Marco Oliveira

Incidence and Predictors of Permanent Pacemaker Requirement after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation with a Self-Expanding Bioprosthesis

Background: Previous reports have suggested the occurrence of cardiac conduction disorders and permanent pacemaker (PPM) requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Based on a single‐center experience, we aim to assess the incidence of postprocedural conduction disorders, need for PPM, and its determinants after TAVI with a self‐expanding bioprosthesis.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Requirements of Pacing Over Time

A permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is common after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We sought to evaluate requirements of pacing and incidence of pacemaker dependency during the first year after TAVI.

Coronary Artery Disease and Symptomatic Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: Clinical Outcomes after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Introduction The impact of coronary artery disease (CAD) on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has not been clarified. Furthermore, less is known about the indication and strategy of revascularization in these high risk patients. Aims This study sought to determine the prevalence and prognostic impact of CAD in patients undergoing TAVI, and to assess the safety and feasibility of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) before TAVI. Methods Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing TAVI were included into a prospective single center registry from 2007 to 2012. Clinical outcomes were compared between patients with and without CAD. In some patients with CAD, it was decided to perform elective PCI before TAVI after decision by the Heart team. The primary endpoints were 30-day and 2-year all-cause mortality. Results A total of 91 consecutive patients with mean age of 79 ± 9 years (52% men) underwent TAVI with a median follow-up duration of 16 months (interquartile range of 27.6 months). CAD was present on 46 patients (51%). At 30-day, the incidences of death were similar between CAD and non-CAD patients (9 and 5%, p = 0.44), but at 2 years were 50% in CAD patients and 24% in non-CAD patients [crude hazard ratio with CAD, 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–4.6; p = 0.04]. Adjusting for age, gender, left ventricular ejection fraction, and glomerular filtration rate, the hazard of death was 2.6-fold higher in patients with CAD (95% CI, 1.1–6.0; p = 0.03). Elective PCI before TAVI was performed in 13 patients (28% of CAD patients). There were no more adverse events in patients who underwent TAVI + PCI when compared with those who underwent isolated TAVI. Conclusion In severe symptomatic AS who underwent TAVI, CAD is frequent and adversely impacts long-term outcomes, but not procedure outcomes. In selected patients, PCI before TAVI appears to be feasible and safe.

Acute right ventricular myocarditis presenting with chest pain and syncope

Myocarditis is assumed to involve both ventricles equally. Right ventricular predominant involvement is rarely described. A case of acute viral right ventricular myocarditis presenting with chest pain and syncope, grade 3 atrioventricular block, right ventricular dilatation and free wall hypokinesia is reported. Cardiac MRI showed late enhancement of the right ventricular free wall without involvement of the left ventricle. Anti-Coxsackie A9 virus neutralising IgM-type antibodies titre was elevated. This case emphasises that manifestations of myocarditis can be limited to the right ventricle and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of right ventricular enlargement.

Meningeal haemorrhage secondary to cerebrospinal fluid drainage during thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has shown lower mortality compared with open surgical repair (OSR). However, the risk of spinal cord ischaemia (SCI) remains similar than OSR. As a prophylactic measure to reduce the risk of SCI, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage has been widely used in OSR. In TEVAR, the utility of this adjunct is still controversial. We report a case of a 56-year-old man referred for TEVAR for a descending thoracic aneurysm that previously underwent an abdominal aneurysmectomy with aortobifemoral bypass graft. On the day before, a lumbar cerebrospinal drain was placed prophylactically. Forty-eight hours after the procedure, meningeal symptoms without neurological deficits developed. Clinical investigation revealed meningeal haemorrhage. Therapy with nimodipine was initiated with symptomatic relief. Evidence from randomized controlled trials supporting the role of CSF drainage in TEVAR is still lacking. We discuss the current recommendations, potential benefits and risks and cautions associated with CSF drainage in TEVAR.

First-in-human transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve replacement with the SAPIEN 3 heart valve.

First-in-human transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve replacement with the SAPIEN 3 heart valve Jennifer Mancio ⁎, Carla Almeida , Gustavo Pires-Morais , Wilson Ferreira , Mónica Carvalho , Alberto Rodrigues , Lino Santos , Bruno Melica , Marco Oliveira , Pedro Braga , Vasco Gama Ribeiro a a Department of Cardiology, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia e Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal b Cardiovascular R&D Unit, Department of physiology and cardiothoracic surgery of Medical School of Porto, Portugal c Department of Cardiology, Hospital do Divino Espirito Santo, Ponta Delgada, Portugal

Lead Extraction of Cardiac Rhythm Devices: A Report of a Single-Center Experience

