Position paper of French Interventional Group (GACI) for TAVI in France in 2018.

Aortic stenosis is a frequent disease in the elderly. Its prevalence is 0.4% with a sharp increase after the age of 65, and its outcome is very poor when the patient becomes symptomatic. The interventional procedure known as TAVI (trans-catheter aortic valve implantation), which was developed in France and carried out for the first time in Rouen by Prof. Alain Cribier and his team in 2002, has proven to be a valid alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement. At first, this technique was shown to be efficient in patients with contra-indications to surgical treatment or deemed to be at high surgical risk. Given the very promising outcomes achieved as a result of close heart team collaboration, appropriate patient selection, simplified procedures and reduced complication rates, transfemoral (TF) TAVI is now preferred in symptomatic intermediate risk patients>75 years old according to the latest ESC guidelines. In 2017, in France, TAVI is currently performed in 50 centers with on-site cardiac surgery. The 2016 TAVI outcomes recorded in the French national TAVI registry (France TAVI) are very encouraging and show that for 7133 patients treated (age 83.4±7 years, logistic Euroscore 14%), 87% of whom via the TF approach, cross-over to surgery was very low (0.5%) with a 3.0% in-hospital mortality rate. The substantial increase in TAVI indications and the improvement of its outcomes may in the near future call for a reconsideration of the number of high volume centers authorized to carry out this technique.

Intraoperative tracking of aortic valve plane.

The main objective of this work is to track the aortic valve plane in intra-operative fluoroscopic images in order to optimize and secure Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure. This paper is focused on the issue of aortic valve calcifications tracking in fluoroscopic images. We propose a new method based on the Tracking-Learning-Detection approach, applied to the aortic valve calcifications in order to determine the position of the aortic valve plane in intra-operative TAVI images. This main contribution concerns the improvement of object detection by updating the recursive tracker in which all features are tracked jointly. The approach has been evaluated on four patient databases, providing an absolute mean displacement error less than 10 pixels (≈2mm). Its suitability for the TAVI procedure has been analyzed.

Contribution of cardiac MRI in the comprehension of peripartum cardiomyopathy pathogenesis.

Pathogenesis of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPC) is still discussed. We report one case of PPC in which a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging analysis allowed to exclude some "classical" pathogenesis hypotheses. We would like to emphasize the benefits of cardiac MRI in the comprehension of the mechanism(s) involved in the genesis of PPC.

[Contribution of cardiac MRI in the etiologic diagnosis of chest pain syndrome with a normal angiographic aspect of the coronary arteries]. / Apport de l'IRM cardiaque dans le diagnostic étiologique des syndromes douloureux thoraciques à réseau coronaire angiographiquement normal.

The etiologic diagnosis of chest pain with elevation of specific cardiac enzymes, repolarization abnormalities and a normal angiographic aspect of the coronary arteries is difficult. In this situation, the role of cardiac MRI is growing, frequently allowing to precise the etiology of the chest pain. We present a literature review concerning the semiology of the cardiac MRI in the three main involved etiologies: myocarditis, takotsubo syndrome, and myocardial ischemia with a normal angiographic aspect of the coronary arteries.

[Clinical and angiographic parameters affecting the quality of 16 slice spiral CT in the diagnosis of restenosis after stenting the left main coronary artery]. / Paramètres cliniques et angiographiques influant sur la qualité de l'angioscanner spiralé 16 détecteurs dans le diagnostic de resténose après stenting du tronc commun de la coronaire gauche.

The metallic component of coronary stents makes it difficult to study their lumen by angio scanner. The object of this preliminary study was to appreciate the factors influencing the diagnosis of restenosis after stenting the left main coronary artery by 16-slice spiral angio CT. This Monocentric study included 27 patients who underwent 16-slice spiral angio CT six months after stenting of the left main coronary artery. It was possible to assess the stent lumen in 21 patients (78%) and no cases of > 50% restenosis were observed. In 4 patients, hypodense zones adjacent to the stent links were observed suggesting moderate intimal hyperplasia. The tests for ischaemia were normal in 3 of these patients. Coronary angiography and endocoronary ultrasound excluded significant restenosis in the fourth patient. In univariable analysis, the facors associated with good or excellent angioscanner quality (45% of patients) were Ostial stenosis (p = 0.03), no or minimal calcification on initial coronary angiography (p = 0.0S), stent diameters > 3.5mm (p = 0.03), heart rates < 60/min (p = 0.04), absence of extrasystoles (p = 0.05) during acquisition. In multivariable analysis, the only significant factors were absent or minimal calcification and stent diameters > 3.5mm (p = 0.02). The multidetector scanner seems a very promising method of investigating patients who have undergone stenting of the left main coronary artery but this study shows that certain clinical and angiographic parameters are limiting factors of surveillance with a 16-slice angioscanner.

