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Background Vascular and bleeding complications are common after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and are associated with worse outcomes. The plug-based Manta (M) vascular closure device (VCD) is a novel option to achieve haemostasis for large-bore arterial access sites. Objective We aimed to compare vascular and bleeding complications between the M-VCD and the established suture-based Perclose ProGlide (P)-VCD. Methods From February to September 2019 a total of 578 patients underwent transfemoral TAVI at a single high-volume centre. Access site closure was performed using M-VCD in 195 patients (33.7%) and P-VCD in 383 patients (66.3%). We assessed vascular and access site-related complications as well as bleeding events according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 definition. Results Overall vascular complications occurred less frequently in the M-VCD group (10.7% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.011) driven by a significantly lower rate of major vascular events (2.0% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.025). Access site-related complications were significantly less frequent in the M-VCD cohort (10.7% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.048). The M-VCD was associated with significantly lower rates of major (0.5% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.009) and life-threatening bleeding (0% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.032). In multivariable analysis, the use of M-VCD was the only independent predictor of vascular complications (odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.32–0.91, p = 0.022). Conclusions The M-VCD was associated with a reduction of vascular and access-site complications as well as severe bleeding after transfemoral TAVI compared to the P-VCD in this observational study.

Background Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) in prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) including IE after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with absent compared with evident echocardiographic signs of TAVI-IE. Methods Patients with definite TAVI-IE derived from the Infectious Endocarditis after TAVI International Registry were investigated comparing those with absent and evident echocardiographic signs of IE defined as vegetation, abscess, pseudo-aneurysm, intracardiac fistula, or valvular perforation or aneurysm. Results Among 578 patients, 87 (15.1%) and 491 (84.9%) had absent (IE-neg) and evident (IE-pos) echocardiographic signs of IE, respectively. IE-neg were more often treated via a transfemoral access with a self-expanding device and had higher rates of peri-interventional complications (eg, stroke, major vascular complications) during the TAVI procedure (P < .05 for all). IE-neg had higher rates of IE caused by Staphylococcus aureus (33.7% vs 23.2%; P = .038) and enterococci (37.2% vs 23.8%; P = .009) but lower rates of coagulase-negative staphylococci (4.7% vs 20.0%, P = .001). IE-neg was associated with the same dismal prognosis for in-hospital mortality in a multivariate binary regression analysis (odds ratio: 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .55–4.12) as well as a for 1-year mortality in Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio: 1.10; 95% CI: .67–1.80). Conclusions Even with negative echocardiographic imaging, patients who have undergone TAVI and presenting with positive blood cultures and symptoms of infection are a high-risk patient group having a reasonable suspicion of IE and the need for an early treatment initiation.

International audience; Background: Outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and infectious diseases may vary according to sex.Methods: This multicentre study aimed to determine the sex differences in clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) after TAVR. A total of 579 patients (217 women, 37.5%) who had the diagnosis of definite IE following TAVR were included retrospectively from the Infectious Endocarditis After TAVR International Registry.Results: Women were older (80 ± 8 vs 78 ± 8 years; P = 0.001) and exhibited a lower comorbidity burden. Clinical characteristics and microbiological profiles were similar between men and women, but culture-negative IE was more frequent in women (9.9% vs 4.3%; P = 0.009). A high proportion of patients had a clinical indication for surgery (54.4% in both groups; P = 0.99), but a surgical intervention was performed in a minority of patients (women 15.2%, men 20.3%; P = 0.13). The mortality rate at index IE hospitalisation was similar in both groups (women 35.4%, men 31.7%; P = 0.37), but women exhibited a higher mortality rate at 2-year follow-up (63% vs 52.1%; P = 0.021). Female sex remained an independent risk factor for cumulative mortality in the multivariable analysis (adjusted HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.02-1.62; P = 0.035). After adjustment for in-hospital events, surgery was not associated with better outcomes in women.Conclusions: There were no significant sex-related differences in the clinical characteristics and management of IE after TAVR. However, female sex was associated with increased 2-year mortality risk.

