Andrea Amaducci

Impact of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch on Cardiac Events and Midterm Mortality After Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Pure Aortic Stenosis

Background— Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) occurs when the effective orifice area (EOA) of the prosthesis being implanted is too small in relation to body size, thus causing abnormally high transvalvular pressure gradients. The objective of this study was to examine the midterm impact of PPM on overall mortality and cardiac events after aortic valve replacement in patients with pure aortic stenosis. Methods and Results— The indexed EOA (EOAi) was estimated for each type and size of prosthesis being implanted in 315 consecutive patients with pure aortic stenosis. PPM was defined as an EOAi ≤0.80 cm2/m2 and was correlated with overall mortality and cardiac events. PPM was present in 47% of patients. The 5-year overall survival and cardiac event-free survival were 82±3% and 75±4%, respectively, in patients with PPM compared with 93±3% and 87±4% in patients with no PPM (P≤0.01). In multivariate analysis, PPM was associated with a 4.2-fold (95% CI, 1.6 to 11.3) increase in the risk of overall mortality and 3.2-fold (95% CI, 1.5 to 6.8) increase in the risk of cardiac events. The other independent risk factors were history of heart failure, NHYA class III-IV, severe left ventricular hypertrophy, and absence of normal sinus rhythm before operation. Conclusions— PPM is an independent predictor of cardiac events and midterm mortality in patients with pure aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement. As opposed to other risk factors, PPM may be avoided or its severity may be reduced with the use of a preventive strategy at the time of operation.

Mass regression in aortic stenosis after valve replacement with small size pericardial bioprosthesis

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to determine whether left ventricular mass regression is influenced by valve size after the implantation of a Carpentier-Edwards Perimount (CEP) pericardial bioprosthesis for pure aortic stenosis. METHODS Patients receiving 19-mm, 21-mm, and 23-mm CEP aortic valves underwent echocardiography preoperatively and at least 1 year after surgery (mean, 2.3 +/- 1 years) and the echocardiograms were compared within and between groups. RESULTS The study involved a total of 88 patients: 34 receiving 19-mm CEPs, 29 receiving 21-mm CEPs, and 25 receiving 23-mm CEPs. The mean postoperative prosthetic gradients were respectively 20.6 +/- 6.6 mm Hg, 17.9 +/- 5.8 mm Hg, and 13.2 +/- 4.1 mm Hg (p = 0.0001); the mean postoperative valve areas were respectively 1.24 +/- 0.16 cm(2), 1.45 +/- 0.2 cm(2), and 1.63 +/- 0.21 cm(2) (p = 0.0001). In comparison with the preoperative echocardiographic measurements absolute left ventricular mass significantly decreased by -54.1 +/- 48.8 g, -54.1 +/- 55.1 g, and -74.4 +/- 57.4 g respectively with no statistically significant between-group difference (analysis of variance) but ventricular septum and posterior wall thickness significantly decreased in each group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The implantation of 19-mm, 21-mm, and 23-mm CEP aortic prostheses significantly reduces left ventricular mass without any size-related differences.

Uncommon presentation and surgical correction of unroofed coronary sinus syndrome

A 59-year-old man with signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure, occurring a few months after an infective episode, underwent cardiac investigations revealing severe biventricular dysfunction, persistent left superior vena cava with almost completely unroofed coronary sinus, and critical stenosis of the proximal right coronary artery. Surgical correction of the congenital malformation associated with revascularization of the right coronary allowed a prompt recovery of clinical conditions and ventricular function.

A new shape for an old function: lasting effect of a physiologic surgical restoration of the left ventricle

