Faculty Bibliography

Background Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the gold standard for determining mitral regurgitant (MR) leaflet morphology and suitability for edge-to-edge (E2E) repair. Computed tomography (CT) has become essential for evaluation for transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) and has the temporal and spatial resolution to show leaflet abnormalities with great clarity (figure) but the correlation of findings with TEE has not been well studied. Methods A consecutive series of patients attending clinic for moderate-severe or greater mitral regurgitation underwent CT and TEE. Data was analyzed for leaflet morphology with blinded independent analyses by CT and TEE expert readers. Results A study flow diagram is shown (figure). Mean age was 79.6 (SD 10.9) and mean STS score (repair) was 4.8% (SD3.7). Analyses were independently performed (figure). There was a strong correlation between mitral valve orifice area (MVOA) by CT and TEE (r=0.86, p<0.001), however MVOA was on average 0.45 cm² larger (p=0.003) on CT (5.24cm², SD 1.84) than TEE (4.79cm², SD 1.91). For those cases where CT could make an interpretation on suitability for E2E repair there was 100% concordance between CT and TEE (figure). Conclusion In this preliminary retrospective analysis, a comparison of CT and TEE suggested that CT may be a useful non-invasive modality for the assessment of mitral leaflet morphology and suitability for E2E repair. A prospective comparison is ongoing and will be completed at the time of presentation. [Figure presented]
Copyright

Background Software to fuse transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) images onto live fluoroscopy (FL) allows for fluoroscopic visualization of TEE-derived anatomic landmarks. We compared transcatheter Paravalvular Leak (PVL) Closure using TEE / Truefusion versus TEE / FL guidance only. Methods This prospective pilot study evaluated the safety and feasibility of the TrueFusion software in subjects scheduled for paravalvular leak (PVL) closure. Immediately prior to the procedure, TEE and FL systems were co-registered and anatomical markers for the source of PVL were generated. Procedural outcomes recorded were the reduction in regurgitant grade, procedural time, FL time, and radiation exposure. They were compared between patients who underwent PVL closure with and without TrueFusion. Results The cohort (n=27), Male (60%), age 72 +/- 15 years. 15 subjects underwent TrueFusion-guided PLV closure (10 mitral and 5 aortic). Eleven subjects had non-TrueFusion PVL closure (5 mitral and 2 aortic). TrueFusion-guided PVL closures demonstrated significantly greater achievement of at least one grade reduction in PVL severity (p=0.02). Use of TrueFusion group also showed a non-statistically significant trend toward lower median FL time, mean dose area product, and mean procedural time when compared to PVL closures without TrueFusion guidance (Figure). Conclusion The co-registration of TEE and fluoroscopy images using the TrueFusion software potentially improves efficiency outcomes. [Figure presented]
Copyright

Background Transfemoral (TF) Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) has been shown to be at least equivalent to surgery. Nevertheless, many patients do not qualify for TF approach due to severe ilio-femoral (I-F) occlusive disease. The use of an atherectomy device in order to facilitate TF-TAVR has only been reported in case reports. We describe our experience using orbital atherectomy in preparation for TF-TAVR. Methods We searched our prospective database for the last 1000 TAVR procedures. Patient demographics, procedural characteristics, CT characteristics and short-term outcomes were recorded. CT scans were reviewed to assess access. Hostile access was defined as luminal size less than 5 mm, or less than 5.5mm and the presence of more than 270degree calcification. The primary end-point was the ability to successfully deliver a transcatheter valve via the intended, pre-treated access site. Secondary end-points were procedural vascular complications including mortality, stroke, bleeding requiring transfusion, and urgent vascular repair at 30 days. Results From April 2016 to July 2019, 1000 TAVR procedures were performed. Six subjects (0.6%) required alternative access; 68 patients (6.8%) were labeled as having a hostile I-F anatomy that required vessel preparation prior to TAVR. 48 (70.6%) had angioplasty only and 20 (29.4%) required atherectomy and angioplasty. Atherectomy was performed in a range of 5-21 days prior to TAVR; transradial approach was used in 90% of the time. Out of 20 patients treated with atherectomy successful TF delivery of the valve was achieved in 19 (95%). The mean vessel reference diameter in atherectomy group was 4.0+/-0.9mm. All had near-circumferential calcification. There was no in-hospital mortality or stroke. There were no perforations. One subject required placement of a self-expandable stent due to severe dissection. None of the end-points occurred between hospital discharge and 30-day follow-up. Conclusion Orbital atherectomy used for vessel preparation is a safe and very effective technique to facilitate TF-TAVR in patients with hostile peripheral anatomy.
Copyright