Background Data about the impact of left-atrial appendage thrombosis (LAAT) on early safety and mortality in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI) are scarce. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of LAAT and the outcome associated with this condition in patients treated by TF-TAVI. Methods Retrospective data analysis was derived from a prospective single-centre registry comparing patients with and without LAAT regarding early safety at 30 days, according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) and 2-year mortality. Results LAAT was found in 7.6% of the whole cohort (n = 2527) and in 16.6% in those patients with known pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF cohort, n = 1099). Compared with controls, patients with LAAT were sicker, indicated by a higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score and burden of comorbidities. Neither VARC-2–defined early safety at 30 days nor the rate of stroke was different between LAAT and controls in both the whole (early safety: 29.2% vs 24.2%, P = 0.123; stroke: 5.9% vs 4.7%, P = 0.495) and AF cohort (early safety: 29.1% vs 22.9%, P = 0.072; stroke: 5.6% vs 3.3%, P = 0.142). Evaluating the whole cohort in a univariate analysis, the 2-year mortality was significantly higher in LAAT compared with controls (hazard ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.86; P = 0.014). However, multivariate analysis of the whole cohort and the AF cohort revealed no association between LAAT and 2-year mortality. Conclusions LAAT was frequent in patients undergoing TF-TAVI— in particular, in patients with histories of AF—but it was not associated with an increase in periprocedural complications and did not predict 2-year mortality.

International audience; Background - Scarce data exist about early infective endocarditis (IE) after trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Objective - The objective was to evaluate the characteristics, management, and outcomes of very early (VE) IE (≤ 30 days) after TAVR. Methods - This multicenter study included a total of 579 patients from the Infectious Endocarditis after TAVR International Registry who had the diagnosis of definite IE following TAVR. Results - Ninety-one patients (15.7%) had VE-IE. Factors associated with VE-IE (vs. delayed IE (D-IE)) were female gender (p = 0.047), the use of self-expanding valves (p

Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) use is increasing in patients with longer life expectancy, yet robust data on the durability of transcatheter heart valves (THVs) are limited. Redo-TAVR may play a key strategy in treating patients in whom THVs fail. Objectives The authors sought to examine outcomes following redo-TAVR. Methods The Redo-TAVR registry collected data on consecutive patients who underwent redo-TAVR at 37 centers. Patients were classified as probable TAVR failure or probable THV failure if they presented within or beyond 1 year of their index TAVR, respectively. Results Among 63,876 TAVR procedures, 212 consecutive redo-TAVR procedures were identified (0.33%): 74 within and 138 beyond 1 year of the initial procedure. For these 2 groups, TAVR-to-redo-TAVR time was 68 (38 to 154) days and 5 (3 to 6) years. The indication for redo-TAVR was THV stenosis in 12 (16.2%) and 51 (37.0%) (p = 0.002) and regurgitation or combined stenosis–regurgitation in 62 (83.8%) and 86 (62.3%) (p = 0.028), respectively. Device success using VARC-2 criteria was achieved in 180 patients (85.1%); most failures were attributable to high residual gradients (14.1%) or regurgitation (8.9%). At 30-day and 1-year follow-up, residual gradients were 12.6 ± 7.5 mm Hg and 12.9 ± 9.0 mm Hg; valve area 1.63 ± 0.61 cm2 and 1.51 ± 0.57 cm2; and regurgitation ≤mild in 91% and 91%, respectively. Peri-procedural complication rates were low (3 stroke [1.4%], 7 valve malposition [3.3%], 2 coronary obstruction [0.9%], 20 new permanent pacemaker [9.6%], no mortality), and symptomatic improvement was substantial. Survival at 30 days was 94.6% and 98.5% (p = 0.101) and 83.6% and 88.3% (p = 0.335) at 1 year for patients presenting with early and late valve dysfunction, respectively. Conclusions Redo-TAVR is a relatively safe and effective option for selected patients with valve dysfunction after TAVR. These results are important for applicability of TAVR in patients with long life expectancy in whom THV durability may be a concern.

