Reducing gap in pre-hospital delay between women and men presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS: This study aimed to analyse changes in pre-hospital delay over time in women and men presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Switzerland. METHODS AND RESULTS: AMIS Plus registry data of patients admitted for STEMI between 2002 and 2019 were analysed using multivariable quantile regression including the following covariates: interaction between sex and admission year, age, diabetes, pain at presentation, myocardial infarction (MI) history, heart failure history, hypertension, and renal disease. Among the 15,350 patients included (74.5% men), the median (interquartile range) delay between 2002 and 2019 was 150 (84; 345) min for men and 180 (100; 414) min for women. The unadjusted median pre-hospital delay significantly decreased over time for both sexes but the decreasing trend was stronger for women. Specifically, the unadjusted sex differences in delay decreased from 60 min in 2002 (P = 0.0042) to 40.5 min in 2019 (P = 0.165). The multivariable model revealed a significant interaction between sex and admission year (P = 0.038) indicating that the decrease in delay was stronger for women (-3.3 min per year) than for men (-1.6 min per year) even after adjustment. The adjusted difference between men and women decreased from 26.93 min in 2002 to -1.97 min for women in 2019. CONCLUSION: Over two decades, delay between symptom onset and hospital admission in STEMI decreased significantly for men and women. The decline was more pronounced in women, leading to the sex gap disappearing in the adjusted analysis for 2019.

Because the delay between onset of heart attack symptoms and hospital admission was higher in women in the past, this study analysed whether pre-hospital delay has shortened in general since 2002 as well as in women and men separately.Our study showed that the pre-hospital delay steadily decreased for both sexes but the decrease was greater in womenAfter considering differences in patient characteristics, such as higher age and less previous heart attacks in women, by 2019 the delay was nearly the same for women and men.

Complexity assessment and technical aspect of coronary angiogram and percutaneous coronary intervention following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: Performing selective coronary angiogram (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) post transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) may be challenging with various success rates of coronary ostia engagement. METHODS: Among all patients who underwent CA and/or PCI after TAVI from our single center TAVI registry, ostia cannulation success was reported according to the quality of ostia engagement and artery opacification, and was classified as either selective, partially selective or non-selective but sufficient for diagnosis. RESULTS: Among the 424 consecutive TAVI procedures performed at the aforementioned institution, 20 (4.7%) CA were performed in 19 (4.5%) patients at a median time of 464 days post TAVI (25-75% IQ: 213-634 days). CA were performed in 7 CoreValve, 9 Evolut R, 1 Evolut PRO and 2 Edwards Sapien 3 devices. Transradial vascular approach was attempted in 9 procedures (45%, right n = 6 and left n = 3) and was successful in 8 (40%) patients. A total of 20 left main artery ostium cannulation were attempted leading to a diagnostic CA in all of them with selective engagement in 65%. Engagement of the right coronary artery in 2 out of 15 attempted cases failed due to a low ostium in conjunction with a high implantation of a CoreValve prosthesis. 11 PCI (55% of CA) including 2 left main lesions were performed. In 4 patients (36.4% of the PCI), an extension catheter was required to engage the left main. All planned PCI were successful. CONCLUSIONS: Post TAVI CA and PCI are challenging but feasible even after supra-annular self-expandable valve implantation.

1-Year Outcomes of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Mitral Annular Calcification.

BACKGROUND: The risk of surgical mitral valve replacement in patients with severe mitral annular calcification (MAC) is high. Several patients worldwide with severe MAC have been treated successfully with transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) using balloon-expandable aortic transcatheter valves. The TMVR in MAC Global Registry is a multicenter registry that collects data on outcomes of these procedures. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate 1-year outcomes in this registry. METHODS: This study was a multicenter retrospective review of clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 116 extreme surgical risk patients with severe MAC underwent TMVR; 106 had a procedure date >1 year before data-lock and were included in the analysis. Their mean age was 73 ± 12 years, and 68% were female. The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 15.3 ± 11.6%, and 90% were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. Thirty-day and 1-year all-cause mortality was 25% and 53.7%, respectively. Most patients who survived 30 days were alive at 1 year (49 of 77 [63.6%]), and the majority (71.8%) were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II. Echocardiography data at 1 year were available in 34 patients. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 58.6 ± 11.2%, mean mitral valve area was 1.9 ± 0.5 cm2, mean mitral gradient was 5.8 ± 2.2 mm Hg, and 75% had zero or trace mitral regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: TMVR with balloon-expandable aortic valves in extreme surgical risk patients with severe MAC is feasible but associated with high 30-day and 1-year mortality. Most patients who survive the 30-day post-procedural period are alive at 1 year and have sustained improvement of symptoms and transcatheter valve performance. The role of TMVR in patients with MAC requires further evaluation in clinical trials.

