Alessandro Iadanza

Transcatheter Replacement of Failed Bioprosthetic Valves: Large Multicenter Assessment of the Effect of Implantation Depth on Hemodynamics After Aortic Valve-in-Valve

Background—Transcatheter valve implantation inside failed bioprosthetic surgical valves (valve-in-valve [ViV]) may offer an advantage over reoperation. Supra-annular transcatheter valve position may be advantageous in achieving better hemodynamics after ViV. Our objective was to define targets for implantation that would improve hemodynamics after ViV. Methods and Results—Cases from the Valve-in-Valve International Data (VIVID) registry were analyzed using centralized core laboratory assessment blinded to clinical events. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of elevated postprocedural gradients (mean ≥20 mm Hg). Optimal implantation depths were defined by receiver operating characteristic curve. A total of 292 consecutive patients (age, 78.9±8.7 years; 60.3% male; 157 CoreValve Evolut and 135 Sapien XT) were evaluated. High implantation was associated with significantly lower rates of elevated gradients in comparison with low implantation (CoreValve Evolut, 15% versus 34.2%; P=0.03 and Sapien XT, 18.5% versus 43.5%; P=0.03, respectively). Optimal implantation depths were defined: CoreValve Evolut, 0 to 5 mm; Sapien XT, 0 to 2 mm (0–10% frame height); sensitivities, 91.3% and 88.5%, respectively. The strongest independent correlate for elevated gradients after ViV was device position (high: odds ratio, 0.22; confidence interval, 0.1–0.52; P=0.001), in addition to type of device used (CoreValve Evolut: odds ratio, 0.5; confidence interval, 0.28–0.88; P=0.02) and surgical valve mechanism of failure (stenosis/mixed baseline failure: odds ratio, 3.12; confidence interval, 1.51–6.45; P=0.002). Conclusions—High implantation inside failed bioprosthetic valves is a strong independent correlate of lower postprocedural gradients in both self- and balloon-expandable transcatheter valves. These clinical evaluations support specific implantation targets to optimize hemodynamics after ViV.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe regurgitation in native and degenerated bioprosthetic aortic valves

We evaluated transcatheter aortic valve Implantation (TAVI) in high‐risk patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) in native or degenerated bioprosthetic valves. Background: TAVI has emerged as a viable treatment modality for severe aortic stenosis in inoperable or high‐risk patients. The use of TAVI for treatment of severe AR has remained largely unexplored.

Evaluating the safety of very short-term (10 days) dual antiplatelet therapy after Genous™ bio-engineered R stent™ implantation: the multicentre pilot Genous trial.

AIMS Percutaneous coronary stenting is synonymous with dual antiplatelet therapy, ranging from four weeks to lifelong. However, even short-term (four weeks) therapy with aspirin and thienopyridines is occasionally contraindicated. No study has ever appraised very short-term dual antiplatelet therapy after stenting. We thus aimed to exploit the pro-healing features of the Genous™ Bio-engineered R stent™ (Genous) (OrbusNeich Medical Technologies, Hong Kong, Peoples Republic of China) and evaluate the safety of a 10-day dual antiplatelet regimen after its implantation in up to 50 patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Forty-nine consecutive patients with de novo lesions located in vessels able to receive a 2.5 mm Genous stent were included. After stenting, they received lifelong aspirin plus clopidogrel for 10 days. The primary endpoint of the study was sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction or angiographic evidence of stent thrombosis ascribable to the study stent. Almost 70% of patients effectively discontinued clopidogrel nine to 11 days after stenting. At three-month clinical follow-up, no patient had died or reached the primary endpoint (95%; confidence interval 0-7.3%). Repeat revascularisation occurred instead in three (6.1%[2.1-16.5%]), with target lesion revascularisation in two (4.1%[1.1-13.7%]). CONCLUSIONS Even very short-term dual antiplatelet therapy seems safe after coronary stenting with Genous in de novo coronary artery lesions located in secondary branch vessels. This preliminary exploratory study gives some support to planning a large trial to test the hypothesis of short dual antiplatelet therapy following Genous stent implantation.

Unusual localisation of a ventricular septal defect following blunt chest trauma

A 64 year old man presented with a traumatic ventricular septal defect following blunt chest trauma 40 years before. Echocardiography and left ventriculography were helpful in locating the unusual septal defect, which was subpulmonary. The shunt was small, but the anomalous chronic overload led to right ventricular failure. The surgical correction was thus too late to improve right ventricular function.

Angiographic evidence of aberrant right subclavian artery associated with common carotid trunk

A 56 old man was referred for cardiac catheterisation because of effort angina for the previous few days. He had a history of ischaemic heart disease and had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery 12 years earlier. The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was used for anterior descending …

Does pre-existing aortic regurgitation protect from death in patients who develop paravalvular leak after TAVI?

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate interactions among pre-procedural aortic regurgitation (AR), post-procedural paravalvular leak (PVL) and long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS We analyzed data prospectively collected in the Italian Transcatheter balloon-Expandable Registry (ITER) on aortic stenosis (AS) patients. The degree of pre-procedural AR and post-procedural PVL was stratified as: absent/trivial, mild, and moderate/severe. VARC definitions were applied to outcomes. Of 1708 patients, preoperatively, AR was absent/trivial in 40% of the patients, mild in 42%, and moderate in 18%. Postoperatively, PVL was moderate-severe in 5%, mild in 32% of patients, and absent/trivial in 63%. Clinical follow-up, median 821days (IQR 585.75), was performed in 99.7% of patients. PVL, but not preoperative AR, was a major predictor of adverse outcome (HR 1.33, CI 95% 0.9-2.05, p=0.012 for mild PVL, HR 1.36, CI 95% 0.9-2.05, p<0.001 for PVL≥moderate and OR 1.04, p=0.97 respectively). Patients with moderate-severe PVL and preoperative left ventricle (LV) dilatation (LVEDVi>75ml/m2) showed better survival than those without dilatation (HR 8.63, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS In patients with severe AS treated with balloon-expandable TAVI, the presence of PVL, but not pre-procedural AR, was a major predictor of adverse outcome. Preoperative LV dilatation seemed to offer some clinical advantages.

TCT-657 Stentless vs. Stented Aortic Valve-in-Valve Implantation: Insights from the Valve-in-Valve International Data Registry (VIVID).

Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve (ViV) implantation inside failed bioprostheses is an alternative approach to repeat open heart surgery for those with failed bioprosthetic valves. However, stentless surgical valves lack fluoroscopic markers and provide distinctive challenges. Our objective was to

Subocclusion of the sinus node artery during coronary angioplasty: arrhythmological considerations.

We report the case of a 58‐year‐old man who developed atrial fibrillation as a result of iatrogenic subocclusion of a diseased sinus node artery, originating from the left circumflex artery (LCx), occurring during LCx stenting, suggestive of an ischemic etiology of sinus node dysfunction. Copyright

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN VALVE TYPE AND OUTCOMES IN WOMEN UNDERGOING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT: RESULTS FROM THE WIN-TAVI REGISTRY

Valve type selection in women undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be based on clinical, anatomical or logistical factors. We sought to compare characteristics and outcomes of women receiving balloon-expandable (BEV) or self-expanding valves (SEV) in contemporary TAVR WIN-

PREDICTORS OF MORTALITY AND CONDUCTION DISTURBANCES IN WOMEN UNDERGOING TAVR: A CT SUB-ANALYSIS OF THE WIN-TAVI REGISTRY

Aortic valve calcification has been shown to be associated with short and long term adverse outcomes in small observational datasets of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to examine the associations between aortic valve calcification patterns and other