Real world coronary artery ostia full accessibility after last generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

AIM: We evaluate, performing a pooled meta-analysis, the current coronary artery accessibility rate in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients during the follow-up. Full coronary artery accessibility after TAVI has not been adequately addressed by the current literature. METHODS: According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, data on coronary artery access were obtained from the ratio between in the full coronary engagement (n) and the number of coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (N). Data were synthesized using random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: Out of 7048 TAVI patients, 276 (3.9%) (mean age 76.8 years, 111 (40.2%) females) were analysed. Full coronary artery accessibility for coronary angiographies and percutaneous coronary interventions were obtained in 83.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66-0.92, p = 0.001, I2: 88.2%) and 96.0% (95% CI: 0.90-0.98, p < 0.0001, I2: 0) of cases (p for difference < .0.001). Left coronary artery (n = 219) was easily fully engaged compared to the right one (90.9% (95% CI: 0.80-0.96, p < 0.0001, I2: 58.4% and 82.0% (95% CI: 0.60-0.93, p = 0.006, I2: 83.2%), respectively, (p for difference < 0.001). Using age as moderator variable, meta-regression revealed a positive and negative correlation with coronary artery accessibility in patients treated with Sapien-Edwards (p = 0.008) and CoreValve (p = 0.010) platforms, respectively. Conversely, a negative correlation (p = 0.01) was found between coronary artery accessibility and mean time after Sapien-Edwards platform implantation (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Full coronary artery accessibility during coronary angiographies and/or percutaneous coronary interventions results suboptimal for both coronary artery ostia and worse for right compared to left coronary artery after TAVI.

Secundum atrial septal defects transcatheter closure versus surgery in adulthood: a 2000-2020 systematic review and meta-analysis of intrahospital outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Technologically, advances in both transcatheter and surgical techniques have been continuing in the past 20 years, but an updated comprehensive comparison in device-based versus surgery in adults in terms of incidence of in-hospital mortality, perioperative stroke, and atrial fibrillation onset is still lacking. We investigate the performance of transcatheter device-based closure compared to surgical techniques by a systematic review and meta-analysis of the last 20 years literature data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Literature search was performed based on Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar to locate articles published between January 2000 and October 2020, regarding the comparison between short-term outcome and post-procedural complications of atrial septal defect patients receiving transcatheter or surgical closure. The primary outcome was the comparison of in-hospital mortality from all causes between patients treated with transcatheter closure or cardiac. Secondary outcomes were the onset of post-procedural atrial fibrillation or perioperative stroke. RESULTS: A total of 2360 patients were included of which 1393 [mean age 47.6 years, 952 females (68.3%)] and 967 [mean age 40.3 years, 693 females (71.6%)] received a transcatheter device-based and surgery closure, respectively. In-hospital mortality [OR 0.16 (95% CI (0.66-0.44)), p = 0.0003, I2 = 0%], perioperative stroke [OR 0.51 (95% CI (0.31-0.84)), p = 0.003, I2 = 79%], and post-procedural atrial fibrillation [OR 0.14 (95% CI (0.03-0.61)), p = 0.009, I2 = 0%] significantly favoured transcatheter device-based closure. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter atrial septal defect closure resulted safer in terms of in-hospital mortality, perioperative stroke, and post-procedural atrial fibrillation compared to traditional surgery.

Pathophysiology of paradoxical embolism: evaluation of the role of interatrial septum anatomy based on the intracardiac echocardiography assessment of patients with right-to-left shunting.

BACKGROUND: Detailed anatomic variants of the interatrial septum in patients with right-to-left shunt and contribution of specific anatomies to the risk of ischaemic recurrences has not yet been comprehensively classified. OBJECTIVE: To report a classification of the anatomic variants of the interatrial septum as observed by intracardiac echocardiography and its correlation with clinical and functional characteristics. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical and instrumental data of 520 consecutive patients (mean age 44±15. 5 years, 355 women) who had over a 10-year period undergone intracardiac echocardiography and right-to-left shunt catheter-based closure. The four main features used to analyse were: (a) diameter of the oval fossa, (b) presence and length of the channel, (c) presence and degree of atrial septal aneurysm, and (d) rim thickness. The presence of Eustachian valve was also tabulated. RESULTS: The combinations of interatrial septum anatomical features were classified into six main anatomical subgroups. Recurrent embolism, multiple ischaemic foci on brain magnetic resonance imaging, high grade shunt, and permanent shunt before transcatheter closure procedure were associated with type 2, type 4, and type 6. Type 4 anatomical subtype (OR 4.1, 1.5-8 [95% CI], p<0.001) and type 2+presence of Eustachian valve (OR 4.3, 1.6-9 [95% CI], p<0.001) were the strongest predictors of recurrent ischaemic events before transcatheter closure. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that interatrial septum anatomy greatly differs among patients with right-to-left shunt, as well as the risk of ischaemic recurrences in different anatomies.

