First-time surgical aortic valve replacement: nationwide trends and outcomes from The Netherlands Heart Registration.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe trends and outcomes for patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in the Netherlands. METHODS: The Netherlands Heart Registration database was used to report the number and outcomes of isolated, primary SAVR procedures performed from 2007 to 2018 in adult patients. RESULTS: A total of 17 142 procedures were included, of which 77.9% were performed using a biological prosthesis and 21.0% with a mechanical prosthesis. Median logistic EuroSCORE I decreased from 4.6 [interquartile range (IQR) 2.4-7.7] to 4.0 (IQR 2.6-6.0). The 120-day mortality decreased from 3.3% in 2007 to 0.7% in 2018. The median duration of follow-up was 76 months (IQR 53-111). Ten-year survival, when adjusted for age, EuroSCORE I and body surface area, was 72.4%, and adjusted 10-year freedom from reinvervention was 98.1%. Additional analysis for patients under the age of 60 showed no difference between patients treated with a biological or mechanical prosthesis in adjusted 10-year survival, 89.7% vs 91.9±%, respectively (P = 0.25), but a significant difference in adjusted 10-year freedom from reintervention, 90.0±% vs 95.9%, respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Between 2007 and 2018, age and risk profile of patients undergoing SAVR decreased, especially for patients treated with a biological prosthesis. The 120-day mortality decreased over time. Patients undergoing SAVR nowadays have a risk of 120-day mortality of <1% and 10-year freedom from valve-related reintervention of >95%.

Contemporary outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement in patients referred for a transcatheter approach.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine which patients referred to our structural valve clinic for potential transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are receiving surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) whether due to unsuitable anatomy for TAVR versus other reasons. METHODS: Individuals referred for TAVR from January 2019 to March 2022, who ultimately underwent SAVR were examined, retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 surgical groups: TAVR was technically unsuitable (SAVR-TU) and those in which TAVR was technically feasible (SAVR-TF). RESULTS: 215 patients referred for TAVR underwent SAVR with 61 (28.4%) patients in the SAVR-TU group and 154 (71.6%) in the SAVR-TF group. The SAVR-TU group were more commonly female (52.5% vs 23.4%, p < 0.0001), had a higher incidence of stroke at baseline (9.8% vs 2.0%, p = 0.017) were frailer (5-m gait 5.2 s vs 4.7 s, p = 0.0035), and had a higher Society of Thoracic Surgery risk score (2.2 vs 1.7, p = 0.04). In the SAVR-TU group, unsuitability for TAVR was due to inadequate aortic root anatomy (86.9%), and poor peripheral access (6.6%). In the SAVR-TF group, the most common reasons for SAVR referral were concomitant coronary artery disease (42.9%), bicuspid aortic valve disease (16.9%), and concomitant aortic aneurysm (10.4%). Overall, in-hospital mortality was 1.4% with no difference between both groups. One-year survival was 96.7%. CONCLUSION: Despite a higher trend of aortic stenosis being treated with TAVR, higher risk patients unsuitable for TAVR can have SAVR with excellent outcomes. Moreover, patients with AS and concomitant other pathology should be evaluated for cardiac surgery.

Patterns of aortic valve replacement in Europe and adoption by sex.

OBJECTIVE: Management of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) may differ according to the patient sex. This study aimed to describe patterns of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe AS across Europe, including stratification by sex. METHODS: Procedure volume data for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for six years (2015-2020) were extracted from national databases for Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland and stratified by sex. Patients per million population (PPM) undergoing AVR per year were calculated using population estimates from Eurostat. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2019, AVR procedures grew at an average annual rate of 3.9%. In 2020, the average total PPM undergoing AVR across all countries was 339, with 51% of procedures being TAVI and 49% SAVR. AVR PPM varied widely between countries, with the highest and lowest in Germany and Poland, respectively. The average total PPM was higher for men than women (423 vs. 258), but a higher proportion of women (62%) than men (44%) received TAVI. The proportion of TAVI among total AVR procedures increased with age, with an overall average of 96% of men and 98% of women aged ≥85 years receiving TAVI; however, adoption of TAVI varied by country. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of temporal trends in the adoption of TAVI vs. SAVR across Europe showed significant variations. Despite the higher use of TAVI vs. SAVR in women, overall rates of AV intervention in women were lower compared to men.

