Mary Siki

Management of coronary obstruction following transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Although occlusion of the coronary arteries during transcatheter aortic valve replacement is rare, the mortality is high. In this review, we discuss the prevention and management of this complication. Occlusion of coronary ostia is a very rare, but serious, complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Although reported as only occurring in <1% of TAVR cases, it carries a high risk of fatality, with some series reporting a mortality rate as high as 40%. We present the management of an occluded left coronary artery after a self‐expanding TAVR, and review the incidence, prevention, and management of this complication.

Fate of remnant sinuses of Valsalva in patients with bicuspid and trileaflet valves undergoing aortic valve, ascending aorta, and aortic arch replacement

Objective In patients presenting with aortic valvulopathy with concomitant ascending aortic aneurysm, surgical management of the sinus of Valsalva segment remains undefined, especially for moderately dilated aortic roots. In patients with this pathology undergoing aortic valve replacement with supracoronary ascending aorta replacement, we assessed the fate of the remnant preserved sinus of Valsalva segment stratified by aortic valve morphology and pathology. Methods From 2002 to 2015, 428 patients underwent elective aortic valve replacement with supracoronary ascending aorta replacement. Patients were stratified on the basis of valvular morphology (bicuspid aortic valve [n = 254] and tricuspid aortic valve [n = 174]), valvular pathology (bicuspid aortic valve with aortic stenosis [n = 178], bicuspid aortic valve with aortic insufficiency [n = 76], tricuspid aortic valve with aortic stenosis [n = 61], tricuspid aortic valve with aortic insufficiency [n = 113]), and preoperative sinus of Valsalva dimensions (<40, 40‐45, >45 mm). Results Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed no significant difference in freedom from reoperation in tricuspid aortic valve versus bicuspid aortic valve (P = .576). Multivariable Cox regression model performed with sinus of Valsalva dimensions at baseline and follow‐up as time‐varying covariates did not adversely affect survival. A repeated‐measure, mixed‐effects model constructed to assess longitudinal sinus of Valsalva trends revealed that the retained sinus of Valsalva dimensions remain stable over long‐term follow‐up (discharge to ≥10 years), irrespective of valvular morphology/pathology (bicuspid aortic valve with aortic insufficiency, tricuspid aortic valve with aortic insufficiency, tricuspid aortic valve with aortic stenosis) and preoperative sinus of Valsalva groups (<40, 40‐45, >45 mm). Conclusions In patients with nonaneurysmal sinuses of Valsalva undergoing aortic valve replacement with supracoronary ascending aorta replacement, the sinus segment can be preserved irrespective of the type of valvular pathology (aortic stenosis vs aortic insufficiency) or valvular morphology (bicuspid aortic valve vs tricuspid aortic valve). Aortic valve replacement with supracoronary ascending aorta replacement may have a stabilizing effect on the sinus segment over long‐term follow‐up in patients with tricuspid aortic valves or bicuspid aortic valves.

The role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenator therapy in the setting of Type A aortic dissection

Patients presenting with type A aortic dissection (TAAD) present with a wide clinical spectrum ranging from hemodynamic stability to multiorgan malperfusion with cardiovascular collapse. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) therapy is increasingly being utilized as salvage therapy in patients with acute cardiopulmonary failure and for post‐cardiotomy shock. We sought to determine the utility of ECMO implementation post‐TAAD repair.

Concomitant antegrade stent grafting of the descending thoracic aorta during transverse hemiarch reconstruction for acute DeBakey I aortic dissection repair improves aortic remodeling

Concomitant endovascular stent grafting of the descending thoracic aorta during open repair for acute DeBakey I aortic dissection can be performed in patients with extensive dissection and malperfusion. We analyzed the effects of this strategy on distal aortic remodeling.

Concomitant Endografting of a Type B Aortic Dissection During Transfemoral Aortic Valve Replacement

An 87-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis underwent a transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a well-seated valve with no paravalvular leak; however, a new acute type B aortic dissection was identified. Endografts were delivered through the TAVR sheath and deployed, effectively treating the dissection. The patient did well postoperatively, with imaging at 2 years demonstrating a well-functioning aortic valve and no migration or endoleak of the thoracic endografts. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful concomitant thoracic endografting during TAVR for the treatment of iatrogenic aortic dissection in this setting.