Examining the typical hemodynamic performance of nearly 3000 modern surgical aortic bioprostheses.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this analysis was to assess the normal haemodynamic performance of contemporary surgical aortic valves at 1 year postimplant in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement for significant valvular dysfunction. By pooling data from 4 multicentre studies, this study will contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of surgical aortic valve replacement procedures, aiding clinicians and researchers in making informed decisions regarding valve selection and patient management. METHODS: Echocardiograms were assessed by a single core laboratory. Effective orifice area, dimensionless velocity index, mean aortic gradient, peak aortic velocity and stroke volume were evaluated. RESULTS: The cohort included 2958 patients. Baseline age in the studies ranged from 70.1 ± 9.0 to 83.3 ± 6.4 years, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk of mortality was 1.9 ± 0.7 to 7.5 ± 3.4%. Twenty patients who had received a valve model implanted in fewer than 10 cases were excluded. Ten valve models (all tissue valves; n = 2938 patients) were analysed. At 1 year, population mean effective orifice area ranged from 1.46 ± 0.34 to 2.12 ± 0.59 cm2, and dimensionless velocity index, from 0.39 ± 0.07 to 0.56 ± 0.15. The mean gradient ranged from 8.6 ± 3.4 to 16.1 ± 6.2 mmHg with peak aortic velocity of 1.96 ± 0.39 to 2.65 ± 0.47 m/s. Stroke volume was 75.3 ± 19.6 to 89.8 ± 24.3 ml. CONCLUSIONS: This pooled cohort is the largest to date of contemporary surgical aortic valves with echocardiograms analysed by a single core lab. Overall haemodynamic performance at 1 year ranged from good to excellent. These data can serve as a benchmark for other studies and may be useful to evaluate the performance of bioprosthetic surgical valves over time. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02088554, NCT02701283, NCT01586910 and NCT01531374.

Diagnostic Value of Aortic Valve Calcification Levels in the Assessment of Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: In patients with low-gradient aortic stenosis (AS) and low transvalvular flow, dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is recommended to determine AS severity, whereas the degree of aortic valve calcification (AVC) supposedly correlates with AS severity according to current European and American guidelines. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between AVC and AS severity as determined using echocardiography and DSE in patients with aortic valve area <1 cm2 and peak aortic valve velocity <4.0 m/s. METHODS: All patients underwent DSE to determine AS severity and multislice computed tomography to quantify AVC. Receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic value of AVC for AS severity grading as determined using echocardiography and DSE in men and women. RESULTS: A total of 214 patients were included. Median age was 78 years (25th-75th percentile: 71-84 years) and 25% were women. Left ventricular ejection fraction was reduced (<50%) in 197 (92.1%) patients. Severe AS was diagnosed in 106 patients (49.5%). Moderate AS was diagnosed in 108 patients (50.5%; in 77 based on resting transthoracic echocardiography, in 31 confirmed using DSE). AVC score was high (≥2,000 for men or ≥1,200 for women) in 47 (44.3%) patients with severe AS and in 47 (43.5%) patients with moderate AS. AVC sensitivity was 44.3%, specificity was 56.5%, and positive and negative predictive values for severe AS were 50.0% and 50.8%, respectively. Area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve was 0.508 for men and 0.524 for women. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-slice computed tomography-derived AVC scores showed poor discrimination between grades of AS severity using DSE and cannot replace DSE in the diagnostic work-up of low-gradient severe AS.

Myocardial Blood Flow Reserve, Microvascular Coronary Health, and Myocardial Remodeling in Patients With Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular function and hemodynamics may play a role in coronary circulation and myocardial remodeling in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to evaluate the relationship between myocardial blood flow and myocardial function in patients with AS, no AS, and aortic valve sclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included consecutive patients who had resting transthoracic echocardiography and clinically indicated positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging to capture their left ventricular ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain (GLS), and myocardial flow reserve (MFR). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular event (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or late revascularization). There were 2778 patients (208 with aortic sclerosis, 39 with prosthetic aortic valve, 2406 with no AS, and 54, 49, and 22 with mild, moderate, and severe AS, respectively). Increasing AS severity was associated with impaired MFR (P<0.001) and GLS (P<0.001), even when perfusion was normal. Statistically significant associations were noted between MFR and GLS, MFR and left ventricular ejection fraction, and MFR and left ventricular ejection fraction reserve. After a median follow-up of 349 (interquartile range, 116-662) days, 4 (7.4%), 5 (10.2%), and 6 (27.3%) patients experienced a major adverse cardiovascular event in the mild, moderate, and severe AS groups, respectively. In a matched-control analysis, patients with mild-to-moderate AS had higher rates of impaired MFR (52.9% versus 39.9%; P=0.048) and major adverse cardiovascular event (11.8% versus 3.0%; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Despite lack of ischemia, as severity of AS increased, MFR decreased and GLS worsened, reflecting worse coronary microvascular health and myocardial remodeling. Positron emission tomography-derived MFR showed a significant independent correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction and GLS. Patients with prosthetic aortic valve showed a high prevalence of impaired MFR.