[Pilot study of a strategy combining coronary angioplasty with valvular and/or coronary surgery on the same day]. / Etude pilote d'une stratégie combinée associant une angioplastle coronaire a une chirurgie valvulaire et/ou coronaire le même jour.

A strategy combining percutaneous coronary angioplasty followed by valvular and/or coronary surgery was recently proposed as an alternative to the classical surgical only approach. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and the results of such a combined strategy with the two procedures performed the same day. The population comprised 34 patients including 17 with valvular disease and revascularisable coronary lesions (15 symptomatic severe aortic stenoses and two acute mitral insufficiencies) plus 17 multitrunk coronary patients without valvular disease but with an indication for revascularisation. Angioplasty was performed several hours prior to surgery and a loading dose of 300mg clopidogrel was administered immediately postoperatively; all patients were on aspirin before the procedure. The average age was 67 +/- 11 years, NYHA class 2.3 +/- 0.7, angina 73%, LVEF 58 +/- 10%. Single coronary artery disease was present in 26%, two vessel disease in 35% and three vessel disease in 39%. The success rate for angioplasty plus stent was 98%. 60 stents were active. Bypasses were exclusively arterial (left or right internal mammary arteries). We observed 4 in-hospital deaths, one of which was due to an infarct and three due to extra-cardiac causes (1 non-cardiogenic acute respiratory distress syndrome, 1 respiratory tract infection and 1 pyelonephritis). Further surgery was necessary in 4 cases: for haemorrhage and one episode of digestive tract haemorrhage. There were no additional deaths, coronary events nor haemorrhage at the end of an average follow-up of 15 +/- 6 months. The results of this combined strategy are encouraging in this population and merit further evaluation in a prospective study.

[Interventricular management of patients over the age of 75 with acute coronary syndromes without persistent ST elevation]. / Stratégie interventionnelle de prise en charge des patients âgés de plus de 75 ans hospitalises pour syndrome coronaire aigu sans sus-décalage persistant du segment ST: resultats d'un registre prospectif multicentrique regional.

The aim ot tnis study was to assess the results of interventional strategy in patients over 75 years of age admitted to hospital with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without persistent ST elevation. Over three months, patients over the age of 75 undergoing coronary angiography for ACS were included in a multicentre register and followed up for 6 months. A total of 126 patients with an average age of 79 were included: 70% had at least one poor prognostic factor. The treatment on admission included: Aspirin (84%), Clopidogrel (60%), anti GpIIb-IIIa (12%) and Heparin (81%, of which 3/4 of cases were low molecular weight heparins). Coronary angiography (average delay 80 hours) showed single, double and triple vessel disease in 21, 29 and 35% of cases respectively. Coronary angioplasty was proposed in 83 patients and carried out in 82. Eleven patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and 31 were treated medically. During the hospital phase, there were 3 major cardiovascular complications: 1 death during coronary angiography, 1 intra-stent thrombosis and 1 death in the group undergoing bypass grafting, with no major bleeding complications. At 6 months, there were 8 (6.5%) major cardiovascular adverse events with 6 in the "angioplasty" group; 5 deaths (3 cardiac deaths), 3 myocardial infarcts. Two thirds of patients were asymptomatic. The authors conclude that interventional strategy in ACS of elderly patients is associated with a low rate of major adverse events. The benefits of this strategy should be confirmed by randomised trial.

[Sudden death disclosing abnormal origin of the left coronary vessel from the pulmonary artery trunk]. / Mort subite révélant une naissance anormale de la coronaire gauche à partir du tronc de l'artère pulmonaire.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital abnormality with a poor prognosis in the newborn. Adult forms are, therefore, very rare, presenting with angina, cardiac failure or sudden death. The authors report the case of a 41 year old woman who was asymptomatic until admitted as an emergency after ventricular fibrillation. Coronary angiography established the diagnosis. Despite the absence of reversible ischaemia on exercise myocardial scintigraphy, the patient underwent coronary bypass surgery of the left anterior descending artery with a pediculated internal mammary artery graft and closure of the left coronary ostium on the pulmonary artery. The echocardiographic abnormalities regressed within a few weeks. An automatic defibrillator was not implanted. The physiopathology of this rare cardiac lesion, the mechanisms of sudden death and the different techniques of surgical repair are discussed.

