Tricuspid valve and right-heart chamber remodelling in elderly subjects with secondary tricuspid regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) increases with ageing, but the exact mechanisms and the pattern of tricuspid valve (TV) remodelling are yet to be defined. This knowledge is needed to guide patient selection for the evolving therapeutic options. We sought to explore the prevalence and predictors of secondary TR in the elderly, as well as the associated pattern of right-heart chamber and TV remodelling. METHODS: Consecutive older subjects (60-year-old or older) were prospectively enrolled and detailed analysis of right-heart chambers and TV was conducted (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05784883). TR severity was defined based on a multiparametric approach. RESULTS: Out of 213 patients (age, 67.1 ± 5.9 years, 52.6% female), 48.8% had mild and 15.5% had moderate-severe TR. The frequency of moderate-severe TR increased from 4.5% in those without to 32.9% in those with underlying abnormalities of the left/right heart. There was a significant trend of worsening right-heart chamber and TV remodelling across the three grades of TR severity (none-trace, mild, and moderate-severe; p-value for linear trend < 0.001). ROC curve-defined cut-points of TV remodelling parameters predicting moderate-severe TR were annular dilatation ≥3.75 cm (AUC: 0.74), tenting area ≥1.45 cm2 (AUC: 0.67), and leaflet length ≥2.25 cm (AUC: 0.61) with increasing frequency of moderate-severe TR from 7.2% through 64.7%, in those with none vs. all three criteria (p < 0.001). The most important correlate of the three TV remodelling parameters was right ventricular and atrial (RV and RA) dilatation. CONCLUSION: Rather than ageing per se, the presence of underlying cardiac abnormalities determines the frequency of moderate-severe TR. Progressive remodelling of right-heart chambers and TV geometry starts with the development of mild TR. TA dilatation, increased tenting, and leaflet elongation are three important correlates of the development of TR that parallel progressive RV and RA dilatation.Study Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05784883.

Ten-year Durability, Hemodynamic Performance, and Clinical Outcomes after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Using a Self-expanding Device.

INTRODUCTION: The expansion of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) to low-risk and younger patients has increased the relevance of the long-term durability of transcatheter heart valves (THV). The present study aims to assess the 10-year durability, hemodynamic performance, and clinical outcomes after TAVI using the CoreValve system. METHODS: An analysis from a prospective registry with predefined clinical and echocardiographic follow-up included 302 patients who underwent TAVI with the CoreValve system between 2007 and 2015. Bioprosthetic valve failure (BVF) was defined as any bioprosthetic valve dysfunction-related death, re-intervention, or severe hemodynamic valve deterioration. RESULTS: At the time of TAVI, the mean age was 80.41 ± 7.01 years, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score was 6.13 ± 5.23%. At latest follow-up (median [IQR]: 5 [2-7] years), cumulative all-cause mortality rates at 3, 5, 7, and 10 years was 23.7%, 40%, 65.8%, and 89.8%, respectively. Mean aortic valve area and transvalvular gradient post-TAVI and at 5, 7, and 10 years were 1.94, 1.87, 1.69, and 1.98 cm2 (p = 0.236) and 8.3, 9.0, 8.2, and 10.1 mmHg (p = 0.796), respectively. Overall, 11 patients had BVF, of whom six had structural valve deterioration (SVD). The 10-year actual and actuarial freedom from BVF was 96.1% and 78.8%, and from SVD was 97.9% and 80.9%, respectively. Three patients developed significant non-SVD due to severe paravalvular leakage, and two patients were diagnosed with infective endocarditis. CONCLUSION: Using an early-generation self-expanding bioprosthesis, we documented durable hemodynamic performance and low rates of BVF and SVD up to 10 years after TAVI.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis presenting as hemorrhagic pleuro-pericardial effusions with pericardial mass.