Background: The objective of this study is to compare echocardiographic findings in low risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) following surgical (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods: The Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves 3 (PARTNER 3) trial randomized 1000 patients with severe AS and low surgical risk to undergo either transfemoral TAVR with the balloon-expandable SAPIEN 3 valve or SAVR. Transthoracic echocardiograms obtained at baseline, and at 30 days and 1 year post-procedure were analyzed by a consortium of 2 echocardiography core laboratories. Results: The percentage of moderate/severe aortic regurgitation (AR) was low and not statistically different between TAVR vs. SAVR groups (30 days: 0.8% vs. 0.2%; p=0.38). However, mild AR was more frequent following TAVR vs. SAVR (30 days: 28.8% vs. 4.2 %; p<0.001). At 1 year, mean transvalvular gradient (13.7±5.6 vs. 11.6±5.0 mmHg; p=0.12) and aortic valve area (1.72±0.37 vs. 1.76±0.42 cm²; p=0.12) were similar in TAVR vs. SAVR. The percentage of severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) at 30 days was low and similar between TAVR and SAVR (4.6 vs. 6.3%, p=0.30). Valvulo-arterial impedance (Z_va), which reflects total left ventricular hemodynamic burden, was lower with TAVR vs. SAVR at 1 year (3.7±0.8 vs. 3.9±0.9 mmHg/mL/m² ; p<0.001). Tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) decreased and the percentage of moderate/severe tricuspid regurgitation increased from baseline to 1 year in SAVR, whereas remained unchanged in TAVR. Irrespective of treatment arm, high Z_va and low TAPSE, but not moderate/severe AR or severe PPM, were associated with increased risk of the composite endpoint of mortality, stroke and re-hospitalization at 1 year. Conclusions: In patients with severe AS and low surgical risk, TAVR with the SAPIEN 3 valve was associated with similar percentage of moderate/severe AR compared with SAVR, but higher percentage of mild AR. Transprosthetic gradients, valve areas, percentage of severe PPM, and LV mass regression were similar in TAVR versus SAVR. SAVR was associated with significant deterioration of RV systolic function and greater tricuspid regurgitation, which persisted at 1 year. High Zva and low TAPSE were associated with worse outcome at 1 year whereas AR or severe PPM were not. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov Unique Identifier: NCT02675114.

BACKGROUND:There are scant data on long-term clinical outcomes and bioprosthetic-valve function after transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) as compared with surgical aortic-valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis and intermediate surgical risk. METHODS:We enrolled 2032 intermediate-risk patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis at 57 centers. Patients were stratified according to intended transfemoral or transthoracic access (76.3% and 23.7%, respectively) and were randomly assigned to undergo either TAVR or surgical replacement. Clinical, echocardiographic, and health-status outcomes were followed for 5 years. The primary end point was death from any cause or disabling stroke. RESULTS:At 5 years, there was no significant difference in the incidence of death from any cause or disabling stroke between the TAVR group and the surgery group (47.9% and 43.4%, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95 to 1.25; P = 0.21). Results were similar for the transfemoral-access cohort (44.5% and 42.0%, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.20), but the incidence of death or disabling stroke was higher after TAVR than after surgery in the transthoracic-access cohort (59.3% vs. 48.3%; hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.71). At 5 years, more patients in the TAVR group than in the surgery group had at least mild paravalvular aortic regurgitation (33.3% vs. 6.3%). Repeat hospitalizations were more frequent after TAVR than after surgery (33.3% vs. 25.2%), as were aortic-valve reinterventions (3.2% vs. 0.8%). Improvement in health status at 5 years was similar for TAVR and surgery. CONCLUSIONS:Among patients with aortic stenosis who were at intermediate surgical risk, there was no significant difference in the incidence of death or disabling stroke at 5 years after TAVR as compared with surgical aortic-valve replacement. (Funded by Edwards Lifesciences; PARTNER 2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01314313.).

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to assess the evolution of early outcomes for 3 iterative self-expanding transcatheter aortic valves. BACKGROUND:Over the past decade there have been rapid advancements in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) technologies, including 3 generations of supra-annular self-expanding transcatheter systems. METHODS:Data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT (Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry for patients undergoing TAVR with CoreValve, Evolut R, or Evolut PRO valves to treat tricuspid aortic stenosis between January 2014 and September 2017 were obtained. Patient risk and echocardiographic data are site reported. Valves analyzed included 23-, 26-, and 29-mm sizes to fit 18- to 26-mm annular diameters. Propensity score matching was performed using the Evolut PRO group as the common reference. RESULTS:Of 18,874 patients undergoing TAVR at 381 centers, 5,514 patients were implanted with CoreValve, 11,295 with Evolut R, and 2,065 with Evolut PRO valves. At 30 days, there were significantly fewer patients with more than mild aortic regurgitation for the unmatched (7.8% CoreValve, 5.2% Evolut R, and 2.8% Evolut PRO; p < 0.001) and matched populations (8.3% CoreValve, 5.4% Evolut R, and 3.4% Evolut PRO; p = 0.032). The mean aortic valve gradients at 30 days in the matched populations were <8 mm Hg for all 3 valves (7.3 mm Hg CoreValve, 7.5 mm Hg Evolut R, 7.2 mm Hg Evolut PRO). CONCLUSIONS:Advancements in transcatheter valve technologies and expanding indications for TAVR have resulted in improved outcomes for patients undergoing TAVR in the United States with self-expanding, supra-annular valves. In particular, the addition of an outer pericardial tissue wrap designed to enhance sealing at the level of the aortic annulus has resulted in very low rates of significant aortic regurgitation while maintaining excellent hemodynamic status.