[Opacification of a coronary vein during left ventriculography with inadvertent myography in a 78-year-old woman with aortic stenosis]. / Opacification d'une veine coronaire lors d'une angiographie ventriculaire gauche avec myographie accidentelle chez une femme de 78 ans porteuse d'un rétrécissement aortique serré.

A 78 year-old woman had a NYHA II dyspnoea, which was related to a calcified aortic stenosis. Functional aortic valvular surface was calculated to 0.75 cm2 by echocardiography. In addition, there were important mitral calcifications without mitral stenosis. The left ventricular contractility was normal, but there was a significant left ventricular hypertrophy. At the time of the coronary angiography, the aortic valve was crossed with difficulty. A "pigtail" probe was positioned and during left ventricular angiography, an unexpected aspect of myography was observed with an unusual opacification of the interventricular posterior coronary vein, draining in the coronary sinus. The patient remained strictly asymptomatic during all the procedure. Two echographic controls carried out in the 24 following hours appeared normal, without pericardial effusion nor new parietal anomaly of the left ventricle. Five weeks later, the patient underwent an aortic valve replacement without complication.

Isolated left main coronary artery stenosis: long term follow up in 106 patients after surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the long term prognosis in patients with isolated stenoses of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) following surgical revascularisation. PATIENTS: 106 patients (71 men and 35 women, mean age 61 years) were operated on between 1982 and 1998. Before surgery, 103 patients presented with angina pectoris and only 10 had a history of myocardial infarction. Their mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 62%. Stenoses were localised on the LMCA ostium in 19 patients, a subgroup characterised by a high proportion of women (68%). Three patients presented with chronic LMCA occlusion. Forty six patients were operated on as an emergency. The mean (SD) number of grafts per patient was 2.0 (0.5), and only one patient had no left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery bypass. Bypass of the LAD using the internal thoracic artery was performed in 88 cases. RESULTS: Early postoperative mortality was 4.7% and the five year survival was 86.8%. Late mortality occurred in nine cases, and in three of these it was linked to a coronary condition. Of the 92 long term survivors, 81.5% were totally symptom-free and 77% of those of working age were able to resume work. The postoperative outcome of patients with isolated ostial LMCA stenosis did not differ significantly from that of the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative prognosis of isolated LMCA stenosis appears good in terms of mortality and symptoms.

[Patient information and coronary angiography: experience of the Rennes group]. / Information du patient et coronarographie: l'expérience rennaise.

The object of this study was to assess the degree of patient information of subjects referred for coronary angiography and their reaction to a detailed protocol of information. The enquiry was performed in 3 stages: an oral evaluation of the degree of information with a standardised questionnaire; the giving of written documents from the French Federation and Society of Cardiology mentioning the risks of the procedure; the continuation of the interview with evaluation of the degree of satisfactions with the information provided. Two hundred and thirty one patients referred by cardiologists for non-urgent coronary angiography were interrogated (175 men, 56 women; mean age 63 years, range: 27-83 years). In the 164 subjects who had never had this investigation: 56 (34.1%) did not appreciate the invasive nature of the procedure 111 (67.6%) totally ignored the risks of the procedure 70 (42.6%) were not informed of the possibility of a surgical procedure or of an angioplasty as a result of the procedure. 89% were satisfied with the information concerning the risks of the investigation. In a second group of 100 patients, the comprehension of the information was checked by the same questionnaire used a posteriori. These results show that patient information is very often incomplete. Despite some reticence, the new procedures seem to be globally well accepted but would be more effective if used before hospital admission.

Randomised comparison of coronary stenting with and without balloon predilatation in selected patients.

BACKGROUND: The SWIBAP (stent without balloon predilatation) prospective randomised trial was designed to compare direct coronary stenting with stenting preceded by lesion predilatation with an angioplasty balloon. OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility and safety of direct stenting in non-complex coronary lesions in a prospective study. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: All patients < 76 years of age scheduled to undergo angioplasty of a non-complex, non-calcified lesion in a coronary artery of > 3.0 mm, who granted their informed consent, were randomised into the trial. In group I, the stent was placed without balloon predilatation, while in group II stent implantation was preceded by balloon predilatation. The primary end point was the angiographic result according to procedure assigned by randomisation. An intravascular ultrasound substudy was performed in 60 patients. RESULTS: Stent implantation was successful without predilatation in 192 of the 197 group I patients (97.5%), and with predilatation in 197 of the 199 group II patients (99%) (NS). No in-hospital stent thrombosis or death occurred. Overall procedural times, fluoroscopy times, and volumes of contrast agent given (mean (SD)) in group I v group II were 23.50 (13.54) min v 27.96 (15.23) min (p = 0.002), 6.04 (4.13) min v 6.67 (3.65) min (NS), and 135 (65) ml v 157 (62) ml (p < 0.001), respectively. No major adverse cardiovascular events had occurred by 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility and safety of direct stenting of selected and non-complex coronary lesions is confirmed. This technique was as successful as the conventional approach and was associated with a minor reduction in fluoroscopic exposure and procedure time and the administration of less contrast agent.

