Faculty Bibliography

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.
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Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have poor short-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods Retrospective review identified 575 consecutive patients not on hemodialysis (HD) who underwent TAVR at a single center between September 2014 and January 2017. Patients were stratified by pre-procedural glomerular filtration rate (GFR) [>60 (n=297), 30-60 (n=242), and <30 (n=36)]. Outcomes were defined by VARC-2 criteria. Median follow-up was 811 days. Results Transfemoral artery access (TFA), used in 98.8%, and VARC-2 defined procedural success, achieved in 81.4%, did not differ between groups. However, rates of peri-procedural stroke (0.7%, 2.1%, 11.1%; p<0.001) and acute kidney injury (0%, 1.7%, 8.3%; p<0.001) were higher with lower GFR. When compared to GFR >60, risk of all-cause mortality was higher with GFR 30-60 (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.61 [1.00-2.59]) and GFR <30 (HR 2.41 [1.06-5.49]). After adjustment for differences in baseline and procedural characteristics, all-cause mortality remained higher with GFR <60 (adjusted HR 1.67 [1.03-2.70]) compared with GFR >60. Rate of long-term all-cause mortality was higher with lower GFR (10.1%, 16.5%, 19.4%). Kaplan-Meier mortality estimates are shown. Conclusion Few patients with a pre-procedural GFR <30 but not HD undergo TAVR. Despite high use of TFA and no difference in procedural success rate, long-term all-cause mortality after TAVR is higher in patients with pre-procedural CKD. [Figure presented]
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BACKGROUND:Despite advances in reperfusion times, patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction carry an unacceptably high rate of mortality and morbidity. Mechanical unloading of the left ventricle (LV) has been suggested to reduce infarct size after acute myocardial infarction. Although prior studies have investigated LV unloading during ischemia with a delay in reperfusion, little is known about the optimal timing for LV unloading in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. METHODS:Studies were conducted in 17 adult Yorkshire swine weighing 67±5 kg. A coronary balloon was inflated in the mid left anterior descending for 60 minutes to induce a myocardial infarction. The coronary balloon was then deflated for 120 minutes (reperfusion). The animals were stratified into 3 groups: group 1 (control, reperfusion with no LV unloading, n=5), group 2 (LV unloading during ischemia with delayed reperfusion, n=6), and group 3 (simultaneous LV unloading and reperfusion, n=6). Staining the hearts with Evans blue and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride was used to identify the area at risk and the infarct area respectively. Infarct percent size was defined as the area of infarcted myocardium divided by the area at risk. RESULTS:=0.19). CONCLUSIONS:In our large animal experimental model, simultaneous reperfusion and mechanical LV unloading yielded the smallest infarct size compared with no LV unloading or LV unloading with delayed reperfusion. In the context of prior studies showing benefit to unloading before reperfusion, these findings raise questions about how this strategy may be translated to humans.

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.

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.

Acute circulatory collapse may rarely occur during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In such cases, immediate mechanical circulatory support (MCS) as a bridge to remedial interventions may be required. To define the rate of MCS utilization in TAVI patients and identify the predictors of MCS utilization in a cohort of TAVI patients. TAVI patients between January 2012 and September 2015 were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) by using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision. Trend weights were used to generate the national estimates of MCS rate in TAVI. Multivariate regression analysis was done to identify predictors of MCS use. A total 60,985 patients underwent TAVI with 1,695 patients receiving MCS (2.8%) during index hospitalization. The most common type of MCS was intra-aortic balloon pump in 52%, followed by extra corporeal membrane oxygenator in 34%, then percutaneous ventricular assist device in 7.4%. Rate of MCS use declined over the study period from 3% in 2012 (Q1) to 1.8% in 2015 (Q3). The use of MCS during TAVI was associated with 10-fold increase in-hospital mortality (27.1% vs 2.8%, p <0.001). Predictors of MCS were congestive heart failure (OR = 2.58, p <0.001), transapical access (OR = 1.92, p <0.001), respiratory complication (OR = 5.19, p <0.001), acute myocardial infarction (OR = 4.21, p <0.001), cardiac arrest (OR = 10.65, p <0.001), and cardiogenic shock (OR = 19.09, p <0.001). In conclusion, the rate of MCS during TAVI hospitalization in the United States declined between 2012 and 2015. MCS during TAVI was associated with a 10-fold increase in in-hospital mortality.