The future of partial heart transplantation.

Heart valve replacement in children is an unsolved problem in congenital cardiac surgery because state-of-the-art heart valve implants do not grow. This leads to serial repeat operations to replace outgrown heart valve implants. Partial heart transplantation is a new transplant that helps alleviate this problem by delivering growing heart valve implants. In the future, partial heart transplantation has the potential to complement conventional heart transplantation for treating children with congenital cardiac disease primarily affecting the heart valves.

Sex difference and outcome trends following surgical aortic valve replacement from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database.

BACKGROUND: Based on worldwide registries, approximately 50% of patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) via surgical aortic valve replacement are females. Although AVR procedures have improved greatly in recent years, differences in outcome including mortality between sexes remain. We aimed to investigate the trends in SAVR outcomes in females versus males. METHODS: Using the 2011-2017 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, we identified hospitalizations for patients with diagnosis of aortic stenosis during which SAVR was performed. Patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, procedure complications, and mortality were analyzed. Piecewise regression analyses were performed to assess temporal trends in SAVR utilization in females versus males. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 392,087 hospitalizations for SAVR across the USA were analyzed. Utilization of SAVR in both sex patients decreased significantly during the years 2011-2017. Males compared to females had significantly higher rates of hyperlipidemia, chronic renal disease, peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease and tended to be smokers. Differences in mortality rates among sexes were observed for SAVR procedures. Women had higher in-hospital mortality with 3.7% compared to men with 2.5% (OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.33-1.43, P<0.001]). In a multivariable regression model analysis adjusted for potential confounders, women had higher mortality risk with odd ratio (OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.33-1.43], P<0.001). Women had significantly higher rates of vascular complications (5.1% compared to men with 4.6%, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of SAVR showed a downward trend during the study period. Higher in-hospital mortality was recorded in females compared to males.

Association Between Patient Survival and Clinician Variability in Treatment Rates for Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Background Patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (ssAS) have a high mortality risk and compromised quality of life. Surgical/transcatheter aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a Class I recommendation, but it is unclear if this recommendation is uniformly applied. We determined the impact of managing cardiologists on the likelihood of ssAS treatment. Methods and Results Using natural language processing of Optum electronic health records, we identified 26 438 patients with newly diagnosed ssAS (2011-2016). Multilevel, multivariable Fine-Gray competing risk models clustered by cardiologists were used to determine the impact of cardiologists on the likelihood of 1-year AVR treatment. Within 1 year of diagnosis, 35.6% of patients with ssAS received an AVR; however, rates varied widely among managing cardiologists (0%, lowest quartile; 100%, highest quartile [median, 29.6%; 25th-75th percentiles, 13.3%-47.0%]). The odds of receiving AVR varied >2-fold depending on the cardiologist (median odds ratio for AVR, 2.25; 95% CI, 2.14-2.36). Compared with patients with ssAS of cardiologists with the highest treatment rates, those treated by cardiologists with the lowest AVR rates experienced significantly higher 1-year mortality (lowest quartile, adjusted hazard ratio, 1.22, 95% CI, 1.13-1.33). Conclusions Overall AVR rates for ssAS were low, highlighting a potential challenge for ssAS management in the United States. Cardiologist AVR use varied substantially; patients treated by cardiologists with lower AVR rates had higher mortality rates than those treated by cardiologists with higher AVR rates.

Current Status and Future Prospects of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most prevalent valvular heart disease and, when left untreated, it confers a poorer prognosis. Catheter-based repair therapies face some limitations like their applicability on challenging anatomies and the potential recurrence of significant MR over time. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged as a less invasive approach potentially overcoming some of the current limitations associated with transcatheter mitral valve repair. Several devices are under clinical investigation, and a growing number of systems allow for a fully percutaneous transfemoral approach. In this review, the authors aimed to delineate the main challenges faced by the TMVR field, to highlight the key aspects for procedural planning, and to describe the clinical results of the TMVR systems under clinical investigation. Finally, they also discuss what the future perspectives are for this emerging field.

