Clinical practice guideline for transcatheter versus surgical valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis in Latin America.

In elderly (75 years or older) patients living in Latin America with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis candidates for transfemoral approach, the panel suggests the use of transcatheter aortic valve implant (TAVI) over surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). This is a conditional recommendation, based on moderate certainty in the evidence (⨁⨁⨁Ο).This recommendation does not apply to patients in which there is a standard of care, like TAVI for patients at very high risk for cardiac surgery or inoperable patients, or SAVR for non-elderly patients (eg, under 65 years old) at low risk for cardiac surgery. The suggested age threshold of 75 years old is based on judgement of limited available literature and should be used as a guide rather than a determinant threshold.The conditional nature of this recommendation means that the majority of patients in this situation would want a transfemoral TAVI over SAVR, but some may prefer SAVR. For clinicians, this means that they must be familiar with the evidence supporting this recommendation and help each patient to arrive at a management decision integrating a multidisciplinary team discussion (Heart Team), patient's values and preferences through shared decision-making, and available resources. Policymakers will require substantial debate and the involvement of various stakeholders to implement this recommendation.

Appropriate patient selection or health care rationing? Lessons from surgical aortic valve replacement in the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves I trial.

OBJECTIVES: The study objectives were to (1) compare the safety of high-risk surgical aortic valve replacement in the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) I trial with Society of Thoracic Surgeons national benchmarks; (2) reference intermediate-term survival to that of the US population; and (3) identify subsets of patients for whom aortic valve replacement may be futile, with no survival benefit compared with therapy without aortic valve replacement. METHODS: From May 2007 to October 2009, 699 patients with high surgical risk, aged 84 ± 6.3 years, were randomized in PARTNER-IA; 313 patients underwent surgical aortic valve replacement. Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Survival for therapy without aortic valve replacement used 181 PARTNER-IB patients. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 10.5% (expected 9.3%), stroke 2.6% (expected 3.5%), renal failure 5.8% (expected 12%), sternal wound infection 0.64% (expected 0.33%), and prolonged length of stay 26% (expected 18%). However, calibration of observed events in this relatively small sample was poor. Survival at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years was 75%, 68%, 57%, and 44%, respectively, lower than 90%, 81%, 73%, and 65%, respectively, in the US population, but higher than 53%, 32%, 21%, and 14%, respectively, in patients without aortic valve replacement. Risk factors for death included smaller body mass index, lower albumin, history of cancer, and prosthesis-patient mismatch. Within this high-risk aortic valve replacement group, only the 8% of patients with the poorest risk profiles had estimated 1-year survival less than that of similar patients treated without aortic valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: PARTNER selection criteria for surgical aortic valve replacement, with a few caveats, may be more appropriate, realistic indications for surgery than those of the past, reflecting contemporary surgical management of severe aortic stenosis in high-risk patients at experienced sites.

[Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: experience in 17 patients]. / Implante valvular aórtico transarterial: experiencia en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is taking a leading role in the management of patients with severe aortic stenosis. Valve replacement surgery prolongs survival and is the technique of choice considering its historical background and long experience worldwide. Recently however, TAVI has positioned itself as the only standard therapy for symptomatic patients who are not candidates for surgery. AIM: To report the experience with this new technique comparing our results with those reported in the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between May 2010 and December 2011,17 patients aged 81 ± 7.3 years (58.8% men with an Euro SCORE 29 ± 22.4%) underwent a TAVI. RESULTS: The median transvalvular gradient was 54 ± 15.7 mmHg. All patients received a CoreValve™. Technical success was 100%, with a post implant gradient of 6.29 ± 3.3 mmHg. Residual aortic regurgitation was observed in 94%, none greater than grade II. There were no complications at the vascular access site. One patient developed cardiac tamponade during the procedure. Permanent pacemaker implantation was required in 35.2%. Hospital mortality rate was 5.8%, a figure that remained unchanged at 30 days of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In high-risk patients with aortic stenosis, TAVI has a high success rate and a low rate of complications. Besides an appropriate patient selection, a trained multidisciplinary team and technical conditions to solve possible complications of the procedure are required.