The use of bioprostheses for surgical aortic valve replacement increased substantially within the last years. In case of prosthesis failure, re-SAVR is standard of care, whereas valve-in-valve deployment of a transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis (VinV-TFAVI) has recently emerged as an alternative. We sought to evaluate early safety, clinical efficacy, and all-cause 1-year-mortality of VinV-TFAVI and redo surgery for failing aortic bioprostheses (re-SAVR).Patients receiving either VinV-TFAVI (n = 147) or re-SAVR (n = 111) for a degenerated aortic bioprosthesis between 01/2006 and 05/2017 were included in this analysis. All-cause 1-year mortality was the primary outcome measure. Early safety and clinical efficacy according to VARC-2 endpoint definitions were evaluated at 30 days. Baseline characteristics differed significantly between both groups including age, STS-PROM, and incidence of relevant comorbidities. Re-stenosis was the predominant mode of failure in 45.9% of re-SAVR and 63.1% of VinV-TFAVI patients. The rate of "early safety" endpoints was lower with VinV-TFAVI (17.7% vs. 64.9%, p 0.01), the rate of "clinical efficacy" endpoints was lower, e.g. better with re-SAVR (53.1% vs. 32.4%, p 0.01). All-cause 1-year-mortality (VinV-TFAVI 8.8% vs re-SAVR 9.9%, p = 0.84) was not different. Treatment strategy was not associated with 1-year-mortality in a Cox regression analysis. The incidence of prosthesis-patient-mismatch was higher in VinV-TFAVI compared to re-SAVR.VinV-TFAVI represents a viable alternative for treatment of degenerated aortic bioprostheses in patients at increased surgical risk. However, in patients at low risk for reoperation, a better clinical efficacy and acceptable safety may favour re-SAVR.

International audience; Background - Staphylococcus aureus (SA) has been extensively studied as causative microorganism of surgical prosthetic-valve infective endocarditis (IE). However, scarce evidence exists on SA IE after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods - Data were obtained from the Infectious Endocarditis After TAVR International Registry, including patients with definite IE after TAVR from 59 centres in 11 countries. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to microbiologic etiology: non-SA IE vs SA IE. Results - SA IE was identified in 141 patients out of 573 (24.6%), methicillin-sensitive SA in most cases (115/141, 81.6%). Self-expanding valves were more common than balloon-expandable valves in patients presenting with early SA IE. Major bleeding and sepsis complicating TAVR, neurologic symptoms or systemic embolism at admission, and IE with cardiac device involvement (other than the TAVR prosthesis) were associated with SA IE (P < 0.05 for all). Among patients with IE after TAVR, the likelihood of SA IE increased from 19% in the absence of those risk factors to 84.6% if ≥ 3 risk factors were present. In-hospital (47.8% vs 26.9%; P < 0.001) and 2-year (71.5% vs 49.6%; P < 0.001) mortality rates were higher among patients with SA IE vs non-SA IE. Surgery at the time of index SA IE episode was associated with lower mortality at follow-up compared with medical therapy alone (adjusted hazard ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.22-0.96; P = 0.038). Conclusions - SA IE represented approximately 25% of IE cases after TAVR and was associated with very high in-hospital and late mortality. The presence of some features determined a higher likelihood of SA IE and could help to orientate early antibiotic regimen selection. Surgery at index SA IE was associated with improved outcomes, and its role should be evaluated in future studies.

Scarce data exist on mitral valve (MV) infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This multicenter study included a total of 579 patients with a diagnosis of definite IE after TAVI from the IE after TAVI International Registry and aimed to evaluate the incidence, characteristics, management, and outcomes of MV-IE after TAVI. A total of 86 patients (14.9%) had MV-IE. These patients were compared with 284 patients (49.1%) with involvement of the transcatheter heart valve (THV) only. Two factors were found to be associated with MV-IE: the use of self-expanding valves (adjusted odds ratio 2.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23 to 5.07, p = 0.012), and the presence of an aortic regurgitation >= 2 at discharge (adjusted odds ratio 3.33; 95% CI 1.43 to 7.73, p < 0.01). There were no differences in IE timing and causative microorganisms between groups, but surgical management was significantly lower in patients with MV-IE (6.0%, vs 21.6% in patients with THV-IE, p = 0.001). All-cause mortality rates at 2-year follow-up were high and similar between patients with MV-IE (51.4%, 95% CI 39.8 to 64.1) and patients with THV-IE (51.5%, 95% CI 45.4 to 58.0) (log-rank p = 0.295). The factors independently associated with increased mortality risk in patients with MV-IE were the occurrence of heart failure (adjusted p < 0.001) and septic shock (adjusted p < 0.01) during the index hospitalization. One of 6 IE episodes after TAVI is localized on the MV. The implantation of a self-expanding THV and the presence of an aortic regurgitation >= 2 at discharge were associated with MV-IE. Patients with MV-IE were rarely operated on and had a poor prognosis at 2-year follow-up. (C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background: The two most common organisms found in infective endocarditis following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI-IE) are enterococci (EC-IE) and staphylococci (SC-IE). We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with EC-IE and SC-IE. Methods: TAVI-IE patients from 2007 to 2021 were included in this analysis. The 1-year mortality was the primary outcome measure of this retrospective multi-center analysis. Results: Out of 163 patients, 53 (32.5%) EC-IE and 69 (42.3%) SC-IE patients were included. Subjects were comparable with regard to age, sex, and clinically relevant baseline comorbidities. Symptoms at admission were not significantly different between groups, except for a lower risk for presenting with septic shock in EC-IE than SC-IE. Treatment was performed in 78% by antibiotics alone and in 22% of patients by surgery and antibiotics, with no significant differences between groups. The rate of any complication, in particular heart failure, renal failure, and septic shock during treatment for IE, was lower in EC-IE compared with SC-IE (p < 0.05). In-hospital (EC-IE: 36% vs. SC-IE: 56%, p = 0.035) and 1-year mortality (EC-IE: 51% vs. SC-IE: 70%, p = 0.009) were significantly lower in EC-IE compared with SC-IE. Conclusions: EC-IE, compared with SC-IE, was associated with a lower morbidity and mortality. However, absolute numbers are high, a finding that should trigger further research in appropriate perioperative antibiotic management and improvement of early IE diagnosis in the case of clinical suspicion.

