Summary The field of mitral valve disease diagnosis and management is rapidly changing. New understanding of disease pathology and progression, with improvements in and increased use of sophisticated ...imaging modalities, have led to early diagnosis and complex treatment. In primary mitral regurgitation, surgical repair is the standard of care. Treatment of asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation in valve reference centres, in which successful repair is more than 95% and surgical mortality is less than 1%, should be the expectation for the next 5 years. Transcatheter mitral valve repair with a MitraClip device is also producing good outcomes in patients with primary mitral regurgitation who are at high surgical risk. Findings from clinical trials of MitraClip versus surgery in patients of intermediate surgical risk are expected to be initiated in the next few years. In patients with secondary mitral regurgitation, mainly a disease of the left ventricle, the vision for the next 5 years is not nearly as clear. Outcomes from ongoing clinical trials will greatly inform this field. Use of transcatheter techniques, both repair and replacement, is expected to substantially expand. Mitral annular calcification is an increasing problem in elderly people, causing both mitral stenosis and regurgitation which are difficult to treat. There is anecdotal experience with use of transcatheter valves by either a catheter-based approach or as a hybrid technique with open surgery, which is being studied in early feasibility trials.
Abstract Objectives The study sought to examine the feasibility, safety, and intermediate-term outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous transvenous transcatheter mitral valve implantation in ...failed bioprosthesis, ring annuloplasty, and calcific mitral stenosis. Background Surgical mitral valve replacement in patients with previous surgery or severe mitral annular calcification (MAC) is often associated with high or prohibitive risk. Methods Percutaneous transfemoral antegrade transseptal implantation of Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) was performed in 48 patients with degenerated mitral bioprosthesis (n = 33), previous ring annuloplasty (n = 9), and severe MAC (n = 6). Results The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score was 13.2 ± 7.4% with a mean age 76 ± 11 years. Acute procedural success was achieved in 42 of 48 patients (88%) in the overall group and 31 of 33 (94%) in the failed bioprosthetic mitral valve group and success rate of 11 of 15 (73%) in patients with failed annuloplasty rings and MAC. After successful procedure, no patients had > mild residual mitral prosthetic or periprosthetic regurgitation; mean transvalvular gradients were 6 ± 2.5 mm Hg. Thirty-day survival free of death and cardiovascular surgery was 85% in the overall group and 91% in the failed bioprosthetic mitral valve subgroup. Conclusions Transfemoral percutaneous transvenous mitral valve implantation in high-risk patients with degenerated bioprosthesis is safe, effective, and associated with rapid improvement in hemodynamics, short length of stays, and improved functional status. Percutaneous mitral valve implantation in patients with failed annuloplasty rings and severe MAC is a promising therapy with significant short-term morbidity and mortality that requires further study.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a cause of acute coronary syndrome, often occurring in young women. The utility of comprehensive imaging and clinical significance of detected ...vascular abnormalities have yet to be determined. We hypothesized that extracoronary vascular abnormalities (EVAs) are common in SCAD and aimed to study the prevalence and distribution of these findings. We enrolled 115 patients with confirmed SCAD who were evaluated at the Mayo Clinic SCAD Clinic from February 2010 to May 2014 and prospectively underwent comprehensive computed tomography angiography imaging of the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis (SCAD computed tomography angiography protocol, n = 95) or had retrospective review of outside studies (n = 20) including head imaging (n = 40). Follow-up was determined by last clinical visit or study correspondence and included review of recurrent SCAD or myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and death. We reported EVAs in 66% of patients with SCAD, most frequently in the abdomen (36%), pelvis (28%), and neck (27%). Only 1 patient had EVA in the chest (aortic dissection and Marfan's). Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) (exclusively multifocal) was the most common type of EVA (45%). Vascular abnormalities in those with head imaging included intracranial aneurysms (n = 9) and FMD (n = 3). There were no deaths at median follow-up of 21 months (Q1 to Q3 7.7 to 55). The presence of FMD was not associated with SCAD recurrence (relative risk RR 1.2; confidence interval 95% CI 0.60, 2.5), congestive heart failure (RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.20, 2.3), or myocardial infarction (RR 1.34; 95% CI 0.69, 2.6). In conclusion, EVAs including FMD, dissections, aneurysms, and dilation are common in patients with SCAD and occur in a wide anatomic distribution. The presence of EVAs and/or FMD did not correlate with the risk of subsequent clinical events, but future studies with increased power and longer follow-up will be important to further assess the role of EVAs in patients with SCAD.