Implante valvular aórtico transarterial: experiencia en Chile / Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Experience in 17 patients

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is taking a leading role in the management of patients with severe aortic stenosis. Valve replacement surgery prolongs survival and is the technique of choice considering its historical background and long experience worldwide. Recently however, TAVI has positioned itself as the only standard therapy for symptomatic patients who are not candidates for surgery. Aim: To report the experience with this new technique comparing our results with those reported in the literature. Material and Methods: Between May 2010 and December 2011,17patients aged 81 ± 7.3 years (58.8% men with an Euro SCORE 29 ± 22.4%) underwent a TAVI. Results: The median transvalvular gradient was 54 ± 15.7 mmHg. All patients received a CoreValveTM. Technical success was 100%, with a post implant gradient of 6.29 ± 3.3 mmHg. Residual aortic regurgita-tion was observed in 94%, none greater than grade II. There were no complications at the vascular access site. One patient developed cardiac tamponade during the procedure. Permanent pacemaker implantation was required in 35.2%. Hospital mortality rate was 5.8%, a figure that remained unchanged at 30 days offollow-up. Conclusions: In high-risk patients with aortic stenosis, TAVI has a high success rate and a low rate of complications. Besides an appropriate patient selection, a trained multidisciplinary team and technical conditions to solve possible complications of the procedure are required.

The use and midium-term evaluation of decellularized allograft cusp in the surgical treatment of the tetralogy of fallot.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique of implantation and to show the echocardiographic follow-up of the decellularized cusps allografts used in patients with tetralogy of fallot. METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent this implantation between March 2005 and August 2007 and they were clinically followed-up. An echocardiogram was performed to evaluate the morphofunctional result of the allografts. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 12.7 months (1-25 months). The echocardiography results showed that pulmonary insufficiency was mild in nine (60%) patients, moderate in three (20%) patients, and severe in three (20%) patients. The results also showed that the systolic right ventricle function was normal in 13 (86.7%) and that there was mild dysfunction in two (13.3%). Eleven (73.4%) patients did not present any gradient in the right ventricular outflow tract and four (26.6%) presented mild stenosis. The mobility of the cusps were normal in all cases and there was no thickness larger than 1.5 mm. There was no calcification; 14 patients (93.3%) presented Z score between -1 and 0,7 and one patient presented dilated pulmonary annulus with a Z score of + 2.5. CONCLUSION: In midium-term follow-up, the decellularized allograft seemed to be a good option for right ventricle outflow tract enlargement in patients underwent tetralogy of Fallot.

Bentall and De Bono surgery for correction of valve and ascending aortic disease: long-term results.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was performed in a series of consecutive patients who underwent a Bentall and De Bono procedure. METHODS: Data were removed of medical records and follow-up data were obtained from clinical records and direct contact with patients. A total of 39 patients were studied between January 1996 and December 2005. RESULTS: The median age was 47 years (range 14-70). There were 33 males and six females. Eleven (25.5%) patients presented Marfan syndrome and one (2.5%) Turner syndrome. Nineteen (48.5%) patients had hypertension, eight (20.5%) had history of smoking, six (15.5%) had history of alcoholism, eight (20.5%) had dyslipidemia, two (5.0%) had diabetes and one (2.56%) had myocardial infarct previously. Twenty-eight (72%) patients were in II-III NYHA class in the moment of the surgery. Annulo-aortic ecstasy was present in 14 (35.9%) patients and aortic aneurysms in 16 (41%). The median time in intensive care unit was 8.79 days with range 2-23 days. Four (10.0%) patients underwent an emergency operation and 35 (90%) elective. The overall hospital mortality was 5% (2/39). The event-free survival is 94.87% at 1 year and 84.61% at in 5 and 10. The median time of follow-up was 46.5 months (range 14-120 months). CONCLUSION: The Bentall and De Bono technique obtained excellent results in the short-term and long-term, which support the continued use of the compositive graft technique as the preferred method of treatment for patients with aortic root disease. Our findings confirm the current literature data.