Background Infective endocarditis (IE) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been associated with a dismal prognosis. However, scarce data exist on IE perivalvular extension (PEE) in such patients. Methods This multicenter study included 579 patients who had the diagnosis of definite IE at a median of 171 (53–421) days following TAVR. PEE was defined as the presence of an intracardiac abscess, pseudoaneurysm, or fistula. Results A total of 105 patients (18.1%) were diagnosed with PEE (perivalvular abscess, pseudoaneurysm, fistula, or a combination in 87, 7, 7, and 4 patients, respectively). A history of chronic kidney disease (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj], 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–3.41; P = .003) and IE secondary to coagulase-negative staphylococci (ORadj, 2.71; 95% CI: 1.57–4.69; P Conclusions PEE occurred in about one-fifth of IE post-TAVR patients, with the presence of coagulase-negative staphylococci and chronic kidney disease determining an increased risk. Patients with PEE-IE exhibited high early and late mortality rates, and surgery during IE hospitalization seemed to be associated with better outcomes.

BACKGROUND The optimal treatment of patients developing infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is uncertain. OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with TAVI-IE treated with cardiac surgery and antibiotics (IE-CS) compared with patients treated with antibiotics alone (IE-AB). METHODS Crude and inverse probability of treatment weighting analyses were applied for the treatment effect of cardiac surgery vs medical therapy on 1-year all-cause mortality in patients with definite TAVI-IE. The study used data from the Infectious Endocarditis after TAVI International Registry. RESULTS Among 584 patients, 111 patients (19%) were treated with IE-CS and 473 patients (81%) with IE-AB. Compared with IE-AB, IE-CS was not associated with a lower in-hospital mortality (HRunadj: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.58-1.25) and 1-year all-cause mortality (HRunadj: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.64-1.22) in the crude cohort. After adjusting for selection and immortal time bias, IE-CS compared with IE-AB was also not associated with lower mortality rates for in-hospital mortality (HRadj: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.80-1.05) and 1-year all-cause mortality (HRadj: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.84-1.07). Results remained similar when patients with and without TAVI prosthesis involvement were analyzed separately. Predictors for in-hospital and 1-year all-cause mortality included logistic EuroSCORE I, Staphylococcus aureus, acute renal failure, persistent bacteremia, and septic shock. CONCLUSIONS In this registry, the majority of patients with TAVI-IE were treated with antibiotics alone. Cardiac surgery was not associated with an improved all-cause in-hospital or 1-year mortality. The high mortality of patients with TAVI-IE was strongly linked to patients' characteristics, pathogen, and IE-related complications. (C) 2022 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