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:inhibitors are unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS:inhibitor was given >6 hr prior to PCI versus earlier (27.8% vs. 44.4%, both P < 0.01). After propensity matching, planned GPI use was not associated with any difference in MACE (6.4% vs. 5.5% OR 1.18; 95% CI: 0.99-1.57), however, the risk of BARC 2+ bleeding was higher in patients who received planned GPI (11.3% vs. 8.7%; OR 1.34; 95% CI: 1.13-1.59). CONCLUSION:Planned GPI use as reported by practicing physicians was prevalent between 2010 and 2012 and was associated with increased risk of bleeding but not lower MACE.

Background: Traditionally, hostile peripheral access patients undergo TAVR via alternative access. We describe the "transfemoral-first" (TF-1) approach in patients with hostile peripheral access. Method(s): Clinical and procedural data were obtained for all TAVR cases performed from August 2016 to July 2017. Computed tomography was used to assess iliofemoral arteries. Patients were divided into three femoral access groups: routine, hostile, and prohibitive. We attempted TF access in all patients with routine and hostile access. Hostile access was defined as: (1) arterial segments with diameter <5.0 mm; or (2) <5.5 mm with severe calcification (270-360degree arc of calcification) or severe tortuosity; or (3) severe tortuosity along with severe calcification. Outcomes of the hostile access group patients who underwent TF-1 are described. The primary endpoint was successful completion of the procedure without major complications by the intended route. The secondary endpoints were procedural complications as defined by the VARC-2 criteria. Result(s): Of 377 consecutive patients, 99.5% underwent TF-1 TAVR; two patients (0.4%) had prohibitive access. Twenty-eight (7.4%) patients had hostile access with access side mean minimal lumen diameter of 4.7 mm (range 3.8-5.4 mm). Twenty-six (92.8%) were successfully treated with TF-1 strategy. Twelve (42.8%) of the 26 patients underwent preparatory endovascular treatment prior to TAVR during the same operating room visit. There was 1 (3.5%) major or life-threatening bleeding complication and 2 (7.1%) major vascular complications. There were no deaths or strokes. Conclusion(s): Using the safe and effective endovascular approach, TF-1 TAVR is feasible for all-comers-including those with hostile access-with low complication rate. Larger studies are warranted to validate this approach.

BACKGROUND:Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) who are at intermediate and high risk for surgery. Commercial use of TAVR has expanded to patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). OBJECTIVES:Compare in-hospital outcomes of TAVR versus SAVR in ESRD patients requiring hemodialysis (HD). METHODS:ESRD patients on HD undergoing TAVR (n = 328) or SAVR (n = 697) between 2012 and 2014 were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Propensity-score matching method was used to minimize selection bias. Baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared. RESULTS:TAVR patients were older (75.3 vs. 61.6 years, P < 0.001) and had more comorbidities, including congestive heart failure (16.2% vs. 7.5%), diabetes mellitus (28.4% vs. 22.5%), chronic lung disease (27.7% vs. 20.4%), and peripheral vascular disease (35.1% vs. 21.2%). Propensity-score matching yielded 175 pairs of patients matched on 30 baseline covariates. Overall in-hospital mortality was high (9.9%) and similar between TAVR and SAVR (8% vs. 10.3%, P = 0.58). TAVR was associated with shorter length of stay (LOS) (8 vs. 14 days, P < 0.001), lower hospitalization cost ($276,448 vs. $364,280, P = 0.01), lower in-hospital complications (60.6% vs. 76%, P = 0.003), and higher rate of home discharge (31.4% vs. 17.7%, P = 0.004) compared with SAVR. CONCLUSIONS:Regardless of treatment modality, patients with AS on HD have high in-hospital mortality. TAVR and SAVR have comparable in-hospital mortality in this population. However, TAVR is associated with shorter LOS, lower hospitalization costs, lower in-hospital complications, and higher rates of home discharge.