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As transcatheter aortic valve replacement is performed increasingly in younger, low-risk patients, the need for commissural alignment and coronary access has increased. Design elements of the JenaValve Trilogy (JVT) transcatheter heart valve (THV) ensure both. This study sought to evaluate the outcome of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) treated with this novel transfemoral, self-expanding THV. We included 43 consecutive patients with severe AS treated with the JVT system at 5 German sites. The primary endpoint of the study was technical success of the procedure. Procedural outcomes, hemodynamic valve performance, and clinical outcomes at 30 days were evaluated according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 criteria. The median age was 81 years (Q1-Q3: 77.0-83.9 years) with a median Society of Thoracic Surgeons Risk Score of 3.1% (Q1-Q3: 2.1%-5.9%). Technical success was achieved in 98% (n = 42 of 43). One patient was converted to open surgery. The median aortic gradient was 5.0 mm Hg (Q1-Q3: 4.0-7.0 mm Hg), and no patient had moderate or greater paravalvular regurgitation (88% [n = 37 of 42] with none or trace paravalvular regurgitation). At 30 days, major vascular complications and stroke each occurred in 1 (2.3%) patient, 2 (4.7%) patients had died, and permanent pacemaker implantation was needed in 4.9% (n = 2 of 41). Overall, early safety at 30 days was achieved in 82% (n = 27 of 33) of patients. Treatment of AS patients with this novel transfemoral THV system is safe and effective. The JVT offers an excellent alternative to established transcatheter aortic valve replacement prostheses for patients with AS. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The number of interventional procedures, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacements or thoracic endovascular aortic repairs, is on the rise. Intraprocedural cardiac arrest is a rare occurrence during high-risk procedures. Modern hybrid-operating tables may adversely affect chest compression quality due to their flexibility. To investigate this relationship, we analyzed the blood pressure generated during chest compressions at different degrees of table extension and assessed the effect of an additional stabilization bar to secure the table. Methods: A CPR manikin was connected to online blood pressure monitoring on a hybrid operating table. Chest compressions were administered using a mechanical device (at 100 bpm and 80 bpm). Hemodynamic effects were evaluated at various degrees of table extension (0%, 50%, 100% table extension) and with the addition of a stabilization bar. Results: A greater degree of table extension was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure. The addition of a stabilization bar alleviated this drop in diastolic blood pressure and enabled the generation of higher mean arterial pressures at 50% and 100% table extension during chest compressions. Conclusion: The flexibility of a hybrid operating table adversely impacts the hemodynamic effect of chest compressions. This effect may be mitigated by using a stabilization bar. These results may be relevant for providing further recommendations for CPR guidelines in hybrid OR settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In patients with left heart disease and severe aortic stenosis (AS), pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common comorbidity and predictor of poor prognosis. Untreated AS aggravates PH leading to an increased right ventricular afterload and, in line to right ventricular dysfunction. The surgical benefit of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in elderly patients with severe AS and PH could be limited due to the multiple comorbidities and poor outcomes. Therefore, we purposed to investigate the impact of PH on short-term outcomes in patients with moderate to severe AS who underwent surgical AVR in our heart center. Methods: In this study we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 99 patients with severe secondary post-capillary PH who underwent surgical AVR (AVR + PH group) at our heart center between 2010 and 2021 with a regard to perioperative outcomes. In order to investigate the impact of PH on short-term outcomes, the control group of 99 patients without pulmonary hypertension who underwent surgical AVR (AVR group) at our heart center with similar risk profile was accordingly analyzed regarding pre-, intra- and postoperative data. Results: Atrial fibrillation occurred significantly more often (p =.013) in patients who suffered from PH undergoing AVR. In addition, the risk for cardiac surgery (EUROSCORE II) was significantly higher (p <.001) in the above-mentioned group. Likewise, cardiopulmonary bypass time (p =.018), aortic cross-clamp time (p =.008) and average operation time (p =.009) were significantly longer in the AVR + PH group. Furthermore, the in-hospital survival rate was significantly higher (p =.044) in the AVR group compared to the AVR + PH group. Moreover, the dialysis rate was significantly higher (p <.001) postoperatively in patients who suffered PH compared to the patients without PH undergoing AVR. Conclusion: In our study, patients with severe PH and severe symptomatic AS who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement showed adverse short-term outcomes compared to patients without PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background For patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR), structural valve deterioration (SVD) of a bioprosthesis (BP) is substantially accelerated in younger patients and valve-in-valve implantation is not always a considerable option. The risk–benefit assessment between SVD versus the risk of bleeding and thromboembolic events in patients with a mechanical prosthesis (MP) resulted in an age limit shift irrespective of inconsistent results reported in literature. Method This retrospective single-center study compared 10-year long-term outcomes in patients undergoing isolated AVR with MP or BP. The risk-adjusted comparison of patients undergoing isolated AVR (n = 121) was performed after 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) for age, sex, endocarditis, and chronic renal impairment (caliper of 0.2) leading to 29 pairs. Short- and long-term outcomes