Prosthetic heart valve (PHV) dysfunction is rare but potentially life-threatening. Although often challenging, establishing the exact cause of PHV dysfunction is essential to determine the ...appropriate treatment strategy. In clinical practice, a comprehensive approach that integrates several parameters of valve morphology and function assessed with 2D/3D transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography is a key to appropriately detect and quantitate PHV dysfunction. Cinefluoroscopy, multidetector computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and to a lesser extent, nuclear imaging are complementary tools for the diagnosis and management of PHV complications. The present document provides recommendations for the use of multimodality imaging in the assessment of PHVs.
Abstract The most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulants worldwide are the vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) such as warfarin. Factors affecting the pharmacokinetics of VKAs are important because ...deviations from their narrow therapeutic window can result in bleedings due to over-anticoagulation or thrombosis because of under-anticoagulation. In addition to pharmacodynamic interactions (e.g., augmented bleeding risk for concomitant use of NSAIDs), interactions with drugs, foods, herbs, and over-the-counter medications may affect the risk/benefit ratio of VKAs. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) including Factor Xa inhibitors (rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban) and thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) are poised to replace warfarin. Phase-3 studies and real-world evaluations have established that the safety profile of DOACs is superior to those of VKAs. However, some pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions are expected. Herein we present a critical review of VKAs and DOACs with focus on their potential for interactions with drugs, foods, herbs and over-the-counter medications.
Today, the core component of all transthoracic echocardiography reports is the quantification of cardiac chamber size and function using advanced echocardiography modalities such as three-dimensional ...echocardiography (3DE), in line with the rising demand for quantifications of cardiac chambers with high measurement accuracy and reproducibility ...
Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the long-term prognostic role of multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). ...Background Use of CTA is increasing in patients with suspected CAD. Although there is a large body of data supporting the prognostic role of CTA for major adverse cardiac events in the intermediate term, its long-term prognostic role in patients with suspected CAD is not well studied. Methods Between February 2005 and March 2008, 1,304 consecutive patients were prospectively studied with CTA for detecting the presence and assessing extent of CAD (disease extension and coronary plaque scores). Patients were classified according to the presence of normal coronaries and nonobstructive (<50%) and obstructive (>50%) coronary lesions. The composite rates of hard cardiac events (cardiac deaths and nonfatal myocardial infarctions) and all cardiac events (including late revascularization) were the endpoints of the study. Results Seventy patients were excluded because their CTA data were uninterpretable. Of the remaining 1,234 patients, clinical follow-up (mean 52 ± 22 months) was obtained for 1,196 (97%). A total of 475 events were recorded, with 136 hard events (18 cardiac deaths and 118 nonfatal myocardial infarctions) and 123 late revascularizations. A total of 216 patients with early elective revascularizations were excluded from the survival analysis. Significant independent predictors of events in multivariate analysis were multivessel disease and left main CAD. Cumulative event-free survival was 100% for hard and all events in patients with normal coronary arteries, 88% for hard events and 72% for all events in patients with nonobstructive CAD, and 54% for hard events and 31% for all events in patients with obstructive CAD. Multivessel CAD was associated with a higher rate of hard cardiac events. Conclusions CTA provides prognostic information in patients with suspected CAD and unknown cardiac disease, showing excellent long-term prognosis when there is no evidence of atherosclerosis and allowing risk stratification when CAD is present.
Objectives
T1 mapping (T1-map) and cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) techniques have been introduced for the early detection of interstitial myocardial fibrosis and deformation ...abnormalities. We sought to demonstrate that T1-map and CMR-FT may identify the presence of subclinical myocardial structural changes in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP).
Methods
Consecutive MVP patients with moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation and comparative matched healthy subjects were prospectively enrolled and underwent CMR-FT analysis to calculate 2D global and segmental circumferential (CS) and radial strain (RS) and T1-map to determine global and segmental native T1 (nT1) values.
Results
Seventy-three MVP patients (mean age, 57 ± 13 years old; male, 76%; regurgitant volume, 57 ± 21 mL) and 42 matched control subjects (mean age, 56 ± 18 years; male, 74%) were included. MVP patients showed a lower global CS (− 16.3 ± 3.4% vs. − 17.8 ± 1.9%,
p
= 0.020) and longer global nT1 (1124.9 ± 97.7 ms vs. 1007.4 ± 26.1 ms,
p
< 0.001) as compared to controls. Moreover, MVP patients showed lower RS and CS in basal (21.6 ± 12.3% vs. 27.6 ± 8.9%,
p
= 0.008, and − 13.0 ± 6.7% vs. − 14.9 ± 4.1%,
p
= 0.013) and mid-inferolateral (20.6 ± 10.7% vs. 28.4 ± 8.7%,
p
< 0.001, and − 12.8 ± 6.3% vs. − 16.5 ± 4.0%,
p
< 0.001) walls as compared to other myocardial segments. Similarly, MVP patients showed longer nT1 values in basal (1080 ± 68 ms vs. 1043 ± 43 ms,
p
< 0.001) and mid-inferolateral (1080 ± 77 ms vs. 1034 ± 37 ms,
p
< 0.001) walls as compared to other myocardial segments. Of note, nT1 values were significantly correlated with CS (
r
, 0.36;
p
< 0.001) and RS (
r
, 0.37;
p
< 0.001) but not with regurgitant volume.