[Diagnosis of restenosis]. / Le diagnostic de la resténose.

Transluminal coronary angioplasty (TCA) has become a well established technique of coronary revascularisation. The medium-term results are however limited by the risk of restenosis. This restenosis occurs in the 6 months following angioplasty, above all between the 1st and 3rd month. The restenosis rate after balloon angioplasty is about 40% and about 20% after implantation of a stent, at least in short lesions. Some factors related to the underlying disease (diabetes), the clinical status and the date of TCA (unstable angina) or the type of lesion (chronic occlusion, stenosis of venous grafts) are associated with a high risk of restenosis. The occurrence of angina in the 6 months after TCA may be due to restenosis but also to incomplete revascularisation or the progression of non-significant lesions. This explains the low predictive value of angina for the diagnosis of restenosis. In asymptomatic patients, the diagnosis depends on non-invasive tests. The positive and negative predictive values of exercise stress testing are low (about 50% and 75%, respectively). Nevertheless, stress testing remains useful for assessing the functional capacity of patients, to confirm the absence of symptoms and to document silent ischaemia. The sensitivity of stress Thallium scintigraphy, associated or not with dipyridamole, is higher. Stress echocardiography, currently under evaluation, would seem to be as useful as Thallium scintigraphy for the diagnosis of restenosis.

Pacemaker lead infection: echocardiographic features, management, and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography (TTE, TOE) in patients with permanent pacemaker lead infection and to evaluate the safety of medical extraction in cases of large vegetations. METHODS: TTE and TOE were performed in 23 patients with definite pacemaker lead infection. Seventeen patients without previous infection served as a TOE reference for non-infected leads. RESULTS: TTE was positive in seven cases (30%) whereas with TOE three different types of vegetations attached to the leads were visualised in 21 of the 23 cases (91%). Of the 20 patients with vegetations and lead culture, 17 (85%) had bacteriologically active infection. Left sided valvar endocarditis was diagnosed in two patients. In the control group, strands were visualised by TOE in five patients, and vegetations in none. Medical extraction of vegetations >/= 10 mm was performed in 12 patients and was successful in nine (75%) without clinical pulmonary embolism. After 31.2 (19.1) months of follow up (mean (SD)), all patients except one were cured of infection; three died from other causes. CONCLUSIONS: Combined with bacteriological data, vegetations seen on TOE strongly suggest pacemaker lead infection. Normal TTE examinations do not exclude this diagnosis because of its poor sensitivity. Medical extraction of even large vegetations appeared to be safe.

Effects of permanent dual-chamber pacing on mitral regurgitation in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: To assess the effects of chronic dual-chamber pacing on mitral regurgitation in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-three patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and mitral regurgitation. treated with DDD pacing for 16 +/- 14 months, were included in the study. Mitral regurgitation was assessed by Doppler-echocardiography using semi-quantitative analysis (grades I-IV) and by measuring the maximum regurgitant jet area/left atrial area ratio. At the end of follow-up, DDD pacing reduced the outflow gradient from 93 +/- 37 mmHg to 31 +/- 30 mmHg (P<0.0001). Nine of the 14 patients who initially had > or =grade II mitral regurgitation improved by at least one grade, two of them exhibiting dramatic improvement (from grade IV and III to grade I). The regurgitant jet area/left atrial area ratio was reduced with DDD pacing from 20 +/- 13% to 11 +/- 6% (P<0.0001). Patients who had significant mitral regurgitation despite pacing were those whose outflow gradient remained high or those with mitral valve organic abnormalities (mitral annulus calcification or mitral valve prolapse). In the absence of organic abnormalities other than leaflet elongation, there was a significant correlation between the gradient value achieved with DDD pacing and the extent of mitral regurgitation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the absence of organic mitral valve abnormalities, DDD pacing reduces in parallel mitral regurgitation and left ventricular outflow gradient. In such patients therefore, significant mitral regurgitation is not a contraindication to pacing.