Key Clinical Message: Tuberculosis (TB) pericarditis, while uncommon, should be considered in patients with pericardial masses and effusion. Timely recognition and treatment with anti-TB medications are crucial for a successful outcome. Abstract: TB pericarditis presenting as a pericardial mass is an unusual and rare manifestation of this disease. We report a 59-year-old South Asian male who presented with a 1-week history of dyspnea and cough. He was found to have a hemorrhagic pericardial mass with a massive pericardial effusion. Pleural fluid analysis was positive for TB. The patient was successfully treated with anti-TB medications. Although rare, tuberculous pericardial involvement should be suspected in patients presenting with symptoms of pericardial masses and effusion.

Assessment of suitability for percutaneous mitral commissurotomy: a contemporary review of key anatomical criteria and predictive models.

The immediate result of percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy is largely determined by the anatomy of the mitral valve complex. Several scores and models have been developed to assess anatomical suitability for percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy. Although none has an optimal predictive power, these models look at the valvular apparatus from different perspectives bearing the potential for a complementary role.

Quantitative aortography for assessment of aortic regurgitation in the era of percutaneous aortic valve replacement.

Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a shortcoming that can erode the clinical benefits of transcatheter valve replacement (TAVR) and therefore a readily applicable method (aortography) to quantitate PVL objectively and accurately in the interventional suite is appealing to all operators. The ratio between the areas of the time-density curves in the aorta and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT-AR) defines the regurgitation fraction (RF). This technique has been validated in a mock circulation; a single injection in diastole was further tested in porcine and ovine models. In the clinical setting, LVOT-AR was compared with trans-thoracic and trans-oesophageal echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. LVOT-AR > 17% discriminates mild from moderate aortic regurgitation on echocardiography and confers a poor prognosis in multiple registries, and justifies balloon post-dilatation. The LVOT-AR differentiates the individual performances of many old and novel devices and is being used in ongoing randomized trials and registries.

Predictors of Conduction Disturbances Requiring New Permanent Pacemaker Implantation following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Using the Evolut Series.

(1) Background: Conduction disturbance requiring a new permanent pacemaker (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has traditionally been a common complication. New implantation techniques with self-expanding platforms have reportedly reduced the incidence of PPM. We sought to investigate the predictors of PPM at 30 days after TAVI using Evolut R/PRO/PRO+; (2) Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent TAVI with the Evolut platform between October 2019 and August 2022 at University Hospital Galway, Ireland, were included. Patients who had a prior PPM (n = 10), valve-in-valve procedures (n = 8) or received >1 valve during the index procedure (n = 3) were excluded. Baseline clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG), echocardiographic and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) parameters were analyzed. Pre-TAVI MSCT analysis included membranous septum (MS) length, a semi-quantitative calcification analysis of the aortic valve leaflets, left ventricular outflow tract, and mitral annulus. Furthermore, the implantation depth (ID) was measured from the final aortography. Multivariate binary logistic analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to identify independent predictors and the optimal MS and ID cutoff values to predict new PPM requirements, respectively; (3) Results: A total of 129 TAVI patients were included (age = 81.3 ± 5.3 years; 36% female; median EuroSCORE II 3.2 [2.0, 5.4]). Fifteen patients (11.6%) required PPM after 30 days. The patients requiring new PPM at 30 days were more likely to have a lower European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II, increased prevalence of right bundle branch block (RBBB) at baseline ECG, have a higher mitral annular calcification severity and have a shorter MS on preprocedural MSCT analysis, and have a ID, as shown on the final aortogram. From the multivariate analysis, pre-TAVI RBBB, MS length, and ID were shown to be predictors of new PPM. An MS length of <2.85 mm (AUC = 0.85, 95%CI: (0.77, 0.93)) and ID of >3.99 mm (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.79, (95% confidence interval (CI): (0.68, 0.90)) were found to be the optimal cut-offs for predicting new PPM requirements; (4) Conclusions: Membranous septum length and implantation depth were found to be independent predictors of new PPM post-TAVI with the Evolut platform. Patient-specific implantation depth could be used to mitigate the requirement for new PPM.