The role of transcatheter mitral valve leaflet approximation for the treatment of secondary mitral regurgitation: current status and future prospects.

Introduction: Secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) is one of the most common valvulopathies and is associated with poor prognosis. Over the past years, medical management and mitral valve repair options have rapidly evolved offering new opportunities for a wide range of patients.Areas covered: We provide an up-to-date review of the value of medical and transcatheter mitral valve leaflet approximation for SMR integrating the results of most recent trials and putting their findings into clinical perspective.Expert opinion: Treatment of SMR requires a multidisciplinary approach with a long-term perspective. After optimization of medical treatment, transcatheter mitral valve repair should be considered in patients with persisting symptomatic severe SMR to improve symptoms and prognosis.

Current Indications for Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Using Transcatheter Aortic Valves: Valve-in-Valve, Valve-in-Ring, and Valve-in-Mitral Annulus Calcification.

Use of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) using transcatheter aortic valves in clinical practice is limited to patients with failing bioprostheses and rings or mitral valve disease associated with severe mitral annulus calcification. Whereas the use of valve-in-valve TMVR appears to be a reasonable alternative to surgery in patients at high surgical risk, much less evidence supports valve-in-ring and valve-in-mitral annulus calcification interventions. Data on the results of TMVR in these settings are derived from small case series or voluntary registries. This review summarizes the current evidence on TMVR using transcatheter aortic valves in clinical practice from the characteristics of the TMVR candidates, screening process, performance of the procedure, and description of current results and future perspectives. TMVR using dedicated devices in native noncalcified mitral valve diseases is beyond the scope of the article.

Trends in MitraClip, mitral valve repair, and mitral valve replacement from 2000 to 2016.

OBJECTIVE: The dissemination of mitral valve repair as the first-line treatment and the introduction of MitraClip for patients who have a prohibitive risk for surgery have changed the landscape of mitral valve intervention. The aim of this study is to provide current and generalizable data regarding the trend of mitral valve interventions and outcomes from 2000 to 2016. METHODS: Patients ≥18 years of age who underwent mitral-valve interventions were identified using the National Inpatient Sample database. National estimates were generated by means of discharge weights; comorbid conditions were identified using Elixhauser methods. All trends were analyzed with JoinPoint software. RESULTS: A total of 656,030 mitral valve interventions (298,102 mitral valve replacement, 349,053 mitral valve repair, and 8875 MitraClip) were assessed. No changes in rate of procedures (per 100,000 people in the United States) were observed over this period (annual percent change, -0.4; 95% confidence limit, -1.1 to 0.3; P = .3). From 2000 to 2010, the number of replacements decreased by 5.6% per year (P < .001), whereas repair increased by 8.4% per year from 2000 to 2006 (P < .001). MitraClip procedures increased by 84.4% annually from 2013 to 2016 (P < .001). The burden of comorbidities increased throughout the study for all groups, with the greatest score for MitraClip recipients. Overall, length of stay has decreased for all interventions, most significantly for MitraClip. In-hospital mortality decreased from 8.5% to 3.7% for all interventions, with MitraClip having the most substantial decrease from 3.6% to 1.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 17-year period, mitral-valve interventions were associated with improved outcomes despite being applied to an increasingly sicker population.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement After Surgical Repair or Replacement: Comprehensive Midterm Evaluation of Valve-in-Valve and Valve-in-Ring Implantation From the VIVID Registry.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve-in-valve (ViV) and valve-in-ring (ViR) are alternatives to surgical reoperation in patients with recurrent mitral valve failure after previous surgical valve repair or replacement. Our aim was to perform a large-scale analysis examining midterm outcomes after mitral ViV and ViR. METHODS: Patients undergoing mitral ViV and ViR were enrolled in the Valve-in-Valve International Data Registry. Cases were performed between March 2006 and March 2020. Clinical endpoints are reported according to the Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium (MVARC) definitions. Significant residual mitral stenosis (MS) was defined as mean gradient ≥10 mm Hg and significant residual mitral regurgitation (MR) as ≥ moderate. RESULTS: A total of 1079 patients (857 ViV, 222 ViR; mean age 73.5±12.5 years; 40.8% male) from 90 centers were included. Median STS-PROM score 8.6%; median clinical follow-up 492 days (interquartile range, 76-996); median echocardiographic follow-up for patients that survived 1 year was 772.5 days (interquartile range, 510-1211.75). Four-year Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 62.5% in ViV versus 49.5% for ViR (P<0.001). Mean gradient across the mitral valve postprocedure was 5.7±2.8 mm Hg (≥5 mm Hg; 61.4% of patients). Significant residual MS occurred in 8.2% of the ViV and 12.0% of the ViR patients (P=0.09). Significant residual MR was more common in ViR patients (16.6% versus 3.1%; P<0.001) and was associated with lower survival at 4 years (35.1% versus 61.6%; P=0.02). The rates of Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium-defined device success were low for both procedures (39.4% total; 32.0% ViR versus 41.3% ViV; P=0.01), mostly related to having postprocedural mean gradient ≥5 mm Hg. Correlates for residual MS were smaller true internal diameter, younger age, and larger body mass index. The only correlate for residual MR was ViR. Significant residual MS (subhazard ratio, 4.67; 95% CI, 1.74-12.56; P=0.002) and significant residual MR (subhazard ratio, 7.88; 95% CI, 2.88-21.53; P<0.001) were both independently associated with repeat mitral valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Significant residual MS and/or MR were not infrequent after mitral ViV and ViR procedures and were both associated with a need for repeat valve replacement. Strategies to improve postprocedural hemodynamics in mitral ViV and ViR should be further explored.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac surgery and transplant services in Ireland's National Centre.

