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Background: Despite the frequency of persistent new-onset conduction disturbances after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), few preoperative methods of prediction exist. Methods: Patients who underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University from December 2020 to September 2021 and postoperative aortic root modeling via the FEOPS finite element analysis were included in this single-center case–control study, divided into persistent conduction disturbances (PCD) and non-PCD groups according to their pre- and postoperative electrocardiograms in the first month. Risk factors affecting PCD were identified by comparing the baseline data of these two groups, including echocardiograms, computed tomography angiography of the aortic root, surgical decision-making, and FEOPS data. Independent risk factors were screened using logistic regression modeling, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to test the predictive ability. Results: A total of 56 patients were included in this study, 37 with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and 19 with trileaflet aortic valve (TAV), with 17 cases of PCD. The contact pressure index (CPI) of FEOPS, valve oversize ratio, differences between membranous interventricular septum length and implantation depth (ΔMSID) and valve implantation depth were statistically different (P < 0.05). CPI could be used as an independent risk factor for PCD (P < 0.05), and the ROC curve comparison showed that the CPI was more predictive (AUC = 0.806, 95% CI: 0.684–0.928, P = 0.001). Conclusions: The CPI of FEOPS has better predictive value for new-onset conduction disturbance after TAVR compared to other known predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a growing treatment for aortic stenosis, but anatomical variations exist across populations. Asians tend to have smaller aortic annuli and higher bicuspid valve morphology compared to Westerners, potentially impacting TAVI valve selection and outcomes. This study analyzes aortic root parameters in Pakistani patients undergoing TAVI. Results: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 78 patients who underwent TAVI at the Peshawar Institute of Cardiology from January 2021 to March 2024. Pre-procedural CT scans were analyzed for aortic annulus diameters, area, and other relevant parameters. The mean age was 72.41 years (SD ± 11.99), and 61.5% were male. Aortic annulus diameters (minimum, mean, maximum) were 21.18 mm (SD ± 3.99), 24.21 mm (SD ± 3.93), and 27.49 mm (SD ± 4.43), respectively. Bicuspid aortic valves were present in 34.61% of patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Pakistani patients undergoing TAVI may have aortic root dimensions comparable to Western populations, with a substantial prevalence of bicuspid valves. However, coronary heights were similar to those reported in Asian populations with smaller annuli. Further studies are needed to assess TAVI outcomes in Pakistani patients and determine if tailored valve sizing strategies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Paravalvular leak and permanent pacemaker implantation remain relevant issues after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Novel device development as well as adequate preprocedural device selection can contribute to optimal outcomes. Methods: Computed tomography-based patient-specific computer anatomical analysis and simulation were used in addition to standard preprocedural preparation in three of the first Evolut FX cases in our center. Procedural and follow-up echocardiographic outcomes are presented. Results: Computed tomography-based computer simulation of Evolut FX resulted in implantation of a different size in one of three cases. In three cases of severe aortic valve stenosis, procedural as well as follow-up outcomes were satisfactory and in line with the simulated results of the chosen strategy. Conclusions: Preprocedural patient-specific computer simulation predicts and guides decision-making in TAVI with the Evolut FX platform. The combination of advanced preprocedural technology and novel technologies continues to contribute to the optimization of TAVI outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an established, highly effective procedure in selected patients with severe degenerative aortic valve stenosis at high risk for conventional surgery. Case presentation: We report a case of a 74-year-old Caucasian man who had an acute left main occlusion after transcatheter implantation of balloon-expandable valve prosthesis, followed by coronary intervention with successful recanalization. Conclusions: Acute coronary occlusion is a rare life-threatening complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation that is poorly predictable and requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Platelets play a key role in the natural history of aortic stenosis (AS) and after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). An echo-based staging system stratifies patients with severe AS into 5 groups according to the associated cardiac damage phenotype. We aimed to correlate these AS stages with platelet indices in post-TAVI patients. Methods: Patients with severe AS who underwent TAVI and were admitted to intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) were prospectively identified and divided into 5 groups according to extra-valvular cardiac damage [no extravalvular cardiac damage (Stage 0), left ventricular damage (Stage 1), left atrial or mitral valve damage (Stage 2), pulmonary vasculature or tricuspid valve damage (Stage 3), or right ventricular damage (Stage 4)]. Baseline characteristics and complete blood count including mean platelet volume (MPV) and immature platelet fraction (IPF) were collected within 2 h after the procedure and analyzed in relation to aortic stenosis staging. Results: A total of 220 patients were included. The mean age was 81 years old and 112 (50.9%) were female. Two (1%) patients were classified in stage 0; 34 (15%) in stage 1; 48 (22%) in stage 2; 49 (22%) in stage 3 and 87 (40%) in stage 4. Higher mean MPV values were correlated with higher AS staging (10.8 fL, 11 fL, 11.3 fL and 10.8 fL in stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, P = 0.02) as well as lower hemoglobin values (12 mg/dl, 11.6 mg/dl, 11 mg/dl and 11.3 mg/dl in stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively P = 0.04). Mean IPF values were 5.3%, 5.58%, 5.57% and 4.83% in stage 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively (P = 0.4). In a multivariate logistic regression model only MPV (OR = 2.6, P = 0.03) and body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.17, P = 0.004) were correlated with higher staging (0–3) of AS. Conclusions: Although IPF and MPV levels increased in stages 0–3, there was a decrease in indices in stage 4, (probably due to bone marrow dysfunction) in this end-stage population. Higher levels of MPV and lower levels of hemoglobin were independently correlated with higher stages (0–3) of AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with severe aortic stenosis referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) often present with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). The management of CAD in these patients remains a topic of debate, encompassing the evaluation and timing of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Areas Covered: This review article aims to offer an overview of the role of coronary revascularization in TAVI patients, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies: PCI before, concomitant with, and after TAVI. Considering that TAVI indications are expanding and patients with low surgical risk are now being referred for TAVI, the rate of PCI among patients undergoing TAVI is expected to increase. Historically, PCI was performed before TAVI. However, there is now a growing trend to defer PCI until after TAVI. Expert opinion: It is plausible that in the future, there will be an increase in PCI after TAVI due to several factors: first, multiple studies have shown the safety of TAVI even in patients with severe untreated CAD; second, improvements in TAVI device implantation techniques, such as commissural alignment and patient-specific device selection, have improved access to the coronary arteries post-TAVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low body weight and advanced age are among the best predictors of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST) values are calculated by a simple formula [(body weight in kilograms – age in years) × 0.2] to identify patients at increased risk of osteoporosis. In our recent single-center study, we demonstrated an association between OST and poor outcomes in postmenopausal women after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We aimed to investigate the impact of osteoporotic risk in men with aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR in a large cohort. In this multi-center study, 1,339 men who underwent TAVR between April 2010 and July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Women were excluded from the present study. All patients were deemed appropriate for TAVR after a review by a multidisciplinary team. Baseline characteristics of patients were compared by dividing patients into three tertiles, based on the OST value: ≤ − 6.16, − 6.16 to − 4.14, and − 4.14 < for tertiles 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality after TAVR. Tertile 1 (patients with the lowest OST values) included older patients with smaller body mass index, lower hemoglobin and albumin levels. In addition, they had greater clinical frailty scale, slower 5-meter walk test, weaker hand grip strength, and