Introduction and objectives The rate of implanted cardiac electronic devices is increasing as is the need to manage long-term complications. Lead removal is becoming an effective approach to treat such complications. We present our experience in lead removal using different approaches, analyzing the predictors of the use of mechanical extractors/surgical removal. Methods Retrospective analysis of lead extractions in a series of 76 consecutive patients (mean age 70.4 ± 13.8 years, 73.7% men) between January 2009 and November 2015. Results One hundred thirty-five leads from permanent pacemakers (single chamber 19.7%; dual-chamber 61.8%), implantable cardioverter defibrillators (5.3%), and cardiac resynchronization devices (CRT-P 2.6%; CRT-D 7.9%) were removed, 72.5 ± 73.2 months after implantation. A total of 45.9% were ventricular leads, 40.0% atrial leads, 8.9% defibrillator leads, and 5.2% leads in the coronary sinus; 64.4% had passive fixation. The most common indications for removal were pocket infection (77.8%), infective endocarditis (9.6%), and lead dislodgement (3.7%). A total of 76.3% of the leads were explanted, 20.0% were extracted, and 3.7% were surgically removed. Extraction of the entire lead was achieved in 96.3% of the procedures. After logistic regression (age adjusted), time since implantation was the sole predictor of the need of mechanical extractors/surgical removal. All patients were discharged without major complications. There were no deaths at 30 days. Conclusion Our experience in lead removal was effective and safe. Performing these procedures by experienced electrophysiologists with an adequate cardiothoracic surgery team on standby to cope with any complications is required. Referral of high-risk patients to a high-volume center is recommended to optimize clinical success and minimize procedural complications.

Hanging by a thread: Major detachment of an aortic prosthetic valve.

We report the case of a 62-year-old man with a previous mechanical aortic valve prosthesis who was referred for emergent cardiac catheterization after successful resuscitation from an out-of-hospital pulseless electrical activity cardiac arrest. Post-resuscitation, the patient was comatose with arterial blood pressure 60/35 mmHg, and the electrocardiogram showed widespread ST-segment depression and ST-elevation elevation in lead aVR. Mechanical ventilation, inotropic and vasopressor support were initiated during the transfer to a percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospital. Cardiac fluoroscopy showed pivotal movement of the aortic prosthesis with each heartbeat and severe regurgitation was seen on aortography (Video 1). Prosthesis position in systole (Figure 1A) and diastole (Figure 1B) was demonstrated in individual cinefluoroscopic frames (left anterior oblique view). In diastole, the blood regurgitated into the left ventricular cavity produced a 90◦ clockwise rotation of the aortic prosthesis. Coronary angiography was normal. The patient underwent emergent cardiac

A 75-year-old woman with chest pain and transient severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction

INTRODUCTION Coronary spasm can cause myocardial ischemia and angina in both patients with and without obstructive coronary artery disease. However, provocation tests using intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) have been rarely performed in the Western world. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 75-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and a mechanical aortic prosthesis who presented in the emergency room with acute-onset chest pain, widespread ST-segment depression and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, with no signs of prosthesis dysfunction. Emergent coronary angiography excluded obstructive coronary artery disease. Pain relief and normalization of ST segment and systolic function occurred within six hours. The patient was treated for a possible thromboembolic myocardial infarction and was discharged home asymptomatic. Two weeks later, cardiac magnetic resonance was performed showing inferoseptal transmural infarct scar, inferior and inferolateral subendocardial infarct and mid-basal ischemia in the anterior and anterolateral walls. She was readmitted with recurrence of chest pain and it was decided to perform a provocation test with ACh. After injection of ACh into the left anterior descending artery, chest pain, ST-segment depression, blood flow impairment (TIMI 1) and transient grade 3 atrioventricular (AV) block occurred. Intracoronary administration of nitrates reversed the coronary spasm and AV conduction disturbances. Twenty minutes later, chest pain and ischemic ST changes recurred; there was no response to vasodilators and the patient developed cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity. Advanced life support was maintained for 32 minutes without return of spontaneous circulation. CONCLUSIONS Provocation tests have a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of vasospastic angina. Although it is rare, these tests have the potential risk of irreversible spasm leading to arrhythmia and death.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as Bridge-to-Decision in Acute Heart Failure due to Systemic Light-Chain Amyloidosis

Patient: Female, 58 Final Diagnosis: Acute hear failure Symptoms: Dispnoea • edema • fatigue Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Bone marrow biopsy • endomyocardial biopsy • abdominal subcutaneous fat biopsy under ECMO support Specialty: Cardiology Objective: Rare disease Background: Cardiac amyloidosis results from the amyloid deposition in heart tissue, either in the context of a systemic disease or as a localized form. Several pro-amyloid proteins can produce amyloid deposits in the heart. Each of these amyloidoses has characteristic clinical (cardiac and extracardiac) features, and a specific diagnosis and treatment. Case Report: A 58-year-old woman who presented with acute heart failure and echocardiographic findings strongly suggestive of infiltrative cardiomyopathy needed percutaneous veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as bridge-to-decision. Amyloid deposition was found on endomyocardial and bone marrow biopsies. Bone marrow plasma cell infiltrate with acute renal lesion and hypercalcemia confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma-associated systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL). Refractory shock with multi-organic failure syndrome persisted and no improvements in left ventricular function and structure were seen. After extensive discussion by a multidisciplinary team, and with the patients’ family, she was not considered eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and/or autologous stem cell transplantation, heart transplantation, or sequential heart with autologous stem cell transplantation. The patient died a few hours after ECMO withdrawal. During the 14 days of ECMO support no major bleeding or thrombotic complications occurred. Conclusions: The clinician must consider a diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis in patients with heart failure, a restrictive type of cardiomyopathy with ventricular hypertrophy in the absence of valve abnormalities, or uncontrolled arterial hypertension. Although developments in chemotherapy have greatly improved the outcomes in AL amyloidosis, the prognosis of patients with severe cardiac involvement remains very poor. ECMO is potentially a reliable bridge-to-diagnosis and bridge-to-decision in these patients. An experienced ECMO team, careful patient selection, and rigorous management protocols with objective criteria to wean or stop ECMO are needed.