Fix and pull technique for retrieval of intracoronary unexpanded-stent entrapment.

During left main (LM) bifurcation PCI using T and small protrusion (TAP) technique, after deployment of LM-left anterior descending (LAD) stent, left circumflex (LCx) stent was entangled at LM ostium with balloon and wire slippage. Ping-pong (dual) guide catheters were used to simultaneously fix the LM-LAD stent and snare the trapped stent. This technique proved effective in retrieving the lost stent and minimizing LM stent deformation.

Patients with higher-atherothrombotic risk vs. lower-atherothrombotic risk undergoing coronary intervention with newer-generation drug-eluting stents: an analysis from the randomized BIOFLOW trials.

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherothrombotic risk are at high hazard of ischemic events. Preventive medicine plays a major role in modifying their outcomes. Whether the choice of a BP-SES or DP-EES can contribute to the occurrence of events remains unclear. We sought to investigate the outcomes of patients with higher atherothrombotic risk (H-ATR) versus lower atherothrombotic risk (L-ATR) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with either bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) or durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES). METHODS: Patients (n = 2361) from BIOFLOW-II, -IV, and -V randomized trials were categorized into H-ATR vs. L-ATR. L-ATR patients had ≤ 1 and H-ATR ≥ 2 of the following criteria: presentation in ACS, diabetes mellitus, previous myocardial infarction, previous PCI/CABG, or previous stroke. Endpoints were target lesion failure (TLF: cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction [TV-MI], target lesion revascularization [TLR]) and stent thrombosis (ST) at three years. RESULTS: H-ATR patients (n = 1023) were more morbid than L-ATR patients (n = 1338). TLF rate was significantly higher in H-ATR patients as compared with L-ATR (11.6% vs. 7.0%; HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.27-2.20, p < 0.0001). With BP-SES TLF rates were numerically lower as compared with DP-EES in H-ATR (10.5% vs. 13.5%; HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.54-1.14, p = 0.20) and significantly lower in L-ATR (5.6% vs. 9.8%; HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.38-0.85, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: In the era of newer-generation DES, patients with H-ATR still are at hazard for ischemic events. Patients with BP-SES had lower TLF rates as compared with DP-EES, most consistent in L-ATR whereas in H-ATR patients most probably secondary preventive strategies are of higher value. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrial.gov. NCT01356888, NCT01939249, NCT02389946. https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01356888 , https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01939249 , https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02389946 .

Computed tomography vs. cinefluoroscopy for the assessment of mechanical prosthetic valve leaflet motion.

Evaluation of mechanical prosthetic valve function is based on echocardiography, but adequate assessment of leaflet motion is limited by acoustic shadowing. Cinefluoroscopy is a standard method to assess leaflet motion, while computed tomography (CT) has been suggested as an alternative. We sought to compare the feasibility of leaflet motion assessment by cinefluoroscopy vs. CT. In 35 prospectively enrolled patients, leaflet motion was assessed in 43 bileaflet mechanical prostheses (29 mitral and 14 aortic) by cinefluoroscopy and non-contrast CT. Assessment was considered feasible when the 'in profile' projection (with the radiographic beam parallel to both the valve ring plane and the tilting axis of discs) could be achieved. Overall feasibility of fluoroscopic assessment was 74% (mitral, 66% vs. aortic, 93%; p = 0.071), while feasibility of CT assessment was 100% (p = 0.003). Among prostheses with unfeasible fluoroscopic assessment, CT suggested an extreme C-arm angulation to achieve the "in profile" projection (RAO: 76.0 ± 5.8°, LAO: 122.7 ± 32.5°, CRA: 51.4 ± 16.0°, CAU: 57.0 ± 18.2°). Among prostheses with feasible assessment by both techniques, fluoroscopy and CT yielded similar opening and closing angles (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.959-0.998) with lower irradiation with CT as compared with fluoroscopy (26.2[21.1-29.3] vs. 289[179-358] mGy, p < 0.001). While CT scan took 8.7 ± 0.5 s, fluoroscopy required 2.64 ± 1.56 min to achieve and record the "in profile" projection. Non-contrast CT provides a higher feasibility and a quicker evaluation of mechanical prosthetic valve leaflet motion with less irradiation than fluoroscopy, especially in mitral valve position.

