Evaluation specification of CT images for transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#According to the needs of CT image evaluation for transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), 20 clinical questions were proposed by the Delphi method, 15 questions were initially determined, and 12 clinical questions were summarized and determined by domestic experts. PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang, and CNKI databases were searched by computer to collect the relevant literature from inception to November 2022, and finally 53 studies were included. Based on evidence-based study and evaluation experience, 3 meetings were held to give recommendations for preoperative CT data acquisition method, preoperative imaging evaluation of aortic root, imaging evaluation of transapical approach, preoperative auxiliary guidance of TAVR by CT images combined with 3D printing, and postoperative imaging evaluation of transapical TAVR, hoping to promote the standardized and successful development of transapical TAVR in China.

Transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement in bicuspid aortic valve patients: In-hospital outcomes / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To compare the in-hospital outcomes of transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TA-TAVR) for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) patients. Methods    Patients (including BAV and TAV patients) who underwent TA-TAVR with the J-ValveTM in West China Hospital from July 2014 to July 2020 were included consecutively. The clinical outcomes of the patients were analyzed. Results    A total of 354 patients were included in the study, 75 in the BAV group and 279 in the TAV group. There were 229 males and 125 females with a mean age of 72.2±6.0 years. No death occurred during the procedure, and the overall technical success rate was 97.7%. The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate was 1.4%. Twenty (26.7%) patients with BAV and 46 (16.5%) patients with TAV had mild or higher perivalvular leaks immediately after the procedure. No patients with BAV required permanent pacemaker implantation postoperatively, while 13 (4.7%) TAV patients required permanent pacemaker implantation, with an overall pacemaker implantation rate of 3.7%. One (1.3%) BAV patient and 7 (2.5%) TAV patients developed acute kidney injury postoperatively. One (1.3%) BAV patient and 1 (0.4%) TAV patient developed peri-operative myocardial infarction. The average postoperative hospital stay was 7.6±3.6 d for BAV patients and 8.6±6.1 d for TAV patients. There was no statistical difference in primary or secondary in-hospital outcomes between BAV and TAV patients (P>0.05). Conclusion    Compared to TAV patients, BAV patients have similar in-hospital outcomes, with a low incidence of adverse clinical outcomes, which provides preliminary evidence for its implementation in Chinese patients with a high proportion of BAV.

Early outcome of transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic insufficiency / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To assess the early outcome of transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with aortic insufficiency. Methods    The patients with aortic valvular disease who underwent transapical TAVR from October 2020 to October 2022 in the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were enrolled in the current retrospective study. The patients with aortic stenosis were assembled in a group A, and the patients with aortic insufficiency were assembled in a group B. The improvements of heart function and complications were assessed for the two groups. Results    A total of 56 patients were enrolled, including 32 males and 24 females with an average age of 73.34±5.10 years. There were 31 patients in the group A and 25 patients in the group B. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the age, gender, height, weight, hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal disorder or classification of heart function (P>0.05). Also, there was still no statistical difference in the rate of permanent peacemaker implants, emergent open surgery, valve re-implants, or perivalvular leakage (P>0.05). After TAVR, the left ventricular diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, complicated moderated mitral and tricuspid regurgitation were significantly improved in both groups compared with preoperative findings (P<0.05); however, there was no statistical difference in these parameters between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion    Interventional valve (J-Valve) in the treatment of patients with aortic insufficiency through transapical TAVR significantly improves cardiac function and reduces functional valve regurgitation.

Expert recommendations for standardized perioperative management after transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#The technique of transcatheter aortic valve implantation has become increasingly mature. Although the transapical approach has a certain degree of minimally invasive trauma, it still has the characteristics such as heart beating without cardiopulmonary bypass, and the low technical requirements of catheter guide wire. In particular, the valve path is short and coaxial, which is easy to manipulate, and pure regurgitation and stenosis can be easily operated and are not subject to the limit of peripheral artery stenosis. It is still one of China's main approaches for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Its perioperative management still has specific features and differs from the femoral artery approach. In addition, there is little relevant literature abroad. Therefore, domestic experts in this field were organized to discuss the development of perioperative management specifications to provide reference and techniques support for developing this field in China and further improve the quality of clinical operation and perioperative management. It will provide more safe and more effective medical services to these patients.

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in patients undergoing transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective     To report our experience with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in patients undergoing transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and to determine perioperative predictors for ERAS failure. Methods     Between May 2018 and January 2019, 80 patients undergoing TAVI in our hospital were recruited. Among them, 40 patients (24 males, 16 females, aged 73.0±5.0 years) successfully received ERAS, defined as successful extubation in operating room (an ERAS group) and the other 40 patients (28 males, 12 females, aged 73.0±7.0 years, a non-ERAS group) failed to perform ERAS.  Results     Compared with the non-ERAS group, patients in the ERAS group were associated with a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications (30.0% vs. 52.5%, P=0.04), shorter postoperative ICU stay (2.2±0.4 d vs. 4.0±4.8 d, P=0.00) and hospital stay (7.0±2.3 d vs. 9.5±4.8 d, P=0.00), and less medical cost (311±20 thousand yuan vs. 347±80 thousand yuan, P=0.00). Independent predictors of ERAS failure were poor preoperative heart function and elevated B-type natriuretic peptides.  Conclusion     ERAS protocol is feasible and effective in patients undergoing TAVI. Poor preoperative heart function is an independent predictor of failure in early extubation which, in turn, is associated with prolonged ICU and hospital stay and dramatic worsening of patient outcomes.

Anesthesia management for 70 patients with transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation surgery / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective     To discuss the key points of anesthesia for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) surgery. Methods     We retrospectively collected and analyzed the data of 70 patients who underwent TAVI in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital from March 2014 to October 2015. There were 39 males and 31 females with an average age of 73.7±4.5 years. The perioperative preparation and anesthesia points of TAVI were summarized. Results     All of the 70 included patients were aged and at high risk severe comorbidities such as ischemic heart disease and stroke. The aortic stenosis and regurgitation occurred in 39 and 31 patients respectively. No patients died during the surgery. The total success rate was 95.7%. Conclusion     TAVI is a complex procedure for high risk patients and need more attention during anesthesia. The successful conduction of the procedure requires the whole team to prepare carefully and cooperate closely.