Eric Horlick

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis in patients at very high or prohibitive surgical risk: acute and late outcomes of the multicenter Canadian experience.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was: 1) to evaluate the acute and late outcomes of a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) program including both the transfemoral (TF) and transapical (TA) approaches; and 2) to determine the results of TAVI in patients deemed inoperable because of either porcelain aorta or frailty. BACKGROUND Very few data exist on the results of a comprehensive TAVI program including both TA and TF approaches for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in patients at very high or prohibitive surgical risk. METHODS Consecutive patients who underwent TAVI with the Edwards valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Inc., Irvine, California) between January 2005 and June 2009 in 6 Canadian centers were included. RESULTS A total of 345 procedures (TF: 168, TA: 177) were performed in 339 patients. The predicted surgical mortality (Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score) was 9.8 +/- 6.4%. The procedural success rate was 93.3%, and 30-day mortality was 10.4% (TF: 9.5%, TA: 11.3%). After a median follow-up of 8 months (25th to 75th interquartile range: 3 to 14 months) the mortality rate was 22.1%. The predictors of cumulative late mortality were peri-procedural sepsis (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48 to 8.28) or need for hemodynamic support (HR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.11 to 6), pulmonary hypertension (PH) (HR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.17 to 3), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.38 to 3.84), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (HR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.09 to 2.83). Patients with either porcelain aorta (18%) or frailty (25%) exhibited acute outcomes similar to the rest of the study population, and porcelain aorta patients tended to have a better survival rate at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS A TAVI program including both TF and TA approaches was associated with comparable mortality as predicted by surgical risk calculators for the treatment of patients at very high or prohibitive surgical risk, including porcelain aorta and frail patients. Baseline (PH, COPD, CKD) and peri-procedural (hemodynamic support, sepsis) factors but not the approach determined worse outcomes.

Long-Term Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Insights on Prognostic Factors and Valve Durability From the Canadian Multicenter Experience

OBJECTIVES This study sought to evaluate the long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in the Multicenter Canadian Experience study, with special focus on the causes and predictors of late mortality and valve durability. BACKGROUND Very few data exist on the long-term outcomes associated with TAVI. METHODS This was a multicenter study including 339 patients considered to be nonoperable or at very high surgical risk (mean age: 81 ± 8 years; Society of Thoracic Surgeons score: 9.8 ± 6.4%) who underwent TAVI with a balloon-expandable Edwards valve (transfemoral: 48%, transapical: 52%). Follow-up was available in 99% of the patients, and serial echocardiographic exams were evaluated in a central echocardiography core laboratory. RESULTS At a mean follow-up of 42 ± 15 months 188 patients (55.5%) had died. The causes of late death (152 patients) were noncardiac (59.2%), cardiac (23.0%), and unknown (17.8%). The predictors of late mortality were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53 to 3.11), chronic kidney disease (HR: 1.08 for each decrease of 10 ml/min in estimated glomerular filtration rate, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.19), chronic atrial fibrillation (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.03), and frailty (HR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.07 to 2.17). A mild nonclinically significant decrease in valve area occurred at 2-year follow-up (p < 0.01), but no further reduction in valve area was observed up to 4-year follow-up. No changes in residual aortic regurgitation and no cases of structural valve failure were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Approximately one-half of the patients who underwent TAVI because of a high or prohibitive surgical risk profile had died at a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. Late mortality was due to noncardiac comorbidities in more than one-half of patients. No clinically significant deterioration in valve function was observed throughout the follow-up period.

Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure With the AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug Device in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation and Contraindications to Anticoagulation Therapy

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the results associated with left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with the AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug (ACP) (St. Jude Medical, Minneapolis, Minnesota) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and absolute contraindications to anticoagulation therapy. BACKGROUND Few data exist on the late outcomes after LAAC in patients with absolute contraindications to warfarin. METHODS A total of 52 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation underwent LAAC with the ACP device in 7 Canadian centers. Most patients received short-term (1 to 3 months) dual-antiplatelet therapy after the procedure and single-antiplatelet therapy thereafter. A transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 74% of patients at the 6-month follow-up. No patient was lost to follow-up (≥ 12 months in all patients). RESULTS The mean age and median (interquartile range) CHADS2 score were 74 ± 8 years and 3 (2 to 4), respectively. The procedure was successful in 98.1% of the patients, and the main complications were device embolization (1.9%) and pericardial effusion (1.9%), with no cases of periprocedural stroke. At a mean follow-up of 20 ± 5 months, the rates of death, stroke, systemic embolism, pericardial effusion, and major bleeding were 5.8%, 1.9%, 0%, 1.9%, and 1.9%, respectively. The presence of mild peridevice leak was observed in 16.2% of patients at the 6-month follow-up as evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography. There were no cases of device thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at high risk of cardioembolic events and absolute contraindications to anticoagulation, LAAC using the ACP device followed by dual-/single-antiplatelet therapy was associated with a low rate of embolic and bleeding events after a mean follow-up of 20 months. No cases of severe residual leak or device thrombosis were observed at the 6-month follow-up.