BACKGROUND Stroke is one of the most common and potentially disabling complications of infective endocarditis (IE). However, scarce data exist about stroke complicating IE after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with definite IE after TAVR complicated by stroke during index IE hospitalization. METHODS Data from the Infectious Endocarditis after TAVR International Registry (including 569 patients who developed definite IE following TAVR from 59 centers in 11 countries) was analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to stroke occurrence during IE admission (stroke [S-IE] vs. no stroke [NS-IE]). RESULTS A total of 57 (10%) patients had a stroke during IE hospitalization, with no differences in causative microorganism between groups. S-IE patients exhibited higher rates of acute renal failure, systemic embolization, and persistent bacteremia (p < 0.05 for all). Previous stroke before IE, residual aortic regurgitation >= moderate after TAVR, balloon-expandable valves, IE within 30 days after TAVR, and vegetation size >8 mm were associated with a higher risk of stroke during the index IE hospitalization (p < 0.05 for all). Stroke rate in patients with no risk factors was 3.1% and increased up to 60% in the presence of >3 risk factors. S-IE patients had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (54.4% vs. 28.7%; p < 0.001) and overall mortality at 1 year (66.3% vs. 45.6%; p < 0.001). Surgical treatment was not associated with improved outcomes in S-IE patients (in-hospital mortality: 46.2% in surgical vs. 58.1% in no surgical treatment; p = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS Stroke occurred in 1 of 10 patients with IE post-TAVR. A history of stroke, short time between TAVR and IE, vegetation size, valve prosthesis type, and residual aortic regurgitation determined an increased risk. The occurrence of stroke was associated with increased in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates, and surgical treatment failed to improve clinical outcomes. (C) 2021 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

BackgroundProcedural improvements combined with the contemporary clinical profile of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may have influenced the incidence and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) following TAVR. We aimed to determine the temporal trends, characteristics, and outcomes of IE post-TAVR.MethodsObservational study including 552 patients presenting definite IE post-TAVR. Patients were divided in 2 groups according to the timing of TAVR (historical cohort [HC]: before 2014; contemporary cohort [CC]: after 2014).ResultsOverall incidence rates of IE were similar in both cohorts (CC vs HC: 5.45 vs 6.52 per 1000 person-years; P = .12), but the rate of early IE was lower in the CC (2.29‰ vs 4.89‰, P ConclusionsAlthough overall IE incidence has remained stable, the incidence of early IE has declined in recent years. The microorganism, high rate of complications, and very low rate of surgical treatment remained similar. In-hospital and 1-year mortality rates were high but progressively decreased over time.

Objectives This study investigated whether transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with peri-procedural continuation of oral anticoagulation is equally safe and efficacious as TAVR with peri-procedural interruption of anticoagulation. Background A significant proportion of patients undergoing TAVR have an indication for long-term oral anticoagulation. The optimal peri-procedural management of such patients is unknown. Methods Consecutive patients on oral anticoagulation who underwent transfemoral TAVR at 5 European centers were enrolled. Oral anticoagulation was either stopped 2 to 4 days before TAVR or continued throughout the procedure. Primary safety outcome was major bleeding. Secondary efficacy endpoints included vascular complications, stroke, and mortality. Results Of 4,459 patients, 584 patients were treated with continuation of anticoagulation and 733 with interruption of anticoagulation. At 30 days, major or life-threatening bleedings occurred in 66 (11.3%) versus 105 (14.3%; odds ratio [OR]: 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61 to 1.21; p = 0.39) and major vascular complications in 64 (11.0%) versus 90 (12.3%; OR: 0.89; CI: 0.62 to 1.27; p = 0.52) of patients with continuation and with interruption of anticoagulation, respectively. Transfusion of packed red blood cells was less often required in patients with continuation of anticoagulation (80 [13.7%] vs. 130 [17.7%]; OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.81; p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival at 12 months were 85.3% in patients with continuation of anticoagulation and 84.0% in patients with interruption of anticoagulation (hazard ratio: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.73 to 1.12; p = 0.36). Conclusions Continuation of oral anticoagulation throughout TAVR did not increase bleeding or vascular complication rates. Moreover, packed red blood cell transfusions were less often required in patients with continuation of oral anticoagulation.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on early safety at 30 days and 1-year mortality in patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND The use of TAVR in patients with previous CABG suffering from severe aortic stenosis has increased in the last years. METHODS Consecutive TAVR patients were stratified according to previous CABG versus no previous cardiac surgery (control). All-cause 1-year mortality and early safety at 30 days were evaluated. RESULTS In the unmatched cohort and compared to control (n = 2,364), CABG (n = 260) were younger, more often male and suffered more often from comorbidities leading to an increased STS-score (p

