In-Hospital and One-Year Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients Requiring Supplemental Home Oxygen Use.

Background: There have been limited reports with inconsistent results on the impact of long-term use of oxygen therapry (LTOT) in patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods: We compared in-hospital and intermediate TAVR outcomes in 150 patients requiring LTOT (home O2 cohort) with 2,313 non-home O2 patients. Results: Home O2 patients were younger, and had more comorbidities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, carotid artery disease, lower forced expiratory volume (FEV1) (50.3±21.1% vs. 75.0±24.7%, P < 0.001), and lower diffusion capacity (DLCO, 48.6±19.2% vs. 74.6±22.4%, P < 0.001). These differences represented higher baseline Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk score (15.5±10.2% vs. 9.3±7.0%, P < 0.001) and lower pre-procedure Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12) scores (32.5 ± 22.2 vs. 49.1 ± 25.4, P < 0.001). The home O2 cohort required higher use of alternative TAVR vascular access (24.0% vs. 12.8%, P = 0.002) and general anesthesia (51.3% vs. 36.0%, P < 0.001). Compared to non-home O2 patients, home O2 patients showed increased in-hospital mortality (5.3% vs. 1.6%, P = 0.001), procedural cardiac arrest (4.7% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.001), and postoperative atrial fibrillation (4.0% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.013). At 1-year follow-up, the home O2 cohort had a higher all-cause mortality (17.3% vs. 7.5%, P < 0.001) and lower KCCQ-12 scores (69.5 ± 23.8 vs. 82.1 ± 19.4, P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meir analysis revealed a lower survival rate in the home O2 cohort with an overall mean (95% confidence interval (CI)) survival time of 6.2 (5.9 - 6.5) years (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Home O2 patients represent a high-risk TAVR cohort with increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality, less improvement in 1-year KCCQ-12, and increased mortality at intermediate follow-up.

Intermediate Follow-Up of Balloon-Expandable Versus Self-Expanding Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients With Small Aortic Annuli.

The clinical impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) in patients with small aortic annuli who underwent transcatheter aortic valve (AV) implantation with either balloon-expandable (BE) or self-expanding (SE) valves remains controversial. We assessed in-hospital and intermediate clinical outcomes in 573 patients with transfemoral transcatheter AV implantation with a small AV annulus, defined as an AV annulus area ≤430 mm2. A total of 337 patients treated with a 23-mm BE valve (SAPIEN 3, Ultra) were compared with 236 patients treated with a 26-mm SE valve (Evolut series). Valve-in-valve cases were excluded, and late echo follow-up (mean 674 ± 438 days) was assessed in a subset of 292 patients (51.0%). Well-matched BE and SE cohorts did not differ with respect to major in-hospital outcomes, other than a borderline increase in vascular complications and composite bleeding in patients with SE. Patients with BE had a higher incidence of severe PPM on discharge echocardiography (16.9% vs 6.8%, p <0.002). The mean AV gradient at 30 days was higher for patients with BE (12.2 ± 4.2 vs 6.2 ± 7.9 mm Hg, p <0.001) and at late follow-up (14.0 ± 8.2 vs 7.2 ± 3.5 mm Hg, p <0.001). The follow-up left ventricular ejection fraction and incidence of >mild aortic insufficiency were similar. All-cause mortality for the 2 cohorts was similar, with an overall mean (95% confidence interval) survival time of 61.2 months (57.8 to 64.5; p = 0.98). There were no significant survival differences between combined patients with BE and SE with no, moderate, or severe PPM, with an overall mean (95% confidence interval) survival time of 32.5 (30.5 to 34.5) months combining valve types (p = 0.23). In conclusion, despite an increased incidence of PPM with higher mean AV gradients that persist on late echocardiography in the BE cohort, patients with BE and SE with small aortic annuli have similar clinical outcomes at intermediate follow-up. Moderate and severe PPM had no impact on survival at a mean follow-up of 32.5 months.

Transcarotid Versus Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (from a Propensity-Matched Comparison).