Prevention and management of transcatheter balloon-expandable aortic valve malposition†

Early clinical outcomes in selected high‐risk patients undergoing catheter‐based aortic valve replacement (AVR) compare favorably with conventional surgical AVR. Improved understanding of the mechanisms of success and failure of transcatheter AVR will likely improve outcomes further. To this end, we examined our experience during the developmental phases of transcatheter AVR and describe the causes and management of prosthetic valve malposition.

Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation using the edwards SAPIEN™ transcatheter heart valve†

Conduits placed in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) have limited longevity which often requires increasingly complex reoperations. Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation improves conduit hemodynamics through a minimally invasive approach. We present data for 7 patients treated with the Edwards SAPIEN™ transcatheter heart valve (THV).

Decreased complication rates using the transradial compared to the transfemoral approach in percutaneous coronary intervention in the era of routine stenting and glycoprotein platelet IIb/IIIa inhibitor use: A large single-center experience

BACKGROUND Studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of the transradial approach for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were carried out mainly before the widespread use of stents and glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors. We sought to determine the association between the choice of the vascular access site and procedural complications after PCI performed with routine stenting and GP IIb/IIIa inhibition. METHODS The data source was a prospective registry of 13,499 consecutive cases of PCI at the University Health Network, Toronto, Canada, from April 2000 to September 2006. Logistic regression was used to calculate the probability of selection to the radial access group. Using propensity score methodology, 3,198 patients with femoral access were randomly matched to 3,198 patients with radial access based on clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of access site-related complications. Major adverse cardiac event was defined as death, myocardial infarction, abrupt vessel closure, or coronary artery bypass surgery. RESULTS Use of the transradial approach was associated with fewer vascular access complications (1.5% vs 0.6%, P<.001) and a shorter length of hospital stay. Multivariable analysis revealed transradial access (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.2-0.7) to be an independent predictor of lower risk, whereas primary PCI (OR 4.36, 95% CI 1.4, 13), recent myocardial infarction (OR 2.0 95% CI 1.2, 3.4), age (per 10 years increase: OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.1-1.7) and female gender (0R 2.78 95% CI 1.7, 4.6) were independent predictors of a higher risk of access site complications. CONCLUSIONS Use of transradial access for PCI is safe and is independently associated with a reduced rate of in-hospital access site complications and reduced length of hospital stay.

Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation in the Young: 2-Year Follow-Up

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate physiological and clinical consequences of percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) in patients with chronic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction and volume overload. BACKGROUND The PPVI is a nonsurgical technique to address RVOT conduit dysfunction. METHODS Twenty-eight adolescents (median age 14.9 years; age range 10.9 to 19 years) underwent PPVI due to RVOT stenosis and/or pulmonary regurgitation (PR). Before and after PPVI echocardiographic and magnetic resonance imaging, cardiopulmonary exercise tests were obtained. RESULTS The RVOT gradient (p < 0.001) and right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure decreased (p < 0.001), acutely. Magnetic resonance imaging (median 6 months) documented reduction in RV end-diastolic (149 +/- 49 ml/m(2) vs. 114 +/- 35 ml/m(2), p < 0.005) volume, increases in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic (p < 0.007) volume and cardiac output (RV: p < 0.04 and LV: p < 0.02), and reduced PR fraction (24 +/- 10% to 7 +/- 7%, p < 0.0001). Symptoms, aerobic exercise performance (maximal oxygen consumption: p < 0.0001) and ventilatory response to carbon dioxide production (p < 0.003) improved. After 24 months, echocardiography demonstrated the RV/systemic-pressure ratio, and RVOT peak pressure gradient reductions persisted, and PR was absent in 93% (n = 12 of 13) of the cohort. Freedom from surgery was 91%, 83%, and 83%, and freedom from transcatheter reintervention was 91%, 80%, and 80%, at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. There were no acute device-related complications, with stent fractures noted in 10.8%. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation is feasible and safe in the young with dysfunctional RVOT conduits. An improvement in symptoms, hemodynamic status, and objective findings of exercise performance occurs. Early follow-up demonstrates persistent improvement in ventricular parameters, PR, and objective exercise capacity.

