical evaluations for asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). However, there is a paucity of data on the effectiveness of such monitoring. This study sought to examine the potential benefit of guideline adherence among asymptomatic patients with severe primary MR. Asymptomatic patients with severe primary MR who had been evaluated in the Allina Health system between January 1, 2012 and May 30, 2018 were examined. The medical records were manually reviewed for demographics, comorbidities, echocardiographic data, subsequent interventions, and clinical outcomes. Patients were grouped according to occurrence of guideline adherence, which was defined as a serial clinical evaluation with echocardiography every 12 ± 1 month until mitral valve surgery, or death. Over the study period, 246 patients (67.3 ± 15.5 years, 61.4% men) with severe, asymptomatic primary MR were identified, including 154 patients (62.6%) with and 92 patients (37.4%) without guideline adherence. Overall, there were no differences in demographics, morbidities, MR severity, or left ventricular function between patient adherence groups. During follow-up (40.9; 21.2, 58.3 months), patients with adherence more frequently had surgery or transcatheter therapy performed (64.3% vs 18.5%; p0.001) and the time to intervention was earlier (13.6 [3.9-22.7] vs 44.2[25.6-57.3] months; p0.001). Compared to non-adherent patients, those with guideline adherence had a significantly higher five-year survival free from all-cause mortality (92.0% vs 74.3%, p = 0.002), and freedom from death or hospitalization for heart failure (90.1% vs 69.3%, p = 0.001). Adherent patients also had a significantly better survival free from combined endpoint of death, re-hospitalization for heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke (84.5% vs 63.2%, p = 0.002). In patients with asymptomatic severe primary MR, guideline adherence with serial evaluations every 12 months or less is associated with earlier therapy and improved long-term outcomes. These data support educational efforts to promote guideline adherence.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the long-term outcomes of patients with severe comorbidities (sCM) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND The benefit of TAVR may be limited among patients with sCM due to a lack of mortality- or quality-of-life-benefit. METHODS All TAVR patients in the Allina Health System between January 1, 2011 and August 7, 2018 were included (n = 890, 82 ± 8 years, 55% men). sCM included: severe lung disease, severe liver disease, end-stage renal disease, severe, severe dementia, severe dilated cardiomyopathy, and frailty. Outcomes between patients with (n = 215, 24%) and without (n = 675, 76%) sCM were compared. RESULTS At baseline, patients with sCM had worse symptoms, higher STS-PROM and a lower Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score compared to those without. During a median follow-up of 15 months (IQR, 7-29 months), there were 208 (23%) deaths. Patients with sCM had a lower 3-year survival free from all-cause mortality (40% vs. 79%, p

BackgroundAs a measure of the global left ventricular afterload, valvuloarterial impedance (ZVA) can be estimated using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and invasive measuring methods. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of TTE in measuring ZVA with invasive haemodynamics, direct Fick and thermodilution (TD), in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of 66 patients with severe AS who underwent TTE and bilateral heart catheterisation preaortic valve replacement. ZVA was calculated non-invasively from TTE and invasively using TD and Fick. The differences in measurements were estimated using a generalised estimating equation approach. The exchangeability of the measurements from different methods was evaluated under binary risk stratification rules.ResultsThe mean±SD ZVA by TTE was 4.6±1.4 vs 4.9±1.6 by TD vs 4.3±1.2 mm Hg m2/mL by Fick. From multivariate analyses, ZVA by TTE was 5.9% (95% CI −15.0 to 2.5) lower than by TD and 5.9% (95% CI −1.5 to 12.8) higher than by Fick. At the same time, ZVA by TD was 12.5% (3.0 to 22.9) higher than with Fick. Risk classifications for ZVA-based binary decision rules showed poor agreement between TTE and invasive methods (kappa ≤0.3).ConclusionsThe differences in ZVA estimates between TTE and invasive standards do not appear to exceed those between the standards. As such TTE-based estimates may be deemed acceptable as a clinical measure of global haemodynamic load. However, TTE-based and invasive measurements may not be interchangeable to identify patients at risk using binary classification rules based on ZVA.

BACKGROUND We sought to describe changes in demographic variables, process of care measures, and outcomes of patients treated in a regional ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) program over the last 15 years. METHODS We describe demographic variables, process of care measures, and outcomes of patients treated in the program in various 5-year time periods: 2003-2007 (n = 1,821), 2008-2012 (n = 1,968), and 2013-2018 (n = 2,223). The primary outcome measures were in-hospital and 30-day mortality. RESULTS Among 6,012 STEMI patients treated from 2003 to 2018 we observed a significant increase in mean age at presentation (62 ± 14 to 64 ± 13 years) and diabetes (14-22%, p