more cognitive impairment, indicating increased frailty. They were more severely symptomatic, with lower ejection fractions, smaller aortic valve areas, and more tricuspid regurgitation than were patients in the other two groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that OST tertiles 3 was associated with decreased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.90), compared with OST tertile 1 as a reference. For OST tertiles 1, 2, and 3, the estimated 1-year survival rates of all-cause mortality post-TAVR were 83.6% ± 1.9%, 91.1% ± 1.4%, and 93.1% ± 1.3%, respectively, (log-rank, p < 0.001). In conclusions, in men as same as women, osteoporotic risk assessed by OST values was overlapped with increased frailty. The simple OST formula was useful for predicting all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVR in large registry datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a safe and effective treatment for severe aortic stenosis across the spectrum of surgical risk cohorts. Subsequently, the dramatic increase in procedural volume worldwide has placed significant financial and logistical pressures on healthcare institutions, particularly regarding hospital length of stay (LOS), which can adversely affect patient flow. In this review article, we discuss different peri-procedural strategies developed to reduce LOS and facilitate early discharge after TAVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have demonstrated similar effectiveness and safety profiles to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in treating nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Given their favorable pharmacological profile, including the rapid onset and offset of action, fixed dosing, and predictable pharmacokinetics with a consistent dose-response relationship, reducing the need for frequent blood tests, researchers have investigated the potential of NOACs in patients with AF and valvular heart disease (VHD). Methods: Clinical trials, excluding patients with mechanical prosthetic valves or moderate/severe mitral stenosis, have shown the benefits of NOACs over VKAs in this population. However, there is a need for further research to determine if these findings apply to mechanical valve prostheses and NOACs. Results: Several ongoing randomized controlled trials are underway to provide more definitive evidence regarding NOAC treatment in moderate to severe rheumatic mitral stenosis. Importantly, recent trials that included patients with atrial fibrillation and bioprosthetic valves (also transcatheter heart valves) have provided evidence supporting the safety of NOACs in this specific patient population. Ongoing research aims to clearly define the specific scenarios where NOACs can be safely and effectively prescribed for various types of VHD, including moderate/severe mitral stenosis and mechanical valves. Conclusions: The aim of this review is to accurately identify the specific situations in which NOACs can be prescribed in patients with VHD, with a focus centered on each type of valvulopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation has revolutionized the treatment of aortic stenosis. The small aortic annulus is one of the most challenging aspects of aortic stenosis treatment and since the beginning, TAVI has shown promising results in this subgroup of patients. This systematic literature review aims to investigate the short and long-term outcomes of TAVI in the small aortic annulus. The literature was meticulously screened for this topic until April 2024 using the PRISMA guidelines. Technical aspects, characteristics of this subgroup of patients, hemodynamic performances, and outcomes are discussed. The importance of device selection has shown up, with insight into the differences between self-expandable and the balloon-expandable valves. Two special populations were also taken into account: outcomes of TAVI in the small aortic annulus with bicuspid aortic valve and extra-small aortic annulus. The last 10 years have been paramount in technological advancements, bringing TAVI to broader use in this population. While several important trials underscored the usefulness of TAVI in the small aortic annulus population, the clinical practice still lacks consensus on the ideal device, and the outcomes are debated. The pivotal role of TAVI in this context needs to be addressed with a patient-tailored approach to optimize patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) prostheses have better hemodynamics compared to surgical prostheses, with a lower incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM). Nonetheless, the effects of PPM have been controversial regarding clinical impact. This study aims to determine the short-term impact of PPM on cardiac function and the effect of PPM on mid-term outcome in patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI with balloon-expandable valves. One hundred sixty consecutive patients (76.5±7.4 years, 85 men) were enrolled and examined before and 30 days after TAVI, by comprehensive echocardiogram (speckle tracking echocardiography and strain analysis). Patients were divided according to measured PPM (PPMM) into PPMM group: indexed effective orifice area (EOAi)≤0.85 cm2/m2 (n=64), and No-PPMM group: EOAi>0.85 cm2/m2 (n=96). Predictors and predictive value of PPMM were analyzed based on the primary endpoint, 3-year all-cause mortality. Impaired LA function was independently associated with PPMM after TAVI (global LA strain - OR 0.92, p = 0.022). Three-year mortality was higher in the PPMM group (23.4% vs. 10.4% in the No-PPMM group, p=0.026). Our study revealed significantly worse impairment of LA function in patients with PPMM compared to those without PPMM on short-term follow-up, which correlated with 3-year mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Valve-in-Valve (VIV) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a potential solution for malfunctioning surgical aortic valve prostheses, though limited data exist for its use in Perceval valves. Methods: searches were performed on PubMed and Scopus up to 31 July 2023, focusing on case reports and series addressing VIV replacement for degenerated Perceval bioprostheses. Results: Our analysis included 57 patients from 27 case reports and 6 case series. Most patients (68.4%) were women, with a mean age of 76 ± 4.4 years and a mean STS score of 6.1 ± 4.3%. Follow-up averaged 9.8 ± 8.9 months, the mean gradient reduction was 15 ± 5.9 mmHg at discharge and 13 ± 4.2 mmHg at follow-up. Complications occurred in 15.7% of patients, including atrioventricular block III in four patients (7%), major bleeding or vascular complications in two patients (3.5%), an annular rupture in two patients (3.5%), and mortality in two patients (3.5%). No coronary obstruction was reported. Balloon-expanding valves were used in 61.4% of patients, predominantly the Sapien model. In the self-expanding group (38.6%), no valve migration occurred, with a permanent pacemaker implantation rate of 9%, compared to 5.7% for balloon-expanding valves. Conclusions: VIV-TAVR using both balloon-expanding and self-expanding technologies is feasible after the implantation of Perceval valves; however, it should be performed by experienced operators with experience both in TAVR and VIV procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic stenosis has recently been characterised as having an inflammatory aetiology, beyond the traditional degenerative model. Recruitment of monocytes has been associated with inflammation contributing to progression of calcific aortic-valve disease. Prior research has demonstrated that pre-procedure inflammatory biomarkers do not consistently discriminate poorer outcomes in those with aortic stenosis. It remains, however, unclear if postprocedure inflammatory biomarkers, which are influenced by intraprocedural pro-inflammatory insults, can predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) post transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). All patients with postprocedure monocyte levels undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation at The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia (2008–2019) were included. The highest monocyte count from postprocedure days 1 to 3 was used. Patients were divided into "high" or "low" postprocedure monocyte count groups using the Youden Index. The incidence of 30-day MACE a composite of stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and death) was then compared. In total, 472 patients were included (54% men, median age 84 years). Fourteen (14) patients (3%) suffered a 30-day MACE. Those with high postprocedure monocyte count were more likely to: be hypertensive (p=0.049); have a higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score (p=0.032); and, undergo non-transfemoral access (p=0.018). A high (≥0.975) postprocedure monocyte count was significantly associated with 30-day MACE (odds ratio [OR] 1.16 for each 0.1 increase in monocyte, p=0.025). This association remained present on multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex, Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score, and self-expanding valve prosthesis type (OR 1.17, p=0.028). The association between postprocedure monocytosis and 30-day MACE suggests that minimising peri-procedural inflammatory insults may improve outcomes. This inexpensive and readily available biomarker may also aid in tailored risk stratification for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic valve stenosis is a common cardiac condition that requires intervention for symptomatic and/or prognostic reasons. The two most common interventions are surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The ratio of TAVI:SAVR has