Prognostic Value of Right Ventricular Afterload in Patients Undergoing Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) are associated with adverse outcomes after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. We aim to study the prognostic value of invasively measured right ventricular afterload in patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified patients who underwent right heart catheterization ≤1 month before transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. The end points were all-cause mortality and a composite of mortality and heart failure hospitalization at 2 years. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve-derived threshold of 0.6 for pulmonary effective arterial elastance ([Ea], pulmonary artery systolic pressure/stroke volume), patients were stratified into 3 profiles based on PH severity (low elastance [HE]: Ea <0.6/mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP)) <35; High Elastance with No/Mild PH (HE-): Ea ≥0.6/mPAP <35; and HE with Moderate/Severe PH (HE+): Ea ≥0.6/mPAP ≥35) and MR pathogenesis (Primary MR [PMR])/low elastance, PMR/HE, and secondary MR). The association between this classification and clinical outcomes was examined using Cox regression. Among 114 patients included, 50.9% had PMR. Mean±SD age was 74.7±10.6 years. Patients with Ea ≥0.6 were more likely to have diabetes, atrial fibrillation, New York Heart Association III/IV status, and secondary MR (all P<0.05). Overall, 2-year cumulative survival was 71.1% and was lower in patients with secondary MR and mPAP ≥35. Compared with patients with low elastance, cumulative 2-year event-free survival was significantly lower in HE- and HE+ patients (85.5% versus 50.4% versus 41.0%, respectively, P=0.001). Also, cumulative 2-year event-free survival was significantly higher in patients with PMR/low elastance when compared with PMR/HE and patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (85.5% versus 55.5% versus 46.1%, respectively, P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of the preprocedural cardiopulmonary profile based on mPAP, MR pathogenesis, and Ea guides patient selection by identifying hemodynamic features that indicate likely benefit from mitral-transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in PH or lack thereof.

Physical and Computational Modeling for Transcatheter Structural Heart Interventions.

Structural heart disease interventions rely heavily on preprocedural planning and simulation to improve procedural outcomes and predict and prevent potential procedural complications. Modeling technologies, namely 3-dimensional (3D) printing and computational modeling, are nowadays increasingly used to predict the interaction between cardiac anatomy and implantable devices. Such models play a role in patient education, operator training, procedural simulation, and appropriate device selection. However, current modeling is often limited by the replication of a single static configuration within a dynamic cardiac cycle. Recognizing that health systems may face technical and economic limitations to the creation of "in-house" 3D-printed models, structural heart teams are pivoting to the use of computational software for modeling purposes.

Echocardiographic Profiling Predicts Clinical Outcomes After Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies investigating the impact of residual mitral regurgitation (MR), tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and elevated predischarge transmitral mean pressure gradient (TMPG) on outcomes after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) have assessed each parameter in isolation. We sought to examine the prognostic value of combining predischarge MR, TR, and TMPG to study long-term outcomes after TEER. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed the records of 291 patients who underwent successful mitral TEER at our institution between March 2014 and June 2022. Using well-established outcomes-related cutoffs for predischarge MR (≥moderate), TR (≥moderate), and TMPG (≥5 mm Hg), 3 echo profiles were developed based on the number of risk factors present (optimal: 0 risk factors, mixed: 1 risk factor, poor: ≥2 risk factors). Discrimination of the profiles for predicting the primary composite end point of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization at 2 years was examined using Cox regression. Overall, mean age was 76.7±10.6 years, 43.3% were women, and 53% had primary MR. Two-year event-free survival was 61%. Predischarge TR≥moderate, MR≥moderate, and TMPG≥5 mm Hg were risk factors associated with the primary end point. Compared with the optimal profile, there was an incremental risk in 2-year event-rate with each worsening profile (optimal as reference; mixed profile: hazard ratio (HR), 2.87 [95% CI, 1.71-5.17], P<0.001; poor profile: HR, 3.76 [95% CI, 1.84-6.53], P<0.001). Echocardiographic profile was statistically associated with the 2-year mortality end point (optimal as reference; mixed profile: HR, 3.55 [95% CI, 1.81-5.96], P<0.001; poor profile: HR, 3.39 [95% CI, 2.56-7.33], P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The echocardiographic profile integrating predischarge TR, MR, and TMPG presents a novel prognostic stratification tool for patients undergoing mitral TEER.