Introduction Data about the impact of left atrial appendage thrombosis (LAAT) on early safety and midterm mortality in patients undergoing transfemoral (TF) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are scarce. Purpose To investigate the incidence and predictors of LAAT as well as the outcome associated with this condition in a large cohort of patients treated by TF-TAVI. Methods Patients receiving TF-TAVI for native aortic valve stenosis or failed aortic bioprostheses were stratified according to the presence of LAAT diagnosed by transoesophageal echocardiography. Early safety at 30-days according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) and 2-year all-cause mortality were the primary outcome measures. Results From 02/2006 to 06/2016, 2.527 patients (88.5%) out of 2.854 patients treated by TF-TAVI had an available transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at baseline and formed the analysis cohort. LAAT was found in 7.6% of the whole cohort and in 16.6% in those patients with known pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF cohort). Patients with LAAT appeared to be sicker compared to controls indicated by a higher STS-Score and burden of comorbidities. Neither VARC-2 defined early safety at 30-days nor the rate of stroke was different between LAAT and controls in both the whole (early safety: 24.2% vs. 29.2%, p=0.123; stroke: 4.7% vs. 5.9%, p=0.495) and AF cohort (early safety: 22.9% vs. 29.1%, p=0.072; stroke: 3.3% vs. 5.6%, p=0.142). Evaluating the whole cohort in a univariate analysis, the 2-year mortality was significantly higher in LAAT compared to controls (HR 1.41 [95% CI 1.07–1.86], p=0.014). However, a multivariate analysis of the whole cohort and a separate examination of the AF cohort revealed no association between LAAT and 2-year mortality. Conclusion LAAT was frequent in patients undergoing TF-TAVI, in particular in patients with a history of AF, but it was not associated with an increase in periprocedural complications. The fact that LAAT was no independent predictor of mortality indicates that it should be interpreted as a marker of an advanced disease stage rather than a prognostic factor.

The role of continued versus interrupted oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis is uncertain. The aim of this retrospective investigation was to evaluate the impact (1) of continued versus interrupted OAC on early safety and (2) of postoperative anticoagulant management on the 1-year mortality in patients with AF who underwent TF-TAVI. Consecutive patients with AF and on OAC at admission (n = 598) were stratified according to interrupted (iVKA) versus continued vitamin K antagonist (cVKA) versus continued direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) at the time of TF-TAVI. Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 early safety was the primary outcome measure. Patients with iVKA (n = 299), cVKA (n = 117), and DOAC (n = 182) had comparable baseline characteristics including age (p = 0.25), gender (p = 0.33), and STS-Score (p = 0.072). The proportion of patients having a CHA2DS2-VASc-Score ≥3 (p = 0.791) and HAS-BLED-Score ≥3 (p = 0.185) was not different between groups. The rate of early safety events (with lower values indicating superior safety) was lowest in DOAC (13.2%) and not increased in cVKA (19.7%) compared to iVKA (23.1%) (p = 0.029). Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 defined stroke (p = 0.527) and bleeding (p = 0.097) did not differ between groups. Renal failure occurred more often in iVKA compared to cVKA and DOAC (p = 0.02). All-cause 1-year mortality was 20.1% in iVKA, 13.7% in cVKA, and 8.8% in DOAC (p = 0.015). Multivariate analysis revealed DOAC to be associated with reduced all-cause 1-year mortality (HR 0.56 (95%-CI 0.32 to 0.99), p = 0.047) whereas cVKA was comparable to iVKA (HR 0.75 (95%-CI 0.43 to 1.31), p = 0.307). In conclusion, cVKA did not increase the rate for the composite end point of early safety at 30 days in this cohort of patients. Treatment with a DOAC was associated with a significantly reduced rate of early safety end points at 30 days and lower 1-year mortality.

The use of bioprosthetic valves has increased over the last two decades. However, the major drawback is their deterioration and failure over time, requiring redo surgery. Conventional surgical replacement (re-SAVR) has been standard of care, but valve-in-valve deployment of transcatheter aortic

The incidence of atrial fibrillation with the need of anticoagulation in patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is high and it may influence outcome. The aim was to study the impact of pre-existing atrial fibrillation (PEAF) and new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) on