Summary Background Drug-eluting stents with durable biocompatible or biodegradable polymers have been developed to address the risk of thrombosis associated with first-generation drug-eluting stents. ...We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of a biodegradable polymer-coated biolimus-eluting stent with a thin-strut everolimus-eluting stent coated with a durable biocompatible polymer. Methods This open-label, prospective, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial was undertaken at 12 sites across Europe. We used limited exclusion criteria (age >18 years, life expectancy >5 years, reference vessel diameter 2·0–4·0 mm) to enrol patients eligible for percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were randomly allocated (2:1) by computer-generated random numbers to receive either a biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stent (Nobori, Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) or a durable fluoropolymer-based everolimus-eluting stent (Xience V or Prime, Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA, or Promus, Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA). The primary endpoint was a composite of safety (cardiac death and non-fatal myocardial infarction) and efficacy (clinically indicated target vessel revascularisation) at 12 months, analysed by intention to treat. Patients received dual antiplatelet therapy for 12 months after discharge. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT01233453. Findings From Jan 12, 2009, to Feb 7, 2011, we enrolled 2707 patients (4025 lesions), 1795 of whom were assigned to receive the biolimus-eluting stent (2638 lesions) and 912 to an everolimus-eluting stent (1387 lesions). 2688 (99·3%) patients completed 12 months' follow-up. Significantly more patients in the biolimus-eluting stent group received a non-assigned stent than did those in the everolimus-eluting stent group (105 5·9% vs 19 2·1%; p<0·0001). The primary endpoint occurred in 93 (5·2%) patients in the biolimus-eluting stent group and 44 (4·8%) patients in the everolimus-eluting stent group at 12 months (relative risk 1·07 95% CI 0·75–1·52; pnon-inferiority <0·0001). Analysis per protocol did not change the outcome of this trial (pnon-inferiority <0·0001). Interpretation Biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents are as safe and efficacious as the current standard of a thin-strut everolimus-eluting stent with a durable biocompatible polymer. We need to follow-up patients for longer to show whether the biolimus-eluting stent reduces the risk of stent thrombosis after 1 year when compared with the everolimus-eluting stent. Funding Terumo Europe (Leuven, Belgium) and the Research Foundation of the Cardiology Department, Maasstad Hospital (Rotterdam, Netherlands).
To the Editor, Coronary re-access continues to be a challenge following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Commissural alignment of the prosthesis facilitates coronary re-access, ...especially in self-expanding prostheses.1 Additionally, for certain devices, different techniques for coronary cannulation might be necessary if the previously implanted prosthesis has commissural misalignment.2 By analyzing 3-cusp and left-to-right 2-cusp overlap (2-cusp) projections after TAVI, it is possible to estimate the degree of commissural alignment in prostheses with identifiable commissural posts on fluoroscopy.3,4 This study aimed to describe the optimal projections for left and right coronary artery (LCA, RCA) cannulation in patients with previous TAVI. We analyzed the pre-TAVI computed tomography scans of 105 consecutive patients referred to our center for TAVI implantation. Of these scans, 5 were excluded due to their poor quality or previous aortic valve replacement. The ideal projections for LCA and RCA catheterization were identified by using 3mensio software (Pie Medical Imaging, The Netherlands) and were defined as projections coplanar with the cross-sectional transverse plane of the aorta at the level of each coronary ostium and orthogonal to them, respectively. An en-face projection to the aortic annulus can be established intraprocedurally as a projection where the prosthesis is foreshortened, usually in a cranial (CRA)...
Abstract
Aims
The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with balloon-expandable (BE) valves vs. ...self-expandable (SE) valves. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a minimally invasive and lifesaving treatment in patients with aortic valve stenosis. Even though BE-valves and SE-valves are both commonly used on a large scale, adequately sized trials comparing clinical outcomes in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis treated with BE-valves compared with SE-valves are lacking.
Methods and results
In this CENTER-collaboration, data from 10 registries or clinical trials, selected through a systematic search, were pooled and analysed. Propensity score methodology was used to reduce treatment selection bias and potential confounding. The primary endpoints were mortality and stroke at 30 days follow-up in patients treated with BE-valves compared with SE-valves. Secondary endpoints included clinical outcomes, e.g. bleeding during hospital admission. All outcomes were split for early-generation BE-valves compared with early-generation SE-valves and new-generation BE-valves with new-generation SE-valves. The overall patient population (N = 12 381) included 6239 patients undergoing TAVI with BE-valves and 6142 patients with SE-valves. The propensity matched population had a mean age of 81 ± 7 years and a median STS-PROM score or 6.5% interquartile range (IQR) 4.0–13.0%. At 30-day follow-up, the mortality rate was not statistically different in patients undergoing TAVI with BE-valves compared with SE-valves BE: 5.3% vs. SE: 6.2%, relative risk (RR) 0.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7–1.0, P = 0.10. Stroke occurred less frequently in patients treated with BE-valves (BE: 1.9% vs. SE: 2.6%, RR 0.7; 95% CI 0.5–1.0, P = 0.03). Also, patients treated with BE-valves had a three-fold lower risk of requiring pacemaker implantation (BE: 7.8% vs. SE: 20.3%, RR 0.4; 95% CI 0.3–0.4, P < 0.001). In contrast, patients treated with new-generation BE-valves more frequently experienced major and life-threatening bleedings compared with new-generation SE-valves (BE: 4.8% vs. SE: 2.1%, RR 2.3; 95% CI 1.6–3.3, P < 0.001).