There has been significant growth in the volume and complexity of percutaneous structural heart procedures in the past decade. Increasing procedural complexity and accompanying reliance on ...multimodality imaging have fueled the development of fusion imaging to facilitate procedural guidance. The first clinically available system capable of echocardiographic and fluoroscopic fusion for real-time guidance of structural heart procedures was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2012. Echocardiographic-fluoroscopic fusion imaging combines the precise catheter and device visualization of fluoroscopy with the soft tissue anatomy and color flow Doppler information afforded by echocardiography in a single image. This allows the interventionalist to perform precise catheter manipulations under fluoroscopy guidance while visualizing critical tissue anatomy provided by echocardiography. However, there are few data available addressing this technology's strengths and limitations in routine clinical practice. The authors provide a critical review of currently available echocardiographic-fluoroscopic fusion imaging for guidance of structural heart interventions to highlight its strengths, limitations, and potential clinical applications and to guide further research into value of this emerging technology.
The prognostic implications of several baseline preprocedural variables in patients with severe native valve aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are ...unclear. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of reduced stroke volume index (SVI), low gradient (LG), and reduced ejection fraction (EF) on all-cause mortality. We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus through October 13, 2014. We evaluated the association between low SVI (<35 ml/m2 ), LG (<40 mm Hg), and low EF (<50% and <30%) on 1-year all-cause mortality. We pooled results across studies using the random-effects model. We included 16 studies at moderate risk of bias enrolling 7,673 patients with severe AS who underwent TAVI. Low EF was associated with increased 1-year mortality after TAVI compared to preserved EF (for EF <30%, hazard ratio HR 1.60, 95% confidence interval CI 1.19 to 2.16, I2 = 32%; and for EF <50%, HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.76, I2 = 17%). LG was associated with increased mortality after TAVI compared to high mean gradient (≥40 mm Hg; HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.97, I2 = 36%). Low SVI was associated with increased mortality after TAVI compared to normal SVI (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.05, I2 = 27%). In conclusion, low SVI, LG, and low EF are each associated with higher mortality after TAVI. These findings highlight the importance of including these variables into TAVI risk algorithms and will better inform shared decision-making before TAVI.
Patient selection for transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TMVR) remains challenging because of heterogenous mitral valve pathology and highly variable anatomy. The aim of this study was ...to investigate whether quantitative three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiographic modeling parameters are associated with optimal mitral regurgitation (MR) reduction in patients undergoing TMVR.
Fifty-nine patients underwent 3D transesophageal echocardiography during TMVR. Volumetric data sets were retrospectively analyzed using mitral valve quantitative 3D modeling software (Mitral Valve Navigator). Optimal MR reduction was defined as less than moderate residual MR. Logistic regression was used to correlate 3D transesophageal echocardiographic quantitative data to procedural success.
Thirty-five patients had primary MR, 24 had mixed or secondary MR, and all patients had grade ≥ 3/4 MR before the procedure. Optimal MR reduction was achieved in 40 of 59 patients (68%). Univariate correlates of optimal MR reduction in patients with primary MR were lower mitral leaflet tenting volume (P = .049) and lower tenting height (P = .025); tenting height < 3 mm and tenting volume < 0.7 mL were associated with increased likelihood of optimal MR reduction (92% vs 48% P = .01 and 81% vs 47% P = .03, respectively). In mixed or secondary MR, annular height ≥ 5.5 mm was associated with increased likelihood of optimal MR reduction (94% vs 38%; P = .03). During follow-up, redo TMVR or surgical mitral valve replacement occurred exclusively in patients with suboptimal anatomy defined by 3D transesophageal echocardiography (10% vs 0%, P = .045).
Quantitative 3D echocardiographic data are associated with favorable response to TMVR and could help optimize patient selection.