Emprego e avaliação em médio prazo da cúspide de homoenxerto decelularizado na correção da tetralogia de Fallot / The use and midium-term evaluation of decellularized allograft cusp in the surgical treatment of the tetralogy of Fallot

OBJETIVO: Descrever a técnica de preparo e a evolução ecocardiográfica das cúspides de homoenxerto decelularizado utilizadas em pacientes com tetralogia de Fallot. MÉTODOS: No período de março de 2005 a agosto de 2007, 15 pacientes foram submetidos ao implante deste tipo de enxerto e foram acompanhados clinicamente e com ecocardiograma para avaliar o resultado morfofuncional dos enxertos. RESULTADOS: O acompanhamento médio foi de 12,7 meses (1-25 meses). A análise ecocardiográfica em médio prazo revelou: insuficiência pulmonar leve em nove (60 por cento) pacientes, moderada em três (20 por cento) e importante em três (20 por cento); a função sistólica do ventrículo direito esteve preservada em 13 (86,7 por cento) pacientes e com disfunção leve em dois (13,3 por cento); 11 (73,4 por cento) pacientes não apresentaram gradientes na via de saída do ventrículo direito (VD), e em quatro (26,6 por cento) pacientes evidenciou-se a presença de estenose leve; a mobilidade da cúspide foi normal em todos os pacientes; não houve espessamento maior de 1,5mm nas cúspides analisadas; não se detectou nenhuma calcificação nas cúspides. Catorze (93,3 por cento) pacientes apresentaram Z score entre -1 e 0,7 e um (6,7 por cento) paciente apresentou anel pulmonar com Z score de + 2,5. CONCLUSÃO: O retalho de homoenxerto decelularizado parece ser uma boa opção para a ampliação da via de saída do VD nos pacientes submetidos à correção total da tetralogia de Fallot em médio prazo.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique of implantation and to show the echocardiographic follow-up of the decellularized cusps allografts used in patients with tetralogy of Fallot. METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent this implantation between March 2005 and August 2007 and they were clinically followed-up. An echocardiogram was performed to evaluate the morphofunctional result of the allografts. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 12.7 months (1-25 months). The echocardiography results showed that pulmonary insufficiency was mild in nine (60 percent) patients, moderate in three (20 percent) patients, and severe in three (20 percent) patients. The results also showed that the systolic right ventricle function was normal in 13 (86.7 percent) and that there was mild dysfunction in two (13.3 percent). Eleven (73.4 percent) patients did not present any gradient in the right ventricular outflow tract and four (26.6 percent) presented mild stenosis. The mobility of the cusps were normal in all cases and there was no thickness larger than 1,5mm. There was no calcification; 14 patients (93,3 percent) presented Z score between -1 and 0,7 and one patient presented dilated pulmonary annulus with a Z score of + 2.5. CONCLUSION: In midium-term follow-up, the decellularized allograft seemed to be a good option for right ventricle outflow tract enlargement in patients underwent tetralogy of Fallot.

Operação de Bentall e De Bono para correção das doenças da raiz aórtica: análise de resultados a longo prazo / Bentall and De Bono surgery for correction of valve and ascending aortic disease: long-term results