with respect to reoperation, major bleeding, stroke, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and overall survival at 10 years were analyzed. Results After PSM, groups were comparable with respect to preoperative characteristics, including patients with a mean age of 65 ± 3 years (MP) and 66 ± 4 years (BP) and an incidence rate of 6.9% for infective endocarditis in both cohorts. Short-term outcomes (transient neurologic disorder = 0.0 vs. 6.9%; stroke = 0.0%; in-hospital mortality = 3.4%) and in-hospital stays were comparable between MP and BP. Conclusion After isolated AVR with MP and BP, 10-year long-term outcomes were comparable in the reported single-center cohort. MP can still be implanted safely without a disadvantage as regards long-term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an established alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) for patients with moderate-to-high perioperative risk. Periprocedural TAVR complications decrease with growing expertise of implanters. Nevertheless, TAVR can still be accompanied by life-threatening adverse events such as intraprocedural cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study analyzed the role of a reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in intraprocedural complications during TAVR. Perioperative and postoperative outcomes from patients undergoing TAVR in a high-volume center (600 cases per year) were analyzed retrospectively with regard to their left-ventricular ejection fraction. Patients with a reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction (EF ≤ 40%) faced a significantly higher risk of perioperative adverse events. Within this cohort, patients were significantly more often in need of mechanical ventilation (35% vs. 19%). These patients also underwent CPR (17% vs. 5.8%), defibrillation due to ventricular fibrillation (13% vs. 5.4%), and heart–lung circulatory support (6.1% vs. 2.5%) more often. However, these intraprocedural adverse events showed no significant impact on postoperative outcomes regarding in-hospital mortality, stroke, or in-hospital stay. A reduced preprocedural LVEF is a risk factor for intraprocedural adverse events. With respect to this finding, the identified patient cohort should be treated with more caution to prevent intraprocedural incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently diagnosed in patients with aortic valve stenosis. Treatment options include surgical and interventional approaches. We therefore analyzed short-term outcomes of patients undergoing either coronary artery bypass grafting with simultaneous aortic valve replacement (CABG + AVR) or staged percutaneous coronary intervention and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (PCI + TAVI). Methods From all patients treated since 2017, we retrospectively identified 237 patients undergoing TAVI within 6 months after PCI and 241 patients undergoing combined CABG + AVR surgery. Propensity score matching was performed, resulting in 101 matched pairs. Results Patients in the CABG + AVR group were younger compared with patients in the PCI + TAVI group (71.9 ± 4.9 vs 81.4 ± 3.6 years; p < 0.001). The overall mortality at 30 days before matching was higher after CABG + AVR than after PCI + TAVI (7.8 vs 2.1%; p = 0.012). The paired cohort was balanced for both groups regarding demographic variables and the risk profile (age: 77.2 ± 3.7 vs78.5 ± 2.7 years; p = 0.141) and EuroSCORE II (6.2 vs 7.6%; p = 0.297). At 30 days, mortality was 4.9% in the CABG + AVR group and 1.0% in the PCI + TAVI group (p = 0.099). Rethoracotomy was necessary in 7.9% in the CABG + AVR, while conversion to open heart surgery was necessary in 2% in the PCI + TAVI group. The need for new pacemaker was lower after CABG + AVR than after PCI + TAVI (4.1 vs 6.9%; p = 0.010). No paravalvular leak (PVL) was noted in the CABG + AVR group, while the incidence of moderate-to-severe PVL after PCI + TAVI was 4.9% (p = 0.027). Conclusion A staged interventional approach comprises a short-term survival advantage compared with combined surgery for management of CAD and aortic stenosis. However, PCI + TAVI show a significantly higher risk of atrioventricular block and PVL. Further long-term trials are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with coronary artery heart disease frequently suffer concomitant carotid vascular disease and are at high perioperative risk for neurological adverse events. Several concepts regarding the timing and modality of carotid revascularization are controversially discussed in patients with heart disease. Current guidelines recommendations on myocardial revascularization recommend a concomitant carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with a history of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) or 50–99% grade of the carotid stenosis. Our study aimed to analyze early outcome parameters of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but also including concomitant heart valve surgery and simultaneous CEA. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 111 patients from our institutional database undergoing heart surgery with CABG or heart-valve surgery between 2010 and 2020 with concomitant carotid surgery due to significant carotid stenosis. Results: Patients undergoing heart and simultaneous carotid surgery were 77 ± 8.0 years of age with a body mass index of 28 ± 1.7 kg/m2 and a mean EuroSCORE II of 6.5 ± 2.3. Most patients (61%) had a smoking history and arterial hypertension (97%). The preoperative mean grade of internal carotid stenosis was 87 ± 4.2%, 13% of patients suffered from internal carotid artery stenosis on both sites. In total, 4.5% of patients had previously undergone internal carotid artery intervention before and 6.3% had a history of stroke with a persistent neurologic disorder in 1.8%, 8.9% of cases had prior TIA. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 6.3% and postoperative neurologic events occurred with 7.2% TIA and 4.5% of disabling stroke. Conclusion: Within the reported patient population of coronary artery heart disease and significant internal carotid stenosis, a one-time approach with CABG or heart-valve surgery and CEA is safe and feasible as justified by clinical and neurological postoperative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]