Prevelance of depression and anxiety with their effect on quality of life in chronic kidney disease patients.

Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common chronic diseases globally. Many studies have shown it is strongly associated with increased social and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety which are considered as common psychiatric disorders that occur in patients with chronic kidney disease. We investigated the prevalence of depression, anxiety and perception of quality of life in a sample of chronic kidney disease patients at the Jordan University Hospital. We aimed to see any association of the mental health in these patients; mainly depression and anxiety with their quality of life and correlation to socio-demographics or laboratory and metabolic profile of this population. 103 chronic kidney disease patients were interviewed using a questionnaire in the Nephrology outpatient clinics of the Jordan University Hospital, the questionnaire included four sections, the first sections handled socio-demographic data. Also, it contains a brief Clinical and laboratory parameter of our patients. The second part consisted of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) that used to measure the severity of depression. The third part included the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) to evaluate the severity of anxiety, the fourth part assessed participants quality of life (QOL) using The World Health Organization Quality of Life, Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. More than half of the participants have depression and anxiety with a percentage of 58.3% and 50.5%, respectively. There was a negative moderate to strong correlation between depression score and quality of life domains scores (p < 0.001).Only marital status had a significant relationship with depression (p < 0.001).Weak positive correlation between Glomerular Filtration Rate and anxiety score (p = 0.04),with significant positive correlation between lipid profile and anxiety score. There was a negative correlation between anxiety score and quality of life domains scores. Females had higher anxiety score than males (p = 0.27). Patients who do not work had a lower physical functioning score compared to others (p value = 0.024).Patients with higher serum Hemoglobin had higher physical and psychological scores. Anxiety, Depression are common among our chronic kidney disease patients, more interventions are needed to improve the mental health of our patients and their quality of life perception. This kind of study allows us to gain a deeper understanding regarding the effects of chronic kidney disease on psychosocial well-being of those patients, and helps health care providers to put depression, anxiety and Quality of life into consideration when treating patients.

Impact of Prosthetic Valve Regurgitation Assessed by Echocardiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes after TAVR.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic valve regurgitation (PVR) impairs early and mid-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We explored the impact of PVR assessed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and magnetic resonance imaging-regurgitation fraction (MRI-RF) on long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS: PVR was assessed by TTE applying the Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria and MRI-RF (from velocity-encoded phase contrast magnetic resonance sequence) in 424 patients. RESULTS: MRI-RF correlated modestly with the echocardiographic grades of PVR (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.32, p < 0.001). Using an MRI-RF ≥20% to define ≥ moderate PVR, echocardiography and MRI-RF agreed on PVR classification in 412 patients (97.2%; kappa statistic = 0.56, p < 0.001). Five-year mortality or reintervention was higher in patients with echocardiographic ≥ moderate PVR (83.3% vs. 45.0%, log rank p value = 0.002; HR [95% CI]: 3.18 [1.48-6.84]) as well as in patients with MRI-RF ≥20% (79.3% vs. 43.2%, log rank p value <0.001; HR [95% CI]: 2.68 [1.53-4.70]), while the outcomes of patients with echocardiographic mild PVR were not significantly different from those with none-trace PVR. In the two latter groups (echocardiographic < moderate PVR), MRI-RF ≥20% was associated with a significantly higher 5-year mortality or reintervention as compared with MRI-RF <20% (79.5% vs. 42.2%, log rank p value = 0.023; HR [95% CI]: 2.26 [1.10-4.65]). CONCLUSIONS: Greater than mild PVR as defined by TTE or MRI-RF is associated with impaired long-term clinical outcomes after TAVR. MRI-RF can be used to further risk-stratify patients with echocardiographic less-than-moderate PVR.

