Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:In patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) at low surgical risk, treatment with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) results in lower rates of death, stroke, and re-hospitalization at 1 year compared with surgical aortic valve replacement; however, the effect of treatment strategy on health status is unknown. OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:This study sought to compare health status outcomes of TAVR vs. surgery in low-risk patients with severe AS. METHODS:Between 3/2016 and 10/2017, 1000 low-risk AS patients were randomized to transfemoral TAVR using a balloon-expandable valve or surgery in the PARTNER 3 Trial. Health status was assessed at baseline, 1, 6 and 12 months using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), SF-36 and EQ-5D. The primary endpoint was change in KCCQ-Overall Summary (KCCQ-OS) score over time. Longitudinal growth curve modeling was used to compare changes in health status between treatment groups over time. RESULTS:At 1 month, TAVR was associated with better health status than surgery (mean difference in KCCQ-OS 16.0 points; p<0.001). At 6 and 12 months, health status remained better with TAVR, although the effect was reduced (mean difference in KCCQ-OS 2.6 and 1.8 points respectively; p<0.04 for both). The proportion of patients with an excellent outcome (alive with KCCQ-OS ≥ 75 and no significant decline from baseline) was greater with TAVR than surgery at 6 months (90.3% vs. 85.3%; p=0.03) and 12 months (87.3% vs. 82.8%; p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS:Among low-risk patients with severe AS, TAVR was associated with meaningful early and late health status benefits compared with surgery.

Pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy can present earlier in gestation than traditionally defined peripartum cardiomyopathy. Management and optimal delivery timing for these patients are not well defined. We present the case of a 30-year-old primigravid at 26 weeks who presented with new onset ventricular tachycardia, biventricular cardiac failure, and severe mitral regurgitation. She was medically stabilized for two weeks prior to delivery with modest improvement in her condition. Due to concern for life-threatening cardiac failure and pulmonary edema at the time of delivery, a percutaneous left ventricular assist device was inserted immediately prior to cesarean delivery. She remained on mechanical circulatory support for 36 h. We discuss considerations regarding use of a percutaneous left ventricular assist device as a novel therapy to support the hemodynamic changes following delivery in parturients with decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND:For patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery disease (CAD), the completely percutaneous approach to aortic valve replacement and revascularization has not been compared to the standard surgical approach. METHODS:The prospective SURTAVI trial enrolled intermediate-risk patients with severe AS from 87 centers in the United States, Canada, and Europe between June 2012 and June 2016. Complex coronary artery disease with SYNTAX score >22 was an exclusion criterion. Patients were stratified according to need for revascularization and then randomized to treatment with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Patients assigned to revascularization in the TAVR group underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), while those in the SAVR group had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The primary endpoint was the rate of all-cause mortality or disabling stroke at two years. RESULTS:Of 1,660 subjects with attempted aortic valve implants, 332 (20%) were assigned to revascularization. They had a higher STS risk score for mortality (4.8±1.7% vs 4.4±1.5%; p<0.01) and were more likely to be male (65.1% vs 54.2%; p<0.01) than the 1,328 patients not assigned to revascularization. After randomization to treatment, there were 169 TAVR and PCI patients, 163 SAVR and CABG patients, 695 TAVR patients, and 633 SAVR patients. No significant difference in the rate of the primary endpoint was found between TAVR and PCI and SAVR and CABG (16.0%; 95% CI 11.1 - 22.9 vs. 14.0%; 95% CI 9.2 - 21.1; p=0.62), or between TAVR and SAVR (11.9%; 95% CI 9.5 - 14.7 vs. 12.3%; 95% CI 9.8 - 15.4; p=0.76). CONCLUSIONS:For patients at intermediate surgical risk with severe AS and non-complex CAD (SYNTAX score ≤ 22), a complete percutaneous approach of TAVR and PCI is a reasonable alternative to SAVR and CABG. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov Unique Identifier: NCT01586910.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:This study sought to minimize the risk of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) with contemporary repositionable self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND:Self-expanding TAVR traditionally carries a high risk of PPMI. Limited data exist on the use of the repositionable devices to minimize this risk. METHODS:At NYU Langone Health, 248 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent TAVR under conscious sedation with repositionable self-expanding TAVR with a standard approach to device implantation. A detailed analysis of multiple factors contributing to PPMI was performed; this was used to generate an anatomically guided MInimizing Depth According to the membranous Septum (MIDAS) approach to device implantation, aiming for pre-release depth in relation to the noncoronary cusp of less than the length of the membranous septum (MS). RESULTS:Right bundle branch block, MS length, largest device size (Evolut 34 XL; Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota), and implant depth > MS length predicted PPMI. On multivariate analysis, only implant depth > MS length (odds ratio: 8.04 [95% confidence interval: 2.58 to 25.04]; p < 0.001) and Evolut 34 XL (odds ratio: 4.96 [95% confidence interval: 1.68 to 14.63]; p = 0.004) were independent predictors of PPMI. The MIDAS approach was applied prospectively to a consecutive series of 100 patients, with operators aiming to position the device at a depth of < MS length whenever possible; this reduced the new PPMI rate from 9.7% (24 of 248) in the standard cohort to 3.0% (p = 0.035), and the rate of new left bundle branch block from 25.8% to 9% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Using a patient-specific MIDAS approach to device implantation, repositionable self-expanding TAVR achieved very low and predictable rates of PPMI which are significantly lower than previously reported with self-expanding TAVR.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:A common complication of TAVR is development of conduction defects requiring pacemaker (PPM) implantation. These defects are not universally permanent. OBJECTIVE:To determine the incidence and predictors of persistent device dependency in patients with PPM implantation following TAVR with a self-expanding prosthesis. METHODS:Records of patients who underwent post-TAVR PPM implantation were reviewed. Patients with persistent complete AV block (AVBIII) one month post-TAVR were compared to those regaining conduction. RESULTS:Between September 2014 and March 2017, 485 patients underwent TAVR with a self-expanding prosthesis; 77 (15.9%) underwent PPM implantation for AVBIII. Device interrogation at one month was available for 61 patients (79%): 22 (36.1%) had resolution of AVBIII while 39 (63.9%) remained pacemaker-dependent. Pre-TAVR RBBB was more frequent in device-dependent patients (19 of 38, 50% vs 4 of 22, 18%; RR 2.75; p = 0.01). Device-dependence was associated with AVBIII as the first post-procedural rhythm (37 of 39, 95% vs 12 of 22, 55%; RR 1.74; p<0.0001), earlier implantation (median 1d, IQR: 0-1.5d vs 2d, IQR: 1.0-4.0d, p = 0.0004), and a shorter duration of hospitalization (median 3d, IQR: 2-3.5d vs 4d, IQR: 2-5.75d, p = 0.03). Pacemaker dependence was also associated with a higher prosthesis-to-LVOT diameter (1.45±0.11 vs 1.39±0.07; p = 0.02) and the lack of prior aortic valvuloplasty (5 of 39, 13% vs 8 of 22, 36%; RR 0.35; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS:In patients receiving a PPM following self-expanding TAVR, a long-term pacing requirement can be predicted from the timing of AV block, existing conduction-system disease, larger prosthesis-to-LVOT diameter, and the lack of aortic valvuloplasty. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND:While most self-expanding transcatheter valves are repositionable, only one fully retrievable valve is currently available. The Meridian valve is a new self-expanding valve with full retrievability properties. The objective of our study was to evaluate the early feasibility, preliminary safety, and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the HLT Meridian valve (HLT, Inc). METHODS:This was a multicenter early feasibility study including patients with severe aortic stenosis at high surgical risk undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the 25-mm Meridian valve. All serious adverse events were adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria. Echocardiography data were assessed by an independent echocardiography core laboratory. RESULTS:A total of 25 patients (mean age, 85±6 years; 80% of men) were included. The valve was successfully implanted in 22 (88%) patients (annulus too large and extreme horizontal aorta in 2 and 1 unsuccessful cases, respectively). Valve retrieval because of an initial nonadequate positioning was attempted and successfully performed in 10 (40%) patients. Echocardiography post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement showed a low mean residual gradient (10±4 mm Hg) and the absence of moderate-severe aortic regurgitation (none-trace and mild aortic regurgitation in 76% and 24% of patients, respectively). Mortality at 30 days was 8%, with no cases of disabling stroke, valve embolization, or major/life-threatening bleeding complications. At 6-month follow-up, the cumulative mortality rate was 12%, with no changes in echocardiographic parameters and no cases of valve dysfunction. The majority of patients (89%) were in New York Heart Association class I-II at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS:Transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the Meridian valve was feasible and associated with acceptable early and 6-month clinical results. Valve retrieval after full valve deployment was successfully performed in all attempted cases, and valve performance was excellent, with low residual gradients, no cases of moderate-severe aortic regurgitation, and none-trace residual aortic regurgitation in the majority of patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02838680 (RADIANT-Canada); NCT02799823 (RADIANT-US).