Guidelines for the Evaluation of Prosthetic Valve Function With Cardiovascular Imaging: A Report From the American Society of Echocardiography Developed in Collaboration With the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

In patients with significant cardiac valvular disease, intervention with either valve repair or valve replacement may be inevitable. Although valve repair is frequently performed, especially for mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, valve replacement remains common, particularly in adults. Diagnostic methods are often needed to assess the function of the prosthesis. Echocardiography is the first-line method for noninvasive evaluation of prosthetic valve function. The transthoracic approach is complemented with two-dimensional and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for further refinement of valve morphology and function when needed. More recently, advances in computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance have enhanced their roles in evaluating valvular heart disease. This document offers a review of the echocardiographic techniques used and provides recommendations and general guidelines for evaluation of prosthetic valve function on the basis of the scientific literature and consensus of a panel of experts. This guideline discusses the role of advanced imaging with transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance in evaluating prosthetic valve structure, function, and regurgitation. It replaces the 2009 American Society of Echocardiography guideline on prosthetic valves and complements the 2019 guideline on the evaluation of valvular regurgitation after percutaneous valve repair or replacement.

Feasibility and Safety of Intracardiac Echocardiography Guidance in Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Data From 2015 to 2020.

Data on the use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) guidance in mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (mTEER) procedure is limited to case reports and small case series. Our study aims to assess the feasibility, safety, utilization patterns, and clinical outcomes of mTEER procedure with ICE guidance using a nationally representative real-world cohort of patients. This study used the National Inpatient Sample database from quarter 4 of 2015 to 2020. We used a propensity-matched analysis and adjusted odds ratios for in-hospital outcomes/complications. A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. A total of 38,770 weighted cases of mTEER were identified. Of the included patients 665 patients underwent ICE-guided mTEER while 38,105 had TEE-guided mTEER. There were no differences in the in-hospital mortality between both groups (2.5% vs 3.0%, P = 0.58). Adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.83, 95%CI [0.42-1.64]) were not significantly different. There were no differences in periprocedural complications including cardiac (aOR 0.85, 95%CI [0.54-1.35]), bleeding (aOR 1.45, 95%CI [0.93-2.33]), respiratory (aOR 0.88, 95%CI [0.61-1.25]), and renal (aOR 0.89, 95%CI [0.66-1.20]) complications between patients undergoing ICE-guided vs TEE-guided mTEER. There was no difference in GI complications between both groups (aOR 1.11, 95%CI [0.46-2.70]). The adjusted length of stay was less among ICE-guided mTEER (median: 1 vs 2, P < 0.01) with lower inflation-adjusted costs of hospitalization ($35,513 vs $47,067, P < 0.01). ICE-guided mTEER is safe when compared with TEE guided mTEER with no significant differences in in-hospital mortality, cardiac, bleeding, respiratory, and renal complications.

TAV-in-TAV in Failed Homograft: Redo TAVI in a Patient With 3 Previous Sternotomies.

A 59-year-old male patient with history of rheumatic heart disease with 3 previous surgical aortic valve replacements with the last one being homograft followed by transcatheter aortic valve implantation in failed homograft presented with severe aortic regurgitation and cardiogenic shock requiring urgent TAV-in-TAV-in homograft. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Feasibility and Outcomes of Mitral Transcatheter Edge-To-Edge Repair in Patients With Variable Degrees of Mitral Annular Calcification.