OBJETIVO: Um estudo retrospectivo foi desenhado tendo como fator de inclusão a cirurgia de Bentall e De Bono. MÉTODOS: Dados foram retirados de prontuários médicos e informações de seguimento a longo prazo obtidas por meio de retornos ambulatoriais e contatos diretos com o paciente. Trinta e nove pacientes foram acompanhados no período de janeiro de 1996 a dezembro de 2005. RESULTADOS: A mediana de idade foi 47 anos, sendo 85 por cento dos pacientes do sexo masculino. Onze (25,5 por cento) pacientes apresentavam síndrome de Marfan e um (2,5 por cento) síndrome de Turner. Entre os fatores de risco, listaram-se: hipertensão em 19 (48,5 por cento) pacientes, tabagismo em oito (20,5 por cento), etilismo em seis (15,5 por cento), dislipidemia em oito (20,5 por cento), diabetes melito em dois (5 por cento) e presença de IAM prévio em um (2,5 por cento). Vinte e oito (72 por cento) pacientes estavam em classe II-III NYHA ao momento da operação. Ectasia ânulo-aórtica era diagnóstico em 14 (36 por cento) pacientes e aneurisma da aorta em 16 (41 por cento). O tempo médio de permanência na UTI foi 8,8 dias, com intervalo de 2-23 dias. A taxa de sobrevida em 30 dias (intra-hospitalar) foi de 94,87 por cento (2/39). Em um ano, 37 (94,87 por cento) pacientes estavam vivos, e em 5 e 10 anos, 33 (84,61 por cento). O tempo de acompanhamento médio foi de 46,5 meses, com intervalo de 14-120 meses. CONCLUSÃO: A técnica descrita por Bentall e De Bono obteve excelentes resultados a curto e longo prazo, sendo eficaz e segura no tratamento de doenças da valva aórtica e aorta ascendente em nosso serviço. Nossos resultados são condizentes com dados atuais da literatura.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was perfomed in a series of consecutive patients who underwent a Bentall and De Bono procedure. Methods: Data were removed of medical records and follow-up data were obtained from clinical records and direct contact with patients. A total of 39 patients were studied between January 1996 and December 2005. RESULTS: The median age was 47 years (range 14-70). There were 33 males and six females. Eleven (25.5 percent) patients presented Marfan syndrome and one (2.5 percent) Turner syndrome. Nineteen (48.5 percent) patients had hypertension, eight (20.5 percent) had history of smoking, six (15.5 percent) had history of alcoholism, eight (20.5 percent) had dyslipidemia, two (5.0 percent) had diabetes and one (2.56 percent) had myocardial infarct previously. Twenty-eight (72 percent) patients were in II-III NYHA class in the moment of the surgery. Annulo-aortic ectasy was present in 14 (35.9 percent) patients and aortic aneuryms in 16 (41 percent). The median time in intensive care unit was 8.79 days with range 2-23 days. Four (10.0 percent) patients underwent an emergency opertation and 35 (90 percent) elective. The overall hospital mortality was 5 percent (2/39). The event-free survival is 94.87 percent at 1 year and 84.61 percent at in 5 and 10. The median time of follow-up was 46.5 months (range 14-120 months). CONCLUSION: The Bentall and De Bono technique obtained excellent results in the short-term and long-term, which support the continued use of the compositive graft technique as the preferred method of treatament for patients with aortic root disease. Our findings confirm the current literature data.

[Long-term results of repair versus replacement for degenerative mitral valve regurgitation]. / Resultados alejados de la reparación versus reemplazo en insuficiencia mitral degenerativa.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve repair is considered better than mitral valve replacement for degenerative mitral regurgitation. AIM: To evaluate late clinical results of mitral valve repair as compared to mitral valve replacement in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients subjected to open heart surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation between 1990 and 2002 were assessed for surgical mortality, late cardiac and overall mortality, reoperation, readmission to hospital, functional capacity and anticoagulant therapy. Eighty eight patients (48 males) had mitral valve repair and 28 (19 males) had mitral valve replacement (23 with a mechanical prosthesis). Mean age was 59.9 +/- 14.8 (SD) and 61.3 +/- 14.6 years, respectively. Sixty three percent of patients with repair and 50% of those with valve replacement were in functional class III or IV before surgery. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 2.3% for mitral valve repair and 3.6% for mitral valve replacement (NS). Also, there was no statistical difference in the need of reoperation during the follow-up period between both procedures (2.3% and 0%, respectively). Ninety four percent of the replacement patients but only 26% of the repair patients were in anticoagulant therapy at the end of the follow-up period (p < 0.001). Ten years survival rates were 82 +/- 6% for mitral valve repair and 54 +/- 11% for replacement. The corresponding cardiac related survival rates were 89 +/- 6% and 79 +/- 10%. At the end of follow-up, all surviving patients were in functional class I or II. Ten years freedom from cardiac event rates (death, cardiac related rehospitalization and reoperation) were 90 +/- 3% for mitral valve repair and 84 +/- 6% for replacement. CONCLUSION: Repair of the mitral valve offers a better overall survival and a better chance of freedom from cardiac events as well as need for anticoagulation 10 years after surgery.