A 51-year-old man with Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) and immunodeficiency syndrome, status postintravenous immunoglobulin therapy, presented with shortness of breath. He was found to have severe aortic regurgitation in the setting of a trileaflet aortic valve with thickened leaflets and mild prolapse of the right coronary cusp with left ventricular dilation and borderline left ventricular ejection fraction. Although various cardiac anomalies have been described in KPS, otherwise unexplained severe aortic regurgitation has not been previously reported to the best of our knowledge. The patient underwent an uncomplicated surgical aortic valve replacement with a 25-mm Medtronic Avalus pericardial tissue valve resulting in symptomatic improvement. Intra-operative management and transesophageal echocardiography can be particularly challenging in KFS patients. We describe the first reported case of severe aortic regurgitation in KPS, review the cardiac anomalies associated with the syndrome, and highlight the clinical challenges in intra-operative management of these patients.

Importance/UNASSIGNED:Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has increased risk for patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and a history of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be an alternative. Objective/UNASSIGNED:To compare TAVR with SAVR outcomes in patients at intermediate operative risk with prior CABG surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants/UNASSIGNED:In this post hoc analysis of the Surgical Replacement and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (SURTAVI) noninferiority randomized clinical trial, patients with severe, symptomatic AS at intermediate operative risk were enrolled from 87 centers across the United States, Europe, and Canada from June 2012 to June 2016 and followed-up with up to July 2017. Those with a history of CABG surgery were considered for analysis. Data were analyzed from September to December 2017. Interventions/UNASSIGNED:A total of 1746 patients were enrolled and randomized 1:1 to self-expanding TAVR or SAVR. An implant was attempted in 1660 patients, of whom 273 had prior CABG surgery, including 136 who underwent attempted TAVR and 137 who underwent attempted SAVR. Main Outcomes and Measures/UNASSIGNED:The primary outcome was all-cause mortality or disabling stroke at 1-year follow-up. Efficacy outcomes included quality of life, measured using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year, and distance walked in 6 minutes, measured using the 6-minute walk test at 30 days and 1 year. Results/UNASSIGNED:Of the 136 patients in the TAVR cohort, 111 (81.6%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 76.9 (6.5) years; of the 137 in the SAVR cohort, 117 (85.4%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 76.6 (6.5) years. The mean (SD) Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality score was 5.0% (1.6%) in the TAVR cohort and 5.2% (1.7%) in the SAVR cohort. All-cause mortality or disabling stroke at 1-year follow-up was 8.9% (95% CI, 5.2-15.2) in the TAVR cohort and 6.7% (95% CI, 3.5-12.8) in the SAVR cohort (log-rank P = .53). Compared with patients receiving SAVR, the mean (SD) Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire summary score was significantly better among patients receiving TAVR at 30 days (81.4 [19.2] vs 69.7 [22.6]; P < .001); treatments were similar at 1 year (85.7 [14.6] vs 82.8 [18.4]; P = .19). Compared with patients in the SAVR cohort, those in the TAVR cohort showed greater mean (SD) improvement in distance walked at 1 year (48.3 [120.6] m vs 16.8 [88.7] m; P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance/UNASSIGNED:Both TAVR and SAVR were safe for intermediate-risk patients with AS and prior CABG surgery. The transcatheter approach facilitated faster improvement in quality of life and better exercise capacity at 1-year follow-up. Trial Registration/UNASSIGNED:ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01586910.

BACKGROUND:inhibition prevents postprocedural thrombocytopenia is uncertain. METHODS: platelets/μL; n = 14), or without baseline platelet count (n = 4) were excluded. The primary outcome was proportion of patients who developed >20% decrease in platelet count from baseline to day 1 post-TAVR. RESULTS:inhibition developed thrombocytopenia on day 1 post-TAVR (25.5% vs. 36.4%, p = .1). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:inhibition prior to TAVR were less likely to demonstrate a decrease in platelet count after TAVR. Prospective studies to further understand the clinical implication of these findings are warranted.

BACKGROUND:Hemodynamic performance of prostheses after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is generally better than after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), especially in patients with a small native annulus size. However, it remains unclear whether differences are consistent for patients with a different propensity for developing prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM), considering annulus size and body size of patients. METHODS AND RESULTS/RESULTS:=0.81). CONCLUSIONS:Rates of PPM were significantly lower after TAVR than after SAVR across all groups of indexed annulus size, reflecting better hemodynamic performance of transcatheter versus surgical valves, irrespective of the propensity to develop PPM. More attention should be directed to prevention of PPM after SAVR. This information should be considered by the Heart Team to recommend a specific procedure or valve. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01586910.