increased twofold over the past few years and is now being considered in intermediate-risk patients as well. One of the significant benefits of TAVI is that it is less invasive; however, one of the drawbacks is a high paravalvular leaks (PVLs) rate compared to SAVR. To assess the impact of PVLs on survival, progression of heart failure, and the need for re-intervention. We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature search from the conception of TAVI 2002 until December 2022 through Embase (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), Science Direct, and CENTRAL (Wiley). We followed PRISMA guidelines and checklists. Review protocol registration ID in PROSPERO: CRD42023393742. We identified 28 studies that met our eligibility criteria, and only 24 studies were suitable for pooling in a meta-analysis (including their hazard ratio with a confidence interval of 95%) assessing our primary outcome (all-cause mortality). The remaining four studies were narratively synthesised. RevMan V5.4 (Version 5.4. Cochrane Collaboration, 2020) was utilised to pool meta-analysis data to assess effect estimates of PVLs in both intervention arms, using a random effect model for calculation (hazard ratio 1.14 confidence interval 95% 1.08–1.21 [p<0.0001]), with a follow-up duration between 30 days to 5 years. Patients with mild or higher degrees of PVLs in both intervention arms incurred unfavourable outcomes. The incidence of PVLs was significantly higher with TAVI; even a mild degree led to poor quality of life and increased all-cause mortality on long-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) increases morbidity and mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the role of baseline N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a predictor of AKI following TAVI. All consecutive TAVI patients were included in the analysis, except patients with dialysis and those with a GFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline. Rates of AKI after TAVI were assessed according to the updated valve academic research consortium definitions using AKIN classification in three stages. NT-proBNP was measured at baseline. One-year mortality rates were assessed. We included 1973 patients treated with TAVI between January 2006 and December 2016. Median [IQR] age was 81.0 [77.0;84.0] years, the STS score was 6.2 [3.9;9.0], and the logEuroScore was 14.5 [9.0;23.0]. 30-day and one-year mortality was 5.1 % and 16.1 % for all patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with NT-proBNP levels higher than two times above the upper level of normal (ULN) had an increased risk for AKI after TAVI compared to patients with NT-proBNP levels < 2× ULN (OR 1.40 [1.03–1.91]). Routine assessment of baseline NT-proBNP levels might be an additional tool to identify patients at increased risk for AKI after TAVI. • Acute kidney injury is associated with adverse outcomes in TAVI patients. • Baseline NT-proBNP is an independent predictor of AKI after TAVI. • Early identification of patients at high risk for AKI is crucial. • High-risk patients may benefit from further reducing the periprocedural amount of CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is increasingly being used in younger patients and those with lower peri‐procedural risk, meaning more patients will live long enough to experience structural valve deterioration (SVD) of the bioprosthesis, indicating repeated TAVI. Experience of repeated TAVI—transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation into an index THV is limited. This registry aims to assess the peri‐procedural and short‐term safety, efficacy and durability of repeated TAVI. Methods: The ReTAVI Prospective observational registry is an investigator‐initiated, multicentre, international, prospective registry of patients undergoing repeated TAVI using balloon‐expandable SAPIEN prosthesis to evaluate procedural and short‐term safety, efficacy and durability as well as anatomical and procedural factors associated with optimal results. The registry will enrol at least 150 patients across 60 high‐volume centres. Patients must be ≥18 years old, have had procedural success with their first TAVI, have index THV device failure, intend to undergo repeated TAVI and be considered suitable candidates by their local Heart Team. All patients will undergo a 30‐day and 12‐month follow‐up. The estimated study completion is 2025. Conclusions: The registry will collect pre‐, peri‐, postoperative and 12‐months data on patients undergoing repeated TAVI procedures with THVs for failure of the index THV and determine VARC‐3‐defined efficacy and safety at 30 days and functional outcome at 12 months. The registry will expand existing data sets and identify patient characteristics/indicators related to complications and clinical benefits for patients with symptomatic severe calcific degenerative aortic stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Despite the frequency of persistent new-onset conduction disturbances after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), few preoperative methods of prediction exist. Methods Patients who underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University from December 2020 to September 2021 and postoperative aortic root modeling via the FEOPS finite element analysis were included in this single-center case–control study, divided into persistent conduction disturbances (PCD) and non-PCD groups according to their pre- and postoperative electrocardiograms in the first month. Risk factors affecting PCD were identified by comparing the baseline data of these two groups, including echocardiograms, computed tomography angiography of the aortic root, surgical decision-making, and FEOPS data. Independent risk factors were screened using logistic regression modeling, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to test the predictive ability. Results A total of 56 patients were included in this study, 37 with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and 19 with trileaflet aortic valve (TAV), with 17 cases of PCD. The contact pressure index (CPI) of FEOPS, valve oversize ratio, differences between membranous interventricular septum length and implantation depth (ΔMSID) and valve implantation depth were statistically different (P

Abstract Pacemaker implantation (PMI) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a common complication. While computed tomography (CT) scan data are known predictors of PMI, no machine learning (ML) model integrating CT with clinical, ECG, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) data has been proposed. This study investigates the contribution of ML methods to predict PMI after TAVI, with a focus on the role of CT imaging data. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 520 patients who underwent TAVI. Recursive feature elimination with SHAP values was used to select key variables from clinical, ECG, TTE, and CT data. Six ML models, including Support Vector Machines (SVM), were trained using these selected variables. The model’s performance was evaluated using AUC-ROC, F1 score, and accuracy metrics. The PMI rate was 18.8%. The best-performing model achieved an AUC-ROC of 92.1% ± 4.7, an F1 score of 71.8% ± 9.9, and an accuracy of 87.9% ± 4.7 using 22 variables, 9 of which were CT-based. Membranous septum measurements and their dynamic variations were critical predictors. Our ML model provides robust PMI predictions, enabling personalized risk assessments. The model is implemented online for broad clinical use.

Abstract Background Platelets play a key role in the natural history of aortic stenosis (AS) and after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). An echo-based staging system stratifies patients with severe AS into 5 groups according to the associated cardiac damage phenotype. We aimed to correlate these AS stages with platelet indices in post-TAVI patients. Methods Patients with severe AS who underwent TAVI and were admitted to intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) were prospectively identified and divided into 5 groups according to extra-valvular cardiac damage [no extravalvular cardiac damage (Stage 0), left ventricular damage (Stage 1), left atrial or mitral valve damage (Stage 2), pulmonary vasculature or tricuspid valve damage (Stage 3), or right ventricular damage (Stage 4)]. Baseline characteristics and complete blood count including mean platelet volume (MPV) and immature platelet fraction (IPF) were collected within 2 h after the procedure and analyzed in relation to aortic stenosis staging. Results A total of 220 patients were included. The mean age was 81 years old and 112 (50.9%) were female. Two (1%) patients were classified in stage 0; 34 (15%) in stage 1; 48 (22%) in stage 2; 49 (22%) in stage 3 and 87 (40%) in stage 4. Higher mean MPV values were correlated with higher AS staging (10.8 fL, 11 fL, 11.3 fL and 10.8 fL in stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, P = 0.02) as well as lower hemoglobin values (12 mg/dl, 11.6 mg/dl, 11 mg/dl and 11.3 mg/dl in stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively P = 0.04). Mean IPF values were 5.3%, 5.58%, 5.57% and 4.83% in stage 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively (P = 0.4). In a multivariate logistic regression model only MPV (OR = 2.6, P = 0.03) and body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.17, P = 0.004) were correlated with higher staging (0–3) of AS. Conclusions Although IPF and MPV levels increased in stages 0–3, there was a decrease in indices in stage 4, (probably due to bone marrow dysfunction) in this end-stage population. Higher levels of MPV and lower levels of hemoglobin were independently correlated with higher stages (0–3) of AS.

Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an established, highly effective procedure in selected patients with severe degenerative aortic valve stenosis at high risk for conventional surgery. Case presentation We report a case of a 74-year-old Caucasian man who had an acute left main occlusion after transcatheter implantation of balloon-expandable valve prosthesis, followed by coronary intervention with successful recanalization. Conclusions Acute coronary occlusion is a rare life-threatening complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation that is poorly predictable and requires immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a growing treatment for aortic stenosis, but anatomical variations exist across populations. Asians tend to have smaller aortic annuli and higher bicuspid valve morphology compared to Westerners, potentially impacting TAVI valve selection and outcomes. This study analyzes aortic root parameters in Pakistani patients undergoing TAVI. Results We conducted a retrospective analysis of 78 patients who underwent TAVI at the Peshawar Institute of Cardiology from January 2021 to March 2024. Pre-procedural CT scans were analyzed for aortic annulus diameters, area, and other relevant parameters. The mean age was 72.41 years (SD ± 11.99), and 61.5% were male. Aortic annulus diameters (minimum, mean, maximum) were 21.18 mm (SD ± 3.99), 24.21 mm (SD ± 3.93), and 27.49 mm (SD ± 4.43), respectively. Bicuspid aortic valves were present in 34.61% of patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest that Pakistani patients undergoing TAVI may have aortic root dimensions comparable to Western populations, with a substantial prevalence of bicuspid valves. However, coronary heights were similar to those reported in Asian populations with smaller annuli. Further studies are needed to assess TAVI outcomes in Pakistani patients and determine if tailored valve sizing strategies are required.

Abstract Background Aortic regurgitation with dilated annulus presents a technical challenge for conventional transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures. Case presentation We report a case of an 84-year-old frail patient with a history of breathlessness found to have severe aortic regurgitation and moderately impaired left ventricular systolic function. The patient underwent a successful TAVI procedure using the XL-Myval 32 mm transcatheter heart valve (THV) via an anterior right mini-thoracotomy with a direct aortic approach. The patient recovered well post-operatively with good hemodynamic resolution. Conclusions This first in human case highlights the efficacy and potential of applying innovative approaches, such as the new sizes of Myval THV and direct aortic access via anterior right mini thoracotomy, in addressing challenging anatomical variations in TAVI procedures with good outcome.

RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos: El implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica (TAVI) se ha establecido como una alternativa menos invasiva al recambio valvular aórtico (RVAo). El strain longitudinal global del ventrículo izquierdo (SLG-VI) puede detectar cambios en el funcionamiento ventricular izquierdo antes de que se deteriore la fracción de eyección. Nuestro objetivo fue presentar y evaluar la experiencia de nuestro centro en cuanto al remodelado inverso ventricular izquierdo a corto y largo plazo, utilizando el SLG-VI mediante rastreo de marcas, o speckle tracking, bidimensional, después de TAVI en comparación con los resultados tras RVAo. Métodos: El equipo cardiológico multidisciplinario evaluó 65 pacientes remitidos para RVAo por estenosis aórtica grave, con riesgo quirúrgico alto, intermedio o bajo. Los pacientes se clasificaron según fueran tratados con TAVI (prótesis autoexpandible Evolut-R) o RVAo. Se realizó ecocardiograma antes del procedimiento, al mes y al año de llevarlo a cabo. Resultados: 31 pacientes se trataron con TAVI y 34 con RVAo. En el grupo de TAVI hubo mayores tasas de regurgitación valvular y paravalvular. Se observó un remodelado ventricular izquierdo más favorable, con una disminución significativa del índice de masa del ventrículo izquierdo, un índice E/e’ tras el procedimiento y una mejoría precoz del SLG-VI de −8,18 ± 1,81 a −14,52 ± 2,52, que al año fue −16,12 ± 2,69 (p

RESUMEN La tomografía computarizada es una técnica no invasiva, de gran resolución espacial, con excelente definición del calcio y del espacio intravascular al emplear medios de contraste, que brinda la posibilidad de realizar tanto mediciones como simulaciones virtuales de intervencionismo coronario y estructural. Se ha establecido como la técnica de referencia en la selección de pacientes y la planificación de procedimientos de intervencionismo transcatéter coronario y estructural en diferentes escenarios (implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica, cierre percutáneo de orejuela izquierda, reemplazo de válvula mitral transcatéter y reemplazo de válvula tricúspide transcatéter). El presente trabajo revisa el papel de la tomografía computarizada en el intervencionismo cardiaco coronario y estructural.

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an alternative and less invasive treatment to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) can reveal changes in left ventricular performance before involvement of ejection fraction. Our aim was to present and evaluate our center’s experience regarding short- and long-term reverse left ventricular remodeling using two-dimensional-speckle tracking echocardiography-derived LV-GLS after TAVI compared with SAVR. Methods: Our multidisciplinary cardiac team carefully evaluated 65 patients for SAVR who presented with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and who had high, intermediate, or low surgical risk. The patients underwent either TAVI with an Evolut-R self-expanding valve or SAVR. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed before, 1 month, and 1 year after the procedure. Results: TAVI was performed in 31 patients and SAVR in 34 patients. The incidence of valvular and paravalvular leak was higher in the TAVI group despite early favorable LV remodeling with a significant decrease in left ventricular mass index and E/e’ shortly after the procedure and an early detectable improvement in LV-GLS from −8.18 ± 1.81 to −14.52 ± 2.52, reaching −16.12 ± 2.69 at 1 year (P

Abstract Subclinical leaflet thrombosis (SLT) can be one of the causes of transcatheter heart valve (THV) failure after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We sought to clarify the formation process of SLT and thrombogenicity during the perioperative period of TAVI. This multicenter, prospective, single-arm interventional study enrolled 26 patients treated with edoxaban for atrial fibrillation and who underwent TAVI for severe aortic stenosis between September 2018 and September 2022. We investigated changes in maximal leaflet thickness detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography between 1 week and 3 months after TAVI in 18 patients and measured the thrombogenicity by Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System (T-TAS) and flow stagnation volume by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) (n = 11). SLT was observed in 16.7% (3/18) at 1 week, but decreased to 5.9% (1/17) at 3 months after TAVI. Patients with SLT at 1 week had a significantly decreased maximal leaflet thickness compared to those without SLT. Thrombogenicity assessed by T-TAS decreased markedly at 1 week and tended to increase at 3 months. The stagnation volume assessed by CFD was positively associated with a higher maximum leaflet thickness. This study showed the course of leaflet thrombus formation and visualization of stagnation in neo-sinus of THV in the acute phase after TAVI.