Canadian Cardiovascular Society 2009 Consensus Conference on the management of adults with congenital heart disease: Complex congenital cardiac lesions

With advances in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, the population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased. In the current era, there are more adults with CHD than children. This population has many unique issues and needs. They have distinctive forms of heart failure and their cardiac disease can be associated with pulmonary hypertension, thromboemboli, complex arrhythmias and sudden death. Medical aspects that need to be considered relate to the long-term and multisystemic effects of single ventricle physiology, cyanosis, systemic right ventricles, complex intracardiac baffles and failing subpulmonary right ventricles. Since the 2001 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Consensus Conference report on the management of adults with CHD, there have been significant advances in the field of adult CHD. Therefore, new clinical guidelines have been written by Canadian adult CHD physicians in collaboration with an international panel of experts in the field. Part III of the guidelines includes recommendations for the care of patients with complete transposition of the great arteries, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, Fontan operations and single ventricles, Eisenmengers syndrome, and cyanotic heart disease. Topics addressed include genetics, clinical outcomes, recommended diagnostic workup, surgical and interventional options, treatment of arrhythmias, assessment of pregnancy risk and follow-up requirements. The complete document consists of four manuscripts, which are published online in the present issue of The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. The complete document and references can also be found at www.ccs.ca or www.cachnet.org.

Coarctation of the aorta: evaluation and management.

Purpose of review Coarctation of the aorta is the discrete narrowing of the proximal descending aorta and is the sixth most common lesion in congenital heart disease. Repair of the coarctation can relieve the obstruction, but recurrent coarctation and future aneurysm formation can occur, and a heightened risk of vascular disease is present. This review focuses on advances in the management of native and previously treated coarctation and provides insights into future vascular risk. Recent findings Coarctation of the aorta is associated with other left heart obstructive lesions, and advances in the genetic basis of these conditions have been made. Recurrent coarctation and aneurysm formation are common after surgical and endovascular repair of coarctation of the aorta. Endovascular treatment is an acceptable alternative to surgical repair of native and recurrent coarctation. Covered stents and stent grafts can be used to treat arch complications with a low risk of complications. In spite of repair of the obstruction, hypertension persists and appears to be multifactorial due to a variety of factors, including endothelial dysfunction, aortic stiffness, altered arch morphology and increased ventricular stiffness. Summary People with previously repaired coarctation of the aorta require long-term surveillance for local complications with aortic imaging and surveillance and management of hypertension to prevent vascular disease.

Outcomes in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing percutaneous atrial septal defect closure

Objectives: To examine the outcomes in patients with moderate or severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) undergoing percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Teaching hospital-based study. Patients: Fifty-four patients with moderate (n = 34) or severe PAH (n = 20) who underwent successful device implantation between 1999 and 2004 were included in the study. Clinical and transthoracic echocardiographic data were reviewed. Pulmonary hypertension was classified as moderate (50–59 mm Hg) or severe (⩾60 mm Hg) according with the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) calculated by echocardiography. Results: At the early follow-up (mean (SD) 2.3 (1.2) months) all patients were alive and the baseline RVSP decreased from 57 (11) mm Hg to 51 (17) mm Hg (p = 0.003). At the late follow-up (n = 39, mean (SD) duration 31 (15) months) two patients had died and the baseline RVSP decreased from 58 (10) mm Hg to 44 (16) mm Hg (p = 0.004). Although the overall mean RVSP decreased at late follow-up, only 43.6% (17/39) of patients had normalisation (<40 mm Hg) of the RVSP and 15.4% (6/39) had persistent severe PAH. Conclusion: Transcatheter closure in patients with secundum ASD and PAH can be successfully performed in selected subjects and is associated with good outcomes. Early improvements in RVSP are seen in patients with moderate or severe PAH undergoing transcatheter ASD closure. Continued improvement in RVSP occurs in late follow-up. Despite decreases in the mean RVSP in late follow-up, many patients do not have complete normalisation of pressures.