Strategies to overcome hostile subclavian anatomy during transradial coronary angiography and interventions: impact on fluoroscopy, procedural time, complications, and radial patency.

BACKGROUND: Hostile anatomy of the subclavian artery (severe tortuosity and/or heavy calcification) remains a significant obstacle for the transradial approach during coronary angiography and interventions. OBJECTIVE: To assess impacts on fluoroscopy and procedural times, complications, and radial artery patency in patients with hostile subclavian anatomy by using multiple catheter-guide techniques. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical and equipment data of 4,580 consecutive patients (mean age 74.4 ± 26.7 years, 49.5% females) who have been referred for transradial coronary angiography and/or interventions within the last 3 years (September 2010-September 2013). In order to overcome the strangling hold of a hostile subclavian artery, 2 techniques have been used: (1) for a coronary angiography-only procedure, a double mother and child technique; (2) for percutaneous coronary intervention, a triple mother and child technique. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients (2.1%) from the entire study population exhibited a hostile subclavian artery. Fifty-two patients (1.1%) underwent coronary angiography only and 43 patients (1%) underwent interventions requiring the use of the above double or triple mother and child techniques, respectively. The 2 techniques were successful in 94.7% of patients (90/95 patients). The procedural time was significantly longer in the patients with hostile subclavian artery while there were no differences in the fluoroscopy time. The radial artery was patent at 30 days in 92.6% of patients (88/95 patients). CONCLUSION: Our data showed that in the presence of hostile subclavian anatomy, the mother and child techniques appeared safe and effective, allowing for the completion of the intended procedure.

Impact of interatrial septum anatomic features on short- and long-term outcomes after transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale: single device type versus anatomic-driven device selection strategy.

BACKGROUNDS: We reported the short- and long-term results of our institutional single center registry Interatrial Septum Interventions Study (ISIS) about the impact of different anatomic characteristics and related device selection in patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure. METHODS: Over a 9 year period (September 2003-September 2012) we prospectively enrolled 340 consecutive patients (mean age 44 ± 15. 5 years, 198 females) who had been referred to our center for PFO catheter-based closure. The first 105 patients received a single type of device independently from the anatomy (single device strategy). The remaining 235 patients received a different device based on intracardiac echocardiographic study of interatrial septum anatomy (anatomic strategy). RESULTS: Immediate success rate was 100% in both groups, whereas the rate of immediate complications was 10.4% and 2.5% (P<0.01) in the single strategy group and anatomic strategy group, respectively. During a mean follow-up of 59.3 ± 28.9 months, the occlusion rate was 86.6% and 94%, whereas the incidence of recurrences was 1.8% and 0% in the single device strategy group and anatomic strategy group, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results from ISIS registry showed that anatomy of interatrial septum associated with PFO is quite complex leading to an increased rate of complications and a slightly lower closure rate if treated with a single device strategy.

Safety and long-term outcome of modified intracardiac echocardiography-assisted "no-balloon" sizing technique for transcatheter closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defect.

BACKGROUND: The need for sizing the secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) with the balloon sizing technique is still debated at least in adult patients. We sought to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE)-aided sizing technique for transcatheter closure of secundum ASD, without using a balloon sizing. METHODS: In a prospective 5-year registry, we enrolled 81 patients (mean age 48 ± 13.7 years, 54 females) who had been referred to three different centers for atheter-based closure of secundum ASD. Eligible patients underwent ICE study and closure attempt. In a preliminary group of 21 patients, sizing balloon was performed under ICE guidance to assess the value of rim thickness necessary for device anchorage. In the remaining 60 patients, the retrieved value of the rim thickness was measured on ICE and used as key points to measure the defect and select the device. RESULTS: In the preliminary group of patients, the value of thickness at point of initial deflection by the balloon was 1.23 ± 0.1 mm. ASD diameter in the study group was measured at the point of rim with at least 1.2 mm and the mean ASD diameter was 26.2 ± 10.1 mm. Rates of procedural success, predischarge occlusion, and major complications rate were 100%, 93.3%, and 0%, respectively. On mean follow-up of 5.4 ± 1.8 years, the occlusion rate was 98.7% with no long-term complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel ICE-sizing technique appears to be safe and effective in adult patients, thus eventually minimizing overestimation, costs, and potential complications of balloon sizing.