BACKGROUND: Irish health services have been repurposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Critical care services have been re-focused on the management of COVID-19 patients. This presents a major challenge for specialities such as cardiothoracic surgery that are reliant on intensive care unit (ICU) resources. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity at the cardiothoracic surgical care at the National Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplant Centre. METHODS: A comparison was performed of cardiac surgery and transplant caseload for the first 4 months of 2019 and 2020 using data collected prospectively on a customised digital database. RESULTS: Cardiac surgery activity fell over the study period but was most impacted in March and April 2020. Operative activity fell to 49% of the previous years' activity for March and April 2020. Surgical acuity changed with 61% of all cases performed as inpatient transfers after cardiology admission in contrast with a 40% rate in 2019. Valve surgery continued at 89% of the expected rate; coronary artery bypass surgery was performed at 61% of the expected rate and major aortic surgery at 22%. Adult congenital heart cases were not performed in March or April 2020. One heart and one lung transplant were performed in this period. CONCLUSIONS: In March and April of 2020, the spread of COVID-19 and the resultant focus on its management resulted in a reduction in cardiothoracic surgery service delivery.

Aortic Valve Replacement in Young and Middle-Aged Adults: Current and Potential Roles of TAVR.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary practice patterns and outcomes for aortic valve replacement (AVR) among young and middle-aged adults are unknown given guideline modifications for surgical AVR (SAVR) and increasing transcatheter AVR (TAVR) acceptance. This study describes SAVR and TAVR use and outcomes using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) National Databases. METHODS: Adults 18 to 55 years of age in the Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD) and the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD) who underwent SAVR or TAVR from 2013 to 2018 were included. Perioperative characteristics and early outcomes were described by valve type. Multivariable regression identified determinants of death, length of hospital stay, and a composite end point of renal failure, persistent neurologic deficit, readmission, and reoperation. RESULTS: The study analyzed 1580 unique CHSD and 44,173 ACSD operations, 16% of which were performed in patients with congenital heart disease. Valve use included the following: TAVR, 1%; mechanical, 42%; bioprosthetic, 55%; autograft, 0.6%; homograft, 1.2%; and Ozaki, 0.4%. Over time, TAVR volumes increased by 167%. The 30-day mortality was as follows: TAVR, 3.8%; mechanical, 3.2%; bioprosthetic, 3.7%; autograft, 0.6%; homograft, 9%; and Ozaki, 3.4%. Stroke rate was lower for isolated SAVR vs isolated TAVR (0.9% vs 2.4%; P = .002). In multivariable analyses, mortality risk was lower with mechanical valves, congenital morbidity risk was higher with TAVR, and length of stay was shorter with TAVR. CONCLUSIONS: TAVR is increasingly used for adults younger than 55 years of age. Given the uniformly excellent results with SAVR, including both mortality and morbidity-particularly regarding stroke, our data favor SAVR in this population, but a prospective trial is needed. Ongoing efforts to harmonize variables and outcomes definitions between the ACSD and CHSD are valuable.

