Kentaro Meguro

Renal function-based contrast dosing predicts acute kidney injury following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to assess whether the volume of contrast media (CM) influences the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). BACKGROUND The volume of CM has been shown to be associated with increasing risk of AKI; however, in a high-risk elderly TAVI population, the predictive value and optimal threshold of CM dose on AKI remain uncertain. METHODS Data of 415 consecutive transfemoral TAVI patients (age 83.6 ± 6.8 years, logistic EuroSCORE 23.0 ± 12.2%) were analyzed. AKI was defined by Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria. Based on a previous formula, the ratio of CM to serum creatinine (SCr) and body weight (BW) (CM × SCr/BW) was calculated as defining the degree of CM use. The association between CM dose and incidence of AKI, as well as predictive factors and prognosis of AKI, were investigated. RESULTS AKI occurred in 63 patients (15.2%). Cumulative 1-year mortality showed significant differences between the AKI and non-AKI groups (47.9% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.001). Mean CM × SCr/BW ratio was higher in the AKI group than in the non-AKI group (4.1 ± 2.9 vs. 2.9 ± 1.6, p < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, CM × SCr/BW per 1.0 increase, ejection fraction <40%, and transfusion were associated with the occurrence of AKI (odds ratio [OR]: 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03 to 1.20; p = 0.017, OR: 3.01; 95% CI: 1.49 to 5.00; p = 0.001, OR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.54 to 6.15; p = 0.001, respectively). A threshold value of CM × SCr/BW for predicting AKI was statistically identified as 2.7. CONCLUSIONS Although mechanisms of AKI following TAVI are multifactorial, the present study identified a relationship between CM dose increment and high prevalence of AKI. Therapeutic efforts not to exceed the threshold value may reduce the risk of AKI.

Comparison of Effectiveness and Safety of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients Aged >90 Years Versus <90 Years

In a fraction of patients aged ≥90 years, less-invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been considered a therapeutic option for aortic stenosis under careful clinical screening. However, the safety and effectiveness using TAVI in such a population has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of TAVI in nonagenarians. We prospectively enrolled 136 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis who were referred for TAVI. The procedural, early, and midterm clinical outcomes were compared between patients aged <90 years (n = 110, average age 82.3 ± 8.3 years) and ≥90 years (n = 26; average age 91.6 ± 1.9 years). A comparison of the baseline characteristics revealed that among patients aged ≥90 years, the prevalence of women (50% vs 81%, p <0.001) and the mean aortic valve gradient (45.5 ± 15.4 vs 56.3 ± 23.4 mm Hg, p = 0.005) were greater than those in patients aged <90 years. Major vascular complications occurred more frequently in patients ≥90 years (5% vs 19%, p = 0.022), although the rate of procedural success and 30-day and 6-month mortality were not different between the 2 age groups (96% vs 100%, p = 0.58; 6% vs 15%, p = 0.22; and 14% vs 27%, p = 0.14, respectively). The mortality rates were greater among patients aged ≥90 years. At 6 months, both groups of survivors were similar in symptom status, with a New York Heart Association classification less than class II (89% vs 84%, p = 0.68). The cumulative survival (median 13.4 ± 8.0 months of follow-up) was not significantly different between the 2 age groups (p = 0.22, log-rank test). In conclusion, even very elderly nonagenarians can experience acceptable clinical results and benefits after TAVI.

Clinical results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in octogenarians and nonagenarians: insights from the FRANCE-2 registry.

BACKGROUND Although transcatheter aortic valve implantation has been developing as an alternative treatment in elderly patients with high surgical risk, age-specific differences in clinical outcome have not been fully validated. METHODS Data were analyzed for 2,254 patients at least 80 years old who were enrolled between January 2010 and October 2011 in the French national transcatheter aortic valve implantation registry, FRANCE-2. Procedural and clinical outcomes defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria were compared among subjects in three age groups: 80 to 84 years (n = 867), 85 to 89 years (n = 1,064), and at least 90 years (n = 349; range, 90 to 101 years). RESULTS The self-expandable prosthesis was implanted in 710 patients, and the balloon-expandable prosthesis was implanted in 1,544 patients. No differences were observed in rates of procedural success, Valve Academic Research Consortium-defined complications, and length of hospitalization among groups. Cumulative 30-day mortalities did not change among the three groups (80 to 84 years, 10.3% versus 85 to 89 years, 9.5% versus ≥ 90 years, 11.2%; p = 0.53). Cumulative 1-year mortalities also showed no statistical differences, although the mortality rate was higher in patients 85 to 89 years old and at least 90 years old compared with those 80 to 84 years old (19.8% versus 26.1% versus 27.7%; p = 0.16). After adjustment for differential baseline characteristics and potential confounders, patient age (85 to 89 years and ≥ 90 years compared with 80 to 84 years) was not associated with increasing risk of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio, 0.92, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.66 to 1.27, 0.83 to 1.94; p = 0.38, 0.28, respectively) and 1-year mortality (hazard ratio, 1.16, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.90 to 1.49, 0.97 to 1.89; p = 0.25, 0.073, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed acceptable clinical results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation even in very elderly populations.

