Clinical characteristics and mid-term follow-up of elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis not eligible for TAVI

BACKGROUND: The treatment for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) is the correction of valve stenosis by surgical valve replacement and more recently by transcatheter aortic valve implant (TAVI). However, in some high risk surgical patients, TAVI is not possible for technical or clinical reasons or due to the unavailability of the endoprosthesis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate a mid-term follow-up of symptomatic severe AS patients who are not eligible for TAVI trials, as well as to identify the clinical features of these patients. METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective study conducted with 475 symptomatic severe AS patients, evaluated by the Heart Team between 2000 and 2017. Inclusion criterias were: patients considered not to be eligible for TAVI. The Shapiro-Wilk test was applied to evaluate normality. Non-paired t and Mann-Whitney tests were applied for continuous variables, while the chi-squared and Fischer exact tests were applied for categorical variables, with a level of significance of p<0,05. RESULTS: The heart team evaluated 475 patients: 25 (5.26%) died before any intervention could be proposed; 326 (68.3%) were submitted to TAVI, so the study population consisted of 124 patients not eligible for TAVI. Of these, 31 (25%) underwent surgery and 93 (75%) remained in clinical treatment. In a mean 56 months- follow-up the mortality in clinical group was 46.2%. In the surgical group the mortality was 23.9% (in-hospital 12.9% and late mortality 11% in a mean 47.4 months follow-up). The patients that died presented a significantly lower left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), a smaller valve area, and a larger end-systolic diameter of the LV. CONCLUSION: The mortality of the clinical group's patients was significantly higher than the surgical mortality (46.2% vs. 12.9%; p=0.021). The patients of the clinical group were older, weighed less, and had a higher incidence of renal failure and a higher STS score.

Correlation of Electrocardiographic Changes with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Findings in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy / Correlação das Alterações Eletrocardiográficas com a Ressonância Magnética Cardíaca em Pacientes com Cardiomiopatia Hipertrófica

Abstract Background: Electrocardiogram is the initial test in the investigation of heart disease. Electrocardiographic changes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have no set pattern, and correlates poorly with echocardiographic findings. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has been gaining momentum for better assessment of hypertrophy, as well as the detection of myocardial fibrosis. Objectives: To correlate the electrocardiographic changes with the location of hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by cardiac magnetic resonance. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated 68 patients with confirmed diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by cardiac magnetic resonance. The patients' electrocardiogram was compared with the location of the greatest myocardial hypertrophy by cardiac magnetic resonance. Statistical significance level of 5% and 95% confidence interval were adopted. Results: Of 68 patients, 69% had septal hypertrophy, 21% concentric and 10% apical hypertrophies. Concentric hypertrophy showed the greatest myocardial fibrosis mass (p < 0.001) and the greatest R wave size in D1 (p = 0.0280). The amplitudes of R waves in V5 and V6 (p = 0.0391, p = 0.0148) were higher in apical hypertrophy, with statistical significance. Apical hypertrophy was also associated with higher T wave negativity in D1, V5 and V6 (p < 0.001). Strain pattern was found in 100% of the patients with apical hypertrophy (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The location of myocardial hypertrophy by cardiac magnetic resonance can be correlated with electrocardiographic changes, especially for apical hypertrophy.

Resumo Fundamentos: O eletrocardiograma é o exame inicial na investigação das cardiopatias. As alterações eletrocardiográficas na cardiomiopatia hipertrófica não possuem padrão definido, tendo baixa correlação com o ecocardiograma. A ressonância magnética cardíaca vem ganhando destaque pela melhor avaliação da hipertrofia, bem como pela detecção de fibrose miocárdica. Objetivos: Correlacionar as alterações eletrocardiográficas com a localização da hipertrofia na cardiomiopatia hipertrófica pela ressonância magnética cardíaca. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo descritivo com delineamento transversal que avaliou 68 pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado de cardiomiopatia hipertrófica pela ressonância magnética cardíaca. Comparou-se o eletrocardiograma dos pacientes com a localização de maior hipertrofia miocárdica pela ressonância magnética. Admitiram-se um nível de significância estatística de 5% e intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: Dos 68 pacientes, 69% possuíam hipertrofia septal, 21% concêntrica e 10% apical. A massa de fibrose miocárdica foi maior na hipertrofia concêntrica (p < 0,001), assim como o tamanho da onda R em D1 (p = 0,0280). A amplitude das ondas R em V5 e V6 (p = 0,0391, p = 0,0148) foi maior na hipertrofia apical, com significância estatística. A hipertrofia apical também se relacionou com maior negatividade da onda T em D1, V5 e V6 (p < 0,001). O padrão strain foi encontrado em 100% dos pacientes com hipertrofia apical (p < 0,001). Conclusão: A localização da hipertrofia miocárdica pela ressonância magnética pode ser correlacionada com alterações eletrocardiográficas, principalmente para hipertrofia apical.