Prevention and management of endocarditis after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement: current status and future prospects.

Introduction: Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) has become an important tool in the management of congenital heart disease with abnormalities of the right ventricular outflow tract. Endocarditis is one of the most serious adverse long-term outcomes and among the leading causes of death in patients with congenital heart disease and after (TPVR).Areas covered: This review discusses the current state knowledge about the risk factors for and outcomes of endocarditis after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in patients with congenital and acquired heart disease. It also addresses practical measures for mitigating endocarditis risk, as well as diagnosing and managing endocarditis when it does occur.Expert opinion: With increasing understanding of the risk factors for and management and outcomes of endocarditis in patients who have undergone TPVR, we continue to learn how to utilize TPVR most effectively in this complex population of patients.

In patients undergoing valve-sparing aortic root replacement, is reimplantation superior to remodelling?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: in patients undergoing valve-sparing aortic root replacement, is reimplantation superior to remodelling? The purpose of this best evidence topic was to re-review the updated evidence that has become available in the near decade since the previous review published in 2011. Altogether more than 300 papers were found using the reported search, of which 8 papers represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. The included studies have significant limitations relating to low-level evidence study design, variable outcome collection and limited significance testing with direct comparison. Long-term outcomes such as survival, recurrence of aortic regurgitation and valve reintervention were largely equal between the two procedures across the studies. This review, updated from the previous best evidence topic, continues to suggest that there are no clear recommendations or even consensus to guide clinical decision-making when choosing between remodelling or reimplantation approaches to valve-sparing aortic root replacement. To date, no study provides strong clinical benefit to favour either procedure in terms of perioperative outcomes, medium-long term survival or reintervention of the aortic valve. As such, procedure selection should be based upon patient factors and valve evaluation, combined with surgeon preference and experience.

Trends in Outcomes of Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States (2012-2017).

As the use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) expands to varying patient populations, impacting the landscape of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), this study sought to assess volume and performance trends of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in the United States during 2012-2017. The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried for patients who underwent endovascular/transapical TAVI, isolated SAVR, or complex aortic valve surgery between 2012 and 2017. Temporal trends in annual case volume, admission costs, in-hospital outcomes, and 30-day readmission were evaluated. Of 624,303 patients (median age 72 years) who received AVR, 387,011 (62%) were men. Among these patients, 170,521 (27%) underwent TAVI and 453,782 (73%) underwent SAVR with 299,398 isolated and 154,384 complex aortic valve surgery. TAVI patients were significantly older and higher risk compared with SAVR patients. From 2012 to 2017, the annual number of TAVI increased from 8,295 to 55,168 whereas SAVR volume remained remarkably stable. Patients who underwent AVR demonstrated significant improvements in mortality, stroke, duration of hospitalization, and 30-day readmission. In conclusion, this large contemporary analysis reports the considerable growth of AVR in the United States. It remains unequivocal that the treatment of aortic stenosis is improving overall with reduced mortality following AVR, highlighting the effectiveness of various process improvements such as newer valves, enhanced patient selection, and the interdisciplinary Heart Team approach.

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2020.

THIS SPECIAL article is the 13th in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief, Dr Kaplan, and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series; namely, the research highlights of the past year in the specialty of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology.1 The major themes selected for 2020 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main body of the article. The literature highlights in the specialty for 2020 begin with an update on valvular disease, with a focus on updates in management of aortic and mitral valve disorders. The second major theme is an update on coronary artery disease, with discussion of both medical and surgical management. The third major theme is focused on the perioperative management of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with the authors highlighting literature discussing medical, surgical, and anesthetic considerations for their cardiac care. The fourth major theme is an update in heart failure, with discussion of medical, psychosocial, and procedural aspects of this complicated disease process. The fifth and final theme focuses on the latest analyses regarding survival in heart transplantation. The themes selected for this 13th special article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialty during 2020. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on a variety of topics, leading to improvement of perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.