Anatomical Annulus Predictors of New Permanent Pacemaker Implantation Risk After Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

New-generation transcatheter heart valves have significantly improved technical success and procedural safety of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures; however, the incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) remains a concern. This study aimed to assess the role of anatomic annulus features in determining periprocedural conduction disturbances leading to new PPI after TAVI using the last-generation Edwards SAPIEN balloon-expandable valves. In the context of a prospective single-center registry, we integrated the clinical and procedural predictors of PPI with anatomic data derived from multislice computed tomography. A total of 210 consecutive patients treated with balloon-expandable Edwards transcatheter heart valve were included in the study from 2015 to 2023. Technical success was achieved in 197 procedures (93.8%), and 26 patients (12.4%) required new PPI at the 30-day follow-up (median time to implantation 3 days). At the univariable logistic regression analysis, preprocedural right bundle branch block (odds ratio [OR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 4.97, p = 0.047), annulus eccentricity ≥0.25 (OR 5.43, 95% CI 2.21 to 13.36, p <0.001), calcium volume at annulus of the right coronary cusp >48 mm3 (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.13 to 5.96, p = 0.024), and prosthesis implantation depth greater than membranous septum length (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.10 to 4.28, p = 0.026) were associated with new PPI risk. In the multivariable analysis, preprocedural right bundle branch block (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.01 to 7.85, p = 0.049), annulus eccentricity ≥0.25 (OR 4.14, 95% CI 1.85 to 9.27, p <0.001), and annulusright coronary cusp calcium >48 mm3 (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.07 to 7.82, p = 0.037) were confirmed as independent predictors of new PPI. In conclusion, specific anatomic features of the aortic valve annulus might have an additive role in determining the occurrence of conduction disturbances in patients who underwent TAVI with balloon-expandable valves. This suggests the possibility to use multislice computed tomography to improve the prediction of post-TAVI new PPI risk.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in pure aortic regurgitation: Hemodynamic and echocardiographic findings in bioprosthesis vs. native valve.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to compare hemodynamic and echocardiographic findings between valve-in-valve (VIV) and native-valve (NV) patients submitted to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) due to pure aortic regurgitation (AR). BACKGROUND: Patients with severe AR are surgically treated with variable postinterventional left-ventricular (LV) "reverse remodeling." TAVI might be considered in selected AR patients. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with pure severe AR caused by either degenerated bioprosthesis or NV disease were successfully treated by TAVI at our institution. LV catheterization before and after TAVI and echocardiography before, after (24-72 h), and at follow-up (3-12 months) were performed. RESULTS: Baseline clinical, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic characteristics were comparable between the two study groups, except for a younger age, higher proto-diastolic LV pressure, and higher LV end-systolic diameter in the NV group. At catheterization, an immediate hemodynamic impact of TAVI in both groups was noticed, with a trend toward better postprocedural residual regurgitation index and significantly lower LV dP/dT values (666.0 ± 177.9 vs. 883.5 ± 259.7 mmHg/s, p = 0.04) in VIV. At echocardiography, both NV and VIV patients showed favorable (early and sustained) post-TAVI echocardiographically detectable reverse remodeling. VIV patients also showed more pronounced early reduction in indexed LV end-diastolic volume (68.1 ± 27.4 vs. 86.5 ± 28.9 ml/m2 in VIV, p < 0.001 and 81.0 ± 29.0 vs. 95.2 ± 37.8 ml/m2 in NV, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Successful TAVI induces a striking hemodynamic impact with major structural (reverse remodeling) consequences in patients with pure AR caused by both bioprosthesis degeneration or NV disease. In the immediate postrelease phase, VIV patients might exhibit a more pronounced early LV contractile and structural benefit.

Three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography and quantification of jeopardised myocardium to predict functional significance of intermediate coronary artery stenosis.

AIMS: Despite the fact that fractional flow reserve (FFR) is better than angiography in guiding PCI, in the real world the choice to perform PCI is generally based on angiography. Three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) may increase the accuracy of angiography, especially in intermediate coronary artery stenosis (ICAS). The aim of the study was to assess the best cut-off values of area stenosis % (AS%) and the extent of jeopardised myocardium for predicting FFR and for excluding the need to perform FFR. METHODS AND RESULTS: FFR, AS% and Myocardial Jeopardy Index (MJI) were assessed in 211 ICAS. MJI (=-0.36; p=0.001), AS% (=-0.35; p=0.001) and presence of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) (=-0.15; p=0.01) were independent predictors of FFR. In patients without CTO (174 lesions), the best cut-offs for the detection of FFR ≤0.80 for AS% and MJI were 61% (AUC=0.76; p<0.001) and 30% (AUC=0.71; p<0.001), respectively. More importantly, the cut-offs of AS% safely to exclude (100% sensitivity) an FFR ≤0.80 were 40% (AUC=0.85, p<0.001) for an MJI ≥30% and 50% (AUC=0.70, p<0.04) for an MJI <30%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AS%, MJI and the presence of a CTO predicted FFR values. 3D-QCA in addition to MJI allows the safe exclusion of FFR ≤0.80, limiting FFR assessment to doubtful cases with considerable reduction of costs.