Perivalvular abscesses associated with endocarditis; clinical features and prognostic factors of overall survival in a series of 233 cases. Perivalvular Abscesses French Multicentre Study.

AIMS: The purposes of this study were to determine the clinical features and to identify prognostic factors of abscesses associated with infective endocarditis. METHODS AND RESULTS: During a 5-year period from January 1989, 233 patients with perivalvular abscesses associated with infective endocarditis were enrolled in a retrospective multicentre study. Of the patients, 213 received medical surgical therapy and 20 medical therapy alone. No causative microorganism could be identified in 31% of cases. Sensitivity for the detection of abscesses was 36 and 80%, respectively using transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography. Surgical treatment consisted of primary suture of the abscess (38%), insertion of a felt aortic or mitral ring using Teflon or pericardium (42%), or debridment of the abscess cavity (20%). The 1 month operative mortality was 16%. Actuarial rates for overall survival at 3 and 27 months in operated patients were 75 +/- 10% and 59 +/- 11%, respectively. Increasing patient age, staphylococcal infection, and fistulization of the abscess were found to be independent risk factors in both 1 month and overall operative mortality. Renal failure was a risk factor predictive of operative mortality at 1 month, whereas uncontrolled infection and circumferential abscess were regarded as risk factors predictive of overall operative mortality. CONCLUSION: The data determined prognostic factors of abscesses associated with infective endocarditis.

Acute hemodynamic effects of biventricular DDD pacing in patients with end-stage heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the potential acute benefit of multisite cardiac pacing with optimized atrioventricular synchrony and simultaneous biventricular pacing in patients with drug-refractory congestive heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND: Prognosis and quality of life in severe CHF are poor. Various nonpharmacological therapies have been evaluated but are restricted in their effectiveness and applications. In the early 1990s, dual chamber pacing (DDD) pacing was proposed as primary treatment of refractory CHF but results were controversial. Recently, tests to evaluate the effect of simultaneous pacing of both ventricles have elicited a significant improvement of cardiac performance. METHODS: Acute hemodynamic study was conducted in 18 patients with severe CHF (New York Heart Association class III and IV) and major intraventricular conduction block (IVCB) (QRS duration = 170+/-37 ms). Using a Swan-Ganz catheter, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and cardiac index (CI) were measured in different pacing configurations: atrial pacing (AAI) mode, used as reference, single-site right ventricular DDD pacing and biventricular pacing with the right ventricular lead placed either at the apex or at the outflow tract. RESULTS: The CI was significantly increased by biventricular pacing in comparison with AAI or right ventricular (RV). DDD pacing (2.7+/-0.7 vs. 2+/-0.5 and 2.4+/-0.6 l/min/m2, p < 0.001). The PCWP also decreased significantly during biventricular pacing, compared with AAI (22+/-8 vs. 27+/-9 mm Hg; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This acute hemodynamic study demonstrated that biventricular DDD pacing may significantly improve cardiac performance in patients with IVCB and with severe heart failure, in comparison with intrinsic conduction and single-site RV DDD pacing.

[Cardiac abscess in infectious endocarditis. A multicenter study apropos of 233 cases. The Working Group on Valvulopathy of the French Society of Cardiology]. / Abcès cardiaques dans l'endocardite infectieuse. Etude multicentrique à propos de 233 cas. Groupe de travail sur les valvulopathies de la Société française de cardiologie.

The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to determine present characteristics of infectious endocarditis complicated by abscess and to identifying predictive factors of mortality. The files of 233 patients with infectious endocarditis complicated by perivalvular abscesses between January 1989 and December 1993 were analysed. Two hundred and thirteen patients underwent medico-surgical treatment (175 aortic and 38 mitral abscesses) and 20 patients underwent medical treatment alone (17 aortic and 3 mitral abscesses). The abscess was observed on native valves in 156 cases and valve prostheses in 77 cases. The causative organism was identified in 69% of cases : the commonest organism was the staphylococcus. The diagnostic sensitivity of transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography was 36 and 80% respectively. The operative mortality at one month was 16%. Patients over 65 years of age, staphylococcal infection, renal failure and fistulisation of the abscess, were identified as independent predictive factors of mortality at one month. The survival rate three months after surgery was 75 +/- 10% and 59 +/- 11% at 27 months. An age over 65, staphylococcal infection, uncontrolled infection, circumferential abscess and fistulisation were independent predictive factors of global mortality (the first month and after). The mortality rate in unoperated patients was 40%: cardiac failure and fistulisation of the abscess detected by echocardiography were predictive factors of mortality on univariate analysis.