Resultados alejados de la reparación versus reemplazo en insuficiencia mitral degenerativa / Long-term results of repair versus replacement for degenerative mitral valve regurgitation

Background: Mitral valve repair is considered better than mitral valve replacement for degenerative mitral regurgitation. Aim: To evaluate late clinical results of mitral valve repair as compared to mitral valve replacement in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation. Patients and methods: All patients subjected to open heart surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation between 1990 and 2002 were assessed for surgical mortality, late cardiac and overall mortality, reoperation, readmission to hospital, functional capacity and anticoagulant therapy. Eighty eight patients (48 males) had mitral valve repair and 28 (19 males) had mitral valve replacement (23 with a mechanical prosthesis). Mean age was 59.9 ± 14.8 (SD) and 61.3 ± 14.6 years, respectively. Sixty three percent of patients with repair and 50% of those with valve replacement were in functional class III or IV before surgery. Results: Operative mortality was 2.3% for mitral valve repair and 3.6% for mitral valve replacement (NS). Also, there was no statistical difference in the need of reoperation during the follow-up period between both procedures (2.3% and 0%, respectively). Ninety four percent of the replacement patients but only 26% of the repair patients were in anticoagulant therapy at the end of the follow-up period (p <0.001). Ten years survival rates were 82 ± 6% for mitral valve repair and 54 ± 11% for replacement. The corresponding cardiac related survival rates were 89 ± 6% and 79 ± 10%. At the end of follow-up, all surviving patients were in functional class I or II. Ten years freedom from cardiac event rates (death, cardiac related rehospitalization and reoperation) were 90 ± 3% for mitral valve repair and 84 ± 6% for replacement. Conclusion: Repair of the mitral valve offers a better overall survival and a better chance of freedom from cardiac events as well as need for anticoagulation 10 years after surgery.

Próteses cardíacas valvares / Cardiac valve prothesis

Os autores fazem uma análise do desempenho de diversos tipos de próteses, demonstram os fatos mais relevantes que devem orientar a escolha da prótese (mecânica ou biológica) e apresentam os resultados a médio e longo prazos de 239 pacientes submetidos a troca valvar. Verificam que a prevalência de disfunção das próteses, acidentes tromboembólicos, hemorrágicos e infecciosos foram pouco significativos durante o período de acompanhamento, que variou de 3 a 118 meses

Prótesis valvulares mecánicas

Desde los primeros diseños de válvulas cardíacas mecánicas han aparecido gran variedad de prototipos, en los cuales se han llevado a cabo mejorías significativas, permitiendo acumular una rica experiencia durante este tiempo. Los enfoques considerados en el desarrollo de válvulas cardíacas mecánicas, tanto en diseño como en materiales, buscando la mayor aceptación del organismo hacia el implante incluyen: el adecuado perfil funcional bajo el punto de vista hidrodinámico, resistencia a los materiales a los esfuerzos y el trauma continuado, superficies atrombogénicas y adecuadas biocompatibilidad. A continuación se comenta brevemente sobre el desarrollo histórico que han tenido estos implantes; los cuales se han constituido en un dispositivo escencial en la práctica cardiológica en millones de pacientes cuyo reemplazo valvular es la única opción terapéutica.