Complex vs. non-complex percutaneous coronary intervention with newer-generation drug-eluting stents: an analysis from the randomized BIOFLOW trials.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at higher risk of adverse outcomes, but data are scarce in the era of newer-generation coronary stents. AIM: We sought to compare the clinical outcomes after complex PCI with a bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) versus a durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES). METHODS: Patients (n = 2350) from BIOFLOW-II, -IV, and -V randomized trials were categorized into non-complex PCI vs. complex PCI. Complex PCI had at least one of the following criteria: multi-vessel PCI, ≥ 3 lesions treated, ≥ 3 stents implanted, total stent length ≥ 60 mm. Endpoints were target lesion failure (TLF: cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction [TV-MI], or target lesion revascularization [TLR]) and probable/definite stent thrombosis (ST) at three years. RESULTS: Patients with complex PCI (n = 348) were older and presented more often with acute coronary syndrome than non-complex PCI patients (n = 2002). Complex PCI lesions were more often type B2/C and bifurcation lesions and required more pre- and post-dilatation. Complex PCI patients had higher rates of TLF (14.6% vs. 8.1%; aHR 1.89, 95% CI [1.31-2.73], p = 0.001), TV-MI (10.2% vs. 4.4%, aHR 2.17, 95% CI [1.40-3.37], p = 0.001), and ST (1.5% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.025) as compared with non-complex PCI. TLF was not lower with BP-SES as compared to DP-EES in complex PCI (12.6% vs 18.2%, p = 0.16). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing complex PCI with the newer-generation DES still sustain a higher risk of TLF, TV-MI and stent thrombosis as compared with non-complex PCI. This adverse outcome was not significantly modified by the stent platform (BP-SES vs. DP-EES). CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrial.gov NCT01356888, NCT01939249, NCT02389946, https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01356888 ; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01939249 ; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02389946 .

Correlation and Relative Prognostic Value of Fractional Flow Reserve and Pd/Pa of Nonculprit Lesions in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The applicability of resting indices to guide noninfarct-related artery revascularization in ST-elevation myocardial infarction is unknown. METHODS: We analyzed the correlation and prognostic value of fractional flow reserve (FFR) and resting distal coronary to aortic pressure ratio (Pd/Pa) in all patients of the Compare-Acute trial in whom, after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention, the noninfarct-related artery was interrogated by both and treated medically. The treating cardiologist was blinded to these values. The primary end point was the composite of target vessel (interrogated noninfarct-related artery) related nonfatal target vessel myocardial infarction and target vessel repeat revascularization at 36 months. RESULTS: Five hundred seventeen patients (665 vessels) were included. On receiver-operating characteristic analysis, the optimal Pd/Pa cut off for FFR≤0.80 was 0.905 (C statistic: 0.894). The diagnostic accuracy of Pd/Pa was 80.15% (95% CI, 76.91%-83.12%) with respect to FFR. During the 36-month follow-up, 130 target vessel revascularization and 14 target vessel myocardial infarction occurred. FFR and Pd/Pa had a diagnostic accuracy to predict these events of 62.86% (95% CI, 59.06%-66.54%) and 56.84% (95% CI, 52.98%-60.64%), respectively (P=0.20). When they were discrepant, FFR was significantly better than Pd/Pa in identifying which vessels could be safely deferred (P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Immediately after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention, resting Pd/Pa has a diagnostic accuracy of 80% with respect to FFR measured in the noninfarct-related artery. FFR is not significantly superior in predicting target vessel myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization during 36 months of follow-up but, in case FFR and Pd/Pa are discrepant, FFR is superior in identifying which nonculprit vessels can be safely deferred. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01399736.

Access Route and Clinical Outcomes After Ticagrelor Versus Prasugrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Invasive Treatment Strategy.

