Comparative analysis of early postoperative results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement with a biological prosthesis.

OBJECTIVE: . Aim: The choice of aortic valve stenosis correction method is determined by a number of clinical and technical parameters. The task was to compare early postoperative outcomes in patients after correction of aortic valve stenosis using TAVI and surgical aortic valve replacement with a biological prosthesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of adult patients (18 years of age and older) who had transcatheter aortic valve implantation or surgical aortic valve replacement with a biological prosthesis at the State Institution "Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health" in the period from 2018 to 2022. RESULTS: Results: In 47 (47.5%) cases, TAVI was performed and in 52 (52.5%) cases, SAVR with a biological prosthesis was performed. Patients who underwent TAVI were significantly older (p=0.002) and had a higher EuroSCORE II operative risk score (p<0.001). In patients with TAVI, larger diameter aortic valve prostheses were significantly more often used compared with the SAVR group with biological prosthesis (27.5±2.74 vs. 22.5±1.84, p<0.001). The early postoperative period in patients with TAVI was characterized by an 11.4% (p=0.046) and 15.4% (p=0.006). The length of stay in the ICU (p=0.024), as well as the duration of hospitalization in general (p=0.005), was also significantly lower in patients with TAVI compared with patients with biological prosthesis SAVR. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Despite the higher surgical risk of surgery according to EuroSCORE II, TAVI was characterized by a lower incidence of postoperative complications, with shorter duration of stay in ICU and hospitalization in general in comparison with patients undergoing SAVR with a biological prosthesis.

Perfusion education and training in Europe anno 2023.

Background: In the absence of uniform European regulations, there have been many differences in the training of perfusionists across Europe. Furthermore, there has been no uniform or single European accreditation of the profession. One of the objectives of The European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP) is to standardise and monitor training of perfusionists across Europe whilst offering support in accordance with national regulations. This goal is particularly imminent as there have been numerous newly founded National perfusion societies, particularly from Eastern European countries, which are now established members of EBCP.Purpose: In this article, we provide an updated overview or 'snapshot' of current European perfusion training programs that were accessible in 2022. Nationally acquired data refers to 2022 unless stated otherwise. The last overview of Perfusion education in Europe was reported over 15 years ago including 20 countries.Research Design: For this report thirty-two national EBCP delegates plus representatives from Austria were contacted at the beginning of 2023 to complete a pro forma questionnaire about their national perfusion training programmes. The data has been summarized in this article and five additional derived parameters were calculated.Results: We received responses from 31 countries, providing specific national training characteristics which are summarized, listed and benchmarked by country in this article.Conclusion: There have been several national and supranational initiatives towards the recognition of perfusion as a profession in Europe, however so far without success for the majority of countries. For this reason, it remains essential for EBCP, as the only European professional perfusionist body, to define education standards and competencies for perfusionists and to monitor training by accreditation of dedicated perfusion schools across Europe.

FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH OCCLUTECH PLD OCCLUDER TO CLOSE PARAVALVULAR LEAKS PROSTHETICS OF THE MITRAL VALVE. CASE REPORT.

This clinical case presents the results of using the Occlutech PLD occluder for transcatheter closure of a paravalvular leak (PVL) via a transapical approach in the remote period after mitral valve prosthetics. According to our results and to the literature, the procedure for closing the PVL of the mitral valve from a transapi¬cal approach using a special Occlutech PLD occluder is characterized by relative safety for patients, clinical effectiveness in terms of eliminating or reducing the degree of regurgitation and related symptoms.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a patient with mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair.

Aortic valve stenosis occurs in about 3% of people over 65. It is the most important heart valve disease in developed countries. Pathogenesis includes processes similar to those in atherosclerosis, including lipid accumulation, inflammation and calcification. A CASE REPORT: In this study, we describe the case transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a 73-year-old patient after mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair 15 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an effective method of surgical treatment of elderly patients with aortic stenosis with a high risk of mortality in traditional surgical correction of defects. This type of treatment can be widely used in repeated interventions, where there is an adhesion process, technical complexity and a significant risk of complications. This method of treatment minimizes side effects and shortens the patient's rehabilitation period.