Outcome and Cost Comparisons Between Surgical and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has been the standard of care for severe aortic stenosis. In 2019, annual transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) implantations surpassed SAVR. We compared in-hospital costs and outcomes between these two procedures. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent isolated SAVR or TAVR from October 2013 to December 2019. Baseline patient characteristics, operating room (OR) time, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), total LOS, cumulative cost, and complication rates were collected. Propensity matching was performed to identify differences in costs and outcomes between comparable groups. RESULTS: There were 515 patients who met inclusion criteria. TAVR was performed in 402 patients, while SAVR was performed in 113. Propensity matching resulted in 82 matched pairs. The SAVR cohort more frequently spent >1 day in the ICU, had longer total hospital LOS, longer OR time, and higher hospitalization cost. However, TAVR was associated with higher mean OR cost and higher valve cost. The cumulative index admission costs were not significantly different between groups. TAVR patients had less postoperative atrial fibrillation but more frequent pacemaker placement. One-year mortality was similar between SAVR (2.4%) and TAVR (3.8%), but 3-year (5.8% vs 19.2%) and 5-year (5.8% vs 37.2%) mortality favored SAVR. CONCLUSIONS: In propensity-matched groups, TAVR was associated with shorter ICU and hospital LOS and OR times but increased permanent pacemaker rates. In addition, while 1-year survival was similar between groups, SAVR had significantly improved 3-year and 5-year survival.

Monitored Anesthesia Care Versus General Anesthesia for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

OBJECTIVE: Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) has been increasingly used in lieu of general anesthesia (GA) for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to compare outcomes and in-hospital costs between MAC and GA for TAVR at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review was performed of 349 patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR (MAC, n = 244 vs GA, n = 105) from January 2014 to December 2019. Baseline patient characteristics, operating room (OR) time, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and cost, total LOS, hospital cost, total cost, and complication rates were collected. Propensity matching was performed and resulted in 83 matched pairs. RESULTS: In the unmatched TAVR cohort, MAC TAVR was associated with reduced OR time (146 vs 198 min, P < 0.001), ICU LOS (1.4 vs 1.8 days, P < 0.001), total hospital LOS (3.4 vs 5.4 days, P < 0.001), and lower index total cost ($81,300 vs $85,400, P = 0.010). After propensity matching, MAC TAVR patients had reduced OR time (146 vs 196 min, P < 0.05), ICU LOS (1.2 vs 1.7 days, P = 0.006), total LOS (3.5 vs 5.1 days, P = 0.001), and 180-day mortality (2.4% vs 12%, P < 0.03). There was no difference in total hospitalization cost or total cost. CONCLUSIONS: In propensity-matched groups, TAVR utilizing MAC is associated with improved OR time efficiency, decreased LOS, and a reduction in 180-day mortality but no significant difference in cost.

Current Trends in Surgical Procedures Performed in Rural General Surgery Practice.

BACKGROUND: The procedures that rural general surgeons perform may be changing. It is important to recognize the trends and practices of the current rural general surgeon in efforts to better prepare general surgeons who desire to enter a practice in a rural environment. The aim of this review is to detail the recent operative case volumes of 6 rural locations in the upper Midwest where general surgery is practiced. METHODS: The Enterprise Data and Analytics department of Sanford Health compiled all surgical procedures performed within the Sanford Health System between January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2018. Procedures performed by a total of 58 general surgeons in locations of under 50 000 people are included in this review. RESULTS: From January 1, 2013 to August 31, 2018, 38 958 surgical procedures were performed in rural locations. Endoscopic procedures made up 61.6% of a rural general surgeon's practice. Cholecystectomy (6.3%), hernia repair (6.3%), and appendectomy (3.7%) were the principle nonendoscopic procedures performed by rural surgeons, comprising 16.3% of the case volume. Added together, endoscopy, cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and appendectomy made up 77.9% of the rural general surgeon's caseload. Vascular procedures (2.5%), breast procedures (1.8%), obstetrics (0.4%), and urology procedures (0.2%) are also included in this review. CONCLUSIONS: Rural general surgeons are vital to the surgical workforce in the United States. Recognizing a trend that rural general surgeons perform less subspecialty procedures and more endoscopic procedures will provide direction for those interested in pursuing a career in rural general surgery.

Relationship between Invasive and Echocardiographic Transvalvular Gradients after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

INTRODUCTION: Lower transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) pressure gradients have been reported after implantation of self-expanding valves compared with balloon-expandable valves; however, there is a paucity of data on the relationship between invasively measured transvalvular pressure gradients and Doppler-derived measurements. METHODS: From September 2013 to September 2018, patients with native aortic valve stenosis who had both intraoperative invasive and postoperative echocardiography transvalvular pressure gradients were included for analysis. We used parametric and nonparametric statistics to compare aortic gradients within and between groups. RESULTS: Of 171 patients, 152 (88.9%) patients had TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve and 19 (11.1%) with a self-expanding valve. Among all patients, the invasive aortic gradient was 7.8 ± 3.2 mmHg and the Doppler-derived aortic gradient was 11.0 ± 4.5 mmHg (p < 0.001). Among those who received a balloon-expandable valve, the invasive aortic gradient was 7.5 ± 3 mmHg and the Doppler aortic gradient was 11.4 ± 4.5 mmHg (p < 0.001). In contrast, among patients who received a self-expanding valve, the invasive aortic gradient was 10.3 ± 3.4 mmHg and the Doppler aortic gradient was 8.5 ± 4.6 mmHg (p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Balloon-expandable valves were associated with lower invasive measurements versus post-TAVR Doppler gradients, while results were inconclusive regarding self-expanding valves.