[Left atrial appendage occlusion for atrial fibrillation]. / Fermeture percutanée de l'auricule gauche dans la fibrillation auriculaire.

Embolic stroke is the most dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AF). Oral anticoagulation represents the treatment of choice for thromboembolic (TE) prophylaxis in patients with a CHADS2VASc score ≥ 1 but is associated with a significant increase in haemorrhagic events. Almost 90 % of thrombi originate in the left atrial appendage. Registries have shown that percutaneous occlusion of this appendage reduces embolic risk and may be considered for TE prophylaxis in patients with a high TE (CHADS2VASc score ≥ 2) and haemorrhagic (HAS-BLED score ≥ 3) risk. However, available randomized trials of this technique did not include patients with contraindication to oral anticoagulants.

L'embolie cérébrale est la complication la plus sévère de la fibrillation auriculaire (FA). L'anticoagulation orale représente le traitement de choix pour la prophylaxie thromboembolique (TE) chez les patients avec un score CHADS2VASc ≥ 1 mais s'accompagne d'une augmentation significative des événements hémorragiques. Environ 90 % des thrombi se forment au niveau de l'auricule gauche. Différents registres ont montré que la fermeture percutanée de cet appendice par une prothèse permet de diminuer le risque TE chez les patients qui présentent un haut risque TE (score CHADS2VASc ≥ 2) et hémorragique (score HAS-BLED ≥ 3). Cependant, les études randomisées actuellement disponibles concernant cette technique n'ont pas inclus des patients avec une contre-indication aux anticoagulants oraux.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Native Mitral Valve Disease With Severe Mitral Annular Calcification: Results From the First Multicenter Global Registry.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the outcomes of the early experience of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) with balloon-expandable valves in patients with severe mitral annular calcification (MAC) and reports the first large series from a multicenter global registry. BACKGROUND: The risk of surgical mitral valve replacement in patients with severe MAC is high. There are isolated reports of successful TMVR with balloon-expandable valves in this patient population. METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective review of clinical outcomes of patients with severe MAC undergoing TMVR. RESULTS: From September 2012 to July of 2015, 64 patients in 32 centers underwent TMVR with compassionate use of balloon-expandable valves. Mean age was 73 ± 13 years, 66% were female, and mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 14.4 ± 9.5%. The mean mitral gradient was 11.45 ± 4.4 mm Hg and the mean mitral area was 1.18 ± 0.5 cm(2). SAPIEN valves (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) were used in 7.8%, SAPIEN XT in 59.4%, SAPIEN 3 in 28.1%, and Inovare (Braile Biomedica, Brazil) in 4.7%. Access was transatrial in 15.6%, transapical in 43.8%, and transseptal in 40.6%. Technical success according to Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria was achieved in 46 (72%) patients, primarily limited by the need for a second valve in 11 (17.2%). Six (9.3%) had left ventricular tract obstruction with hemodynamic compromise. Mean mitral gradient post-procedure was 4 ± 2.2 mm Hg, paravalvular regurgitation was mild or absent in all. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 29.7% (cardiovascular = 12.5% and noncardiac = 17.2%); 84% of the survivors with follow-up data available were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II at 30 days (n = 25). CONCLUSIONS: TMVR with balloon-expandable valves in patients with severe MAC is feasible but may be associated with significant adverse events. This strategy might be an alternative for selected high-risk patients with limited treatment options.

Clinical outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease with vs. without a history of myocardial revascularization.