BACKGROUND: Whether the access site influences the comparative efficacy and safety of ticagrelor and prasugrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing invasive treatment strategy remains unstudied. METHODS: This post-hoc analysis included ACS patients undergoing invasive treatment via radial or femoral access and randomized to either ticagrelor or prasugrel in the ISAR-REACT 5 trial. The primary efficacy endpoint was the composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, safety endpoint was BARC 3 to 5 bleeding. Outcomes were assessed out to 12 months after randomization. RESULTS: Out of 4018 patients, 3984 underwent invasive treatment via radial or femoral access. 1479 had coronary angiography via radial access (ticagrelor, N = 748; prasugrel, N = 731) and 2505 via femoral access (ticagrelor, N = 1245; prasugrel, N = 1260). There was no interaction between access route and assignment to either ticagrelor or prasugrel regarding the primary efficacy or safety endpoints (P for interaction≥0.616). In the radial group, the primary efficacy endpoint (7.6% versus 5.8%, HR: 1.32 [0.88-1.97], P = 0.151) and the safety endpoint (4.3% versus 3.0%, HR: 1.36, [0.73-1.31], P = 0.300) were not statistically different in patients receiving either ticagrelor or prasugrel. In the femoral group, the primary efficacy endpoint occurred more frequently in patients assigned to ticagrelor as compared to prasugrel (10.3% versus 7.3%, HR: 1.44 [1.10-1.88], P = 0.006) without significant difference in terms of safety endpoint (6.4% versus 5.8%, HR: 1.14, [0.81-1.60], P = 0.470). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ACS undergoing an invasive treatment strategy, the access route does not influence the comparative efficacy and safety of ticagrelor and prasugrel. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01944800.

Early results from an Egyptian transcatheter aortic valve registry (Egy-TVR).

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a well-established and standard therapy for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis at moderate or high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. Recently, it has proven non-inferior in patients with low surgical risk. However, due to its high cost, the availability of TAVI is variable worldwide. Our aim was to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics and short-term and long-term outcome of those patients. A medical registry is believed to be an excellent tool to perform a field analysis of patients' course, documenting short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes. This is the first registry for patients who underwent TAVI in Egypt. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients were included in the study; some were retrospective, and the majority were prospective from 5 different cardiac centers from August 2012 till December 2017. The mean age of patients was 77 years SD ± 7.29; females were 52% of the patients and most of the patients were overweight (BMI 30.74, SD ± 6.83). Sixty-three percent of the patients were frail with Katz index ≤ 5. 3.5% had atrial fibrillation (AF) at presentation. General anesthesia was conducted in only 59.37% of the patients. Transfemoral access was the prevailing route of implantation (90%). The median hospital stay was 4 days. In-hospital and 30 days mortality was only 4.16%. CONCLUSION: TAVI outcome in Egypt appeared to be very promising with in-hospital complication, and mortality rates being comparable to international registries (4.16% vs. 4.0% in TVT registry) denoting the procedure as safe and beneficial. Establishing a national registry is critical to highlighting strength and weaknesses as well as identifying key areas for improvements.

Impact of Coronary Calcification on Clinical Outcomes After Implantation of Newer-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents.

Background Percutaneous coronary intervention of calcified lesions was associated with worse outcomes in the era of bare-metal and first-generation drug-eluting stents. Data on percutaneous coronary intervention of calcified lesions with newer-generation drug-eluting stents are scarce. Therefore, we investigated the impact of lesion calcification on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with a bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent or a durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent. Methods and Results Patients (n=2361) from BIOFLOW II, IV, and V trials were categorized into moderate/severe versus none/mild lesion calcification by a core laboratory. End points were target-lesion failure (TLF) (cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or target-lesion revascularization) and probable/definite stent thrombosis at 2 years. The agreement in calcification assessment between the operator and the core laboratory was weak (weighted κ, 0.23). Patients with moderate/severe calcification (n=303; 16%) had higher TLF (13.5% versus 8.4%; P=0.003) and stent thrombosis rates (2.1% versus 0.2%; P<0.0001), whereas target-lesion revascularization was not different between the groups (5.0% versus 3.9%; P=0.302). After adjustment, calcification did not emerge as an independent predictor of TLF (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.37; 95% CI, 0.89-2.08; P=0.148) but did for target-vessel myocardial infarction (aHR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.03-2.68; P=0.037). TLF rates were similar between bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent and durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent (12.6% versus 15.4%, P=0.482) in moderate/severe calcification. In none/mild calcification, the bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent showed lower TLF (7.5% versus 10.3%, P=0.045). Conclusions With newer-generation drug-eluting stents, moderate/severe lesion calcification was not associated with more TLF after adjustment for the higher risk of patients with coronary calcification, whereas the rate of target-vessel myocardial infarction was higher. The bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent and durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent were equally effective and safe in calcified lesions. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifiers: NCT01356888, NCT01939249, NCT02389946.

