The Impact of Transcatheter or Surgical Defect Closure on Self-Reported Sleep Quality in Adults with Atrial Septal Defect.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep quality in those with cardiovascular disease is significantly lower than in the general population. This study aimed to explore the effect of transcatheter or surgical closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) on sleep quality. METHODS: One hundred nineteen adult patients with ASD who underwent transcatheter or surgical closure were included in the study. Sleep quality was investigated prospectively just before defect closure and six months after defect closure. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality of these patients. RESULTS: PSQI scores were similar in both groups before the procedure in patients who underwent both transcatheter and surgical closure. The PSQI scores six months after transcatheter closure was significantly improved compared to the PSQI score before transcatheter ASD closure (3.5 ± 2.0 vs. 6.9 ± 3.4, respectively; P<0.001). The PSQI scores six months after surgical ASD closure was significantly improved compared to the PSQI score before surgical closure (4.8 ± 2.1 vs. 7.1 ± 2.0, respectively; P<0.001). Total PSQI scores were also statistically different at six months after transcatheter and surgical closure (3.5 ± 2.0 vs. 4.8 ± 2.1, P=0.014). However, six months after both transcatheter and surgical closure, PSQI scores were significantly decreased in both groups which was more pronounced in patients who underwent transcatheter closure. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter or surgical closure of the defect may be beneficial in improving the sleep quality of adult patients with ASD. Delayed improvement of sleep quality after surgical closure may be an important advantage for transcatheter closure.

Real-Life Performance and Clinical Outcomes of Portico Transcatheter Aortic Valve with FlexNav Delivery System: One-Year Data from a Single-Center Experience.

Significant progress has been made in both valves and delivery systems (DSs) for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. We aimed to present one-year real-life data regarding TAVR procedures using Portico transcatheter heart valves (THVs) with new-generation, low-profile FlexNav DSs. This retrospective, single-center study enrolled 169 consecutive patients (mean age: 75.8 years, 68% females) with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR with Portico THVs and FlexNav DSs between 2020 and 2021. We evaluated safety and efficacy outcomes, following the VARC-3 consensus, periprocedurally and at 30 days and 1 year. Procedural success was observed in 95.9% of cases, and no procedural mortality occurred. At 30 days, the rates of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and neurological events were 4.7%, 3.6%, and 3.0%, respectively. Additionally, major vascular complications, acute kidney injury, and bleeding were recorded at rates of 11.2%, 14.8%, and 7.7%, respectively. The 1-year data showed all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and neurological event rates of 10.7%, 8.3%, and 7.7%, respectively. The moderate paravalvular leak and permanent pacemaker rates at 1 year were 2.6% and 12.2%, respectively. This real-life data provided evidence of positive outcomes and high technical success with Portico THVs and FlexNav DSs. Furthermore, we found low rates of mortality and neurological events, with satisfactory hemodynamic and functional results.

The relationship between echocardiographic parameters and albumin bilirubin (ALBI) score in patients with isolated secundum type atrial septal defect.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that the increase in volume and pressure in the right heart chambers increases liver stiffness. The Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) score is a useful and easy-to-use score for objectively assessing liver function. There is no information in the literature about changes in ALBI score in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). The aim of our study is to investigate the changes in ALBI score and its clinical impact in patients with ASD. METHODS: Of the 206 analyzed patients, 77 were excluded. The remaining 129 patients with secundum type ASD with left to right shunt were divided into three groups; Group I (16 patients with Qp/Qs < 1.5 and defect diameter < 10 mm), Group II (52 patients with Qp/Qs > 1.5 and defect diameter 10-20 mm) and Group III (61 patients with Qp/Qs > 1.5 and defect diameter > 20 mm). The ALBI score was calculated based on serum albumin and total bilirubin levels using the following formula: ALBI = (log10 bilirubin [umol/L] * .66) + (albumin [g/L] * -.085). RESULTS: ALBI scores as well as total bilirubin levels, transaminases, and functional-structural heart abnormalities (increase in RA and RV dimensions, sPAP, ASD size and decrease in LVEF and TAPSE) showed a significant increasing trend from Group I to Group III (p < .001 for all comparisons). The mean ALBI scores for Group I, Group II, and Group III were -3.71 ± .37, -3.51 ± .25, and -3.27 ± .34, respectively. In multivariate linear regression analysis, ASD size, sPAP, RV-RA diameter were found to be significantly associated with increased ALBI score. CONCLUSION: The ALBI score offers a simple, evidence-based, objective, and discriminatory method of assessing liver function in patients with ASD. ASD size, sPAP, RV and RA diameters were significantly associated with ALBI score.