Previous reports comparing transcarotid (TC) versus transfemoral (TF) approaches for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement have had inconsistent conclusions. We compared in-hospital and 1-year clinical outcomes, changes in quality of life, and direct hospital costs for 138 TC versus 1,926 TF procedures. Propensity matching based on the Society of Thoracic Surgery Predicted Risk of Mortality was used to compare 130 patients who underwent TC with 813 patients who underwent TF. Matched TC versus TF cohorts did not differ with respect to in-hospital mortality (0.0% vs 1.4%, p = 0.380), stroke (2.3% vs 2.5%, p = 0.917), major vascular complications (0.8% vs 2.2%, p = 0.268), composite bleeding complications (4.6% vs 6.4%, p = 0.647), requirement for permanent pacemaker (14.6% vs 12.9%, p = 0.426), postoperative hospital length of stay (3.3 ± 3.4 vs 3.1 ± 3.3 days, p = 0.467), or direct hospital costs ($52,899 ± 9,560 vs $50,464 ± 10,997, p = 0.230). Similarly, at 1-year, patients who underwent TC versus patients who underwent TF did not differ with respect to all-cause mortality (7.6% vs 6.4%, p = 0.659), hospital readmission (20.0% vs 23.9%, p = 0.635), or quality of life as measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score (84.0 ± 17.1 vs 88.4 ± 13.9, p = 0.062). Patients who underwent TC and TF did not differ with respect to in-hospital complications, length of hospital stay, and direct hospital costs, as well as 1-year mortality, readmission, and quality of life. These data add to ongoing support for the TC approach as the optimal alternative access for patients with transcatheter aortic valve replacement deferred from a transfemoral approach.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Use of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in the State of Connecticut.

BACKGROUND: Although prior national reports have identified trends in the underutilization of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in Afro-American and Latino populations, racial and ethnic healthcare disparities in TAVR use in the State of Connecticut have not been previously reported. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1461 patients undergoing TAVR at our institute between from 2012 to 2020. Baseline demographics, procedural characteristics, clinical outcomes, median incomes and insurance coverage were compared between 1417 Caucasian and 44 minority patients, including 23 patients designated as Afro-American and 10 designated as Latino. Demographics of TAVR utilization at our institution were further compared to 6 additional Connecticut TAVR centers using Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) ChimeData detailing hospital discharges for DRG 266 and 267. RESULTS: In comparison to Caucasian patients, minority cohorts were younger (75.7 ± 9.0 vs 81.5 ± 5.1 years, p < 0.001) and had more co-morbidities including diabetes (64% vs 34%, p < 001), coronary artery disease (95% vs 78%, p = 0.039), end stage renal disease requiring dialysis (9% vs 3%, p = 0.009) and atrial fibrillation (77% vs 62%, p = 0.041). The two groups did not differ with respect to other risk factors or co-morbidities, baseline echocardiographic or CTA findings, STS risk score, or procedural technique. Minority patients had a longer length of hospital stay (9.5 ± 9.0 vs 6.4 ± 6.9 days, p = 0.003), but did not differ with respect to procedural complications. Socioeconomic differences between the two groups included lower median incomes and higher rates of Medicaid or no insurance coverage for minority versus Caucasian patients. CHA ChimeData revealed a similar underutilization of TAVR in minority subgroups in the remaining 6 Connecticut TAVR centers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite statewide demographics describing 10.7% and 15.7% of the total population as Afro-American and Latino, respectively, only 3.0% of the total TAVR procedures performed at a large Connecticut health care facility were performed in minority subgroups. Despite having a higher burden of co-morbidities, minority patients had similar outcomes compared to Caucasian patients. Similar racial and ethnic disparities in TAVR utilization were confirmed statewide using CHA ChimeData.

Novel Cerebral Protection Technique During Right Transcarotid TAVR in Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis and Porcelain Aorta.

Periprocedural stroke related to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Cerebral embolic protection using the Sentinel device (Claret Medical) has demonstrated reduced rates of stroke during TAVR. However, alternative access such as a transcarotid approach precludes the use of the Sentinel device. We report a case using cerebral embolic protection during a right transcarotid TAVR.

Speed of blood withdrawal and accurate measurement of oxygen content in mixed venous blood.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of mixed venous oxygen saturation helps determine whether cardiac output and oxygen delivery are sufficient for metabolic needs. As recommended by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses guideline, blood samples for determining mixed venous oxygen saturation are obtained by slowly, in 1 to 2 minutes, withdrawing 1.5 mL of blood from the distal port of the pulmonary artery catheter. In theory, the negative force of rapid withdrawal could pull oxygenated blood from the pulmonary capillary bed, causing falsely elevated saturation values. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the speed of withdrawal affects oxygen content in blood samples used to measure mixed venous oxygen saturation. METHODS: The sample consisted of heart failure patients with pulmonary artery catheters admitted to a cardiac intensive care unit. A prospective, randomized, 2 × 2 crossover design was used to compare mixed venous oxygen saturation in blood samples obtained quickly or slowly. A total of 50 sets of saturation values were analyzed. Each set included 1 blood sample obtained slowly, in 1 to 2 minutes, and 1 obtained rapidly, in 5 seconds. RESULTS: The mean difference in saturation values between the fast and the slow groups was -0.3 (CI, -1.5 to 0.8; P = .55), indicating that no meaningful systematic bias is attributable to fast withdrawal of blood. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid blood sampling does not falsely elevate measurements of mixed venous oxygen saturation.