Aortic Regurgitation as a Complication of Electrophysiologic Ablation Techniques: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a well-established treatment for several cardiac arrhythmias. Arrhythmias originating from the left side of the heart including ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia and ectopy can be successfully ablated through either transseptal or retrograde aortic approach. Although these techniques have a generally low rate of complications, aortic valve injury is a potential complication of ablation at the left cardiac side that warrants more investigation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the incidence of iatrogenic aortic valve regurgitation and explore the potential mechanisms and risk factors that might contribute to aortic valve injury during radiofrequency ablation. Additionally, the course and progression of aortic regurgitation in the reported cases will be described. METHODS: Authors searched PubMed for articles using the keywords "ablation" AND "aortic insufficiency" OR "aortic valve injury" OR "aortic regurgitation". Case reports and series as well as retrospective and prospective studies were included, and relevant review articles and editorial comments were used as a supplementary source of data. A total of 19 references were used and a detailed description of patient characteristics, procedural techniques, and incidence, predictors, and fate of aortic regurgitation were reported by 11 clinical studies. RESULTS: There is a small risk of significant iatrogenic aortic regurgitation after radiofrequency ablation of left-sided cardiac arrhythmias, especially techniques performed via a retrograde aortic approach. CONCLUSION: Although the risk is not confined to procedures applying direct energy to the aortic cusp region, a more aggressive ablation applied in the vicinity of the valvular complex seems to be associated with a higher risk. Routine post-procedural surveillance should be adopted to detect de novo aortic valve injury following radiofrequency ablation techniques.

Online Quantitative Aortographic Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation After TAVR: Results of the OVAL Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the online assessment feasibility of aortography using videodensitometry in the catheterization laboratory during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND: Quantitative assessment of regurgitation after TAVR through aortography using videodensitometry is simple, reproducible, and validated in vitro, in vivo, in clinical trials, and in "real-world" patients. However, thus far the assessment has been done offline. METHODS: This was a single center, prospective, proof-of-principle, feasibility study. One hundred consecutive patients with aortic stenosis and indications to undergo TAVR were enrolled. All final aortograms were analyzed immediately after acquisition in the catheterization laboratory and were also sent to an independent core laboratory for blinded offline assessment. The primary endpoint of the study was the feasibility of the online assessment of regurgitation (percentage of analyzable cases). The secondary endpoint was the reproducibility of results between the online assessment and the offline analysis by the core laboratory. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 81 ± 7 years, and 56% were men. The implanted valves were either SAPIEN 3 (97%) or SAPIEN 3 Ultra (3%). The primary endpoint of online feasibility of analysis was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 86% to 97%) which was the same feasibility encountered by the core laboratory (92%; 95% CI: 86% to 97%). Reproducibility assessment showed a high correlation between online and core laboratory evaluations (R2 = 0.87, p < 0.001), with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.962 (95% CI: 0.942 to 0.975; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed high feasibility of online quantitative assessment of regurgitation and high agreement between the online examiner and core laboratory. These results may pave the way for the application of videodensitometry in the catheterization laboratory after TAVR. (Online Videodensitometric Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation in the Cath-Lab [OVAL]; NCT04047082).