BackgroundLong-term morphofunctional outcome may vary widely in surgical anterior left ventricular wall restoration, suggesting variability in post-surgical remodeling similar to that observed following acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this pilot study was to demonstrate that surgical restoration obtained with a particular shape of endoventricular patch leads to steady morphofunctional ventricular improvement when geometry, volume and residual akinesia can be restored as normal as possible.MethodsThis study involved 12 consecutive patients with previous anterior myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy and no mitral procedures, who underwent left ventricular reconstruction and coronary revascularization between May 2002 and May 2003 using a small, narrow, oval patch aiming at a volume ≤ 45 mL/m2 with elliptical shape. Eleven geometric parameters were examined preoperatively and at least 3, 12 and 24 months after the operation by serial echocardiographic studies and evaluated by paired t test taking the time of surgery as a starting point for remodeling.ResultsAll patients were in NYHA class 1 at follow-up. Patch geometry obtained a conical shape of the ventricle with new apex, physiologic rearrangement of functioning myocardial wall and small residual akinesia. Ventricular changes at the four time-points showed that all parameters improved significantly compared to preoperative values (end-diastolic volume = 184.2 ± 23.9 vs 139.9 ± 22.0, p = 0.001; vs 151.0 ± 33.8, p = 0.06; vs 144.9 ± 34.0, p = 0.38; end-systolic volume = 125.7 ± 20.6 vs 75.2 ± 14.1, p = 0.001; vs 82.1 ± 23.9, p = 0,18; vs 77.1 ± 19.4, p = 0.41) without further changes during follow-up except for wall motion score index (2.0 ± 0.2 to 1.7 ± 0.2, to 1.4 ± 0.2, to 1.3 ± 0.2) and percentage of akinesia (30.4 ± 7.5 to 29.3 ± 4.2, to 19.8 ± 11.6, to 14.5 ± 7.2) which slowly and significantly improved suggesting a positive post-surgery remodeling.ConclusionVentricular reconstruction caring of physiological shape, volume, revascularization and residual akinesia obtained a steady geometry. Positive remodeling and equalization of geometrical outcome may persistently prevent long-term redilation.

Patch size, shape and orientation affect geometrical outcomes of surgical anterior ventricular restoration.

Objectives To verify whether the use of a small, oval-shaped patch limits the trend toward re-dilatation compared to endoventricular circular patch plasty and leads to different geometrical and functional results in surgical anterior restoration. Methods Thirty-seven patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy after anterior myocardial infarction end-systolic volume index of ≥45 ml/m2, ejection fraction of ≤35%, and no combined mitral procedures, underwent surgical anterior ventricular restoration between January 2000 and April 2003: 18 patients (group 1) were operated on using the endoventricular circular patch plasty technique (mean patch area 9.6 cm2) and 19 patients (group 2) received a small, obliquely oriented, oval-shaped patch (mean patch area 6.2 cm2). Ten geometrical parameters were studied preoperatively and at least 6 and 12 months after surgery. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, χ2, paired and unpaired Students t-test, and binary logistic regression. Results Group 1 showed a worsening over time in systolic and diastolic longitudinal length, end-diastolic volume (P < 0.001), end-diastolic volume index (P = 0.006), end-systolic volume (P = 0.005), and end-systolic volume index (P = 0.03). Group 2 showed an improvement in percentage of akinesia and wall motion score index (P < 0.001) and a worsening only in end-systolic diameter (P = 0.03) and end-diastolic volume (P = 0.04). At 12-month follow-up, ANOVA revealed that the oval patch positively influenced end-diastolic volume (P = 0.03), end-systolic volume (P = 0.03), and end-systolic volume index (P = 0.05), and group 2 had a significantly higher number of patients with an end-systolic volume index of <45 ml/m2 (P = 0.01). Conclusion The use of a small, narrow, obliquely oriented, oval patch may help to prevent adverse ventricular remodeling over time.

Effect of the increase in valve area after aortic valve replacement with a 19-mm aortic valve prosthesis on left ventricular mass regression in patients with pure aortic stenosis.

Objectives Although patients with aortic stenosis, who receive 19-mm valves, are at high risk for prosthesis–patient mismatch, most of them show a significant left ventricular mass (LVM) regression postoperatively. The aim of this study was to identify factors predicting postoperative relative LVM regression in this subgroup of patients. Methods A population of 44 patients operated on for pure aortic stenosis and receiving a 19-mm valve was studied by echocardiography at 1.4 ± 0.5 years postoperatively. Results The mean relative LVM regression was −19.3 ± 18.9%, the mean gradient drop was −31.6 ± 13.3 mmHg, and the mean Δ increase in aortic area index (postoperative aortic area index minus preoperative aortic area index) was 0.30 ± 0.14 cm2/m2. Thirty-two patients had an indexed effective orifice area of less than 0.8 cm2/m2. At multivariate analysis (r = 0.63; r2 = 40%; P < 0.0001) preoperative LVM (P = 0.006), hypertension (P = 0.018) and Δ aortic area index (P = 0.049) were independent predictors of relative LVM regression. Conclusions Our study shows that, at least 1 year postoperatively, in patients receiving a 19-mm valve, LVM regression is influenced by several parameters, in particular preoperative LVM, hypertension and the magnitude of the increase in aortic area.