Background: The management of patients with aortic valve pathologies can sometimes fall into a "gray zone", where the optimal treatment approach is not straightforward. The comparative benefits of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SUAVR) using the Perceval bioprosthesis versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for the "gray zone" of aortic valve replacement procedures remain a topic of debate. To further explore this issue, we conducted a study with pairwise, single-arm, and Kaplan–Meier-based meta-analyses to compare the outcomes of SUAVR with the Perceval bioprosthesis versus TAVI, as well as to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and durability of SUAVR with the Perceval bioprosthesis over mid-term and long-term follow-up periods. Methods: The PubMed, PubMed Central, OVID Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. All study types were included, except study protocols and animal studies, without time restrictions. The final search was carried out in May 2024. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) rates between the two groups. SUAVR showed a lower incidence of new-onset myocardial infarction but was associated with higher rates of new-onset atrial fibrillation and major bleeding. TAVI had higher rates of left bundle branch block and major vascular complications. Conclusions: Our findings show that SUAVR has a lower incidence of complications and a favorable mid-term overall survival compared to TAVI. SUAVR has more advantages compared to TAVI and can be considered a valuable and promising option for the "grey zone" of aortic valve pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Before surgical or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), coronary status evaluation is required. The role of combined computed coronary tomography angiography (cCTA) and TAVI planning CT in this context is not yet well elucidated. This study assessed whether relevant proximal coronary disease requiring coronary revascularization can be safely detected by combined cCTA and TAVI planning CT, including CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) calculation in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Methods: This study analyzed patients with successful cCTA combined with TAVI planning CT using a 128-slice dual-source scanner. The detection via cCTA of relevant left main stem stenosis (>50%) or proximal coronary artery stenosis (>70%) was compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Results: This study comprised 101 consecutive TAVI patients with a median age of 83 [77–86] years, a median STS score of 3.7 [2.4–6.1] and 54% of whom had known coronary artery disease. Of 15 patients with relevant coronary stenoses, 14 (93.3%) were detected with cCTA, while false positive results were found in 25 patients. Only in patients with previous percutaneous coronary stent implantation (PCI) were false positive rates (11/29) increased. In the subgroup without previous PCI, an improved classification performance of 87.5%, being mainly due to 11.1% false positive classifications, led to a negative predictive value of 98.5%. Conclusions: Combined cCTA and CT-FFR with TAVI planning CT via state-of-the-art scanners and protocols as a one-stop shop can replace routine ICA in patients prior to TAVI due to its safe detection of relevant coronary artery stenosis, although diagnostic performance of cCTA is only reduced in patients with coronary stents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The transfemoral (TF) approach is the most common route in TAVI, but it is still associated with a risk of bleeding and vascular complications. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between surgical cut-down (SC) and percutaneous (PC) approach. (2) Methods: Between January 2018 and June 2022, 774 patients underwent a transfemoral TAVI procedure. After propensity matching, 323 patients underwent TAVI in each group. (3) Results: In the matched population, 15 patients (4.6%) in the SC group vs. 34 patients in the PC group (11%) experienced minor vascular complications (p = 0.02), while no difference for major vascular complication (1.5% vs. 1.9%) were reported. The rate of minor bleeding events was higher in the percutaneous group (11% vs. 3.1%, p <.001). The SC group experienced a higher rate of non-vascular-related access complications (minor 8% vs. 1.2%; major 2.2% vs. 1.2%; p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: SC for TF-TAVI did not alter the mortality rate at 30 days and was associated with reduced minor vascular complication and bleeding. PC showed a lower rate of non-vascular-related access complications and a lower length of stay. The specific approach should be tailored to the patient's clinical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitral valve stenosis (MS) can be concomitantly present in patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). Some studies have reported up to one-fifth of patients who underwent TAVI also have MS. The relationship between mitral stenosis and TAVI has led to concerns regarding increased adverse cardiac outcomes during and after the procedure. The Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD 2016–2019) was utilized to identify TAVI patients with MS with ICD-10-CM codes. The primary outcome was a 30-day readmission rate. Secondary outcomes included predictors of all-cause readmissions, length of stay, and total hospitalization cost. We assessed readmission frequency with a national sample weighed at 30 days following the index TAVI procedure. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were analyzed for in-hospital outcomes using univariate and multivariate logistic regression for study cohorts. A total of 217,147 patients underwent TAVI procedures during the queried time period of the study. Of these patients, 2140 (0.98 %) had MS. The overall 30-day all-cause readmission rate for the study cohort was 12.4 %. TAVI patients with MS had higher rates of 30-day readmissions (15.8 % vs 12.3 %, aOR 1.22, CI: 1.03–1.45, P < 0.01). Additionally, TAVI patients with MS had longer lengths of hospital stay during index admissions (5.7 vs. 4.3 days), along with higher total hospitalization costs ($55,157 vs. $50,239). In contrast, in-hospital mortality during index TAVI admission did not differ significantly between the two groups, although there was a trend toward higher mortality in the MS group (2.1 % vs. 1.5 %). Among the TAVI MS cohort, patients admitted on weekends (aOR: 1.11, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.22, P = 0.01), admitted to non-metropolitan hospitals (aOR: 1.29, 95 % CI: 1.11–1.66, P = 0.04) and presence of co-morbidities such as atrial fibrillation (AF)/flutter (aOR: 1.24, 95 % CI: 1.16–1.32, P < 0.01), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (aOR: 1.16, 95 % CI: 1.11–1.22, P < 0.01), prior stroke (aOR: 1.09, 95 % CI: 1.03–1.14, P < 0.01), chronic kidney disease (CKD) ≥3 (aOR: 1.16, 95 % CI: 1.11–1.22, P < 0.01), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (aOR: 1.75, 95 % CI: 1.61–1.90, P < 0.01), and anemia (aOR: 1.23, 95 % CI: 1.18–1.28, P < 0.01) were associated with increased odds of readmission. Concomitant MS in patients undergoing TAVI is associated with higher readmission rates and total hospital costs. This can contribute significantly to healthcare-related burdens. Further studies are required to evaluate in-hospital outcomes and predictors of readmission in patients undergoing TAVI with the presence of concomitant MS. [Display omitted] • TAVI patients with concurrent MS were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days following the procedure. • Hospitalization in a non-metropolitan hospital, weekend admissions, and multiple co-morbidities were significantly associated with higher odds of 30-day readmission in this cohort. • There was no significant difference in the short-term in-patient mortality rate for patients with concomitant mitral stenosis following TAVI. • The total hospitalization cost and length of stay were significantly higher for the TAVI with MS cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been increasingly used in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Since coronary artery disease (CAD) is common among these patients, it is crucial to choose the best method and timing of revascularization. This study aims to compare different timing strategies of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI to clarify whether PCI timing affects the patients' outcomes or not. Methods: A frequentist network meta‐analysis was conducted comparing three different revascularization strategies in patients with CAD undergoing TAVI. The 30‐day all‐cause mortality, in‐hospital mortality, all‐cause mortality at 1 year, 30‐day rates of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and major bleeding, and the need for pacemaker implantation at 6 months were analyzed in this study. Results: Our meta‐analysis revealed that PCI during TAVI had higher 30‐day mortality (RR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.40–4.32) and in‐hospital mortality (RR = 1.70, 95% CI = [1.08–2.69]) compared to no PCI. Post‐TAVI PCI was associated with higher 1‐year mortality compared to other strategies. While no significant differences in major bleeding or stroke were observed, PCI during TAVI versus no PCI (RR = 3.63, 95% CI = 1.27–10.43) showed a higher rate of 30‐day MI. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that among patients with severe AS and CAD undergoing TAVI, PCI concomitantly with TAVI seems to be associated with worse 30‐day outcomes compared with no PCI. PCI after TAVI demonstrated an increased risk of 1‐year mortality compared to alternative strategies. Choosing a timing strategy should be individualized based on patient characteristics and procedural considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling has been linked to clinical outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter valve implantation (TAVI). However, the best timing for prognostic assessment remains uncertain. Our aim was to determine the impact of RV longitudinal function parameters and RV-PA coupling on mortality in patients undergoing TAVI. Retrospective, single center, analysis including patients with AS who underwent TAVI between 2007 and 2021. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed before, shortly after the procedure, and during follow-up. RV-PA uncoupling was defined as a TAPSE/PASP ratio<0.55 (severe RV uncoupling was defined as TAPSE/PASP ratio<0.32. The effect of RV parameters on all-cause mortality up to 12 months was assessed. Among the 577 patients included, pre-procedural TAPSE/PASP ratio data were available for 205. RV-PA uncoupling was present in 113 patients (55.1%), with severe uncoupling observed in 31 (15.1%). Within the first 12 months after TAVI, 51 patients (9%) died. Severe RV-PA uncoupling was associated with mortality in univariable Cox regression; however, this association was lost after adjusting for EuroSCORE II. A significant association was found between the TAPSE/PASP ratio (per 0.1-unit increase) after the procedure and the primary endpoint (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.97; p=0.029). Higher postprocedural PASP (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.06; p<0.001 was also associated with all-cause mortality. V-PA uncoupling and PASP after TAVI are associated with all-cause mortality in patients and may be valuable for patient selection and for planning post-procedural care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Limited data exist on strain changes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR). Case summary Three patients with AR undergoing TAVI showed an initial reduction in global longitudinal strain (GLS), followed by sustained GLS improvement within the first year. Discussion Findings align with those of surgically treated patients with AR. There is a possible superiority of GLS to left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ratio in assessing patients with severe volume overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: With the prevalence of cardiovascular disease continuing to grow, more novel markers for the identification of patients at risk are required. Extra coronary calcification in the ascending and/or descending thoracic aorta, aortic arch, and abdominal aorta has recently been identified as a method to quantify the extent of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with its role in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events being unclear. In this review, we aim to summarize the existing literature regarding the predictive role of aortic calcification as calculated by computed tomography for the risk prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events. As the prevalence of cardiovascular disease continues to increase, early identification of patients at high risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) using reliable diagnostic modalities is important. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive percutaneous procedure used to replace the aortic valve with a bioprosthetic one, often without the need for surgery. Extra coronary calcification in the ascending and/or descending thoracic aorta, aortic arch, and abdominal aorta has recently been identified as a method to quantify the extent of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, its definitive role in the prediction of MACE remains unclear. We performed a comprehensive review to summarize the current literature on the diagnostic and predictive value of thoracic and abdominal aortic calcification, as quantified in computed tomography, for the association, risk stratification, and prediction of MACE and after TAVI procedures. Despite increasing evidence, the predictive role of thoracic calcification still remains unproven, with a need for carefully tailored studies to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an appealing option in managing patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) after demonstrating better survival rates, reduction in symptom burden, and improvement in the quality of life (QOL). However, some patients fail to demonstrate benefits after TAVI, whether in terms of survival or QOL. Objective: This study opted to investigate the predictors of poor clinical outcomes following TAVI from a real-world national registry Patients and Methods: This prospective observational study was derived from an Egyptian single-center registry through the duration from November 2022 to May 2023. It included 122 patients who were treated with TAVI. The participants' QOL was evaluated using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire at baseline and 6 months follow-up after TAVI. Participants were subdivided into two groups: Group A (good improvement) reported survival and >20% improvement from baseline and group B (poor improvement) reported mortality or ≤ 20% improvement. Results: The mean age of our patients was 73.67 ± 7.04 years, 47.5% were males. A total of 106 patients (86.9%) showed good outcomes in the form of survival and QOL improvement >20%. Three patients (2.5%) experienced periprocedural mortality and 13 patients (10.6%) did not show an improvement in QOL of >20%. The independent predictors correlated to poor outcomes were: DM (P=0.028), creatinine clearance ≤ 46 ml/min (P=0.002), and preexisting intraventricular conduction delay (IVCD) (P=0.017) and post-procedural CrCl ≤ 49ml/min (P= 0.011). Conclusions: Our study concluded that certain preoperative risk factors and postoperative complications can predict patients' outcomes after TAVI. The independent predictors of poor outcomes were pre-procedural factors (pre-existing DM, chronic kidney disease (CKD) with CrCl ≤ 46 ml/min, and pre-existing IVCD) and a post-procedural factor which was CrCl ≤ 49 ml/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an efficient and safe alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). While severe aortic stenosis as well as severe aortic regurgitation (AR) are known to negatively impact left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), prior studies have shown that TAVR can lead to an improvement in LVEF. Thus far, little is known about the prognostic implication of LVEF improvement as a sole predictor of outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of LVEF impairment before TAVR, as well as early LVEF improvement in patients undergoing TAVR. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing TAVR in a large tertiary university hospital were consecutively included in a prospective registry. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed at baseline, after 1 month and annually thereafter. Significant LVEF improvement was defined as a relative increase of ≥10% in LVEF at 30 days compared to baseline LVEF. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 1 year. Secondary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, bleeding and unplanned re-interventions of the aortic valve at 5 years. Results: Among 1655 patients who underwent TAVR between September 2011 and April 2024, the LVEF at baseline was available for 1556 patients. Of these, 1031 patients (66.2%) had preserved LVEF at baseline (LVEF ≥ 53%), whereas 303 patients (19.5%) had moderately reduced LVEF (40–52%) and 222 patients (14.3%) had severely reduced LVEF (<40%). Out of the patients with impaired LVEF, 155 (40.4%) patients showed a significant improvement in LVEF ≥10% after 30 days, while 229 (60.6%) patients showed no significant LVEF improvement (<10%). Patients with preserved LVEF at baseline had significantly better mortality outcomes than those with severely reduced LVEF (p < 0.001). LVEF improvement was associated with a survival benefit after 1 year (p = 0.009, HR 2.68, 0.95 CI 1.23–5.85) which diminished after 5 years (p = 0.058), but patients with LVEF improvement showed lower MACE rates at 5 years (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Preserved LVEF before TAVR is an independent predictor for improved outcomes. Additionally, early improvement in LVEF is associated with beneficial outcomes in patients undergoing TAVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is only performed in a limited number of specialised metropolitan centres, many of which are private hospitals, making it likely that TAVI patients who require readmission will present to another (non-index) hospital. It is important to understand the impact of non-index readmission on patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilisation. We analysed linked hospital and death records for residents of New South Wales, Australia, aged ≥18 years, who had an emergency readmission within 90 days following a TAVI procedure in 2013–2022. Mixed-effect, multi-level logistic regression models were used to evaluate predictors of non-index readmission, and associations between non-index readmission and readmission length of stay, 90-day mortality, and 1-year mortality. Of 4,198 patients (mean age, 82.7 years; 40.6% female) discharged