Abstract Objectives The aim of this study is to provide a summary of the currently applied aortic paravalvular leak (PVL) closure techniques and describe the procedural and long-term outcomes in a ...large consecutive cohort of patients. Background Percutaneous repair has emerged as an effective therapy for patients with PVL. To date, clinical outcome data on percutaneous closure of aortic PVL are limited. Methods All patients who underwent catheter-based treatment of aortic PVL between 2006 and 2015 were identified. Procedural and short-term results were assessed. Patients were contacted for clinical events and symptoms. Results Eighty-six procedures were performed in 80 patients. The mean age was 68 ± 15 years, and 70% were men. The primary indications for PVL closure were symptoms of heart failure, hemolysis, and both in 83%, 5%, and 12%, respectively. Successful device deployment was accomplished in 94 defects (90%). Reduction in PVL to mild or less was achieved in 62% of patients. In-hospital major adverse events occurred in 8% of procedures. Symptomatic improvement at 30 days was achieved in 64% of patients. Patients who had reduction in the PVL grade to mild or less experienced more improvement in New York Heart Association functional class (from 2.93 ± 0.62 to 1.72 ± 0.73) compared with those with mild or greater residual leak (from 3.03 ± 0.57 to 2.52 ± 0.74) (p < 0.001). In patients with severe hemolysis (n = 8), transfusion requirements were eliminated in 7 (88%) after PVL closure. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative probability of freedom from repeat surgery at 2 years was 98 ± 2% in patients who had mild or less residual leak compared with 68 ± 10% in patients with higher grades of residual PVL (log-rank p = 0.004). Conclusions Percutaneous reduction of aortic PVL is associated with durable symptom relief and lower rates of repeat cardiac surgery. The magnitude of benefit is greatest with PVL reduction to a grade of mild or less. Therefore, attempts should be made to reduce PVL as much as possible.
A 68-year-old woman presented with an incidentally found intracardiac mass. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed a 26 × 8 mm mobile mass attached to a calcified posterolateral mitral ...annulus. The mass was removed with a commercially available percutaneous catheter system using cerebral embolic protection and TEE guidance. The pathologic examination showed caseous mitral annular calcification.
Sudden cardiac death accounts for approximately 50% of all deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease in the United States. It is most commonly associated with coronary artery disease and can be its ...initial manifestation or may occur in the period after an acute myocardial infarction. Decreasing the rate of sudden cardiac death requires the identification and treatment of at-risk patients through evidence-based pharmacotherapy and interventional strategies aimed at primary and secondary prevention. For this review, we searched PubMed for potentially relevant articles published from January 1, 1970, through March 1, 2014, using the following key search terms: sudden cardiac death, ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest. Searches were enhanced by scanning bibliographies of identified articles, and those deemed relevant were selected for full-text review. This review outlines various mechanisms for sudden cardiac death in the setting of coronary artery disease, describes risk factors for sudden cardiac death, explores the management of cardiac arrest, and outlines optimal practice for the monitoring and treatment of patients after an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction to decrease the risk of sudden death.
OBJECTIVE To determine the ability of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in a young to middle-aged, low-risk, ...primary-prevention population. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients aged 36 to 59 years who underwent determination of CIMT and CACS at our institution between May 1, 2004, and April 1, 2008, were included in the study. Those with diabetes mellitus or a history of coronary, peripheral, or cerebral vascular disease were excluded. Other information, such as Framingham risk score (FRS), was obtained by a review of clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS Of 118 patients, 89 (75%) had a CACS of zero and 94 (80%) were men; mean ± SD age was 48.9±5.7 years. The mean FRS of this group was 4.0; 86 patients (97%) were considered at low risk (<1% annualized rate) of cardiovascular events. Evidence of carotid atherosclerosis was found in 42 (47%; 95% confidence interval, 37%-58%) of these 89 patients; carotid plaque was found in 30 (34%); and CIMT above the 75th percentile was found in 12 (13%) of age-, sex-, and race-matched control patients. Of the 40 patients with low-risk CIMT (below the 50th percentile), 4 (10%) had a CACS at or above the 50th percentile. CONCLUSION Subclinical vascular disease can be detected by CIMT evaluation in young to middle-aged patients with a low FRS and a CACS of zero. These findings have important implications for vascular disease screening and the implementation of primary-prevention strategies.
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