Background Subclinical leaflet thrombosis has been reported after bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement, characterized using 4-dimensional computed tomographic imaging by hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) and reduced leaflet motion (RLM). The incidence and clinical implications of these findings remain unclear. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, predictors, and hemodynamic and clinical correlates of HALT and RLM after aortic bioprosthetic replacement. Methods A prospective subset of patients not on oral anticoagulation enrolled in the Evolut Low Risk randomized trial underwent computed tomographic imaging 30 days and 1 year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgery. The primary endpoint was the frequency of HALT at 30 days and 1 year, analyzed by an independent core laboratory using standardized definitions. Secondary endpoints included RLM, mean aortic gradient, and clinical events at 30 days and 1 year. Results At 30 days, the frequency of HALT was 31 of 179 (17.3%) for TAVR and 23 of 139 (16.5%) for surgery; the frequency of RLM was 23 of 157 (14.6%) for TAVR and 19 of 133 (14.3%) for surgery. At 1 year, the frequency of HALT was 47 of 152 (30.9%) for TAVR and 33 of 116 (28.4%) for surgery; the frequency of RLM was 45 of 145 (31.0%) for TAVR and 30 of 111 (27.0%) for surgery. Aortic valve hemodynamic status was not influenced by the presence or severity of HALT or RLM at either time point. The rates of HALT and RLM were similar after the implantation of supra-annular, self-expanding transcatheter, or surgical bioprostheses. Conclusions The presence of computed tomographic imaging abnormalities of aortic bioprostheses were frequent but dynamic in the first year after self-expanding transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement, but these findings did not correlate with aortic valve hemodynamic status after aortic valve replacement in patients at low risk for surgery. (Medtronic Evolut Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Low Risk Patients; NCT02701283)

Background: Secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) arises from left ventricular (LV) dilatation and remodeling, and commonly is treated with transcatheter mitral valve repair. We examined the impact of MitraClip on reverse cardiac remodeling in patients with severe, symptomatic secondary MR.Methods:: An electronic search was performed through January 2018 for studies that reported cardiac chamber dimensions prior to and after treatment with MitraClip in patients with secondary MR. The mean difference (MD) with 95% CI was calculated using fixed or random inverse variance models. Outcomes of interest were changes in LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes (LVESV, LVEDV) and dimensions (LVESD, LVEDD). Secondary outcomes included left atrial (LA) volume, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF).Results: A total of 16 studies with 1,266 patients were included in the present analysis. The weighted mean follow-up period (±SD) was 11.5 ± 7.2 months. MitraClip was associated...

Introduction: Coronary artery perforations are more likely to occur during percutaneous coronary intervention of complex coronary lesions, such as heavily calcified lesions and chronic total occlusions.Areas covered: Authors provide an update on the management of coronary perforations by performing a critical review of the related, recently published literature.Expert commentary: Meticulous attention to guidewire position and to device selection is critical for minimizing the risk for coronary perforation. If a perforation occurs, following a structured, algorithmic approach can maximize the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Background: The pathologic processes of aortic regurgitation (AR) and aortic stenosis (AS) can affect the rate of progression to symptoms differently, and insight into the management of mixed aorti...

Background: The role of women and foreign medical graduates (FMGs) in cardiology research published in the United States has received limited study. Methods: We examined the characteristics of the first and last authors of all original contributions and review articles published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology from October 1, 2015, to October 1, 2016. Results: A total of 345 articles were identified, with 687 first and last authors originating from ≥50 different countries. Overall, 17% of authors were women (20% of the first and 14% of the last authors). Overall, 86% of authors held a medical degree (MD) or equivalent, and 25% of those also held another advanced degree (PhD, MPH, and/or MBA). The proportion of authors with an advanced degree in addition to an MD/equivalent was higher among foreign graduates and international contributors as compared with American graduates (31% vs. 30% vs. 17%, respectively, p

The management of drug-refractory symptoms of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has long been debated and is primarily centered on the choice between surgical myectomy and alcohol septal ablation. Decision making in these patients requires consideration of procedural risk, expertise and efficacy, and the long-term impact on patients' survival. Although there have been numerous reports on these procedures that may help guide decision making, these data continue to be self-reported and voluntary. Greater insight into the real-world experience for these therapies and how they should be applied in practice would be gained from mandatory reporting, akin to other multidisciplinary, transcatheter-based therapies.

Pericardial diseases can be classified broadly as 3 entities: acute pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, and constrictive pericarditis. These disorders can be diagnosed and managed with noninvasive studies following a comprehensive history and physical examination, without the need for cardiac catheterization in most patients. Despite the advances in noninvasive cardiac imaging, there are limitations to their diagnostic accuracy. The invasive hemodynamic study offers the advantage of simultaneous, direct pressure measurement across multiple chambers, with direct examination of blood flow. Herein, the authors review the techniques for obtaining and interpreting invasive hemodynamic data in patients with suspected pericardial disease.