Background The clinical significance of mitral annular calcification (MAC) in patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is not well understood. There is limited evidence regarding the feasibility, durability of repair, and the prognostic value of MAC in this population. We sought to examine the prognostic value of MAC, its severity, and its impact on procedural success and durability of mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. Methods and Results We reviewed the records of 280 patients with moderate-severe or severe mitral regurgitation who underwent mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with MitraClip from March 2014 to March 2022. The primary end point was cumulative survival at 1 year. Independent factors associated with the primary end point were identified using multivariable Cox regression. Among 280 patients included in the final analysis, 249 had none/mild MAC, and 31 had moderate/severe MAC. Median follow-up was 23.1 months (interquartile range: 11.1-40.4). Procedural success was comparable in the MAC and non-MAC groups (92.6% versus 91.4%, P=0.79) with similar rates of residual mitral regurgitation ≤2 at 1 year (86.7% versus 93.2%, P=0.55). Moderate/severe MAC was associated with less improvement in New York Heart Association III/IV at 30 days when compared with none/mild MAC (45.8% versus 14.3%, P=0.001). The moderate/severe MAC group had lower cumulative 1-year survival (56.8% versus 80.0%, hazard ratio [HR], 1.98 [95% CI, 1.27-3.10], P=0.002). Moderate/severe MAC and Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality for mitral valve repair were independently associated with the primary end point (HR, 2.20 [1.10-4.41], P=0.02; and HR, 1.014 [1.006-1.078], P=0.02, respectively). Conclusions Mitral TEER is a safe and feasible intervention in selected patients with significant MAC and associated with similar mitral regurgitation reduction at 1 year compared with patients with none/mild MAC. Patients with moderate/severe MAC had a high 1-year mortality and less improvement in their symptoms after TEER.

Now You See Me Now You Don't: Subaortic Membrane Causing a Diagnostic Dilemma.

Subaortic stenosis secondary to subaortic membrane is the second most common form of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We present the case of a 70-year-old male patient who presented with a 6-week history of progressive signs of heart failure. Multimodality imaging was required to confirm the presence of a subaortic membrane. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

An Updated Meta-Analysis on Cerebral Embolic Protection in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Intervention Stratified by Baseline Surgical Risk and Device Type.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI) can lead to the embolization of debris. Capturing the debris by cerebral embolic protection (CEP) devices may reduce the risk of stroke. New evidence has allowed us to examine the effects of CEP in patients undergoing TAVI. We aimed to assess the effects of CEP overall and stratified by the device used (SENTINEL or TriGuard) and the surgical risk of the patients. Methods: We selected randomized controlled trials using electronic databases through September 17, 2022. We estimated random-effects risk ratios (RR) with (95% confidence interval) and calculated absolute risk differences at 30 days across baseline surgical risks derived from the TAVI trials for any stroke (disabling and nondisabling) and all-cause mortality. Results: Among 6 trials (n = 3921), CEP vs. control did not reduce any stroke [RR: 0.95 (0.50-1.81)], disabling [RR: 0.75 (0.18-3.16)] or nondisabling [RR: 0.99 (0.65-1.49)] strokes, or all-cause mortality [RR: 1.23 (0.55-2.77)]. However, when analyzed by device, SENTINEL reduced disabling stroke [RR: 0.46 (0.22-0.95)], translating into 6 fewer per 1000 in high-risk, 3 fewer per 1000 in intermediate-risk, and 1 fewer per 1000 in low surgical-risk patients. CEP vs. control did not reduce the risk of any bleeding [RR: 1.03 (0.44-2.40)], major vascular complications [RR: 1.41 (0.57-3.48)], or acute kidney injury [RR: 1.36 (0.57-3.28)]. Conclusions: This updated meta-analysis showed that SENTINEL CEP might reduce disabling stroke in patients undergoing TAVI. Patients with high and intermediate surgical risks were most likely to derive benefits.

Tough Crossing: A Challenging Case of Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement is a feasible treatment alternative in high-risk patients with degenerated tricuspid prosthesis. Either transjugular or transfemoral approaches are feasible, with the latter being used more commonly. We describe a challenging case of valve-in-valve transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement where we used a long sheath positioned in the right ventricular outflow tract to deliver the transcatheter heart valve.

When Echocardiography Is Challenging in Localizing Bioprosthetic Aortic Regurgitation: Dye Don't Lie.

Transesophageal echocardiography is the main imaging modality for localizing and quantifying prosthetic aortic regurgitation. We describe a case of bioprosthetic aortic paravalvular leak (PVL) where transesophageal echocardiography was inadequate; aortic root angiography and computed tomography fusion were critical in diagnosing and guiding closure. Multimodality imaging can be pivotal in localizing PVL and guiding transcatheter PVL closure. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Impact of aortic valve replacement in symptomatic low-risk patients with less than severe aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement (TAVR or SAVR) affects clinical and haemodynamic outcomes in symptomatic patients with moderately-severe aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS: Echocardiographic evidence of severe AS for enrolment in the Evolut Low Risk trial was based on site-reported measurements. For this post hoc analysis, core laboratory measurements identified patients with symptomatic moderately-severe AS (1.0