Conclusions
T1-map and CMR-FT identify subclinical left ventricle tissue changes in patients with MVP. Further studies are required to correlate these subclinical tissue changes with the outcome.
Key Points
•
T1 mapping (T1-map) and cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) techniques have been introduced for the early detection of interstitial myocardial fibrosis and deformation abnormalities.
•
In MVP patients, we demonstrated a longer global nT1 with associated reduced global circumferential (CS) and radial strain (RS) as compared to control subjects.
•
Among MVP patients, the mid-basal left ventricle inferolateral wall showed longer nT1 with reduced CS and RS as compared to other myocardial segments. Further studies are required to correlate these subclinical tissue changes with the outcome.
A bedside-available transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)–dedicated prognostic risk score is an unmet clinical need. We aimed to develop such a risk score predicting 1-year mortality ...post-TAVI and to compare it with the performance of the logistic EuroSCORE (LES) I and LES-II and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' (STS) score. Baseline variables of 511 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI that were independently associated with 1-year mortality post-TAVI were included in the “TAVI2 -SCORe.” Discrimination and calibration abilities of the novel score were assessed and compared with surgical risk scores. One-year mortality was 17.0% (n = 80 of 471). Porcelain thoracic aorta (hazard ratio HR 2.56), anemia (HR 2.03), left ventricular dysfunction (HR 1.98), recent myocardial infarction (HR 3.78), male sex (HR 1.81), critical aortic valve stenosis (HR 2.46), old age (HR 1.68), and renal dysfunction (HR 1.76) formed the TAVI2 -SCORe (all p <0.05). According to the number of points assigned (1 for each variable and 2 for infarction), patients were stratified into 5 risk categories: 0, 1 (HR 2.6), 2 (HR 3.6), 3 (HR 10.5), and ≥4 (HR 17.6). TAVI2 -SCORe showed better discrimination ability (Harrells' C statistic 0.715) compared with LES-I, LES-II, and STS score (0.609, 0.633, and 0.50, respectively). Cumulative 1-year survival rate was 54% versus 88% for patients with TAVI2 -SCORE ≥3 versus <3 points, respectively (p <0.001). Contrary to surgical risk scores, there was no significant difference between observed and expected 1-year mortality for all TAVI2 -SCORe risk strata (all p >0.05, Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic 0.304), suggesting superior calibration performance. In conclusion, the TAVI2 -SCORe is an accurate, simple, and bedside-available score predicting 1-year mortality post-TAVI, outperforming conventional surgical risk scores for this end point.
Background This study aimed to evaluate the impact of baseline left ventricular (LV) systolic function on clinical and echocardiographic outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation ...(TAVI). Survival of patients undergoing TAVI was also compared with that of a population undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement. Methods One hundred forty-seven consecutive patients (mean age = 80 ± 7 years) undergoing TAVI in 2 centers were included. Mean follow-up period was 9.1 ± 5.1 months. Results At baseline, 34% of patients had impaired LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (<50%) and 66% had normal LVEF (≥50%). Procedural success was similar in these 2 groups (94% vs 97%, P = .41). All patients achieved improvement in transvalvular hemodynamics. At follow-up, patients with a baseline LVEF <50% showed marked LV reverse remodeling, with improvement of LVEF (from 37% ± 8% to 51% ± 11%). Early and late mortality rates were not different between the 2 groups, despite a higher rate of combined major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with a baseline LVEF <50%. The predictors of cumulative MACEs were baseline LVEF (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.94-0.99) and preoperative frailty (HR = 4.20, 95% CI = 2.00-8.84). In addition, long-term survival of patients with impaired or normal LVEF was comparable with that of a matched population who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement. Conclusions TAVI resulted in significant improvement in LV function and survival benefit in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, regardless of baseline LVEF. Patients with a baseline LVEF <50% were at higher risk of combined MACEs.