alive following TAVI, 933 (22.2%) were readmitted within 90 days of discharge. Over three-quarters (76.0%) of those readmitted returned to a non-index hospital, with no significant difference in readmission principal diagnosis between index hospital and non-index hospital readmissions. Among readmitted patients, independent predictors of non-index readmission included: residence in regional or remote areas, lower socio-economic status, having a pre-procedure transfer, and a private index hospital. Readmission length of stay (median, 4 days), 90-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56–1.96) and 1-year mortality (adjusted OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.64–1.58) were similar between index and non-index readmissions. Non-index readmission following TAVI was highly prevalent but not associated with increased mortality or healthcare utilisation. Our results are reassuring for TAVI patients in regional and remote areas with limited access to return to index TAVI hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have a high comorbidity burden. We sought to stratify patients into functional outcomes using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12), a patient-reported outcome with benefits over both the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification and the original 23-item KCCQ, and to evaluate the importance of comorbidities in predicting failure of functional improvement post-TAVI in a contemporary cohort. In total, 366 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI with baseline KCCQ-12 were retrospectively analysed and divided into two groups. Failure to improve was defined as a score <60 and a change in score <10 at 1 year in either overall score (KCCQ-OS) or clinical summary score (KCCQ-CSS). Failure to improve was noted in 13% of patients, who were more likely to have lower KCCQ-OS at baseline (47 [35–59] vs 56 [42–74]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (19% vs 8%), severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) (13% vs 2%), a clinical frailty score (CFS) ≥5 (41% vs 14%), and lower serum albumin (36 g/L [34–38] vs 38 g/L [35–40]). On multivariate analysis, with an area under the curve of 0.71 (0.63–0.78), baseline KCCQ-OS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.3 [0.1–0.6], p=0.04), COPD (aOR 2.8 [1.2–6.5], p=0.02), and severe CKD (aOR 5.7 [1.7–18.5], p=0.004) remained independent predictors. CFS alone had a similar predictive value as the multivariable model (OR 2.0 [1.3–3.4], area under the curve 0.69 [0.59–0.80], p<0.001). KCCQ scores were effective in delineating functional outcomes, with most patients in our relatively lower surgical risk cohort showing significant functional improvements post-TAVI. Low baseline KCCQ, moderate or worse COPD, and severe CKD were associated with failure of improvement post-TAVI. Baseline CFS appears to be a good screening tool to predict poor improvement. These factors should be evaluated and weighted accordingly in pre-TAVI assessments and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is performed to treat aortic stenosis and is increasingly being utilised in the low-to-intermediate-risk population. Currently, attention has shifted towards long-term outcomes, complications and lifelong maintenance of the bioprosthesis. Some patients with TAVR in-situ may develop significant coronary artery disease over time requiring invasive coronary angiography, which may be problematic with the TAVR bioprosthesis in close proximity to the coronary ostia. In addition, younger patients may require a second transcatheter heart valve (THV) to 'replace' their in-situ THV because of gradual structural valve degeneration. Implantation of a second THV carries a risk of coronary obstruction, thereby requiring comprehensive pre-procedural planning. Unlike in the pre-TAVR period, cardiac CT angiography in the post-TAVR period is not well established. However, post-TAVR cardiac CT is being increasingly utilised to evaluate mechanisms for structural valve degeneration and complications, including leaflet thrombosis. Post-TAVR CT is also expected to have a significant role in risk-stratifying and planning future invasive procedures including coronary angiography and valve-in-valve interventions. Overall, there is emerging evidence for post-TAVR CT to be eventually incorporated into long-term TAVR monitoring and lifelong planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Infective prosthesis endocarditis (IE) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) presents significant management challenges, marked by high mortality rates. This study reviews our center's experience with surgical interventions for IE in patients post-TAVI, focusing on outcomes, challenges, and procedural complexities, and providing an overview of the limited literature surrounding this subject. Methods: This study was executed as a comprehensive retrospective analysis, targeting the clinical outcomes of surgical treatment in patients presenting with PVE following TAVI procedures at our institution. From July 2017 to July 2022, we identified five patients who had previously undergone transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation and were later diagnosed with PVE needing surgery, strictly adhering to the modified Duke criteria. Results: All surgical procedures were reported successful with no intra- or postoperative mortality. Patients were predominantly male (80%), with an average age of 76 ± 8.6 years, presenting mostly with dyspnea (NYHA Class II). The mean follow-up was between 121 and 1973 days, with outcomes showing no occurrences of stroke, myocardial infarction, or major bleeding. One patient expired from unrelated causes 3.7 years post-surgery. The operative and postoperative protocols demonstrated effective disease management with enhanced survival and minimal complications. Conclusions: The surgical treatment of IE following TAVI, though challenging, can be successfully achieved with careful patient selection and a multidisciplinary approach. The favorable outcomes suggest that surgical intervention remains a viable option for managing this high-risk patient group. Our study also highlights the scarce literature available on this topic, suggesting an urgent need for more comprehensive research to enhance understanding and improve treatment strategies. Future studies with larger cohorts are needed to further validate these findings and refine surgical strategies for this growing patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oslo University Hospital is a tertiary center conducting a significant number of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures per year. In this follow‐up MediPace study, we aimed to investigate early echocardiographic changes in systolic and diastolic functions after TAVI in these patients. Methods: All patients enrolled in the previous study were contacted 3 months after TAVI for echocardiographic evaluation. Detailed echocardiography was performed 3.5 ± 1.6 months after TAVI, and compared with baseline evaluations. Results: A total of 101 patients were analyzed. Mean age was 80.1 ± 6.8 years and 40% of the patients were female. We observed a significant improvement in global longitudinal strain (GLS) (pre‐TAVI −16.8 ± 4.1%, post‐TAVI −17.8 ± 3.6%, p <.001), with no notable change in LVEF. More than half of the patients (52%) experienced a significant reverse remodeling with ≥10% decrease in left ventricular mass index (LVMi) following TAVI (pre‐TAVI 123.6 ± 32.1 vs. 109.7 ± 28.9 g/m2 post‐TAVI, p <.001). Pre‐TAVI LVMi was a positive predictor, whereas history of HT was a negative predictor of LVMi reduction. There was no significant improvement in diastolic function following TAVI. Highest degree of paravalvular leakage was mild to moderate and was observed in only 2%. Conclusions: A significant improvement in GLS and LVMi was found following TAVI. History of hypertension and baseline LVMi were predictors of LVMi change. There was no notable change in diastolic function, including left atrial strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently available risk scores fail to accurately predict morbidity and mortality in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In this context, biomarkers like matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) may provide additional prognostic information. Patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing consecutive, elective, transfemoral TAVI were included. Baseline demographic data, functional status, echocardiographic findings, clinical outcomes and biomarker levels were collected and analysed. The study cohort consisted of 89 patients (age 80.4 ± 5.1 years, EuroScore II 7.1 ± 5.8%). During a median follow-up period of 526 d, 28 patients (31.4%) died. Among those who died, median baseline MMP-2 (alive: 221.6 [170.4; 263] pg/mL vs. deceased: 272.1 [225; 308.8] pg/mL, p < 0.001) and Gal-3 levels (alive: 19.1 [13.5; 24.6] pg/mL vs. deceased: 25 [17.6; 29.5] pg/mL, p = 0.006) were higher than in survivors. In ROC analysis, MMP-2 reached an acceptable level of discrimination to predict mortality (AUC 0.733, 95% CI [0.62; 0.83], p < 0.001), but the predictive value of Gal-3 was poor (AUC 0.677, 95% CI [0.56; 0.79], p = 0.002). Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses showed that patients with MMP-2 and Gal-3 concentrations above the median at baseline had significantly impaired long-term survival (p = 0.004 and p = 0.02, respectively). In patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transfemoral TAVI, MMP-2 and to a lesser extent Gal-3, seem to have additive value in optimizing risk prediction and streamlining decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: There is significant potential to streamline the clinical pathway for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of implementing BENCHMARK best practices on the efficiency and safety of TAVI in 28 sites in 7 European countries. Methods: This was a study of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing TAVI with balloon-expandable valves before and after implementation of BENCHMARK best practices. Principal objectives were to reduce hospital length of stay (LoS) and duration of intensive care stay. Secondary objective was to document patient safety. Results: Between January 2020 and March 2023, 897 patients were documented prior to and 1491 patients after the implementation of BENCHMARK practices. Patient characteristics were consistent with a known older TAVI population and only minor differences. Mean LoS was reduced from 7.7 ± 7.0 to 5.8 ± 5.6 days (median 6 vs. 4 days; P <.001). Duration of intensive care was reduced from 1.8 to 1.3 days (median 1.1 vs. 0.9 days; P <.001). Adoption of peri-procedure best practices led to increased use of local anaesthesia (96.1% vs. 84.3%; P <.001) and decreased procedure (median 47 vs. 60 min; P <.001) and intervention times (85 vs. 95 min; P <.001). Thirty-day patient safety did not appear to be compromised with no differences in all-cause mortality (0.6% in both groups combined), stroke/transient ischaemic attack (1.4%), life-threatening bleeding (1.3%), stage 2/3 acute kidney injury (0.7%), and valve-related readmission (1.2%). Conclusions: Broad implementation of BENCHMARK practices contributes to improving efficiency of TAVI pathway reducing LoS and costs without compromising patient safety. Structured Graphical Abstract BENCHMARK: streamlined transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) pathway with retained safety. CCU, coronary care unit; ICU, intensive care unit; GW, general ward; IMC, intermediate care; PPM, permanent pacemaker. *Includes patients with available data on LoS only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly utilized in cardiogenic shock and high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). These devices aspirate and expel blood from the left ventricle (LV) into the aorta, consequently reducing left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). We report a case of unexpected LVEDP rise under LV-to-aorta LVAD in the context of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and concomitant multi-vessel PCI. Case summary A patient with acute heart failure, severely depressed systolic LV function, severe aortic stenosis, and multi-vessel coronary artery disease underwent TAVI and concomitant PCI under pulsatile LVAD. Notably, the patient experienced unexpected shortness of breath and elevated LVEDP while under LVAD, which normalized immediately upon LVAD removal. Discussion Pulsatile LVAD enhances cardiac output by providing pulsatile support through a percutaneous bi-directional flow catheter. Despite expectations of reduced LVEDP and improved myocardial oxygen supply under LVAD support, we observed high LVEDP and clinical complaints of shortness of breath following TAVI and multi-vessel PCI. This case illustrates that an LVAD across the aortic valve may immobilize aortic leaflets and generate acute aortic regurgitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is experiencing continued growth as an option for the treatment of aortic stenosis. With larger numbers of procedures being performed on lower risk and younger patients, there is increased scrutiny on valve durability. Leaflet stresses and potential damage have a significant role to play in this regard. Predictions of leaflet stresses have so far focused on either fluid-structure interaction simulations of blood flow through the prosthesis or, crimping simulations using a cylindrical surface. However, in reality, when a compression loading system (CLS) is used in the crimping of self-expanding valves, this could result in different stresses in the valve leaflets relative to those that might occur in crimping with a cylindrical surface.Method: A full model of a CoreValve Evolut Pro (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) device was developed, comprising the frame, skirt and leaflets along with a representative model for the CLS as used in clinical practice. The full device was crimped to a final diameter of 18 Fr using the CLS model and the distribution and intensity of leaflet stresses was assessed. A similar assessment of leaflet stresses was also performed for crimping using radial displacement of a cylindrical surface. Comparison of the predicted leaflet stresses between the two models was undertaken, alongside a comparison of the stresses produced when dynamically loading the leaflets after deployment of the valve.Results: Both the CLS and cylinder crimping methods produced higher average and peak stresses on the leaflets compared to those produced during leaflet loading. The peak von Mises stresses for CLS crimping, cylinder crimping, and leaflet loading were 3.42 MPa, 3.92 MPa, and 1.77 MPa respectively. The leaflet folding pattern between the CLS crimping and cylinder crimping methods were different, resulting in different high stress locations on the leaflets. However, the average stress magnitude at the final crimped stage between the two crimping methods were similar.Conclusions: High fidelity simulations of crimping and expansion of a complete CoreValve Evolut Pro model using a compression loading system model have been performed, wherein the results showed that peak leaflet stresses in the crimped valve were approximately twice as high as the maximum leaflet stresses under dynamic loading. This finding has significant implications for device durability due to the high stresses and possible damage they might inflict on the leaflets. It was also found that crimping using a compression loading system versus a simpler cylindrical surface produced different folding patterns and stress distributions. However, for future studies that are not concerned with accurately capturing the leaflet folding patterns and stresses throughout the crimping process, crimping via a cylindrical surface can be used instead of simulating the full CLS model.

Introduction: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. In this case report, we detail a patient with CA due to a rare transthyretin (CA-TTR) mutation, manifesting with negative myocardial scintigraphy and requiring genetic testing for diagnosis. The patient also had severe aortic stenosis (AS), necessitating discussion with a heart team to determine the optimal treatment strategy. Case report: A 70-year-old male with a family history of sudden death was previously diagnosed with third-degree atrioventricular block and treated with a pacemaker. He presented with worsening exertional dyspnoea, and examination revealed a third heart sound, a systolic murmur indicative of AS and bilateral muscular atrophy in the thenar region. Transthoracic echocardiography indicated severe AS and moderate left ventricular dysfunction, with images suggesting infiltrative disease. Pyrophosphate scintigraphy revealed no abnormal cardiac tracer uptake. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed extensive, heterogeneous, subendocardial late gadolinium enhancement in both the atria and ventricles, which was consistent with CA. Genetic testing identified the Phe84Leu mutation in the TTR gene. Following heart team discussions, the patient underwent successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and remained asymptomatic in follow-up, being monitored at an outpatient clinic specializing in CA and using tafamidis. Discussion: CA-TTR can be an autosomal dominant disease with variable penetrance involving abnormal amyloid protein deposition in tissues and can often be diagnosed noninvasively via myocardial scintigraphy. However, some TTR mutations do not affect scintigraphy results, necessitating genetic testing when clinical suspicion is high, potentially avoiding endomyocardial biopsy. Moreover, AS occurs in up to 16 % of TTR amyloidosis patients, with the conditions mutually exacerbating each other. Recent consensus suggests that TAVI reduces mortality in patients with severe AS and amyloidosis. Conclusions: Various diagnostic algorithms emphasize the use of myocardial scintigraphy for suspected CA-TTR. Genetic testing is crucial when scintigraphy results are negative, but clinical suspicion remains high, potentially circumventing invasive procedures. Compared with medical management alone, TAVI has been shown to improve quality of life and survival in patients with concurrent severe AS and CA.

The Nordic Aortic Valve Intervention-2 (NOTION-2) trial is the first randomized controlled trial to compare transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low-risk patients, specifically focusing on relatively younger patients and those with bicuspid valves. It randomized 370 patients (mean age 71 years) to assess outcomes at 1 year. Results indicated a higher composite primary endpoint rate for TAVI (10.2%) compared to SAVR (7.1%) in the overall cohort, with even more pronounced differences in patients with bicuspid valves (14.3% for TAVI vs. 3.9% for SAVR). The risk of death or disabling stroke at 1 year was also three times higher with TAVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]