Trend and Outcomes of Direct Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement from a Single-Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: When transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was introduced, pre-implantation balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) was a routine part of the procedure. Smaller device profiles have resulted in selective use of BAV; however, there is a paucity of data about the trend in use of direct TAVR and the safety of this strategy. METHODS: All patients who underwent TAVR at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center from September 2013 to November 2016 were included in this retrospective analysis. We reviewed angiography films and verified with procedure reports to assess if direct TAVR was performed. Troponin T was assessed within 72 h after the TAVR. Multivariate analysis examined the association between direct TAVR and periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) or 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 207 patients were available for analysis. The mean follow-up was 13.3 months. A balloon-expandable valve was used 93.2% of the time, and 35.3% of patients were treated with conscious sedation. Periprocedural MI or 1-year mortality occurred in 12.5% of the direct TAVR group versus 18.3% of the pre-implantation BAV group (p = 0.30). After controlling for potential confounding variables, direct TAVR was not associated with periprocedural MI or 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Direct TAVR appears to be safe and is not associated with periprocedural MI or 1-year mortality. With current generation devices, this strategy can be considered for most patients undergoing TAVR.

Comparison of Different Invasive Hemodynamic Measurements as a Prediction Tool for Mortality after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Men: A Retrospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Hemodynamic measurements can assess for paravalvular aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study compared the utility of different invasive hemodynamic measures in providing prognostic information. METHODS: This retrospective observational study of TAVR patients at a Veterans Hospital assessed aortic regurgitation index, diastolic delta, pulse pressure, and heart rate adjusted diastolic delta obtained at valve implantation. The primary outcome was total mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 151 patients underwent TAVR. Immediately after implantation, mean aortic regurgitation index was 31 ± 8.6, mean diastolic delta was 38 ± 9.8 mmHg, mean pulse pressure was 67 ± 18 mmHg, and mean heart rate adjusted diastolic delta was 47 ± 14.3 mmHg/beats per minute. Two percent of patients had ≥ moderate paravalvular aortic regurgitation by postoperative transthoracic echocardiography. Total mortality was 15.2% at a mean follow-up of 12.7 ± 9.2 months. Aortic regurgitation index <25 vs. ≥25, diastolic delta <19 vs. ≥19 mmHg, and pulse pressure >60 vs. ≤60 mmHg were not associated with total mortality. However, total mortality was 50% for heart rate adjusted diastolic delta <25 mmHg/beats per minute vs. 12.6% for heart rate adjusted diastolic delta ≥25 mmHg/beats per minute (p = 0.017). In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, heart rate adjusted diastolic delta <25 mmHg/beats per minute vs. heart rate adjusted diastolic delta ≥25 mmHg/beats per minute was associated with total mortality (hazard ratio 9.4, 95% confidence interval 2.0-44, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Among a cohort of TAVR patients, the only invasive hemodynamic test independently associated with total mortality was heart rate adjusted diastolic delta.

Late Paravalvular Aortic Regurgitation: Migration of the Valve or Late Recoil?

A 79-year-old man underwent trans-catheter aortic valve replacement for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis with a 26-mm Edwards SAPIEN XT valve. Immediately after valve deployment there was moderate amount of paravalvular leak. Post-dilation was performed with an additional 2 cc of volume, and the paravalvular leak was reduced to trace. Nine months later, trans-thoracic echocardiography revealed moderate to severe paravalvular leak and possible aortic migration of the valve. The patient was brought back for the treatment of the paravalvular leak which was suspected to be due to valve migration. However, fluoroscopy and trans-esophageal echocardiography showed good valve position. Measurement of late valve recoil in the Coplanar view using cine-angiographic analysis software showed that the lower third of the valve had the greatest late recoil (-1.74 mm, 6.55%), which presumably accounted for the progression of the paravalvular leak. Valve-in-valve trans-catheter aortic valve replacement was performed with a 26-mm SAPIEN 3 valve and the paravalvular leak was reduced to trace. This case displays late recoil as a likely mechanism for development of paravalvular leak after SAPIEN XT valve implantation. Our case illustrates that late recoil needs to be systematically evaluated in future studies, especially when trans-catheter aortic valve replacement is being expanded to lower risk and younger patients for whom the longevity and long-term performance of these valves is of critical importance.