Prognostic Value of QRS Duration After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Stenosis Using the CoreValve

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is effective in treating severe aortic stenosis in high-risk surgical patients. We evaluated the value of the QRS duration (QRSd) in predicting the mid-term morbidity and mortality after TAVI. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 91 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI using the CoreValve at our teaching hospital cardiology unit in 2008 to 2010 who survived to hospital discharge; 57% were women, and their mean age was 84 ± 7 years. The QRSd at discharge was used to classify the patients into 3 groups: QRSd ≤120 ms, n = 18 (20%); QRSd >120 ms but ≤150 ms, n = 30 (33%); and QRSd >150 ms, n = 43 (47%). We used 2 end points: (1) all-cause mortality and (2) all-cause mortality or admission for heart failure. After a median of 12 months, the normal-QRSd patients showed a trend toward, or had, significantly better overall survival and survival free of admission for heart failure compared with the intermediate-QRSd group (p = 0.084 and p = 0.002, respectively) and the long-QRSd group (p = 0.015 and p = 0.001, respectively). The factors significantly associated with all-cause mortality were the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, aortic valve area, post-TAVI dilation, acute kidney injury, hospital days after TAVI, and QRSd at discharge. On multivariate analysis, QRSd was the strongest independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.036, 95% confidence interval 1.016 to 1.056; p <0.001) and all-cause mortality or heart failure admission (hazard ratio 1.025, 95% confidence interval 1.011 to 1.039; p <0.001). The other independent predictors were the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, acute kidney injury, and post-TAVI hospital days. In conclusion, a longer QRSd after TAVI was associated with greater morbidity and mortality after 12 months. The QRSd at discharge independently predicted mortality and morbidity after TAVI.

Early Safety and Efficacy of Sapien 3 20 mm Transcatheter Heart Valve Implantation in Small Japanese Body Size

BACKGROUND Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is effective in treating severe aortic stenosis in inoperable or high-risk surgical patients, however, the little is known about outcomes after Sapien 3 20 mm transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short term outcomes of Sapien 3 20 mm THV implantation in Japanese people with a small body size. METHODS We retrospectively collected the hospital records of consecutive patients who underwent TAVI using the Sapien 3 20 mm THV between October 2016 and March 2017. Clinical and echocardiographic data from before and one week after TAVI were collected. RESULTS Six Japanese patients (all female, mean age 89 ± 5 years, body surface area [BSA] 1.29 ± 0.16m2) received a Sapien 3 20 mm THV. All the procedures were feasible and successful, and the 30-day mortality rate was 0%. The functional class and the echocardiographic findings significantly improved (aortic valve area, 0.5 ± 0.1 cm2 to 0.8 ± 0.1cm2; mean pressure gradient, 55 ± 15 mmHg to 19 ± 7 mmHg; P = .043, respectively). However, the values of the indexed effective orifice area in all patients after Sapien 3 20 mm THV implantation were less than 0.85 cm2/m2, suggesting prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM). CONCLUSIONS The implantation of a Sapien 3 20 mm THV was safe and effective in high surgical risk elderly Japanese patients with a small body size. PPM after Sapien 3 20mm THV may be prevalent among Asians with small body sizes. Careful clinical follow-up will be necessary after Sapien 3 20 mm THV implantation.

Localized Inflammation and Aneurysm Formation 10 Years After Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation

and cilostazol at 200 mg/day for 10 years. As part of thorough examination of atrioventricular block, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) was performed to rule out cardiac sarcoidosis. There was no myocardial FDG uptake, but there was a significant uptake around the SES in the LAD (Figure 1). Coronary CT angiography showed aneurysmal dilatation (18×28 mm) with a low-density area surrounding the SES (Figure 2A). Coronary angiography A 63-year-old woman was admitted for the treatment of sick sinus syndrome and atrioventricular block. She had received sirolimus-eluting stent (SES; 2.5×18 mm) in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) 10 years previously. Routine coronary angiography had indicated no stent restenosis 1 year after SES implantation. The patient had a history of hyperlipidemia and hypertension, and coronary risk factors were well controlled after the stenting. She continued taking aspirin at 100 mg/day

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia accompanied by aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

An 81-year-old male with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis with ventricular tachycardia was referred for treatment. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty was performed under cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Though transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was considered high risk for annulus rupture and aortic regurgitation due to annular calcification, TAVI was performed because of extremely high surgical risk. Moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation (AR) remained and progression of acidosis could not be managed with continuous hemodiafiltration. His autopsy revealed the development of non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) as the cause of progressive acidosis. AR and hemodynamic instability might contribute to the development and progression of NOMI after TAVI.