Conclusion
In this study, which is the largest study to compare valve types in TAVI, we demonstrated that the incidence of stroke and pacemaker implantation was lower in patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI with BE-valves compared with SE-valves. In contrast, patients treated with new-generation BE-valves more often suffered from major or life-threatening bleedings than patients with new-generation SE-valves. Mortality at 30-days was not statistically different in patients treated with BE-valves compared with SE-valves. This study was a propensity-matched analysis generated from observational data, accordingly current outcomes will have to be confirmed in a large scale randomized controlled trial.
Abstract Objectives We aimed to determine whether body mass index (BMI) is a prognostic indicator for long-term, all-cause mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation ...(TAVI). Background Obesity in patients with established cardiovascular disease has previously been identified as an indicator of good prognosis, a phenomenon known as the “obesity paradox”. The prognostic significance of BMI in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AoS) undergoing TAVI is a matter of current debate, as published studies are scarce and their results conflicting. Methods This is an observational, retrospective study involving 770 patients who underwent TAVI for AoS. The cohort was divided into three groups based on their BMI: normal weight (≥ 18.5 to < 25 kg/m2 ), overweight (≥ 25 to < 30 kg/m2 ) and obese (≥ 30 kg/m2 ). The predictive effect of BMI on all-cause mortality 3 years following TAVI intervention was analysed using a Cox regression. Results 155 patients died during follow-up. The overweight group ( n = 302, 38.97%), experienced a lower mortality rate compared to the normal weight and obese groups (15.9% vs 25.7% and 21.0%, respectively log-rank p -value = 0.036). After adjustment by logistic EuroSCORE, being overweight was found to be an independent protective factor against mortality (HR: 0.63 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.94, p = 0.024). This was not the case for obesity (HR: 0.92 95% CI: 0.63 to 1.35, p = 0.664). We therefore describe for the first time, a “J-shaped” regression curve describing the relationship between BMI and mortality. Conclusions BMI is a predictive factor of all-cause mortality in AoS patients undergoing TAVI. This relationship takes the form of a “J-shaped” curve in which overweight patients are associated with the lowest mortality rate at follow-up.
Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common entity in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), but its influence on outcomes remains controversial. The ...purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the clinical impact of and changes in significant (moderate-severe) MR in patients undergoing TAVR, overall and according to valve design (self-expandable (SEV) vs balloon-expandable (BEV)).
All national registries and randomised trials were pooled using meta-analytical guidelines to establish the impact of moderate-severe MR on mortality after TAVR. Studies reporting changes in MR after TAVR on an individual level were electronically searched and used for the analysis.
Eight studies including 8015 patients (SEV: 3474 patients; BEV: 4492 patients) were included in the analysis. The overall 30-day and 1-year mortality was increased in patients with significant MR (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.92; HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.55, respectively), but a significant heterogeneity across studies was observed (p<0.05). The impact of MR on mortality was not different between SEV and BEV in meta-regression analysis for 30-day (p=0.360) and 1-year (p=0.388) mortality. Changes in MR over time were evaluated in nine studies including 1278 patients. Moderate-severe MR (SEV: 326 patients; BEV: 192 patients) improved in 50.5% of the patients at a median follow-up of 180 (30-360) days after TAVR, and the degree of improvement was greater in patients who had received a BEV (66.7% vs 40.8% in the SEV group, p=0.001).
Concomitant moderate-severe MR was associated with increased early and late mortality following TAVR. A significant improvement in MR severity was detected in half of the patients following TAVR, and the degree of improvement was greater in those patients who had received a BEV.
Objectives
The aim of this analysis was to assess the effect of the coronary revascularization strategy during index admission on clinical outcomes among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary ...intervention (PCI) with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD).
Background
The value of complete revascularization (CR) over incomplete revascularization (IR) in MVD patients is not fully established.
Methods
Patients with MVD defined as ≥2 major epicardial vessels with ≥50% stenosis were selected from the observational all‐comer e‐Ultimaster registry. Patients were treated with a sirolimus‐eluting thin‐strut coronary stent. Completeness of revascularization was physician assessed at the index procedure or an eventually staged procedure during the index hospitalization. Outcomes measures at 1 year were target lesion failure (TLF) (composite of cardiac death, target vessel‐related myocardial infarction MI, and clinically driven target lesion revascularization TLR), and patient‐oriented composite endpoint (POCE) (all‐cause mortality, MI, or revascularization). The inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) methodology was used to perform a matched analysis.
Results
The registry recruited 37,198 patients of whom 15,441 (41.5%) had MVD. CR on hospital discharge was achieved in 7413 (48.0%) patients and IR in 8028 (52.0%) patients. Mean age was 64.6 ± 11.1 versus 65.7 ± 11.0 years (p < 0.01), male gender 77.9% and 77.3% (p = 0.41) and diabetes 31.3% versus 33.4% (p = 0.01) for CR and IR, respectively. Chronic stable angina patients more commonly underwent CR (47.6% vs. 36.8%, p < 0.01). After propensity weighted analysis, 90.5% of CR patients were angina‐free at 1 year compared with 87.5% of IR patients (p < 0.01). TLF (3.3% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.01), POCE (6.8% vs. 10.8%; p < .01), and all‐cause mortality (2.3% vs. 3.1%; p < .01) were all lower in CR patients.
Conclusions
A physician‐directed use of a CR strategy utilizing sirolimus‐eluting thin‐strut stent results in optimized clinical outcomes and less angina in an all‐comer population. Our findings suggest that a CR should be aimed for.
Methods This retrospective cohort study included 1499 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent PPCI between January 2008 and December 2015. Women with FMCP-PCI <= 90 compared to those with ...FMC-PPI > 90 had lower rates of all-cause mortality (8,5% vs 13,5% , P=0,018) and MACE (13,5% vs 28%, p=0,006) during follow-up.