AIMS: The aim was to describe outcomes among patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with or without a history of myocardial revascularization in a large contemporary cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with stable CAD were selected from the Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry. The cohort was divided into patients with ( n = 25 583) and without ( n = 13 133) a history of myocardial revascularization. Crude outcomes were described according to the use and type of revascularization: percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The primary outcome was cardiovascular (CV) death. At baseline, the non-revascularized group was older and had more CV risk factors. At 36-month median follow-up, previous revascularization was associated with a lower risk of CV death [crude incidence rate (CIR): 6.82 vs. 9.08%, hazard ratio (HR) 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-0.80]; P < 0.01]. This association was seen for patients with a history of PCI (CIR 5.78 vs. 8.88%, HR 0.64 [0.58-0.71]; P ≤ 0.01), but not with CABG (HR 1.26 [1.14-1.49]; P < 0.01), and was consistent regardless of prior MI and the timing of prior revascularization. CONCLUSION: Among patients with stable CAD, a history of myocardial revascularization was associated with lower CV mortality, particularly when PCI was the mode of revascularization. Coronary artery disease patients managed non-invasively represent a high-risk group.

Long-term outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess late outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) up to 6 years and to analyse its predictive factors with a particular emphasis on functional status. Very few data exist on the long-term results of TAVI, and these data are crucial for decision making. METHODS: Between October 2006 and December 2009, 123 consecutive patients were discharged alive after TAVI in our institution. Mean age was 82±8 years, and 88% of patients were highly symptomatic in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV. RESULTS: Follow-up was complete in 122 patients (99%). The overall 6-year survival rate was 31%±5%, the majority of deaths being non-cardiac. Predictive factors of late mortality were the presence of lower limb arteritis (p=0.009), a higher Charlson comorbidity index (p=0.03) and post-TAVI paraprosthetic aortic regurgitation ≥2/4 (p=0.01). Late outcomes according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria were analysed, and the 5-year event-free survival rate was 28%±4%. Finally, the rate of good functional results, defined as survival in NYHA class I or II, was 32%±5% at 5-year follow-up. In the survivors, the EQ-5D questionnaire further confirmed the benefit in terms of quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: About one-third of patients discharged alive after TAVI were alive at 6-year follow-up, and the survivors exhibited good functional results assessed by NYHA class and quality-of-life standardised evaluation.

Transfemoral implantation of transcatheter heart valves after deterioration of mitral bioprosthesis or previous ring annuloplasty.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the feasibility of transfemoral transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation in failed mitral bioprostheses and ring annuloplasties. BACKGROUND: Redo mitral surgery may be high risk or contraindicated due to comorbidity. THV implantation has been recently reported in this setting. METHODS: Transfemoral implantation of Edwards Sapien prosthesis was performed in 17 patients for degenerated mitral bioprosthesis or previous ring annuloplasty (6 bioprostheses, 11 ring annuloplasties). The procedure was elective for 14 patients and attempted as a rescue in 3 patients. Mean age was 61 ± 24 years. All patients were in New York Heart Association class ≥III, and the surgical risk was high (EuroSCORE [European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation]: 37 ± 29%, Society of Thoracic Surgeons score: 18 ± 22%). RESULTS: Procedure was successful in 14 patients (82%). Two complications occurred during rescue procedures: 1 procedural death and 1 THV migration. One patient had moderate paraprosthetic regurgitation following the procedure, whereas residual regurgitation was trace or less in 11 patients (69%) and mild in 4 patients (25%). Mean gradient decreased from 12 ± 6 mm Hg to 8 ± 3 mm Hg. During a mean follow-up of 22 months, 4 patients died, 3 from cardiac cause. The 18-month survival was 68 ± 14% in the overall population and 78 ± 14% for patients with elective procedure. One patient underwent mitral valve replacement due to periprosthetic mitral regurgitation. At last follow-up, 12 patients were in New York Heart Association class ≤II (75%) and 4 in class III (25%). CONCLUSIONS: This single-center series suggests that transfemoral THV implantation for deterioration of mitral bioprosthesis or surgical repair is feasible in selected patients and improves early hemodynamic and midterm functional status.

Mechanisms and management of TAVR-related complications.

Patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at high surgical risk or not considered to be suitable candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement are increasingly being treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Although this novel treatment modality has been proven to be effective in this patient population, serious complications occur in approximately one-third of patients during the month after the procedure. Such events include myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular events, vascular complications, bleeding, acute kidney injury, valve regurgitation, valve malpositioning, coronary obstruction, and conduction disturbances and arrhythmias, which can all lead to death. Prevention of these complications should be based on patient screening and selection by a dedicated 'heart team' and the use of multimodality imaging. Anticipation and early recognition of these complications, followed by prompt management using a wide range of percutaneous or surgical rescue interventions, is vital to patient outcome. Continuous patient assessment and reporting of complications according to standardized definitions, in addition to growing operator experience and upcoming technological refinements, will hopefully reduce the future rate of complications related to this procedure.