Objectives This study examined the mid-term hemodynamic and clinical impact of prosthesis–patient mismatch (PPM) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with ...balloon-expandable valves. Background PPM can be observed after aortic valve surgery. However, little is known about the incidence of PPM in patients undergoing TAVI. Methods Echocardiography and clinical assessment were performed in 165 patients at baseline, before hospital discharge, and at 6 months after TAVI. PPM was defined as an indexed effective orifice area ≤0.85 cm2 /m2. Results Thirty patients (18.2%) showed PPM before hospital discharge. At baseline, patients with PPM had a larger body surface area (1.84 ± 0.18 m2 vs. 1.73 ± 0.18 m2 , p = 0.003) and a greater severity of aortic stenosis (indexed valve area 0.35 ± 0.09 cm2 /m2 vs. 0.40 ± 0.10 cm2 /m2 , p = 0.005) than patients without PPM. Patients with PPM demonstrated a slower and smaller reduction in mean transaortic gradient, limited left ventricular (LV) mass regression, and left atrial volume reduction over 6 months compared with patients without PPM. LV filling pressure, measured by E/e′, tended to remain elevated in patients with PPM. Importantly, a higher proportion of patients with PPM did not improve in New York Heart Association functional class compared with patients without PPM (36.7% vs. 1.5%, p < 0.001), although major adverse valve-related and cardiovascular events did not differ between the 2 groups. Conclusions PPM may be observed after TAVI and when present may be accompanied by less favorable changes in transvalvular hemodynamics, limited LV mass regression, persistent elevated LV filling pressure, and less improvement in clinical functional status.
Purpose
We present the preliminary results of the STRA-MI-VT Study (NCT04066517), a spontaneous, phase Ib/II study, designed to prospectively test the safety and efficacy of stereotactic body ...radiotherapy (SBRT) in patientswith advanced cardiac disease and intractable ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Methods
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) integrated by electroanatomical mapping was used for substrate identification and merged with dedicated CT scans for treatment plan preparation. A single 25-Gy radioablation dose was delivered by a LINAC-based volumetric modulated arc therapy technique in a non-invasive matter. The primary safety endpoint was treatment-related adverse effects during acute and long-term follow-up (FU), obtained by regular in-hospital controls and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) remote monitoring. The primary efficacy endpoint was the reduction at 3 and 6 months of VT episodes and ICD shocks.
Results
Seven out of eight patients (men; age, 70 ± 7 years; ejection fraction, 27 ± 11%; 3 ischemic, 4 non-ischemic cardiomyopathies) underwent SBRT. At a median 8-month FU, no treatment-related serious adverse event occurred. Three patients died from non-SBRT-related causes. Four patients completed the 6-month FU: the number of VT decreased from 29 ± 33 to 11 ± 9 (
p
= .05) and 2 ± 2 (
p
= .08), at 3 and 6 months, respectively; shocks decreased from 11 to 0 and 2, respectively. At 6 months, all patients. showed a significant reduction of VT episodes and no electrical storm recurrence, with the complete regression of iterative VTs in 2/2 patients.
Conclusion
The STRA-MI-VT Study suggests that SBRT can be considered an alternative option for the treatment of VT in patients with structural heart disease and highlights the need for further clinical investigation addressing safety and efficacy.
Conventional indices of right ventricular (RV) function are known to be reduced after cardiac surgery, as a consequence of geometric rather than functional alterations. New techniques, such as ...three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, may be useful in postsurgical RV assessment. The aim of this study was to compare indices of RV function obtained using different echocardiographic modalities, before and after surgery.
Forty-two patients were screened the day before and 6 months after mitral valve repair. Twenty healthy patients were also enrolled as controls. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and peak systolic velocity were calculated from Doppler tissue imaging. Longitudinal and radial strain values were obtained from speckle-tracking echocardiography. RV ejection fraction was calculated from 3D transthoracic echocardiographic RV volumes, and similarly, fractional area change was computed from RV areas.
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (25 ± 4 vs 17 ± 3 mm), peak systolic velocity (17 ± 4 vs 12 ± 2 cm/sec), and fractional area change (43 ± 8% vs 39 ± 7%) significantly decreased after surgery (P < .01), while 3D RV ejection fraction was preserved (59 ± 7% vs 59 ± 6%). Speckle-tracking echocardiographic results were dependent on the considered direction, with preserved radial but decreased longitudinal strain values. All postoperative two-dimensional longitudinal indices were smaller than in controls. Preoperative parameters were not significantly correlated with RV functional changes.
Although 3D ejection fraction was preserved after surgery, in agreement with the lack of evidence of RV dysfunction, two-dimensional indices showed a functional loss in the longitudinal direction. Fractional area change, as a combination of radial and longitudinal properties, was slightly decreased. Speckle-tracking echocardiography could constitute a useful approach to relate local and space-dependent changes to the global RV function.
PDF