Objective: Cardiac angiosarcomas often present as multicentric right atrial masses that sometimes manifest as atrial rupture. We present a modifed Cabrol patch repair in a patient with right atrial rupture on imaging who was diagnosed intraoperatively with permeating angiosarcoma.
Method(s): A previously healthy 60-year-old man presented with dyspnea and was found to have subsegmental pulmonary emboli and a pericardial effusion with negative cytology. Three months later, his symptoms recurred and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated right atrial destruction and thrombus compressing the right ventricle. Given the lack of diagnosis and potential progression to tamponade, he was taken to the operating room for right atrial repair. Before opening the pericardium, femoral cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated. The right atrium, atrioventricular groove, and anterior right ventricular wall were occupied by bleeding, friable tissue (Figure CC-1a). Frozen section revealed a spindle-cell neoplasm. Given the impossibility of performing an oncologic resection, the right atrium was contained with a modifed Cabrol patch, mimicking the function previously provided by the pericardium. Additional patches covered the surface of the actively bleeding tumor (Figure CC-1b).
Result(s): The patient recovered well and was discharged home 1 week later. Final pathology diagnosed angiosarcoma. He is 7 months postdischarge and completed 14 rounds of paclitaxel-based chemotherapy with moderate radiological improvement.
Conclusion(s): As oncologic resection was impossible, a modifed Cabrol patch repair to mimic the function previously provided by pericardium and to control tumor-associated bleeding was the best decision. While this patient may not have received hemodynamic beneft, we provided a defnitive diagnosis allowing for targeted chemotherapy treatment

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the preferred method for management of severe aortic stenosis in patients who are at high and intermediate surgical risk, and has recently gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration in the US for use in patients at low risk for surgery. Thrombocytopenia and thromboembolic events in patients undergoing TAVR is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and yet there is insufficient evidence supporting the current guideline-mediated therapy for antithrombotics post-TAVR. In this article, the authors review current guidelines for antithrombotic therapy in patients undergoing TAVR, studies evaluating antiplatelet regimens, and studies evaluating the use of platelet function testing after TAVR. They also offer a potential link between thrombocytopenia and antiplatelet treatments in patients undergoing TAVR.

Introduction: Myocardial Infarction (MI) with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) is now a recognised MI subtype. A 2013 systematic review of MINOCA literature indicated that MINOCA prognosis is favourable compared to those with MI and obstructive coronary artery disease (MICAD), but healthy controls were not included. With the growth of recent literature and evaluation of MINOCA prognosis, we performed an in-depth analysis of MINOCA prognosis, in relation to 1-year all-cause mortality and 1-year re-infarction compared with MICAD patients and a healthy cohort.
Method(s): An unrestricted literature search was conducted on the terms "MI", "non-obstructive", "angiography" and "prognosis" using PubMed and Embase. Publications with non-consecutive recruitment, less than 100 MINOCA patients or selection bias (i.e. restricted age group) were excluded. MINOCA & MICAD were defined as the presence of an MI (as per the universal criteria) in the absence & presence of CAD (i.e. epicardial vessel with a stenosis >=50% on angiography), respectively. The healthy cohort was defined as those with no history of cardiovascular diseases. Unpublished data were accumulated via the MINOCA Global Collaboration. Data from the included studies were pooled and analysed using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. Odds ratios (ORs), mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for proportion and continuous data respectively.
Result(s): The search identified 2889 unique publications, of which 27 included prognosis data. Of the 563660 consecutive MI patients, the overall pooled prevalence of MINOCA wasat 8.7% (95% CI: 7.5%-9.9%). The 1- year mortality and 1-year re-infarction data by diagnosis are presented in the table.
Conclusion(s): This pooled analysis shows that MINOCA accounts for almost one in ten MI presentations. The risks of re-infarction and death among MINOCA patients are much higher than in healthy controls, but lower than for MICAD patients. Efforts are needed to improve understanding of the optimal management and secondary prevention strategies in this unique and heterogeneous population. (Table Presented)