Emergency transseptal transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation.

AIMS: We report a case of emergency transcatheter heart valve implantation in a failing mitral bioprosthesis via a transseptal access complicated by the atrial migration of a prosthesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 42-year-old woman was referred for stenotic failure of a mitral bioprosthesis. A transapical valve-in-valve implantation was initially planned. However, due to sudden haemodynamic deterioration, an emergency transseptal implantation via a femoral venous access was undertaken. Following cardiac arrest, the procedure was performed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and was complicated by the migration of a valve, which was left moving freely in the left atrium. A second valve was successfully implanted in the mitral bioprosthesis. Following initial clinical recovery, there was a sudden recurrence of heart failure due to entrapment of the migrated valve in the implanted valve in a "reverse position", which was dislodged percutaneously in an emergency procedure. The valve later migrated into the left atrial appendage. Immediate outcome was uneventful, but the patient suddenly died six months later. CONCLUSIONS: Transseptal transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation is feasible, even in an emergency setting with ECMO. Valve migration in the left atrium may occur and lead to late entrapment in a "reverse position", with significant haemodynamic consequences.

How should I treat prosthetic tricuspid stenosis in an extreme surgical risk patient?

BACKGROUND: A 64-year-old female with rheumatic heart disease and multiple prior valve replacements presented with progressive oedema, ascites and dyspnoea on exertion. INVESTIGATION: Physical examination, transthoracic echocardiography, intracardiac echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography, right heart cathetherisation, computed tomography. DIAGNOSIS: She had a mitral homograft and Physio ring in the tricuspid position, and presented with severe bioprosthetic tricuspid valve stenosis (mean gradient 16 mmHg) and right-sided heart failure. TREATMENT: A transcatheter 26 mm Edwards SAPIEN valve was placed in the tricuspid position, resulting in near normalisation of tricuspid valve gradient. This represents the first report of a combined valve-in-ring (VIR) and valve in a homograft valve (VIV) SAPIEN implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: current application and future directions.

During the last decade, the rapid evolution of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized the treatment of severe aortic stenosis. Since the PARTNER A and B trials, this technique has become the treatment of reference for inoperable patients, and an attractive alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in those at high risk for surgery. Large multicenter registries conducted since 2007, mainly in Europe, confirmed the excellent hemodynamic performances of the 2 percutaneous valves currently available on the market, the Edwards SAPIEN, and the Medtronic CoreValve, as well as their benefits in terms of symptom relief and survival. The whole process of TAVR, from patient selection to post-procedural care and result evaluation, should be conducted by a dedicated multidisciplinary "heart team," within centers with expertise in valve disease. Though currently limited to those deemed at high risk for surgery or inoperable, indications for TAVR will likely be extended to a broader spectrum of patients, in particular those with surgical bioprosthetic failure or at intermediate risk for surgery. Beforehand, it will be essential to obtain more extensive data on the durability of percutaneous prostheses, since the available follow-up is seldom longer than 5 years, and in order to further decrease the rate of complications, mainly stroke, paravalvular regurgitation, and access site complications. Furthermore, the use of the transfemoral route will undoubtedly increase because of the miniaturization of the devices, at the expense of other approaches. Above all, multidisciplinary approach, excellent imaging, and careful evaluation will remain key to the success of this technique.

Stents and antiplatelet therapy.

Coronary stents are used during the majority of percutaneous coronary interventions. When compared to medical therapy, they have been shown to decrease mortality for patients with acute coronary syndromes, and to improve symptom control in patients with stable angina. Their use, however, may be complicated by stent thrombosis (ST), a potentially fatal event. Early ST, which occurs during the first month following device implantation, is usually linked to procedural factors, with similar frequencies for bare metal stents and drug-eluting stents (DES). Late and very late (between 1 month and 1 year, respectively, and >1 year after the procedure) ST, which appear to be more frequent with DES, are due to factors such as incomplete stent apposition, delayed or dysfunctional endothelialization, and chronic inflammation. Furthermore, discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy (which includes the association of aspirin and thienopyridines) or resistance to these molecules may also lead to ST. New stent designs as well as the use of more potent antiplatelet therapies should contribute to reducing the incidence of ST in the future.