Influence of the amount of myocardium subtended by a stenosis on fractional flow reserve.

BACKGROUND: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) specifically relates to the severity of a stenosis to the mass of tissue to be perfused. Accordingly, the larger the territory to be perfused, the greater the flow and the pressure gradient induced by maximal hyperemia. Although this notion may be considered intuitive, its unequivocal demonstration is still lacking. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of the amount of myocardium subtended to an intermediate stenosis on FFR, especially in relation to quantitative coronary angiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: The severity of each lesion was assessed by FFR and 2-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography. The amount of jeopardized myocardium was evaluated using 3 validated scores specifically adapted to this aim: the Duke Jeopardy Score (DJS), the Myocardial Jeopardy Index (MJI), and the Alberta Provincial Project for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease (APPROACH) Lesion Score (ALS). The presence of a concomitant collateralized chronic total occlusion was also reported. A total of 213 intermediate coronary stenoses in 184 patients were enrolled. FFR values were correlated to minimal lumen diameter (r=0.34; P<0.0001) and diameter stenosis (r=-0.28; P<0.0001). FFR was inversely correlated with DJS, MJI, and ALS (r=-0.28, P<0.0001; r=-0.40, P<0.0001; and r=-0.34, P<0.0001). Lesions localized on proximal left anterior descending were related to significantly lower FFR values and to a higher rate of a positive FFR compared with those in distal left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries (0.80±0.09 versus 0.84±0.08 versus 0.88±0.09 versus 0.91±0.04; P<0.0001). The presence of a collateralized chronic total occlusion was associated with significantly lower FFR values (0.80±0.07 versus 0.85±0.09; P<0.005). At multivariate analysis MJI, minimal lumen diameter, and presence of a collateralized chronic total occlusion were confirmed as significant predictors of FFR. CONCLUSIONS: A larger amount of perfused myocardium subtended by a stenosis is associated with a higher probability that an angiographically intermediate coronary stenosis is functionally significant.

Maximal hyperemia in the assessment of fractional flow reserve: intracoronary adenosine versus intracoronary sodium nitroprusside versus intravenous adenosine: the NASCI (Nitroprussiato versus Adenosina nelle Stenosi Coronariche Intermedie) study.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare increasing doses of intracoronary (i.c.) adenosine or i.c. sodium nitroprusside versus intravenous (i.v.) adenosine for fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment. BACKGROUND: Maximal hyperemia is the critical prerequisite for FFR assessment. Despite i.v. adenosine currently representing the recommended approach, i.c. administration of adenosine or other coronary vasodilators constitutes a valuable alternative in everyday practice. However, it is surprisingly unclear which i.c. strategy allows the achievement of FFR values comparable to i.v. adenosine. METHODS: Fifty intermediate coronary stenoses (n = 45) undergoing FFR measurement were prospectively and consecutively enrolled. Hyperemia was sequentially induced by incremental boli of i.c. adenosine (ADN) (60 µg ADN60, 300 µg ADN300, 600 µg ADN600), by i.c. sodium nitroprusside (NTP) (0.6 µg/kg bolus) and by i.v. adenosine infusion (IVADN) (140 µg/kg/min). FFR values, symptoms, and development of atrioventricular block were recorded. RESULTS: Incremental doses of i.c. adenosine and NTP were well tolerated and associated with fewer symptoms than IVADN. Intracoronary adenosine doses (0.881 ± 0.067, 0.871 ± 0.068, and 0.868 ± 0.070 with ADN60, ADN300, and ADN600, respectively) and NTP (0.892 ± 0.072) induced a significant decrease of FFR compared with baseline levels (p < 0.001). Notably, ADN600 only was associated with FFR values similar to IVADN (0.867 ± 0.072, p = 0.28). Among the 10 patients with FFR values ≤0.80 with IVADN, 5 were correctly identified also by ADN60, 6 by ADN300, 7 by ADN600, and 6 by NTP. CONCLUSIONS: Intracoronary adenosine, at doses higher than currently suggested, allows obtaining FFR values similar to i.v. adenosine. Intravenous adenosine, which remains the gold standard, might thus be reserved for those lesions with equivocal FFR values after high (up to 600 µg) i.c. adenosine doses.