Mohammad A. Sherif

Anatomic and procedural predictors of paravalvular aortic regurgitation after implantation of the Medtronic CoreValve bioprosthesis.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of aortic regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). BACKGROUND TAVI has been associated with a high rate of paravalvular regurgitation, usually mild. Nevertheless, moderate to severe regurgitations still occur and may have negative clinical consequences. METHODS Fifty patients with severe aortic stenosis were recruited and underwent successful TAVI with the Medtronic CoreValve bioprosthesis through the transfemoral route. The end point of this study is the early occurrence of significant AR, defined as the occurrence of grade II or more AR by post-procedural aortography. RESULTS The study populations mean age was 80.5 ± 7.9 years, with a mean aortic valve area of 0.64 ± 0.17 cm². Post-procedural AR was absent in 3 patients and was grade I in 27 patients, grade II in 13 patients, and grade III in 7 patients. Using univariate analysis, the chance of significant AR increased with increasing angle of left ventricular outflow tract to ascending aorta (∠LVOT-AO) (odds ratio: 1.24, p < 0.001). For the depth of the device in relation to the noncoronary cusp, there was a minimum chance of AR corresponding to depth = 9.5 mm (odds ratio: 1.1, p = 0.01). Using multivariate analysis, we found a greater chance of significant AR with a greater angle (odds ratio: 1.24, p = 0.001), and that the chance of significant AR is a minimum when depth of the device in relation to the noncoronary cusp is ∼10 mm (odds ratio: 1.1, p = 0.024). A predictive model was generated, and if 2 ×∠LVOT-AO + (depth to noncoronary cusp - 10)² ≥ 50, the likelihood of occurrence of significant AR could be predicted with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 87%. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of significant AR after TAVI can be predicted by anatomic and procedural variables. A model such as that presented can be used to select suitable patients for this procedure and guide operators during implantation of the device.

Comparison of Hospital Mortality With Intra-Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation Insertion Before Versus After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (IABP) are established treatment modalities in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. We hypothesized that the insertion of the IABP before primary PCI might result in better survival of patients with cardiogenic shock compared to postponing the insertion to after primary PCI. We, therefore, retrospectively studied 48 patients who had undergone primary PCI with IABP because of cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (26 patients received the IABP before and 22 patients after primary PCI). No significant differences were present in the baseline clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. The mean number of diseased vessels was greater in the group of patients treated with the IABP before primary PCI (2.8 +/- 0.5 vs 2.3 +/- 0.7, p = 0.012), but the difference in the number of treated vessels was not significant. The peak creatine kinase and creatine kinase -MB levels were lower in patients treated with the IABP before primary PCI (median 1,077, interquartile range 438 to 2067 vs median 3,299, interquartile range 695 to 6,834, p = 0.047, and median 95, interquartile range 34 to 196 vs median 192, interquartile range 82 to 467, p = 0.048, respectively). In-hospital mortality and the overall incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were significantly lower in the group of patients receiving the IABP before primary PCI (19% vs 59% and 23% vs 77%, p = 0.007 and p = 0.0004, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified renal failure (odds ratio 15.2, 95% confidence interval 3.13 to 73.66) and insertion of the IABP after PCI (odds ratio 5.2, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 24.76) as the only independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction who undergo primary PCI assisted by IABP have a more favorable in-hospital outcome and lower in-hospital mortality than patients who receive IABP after PCI.

Successful percutaneous coronary intervention after implantation of a CoreValve percutaneous aortic valve.

Background: The association between aortic valve disease and coronary atherosclerosis is common. In the recent era of percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR), there is little experience with coronary artery intervention after valve implantation. Case report: To our knowledge, this is the first case of successful percutaneous coronary intervention after implantation of a CoreValve percutaneous aortic valve. We report a case of a 79‐year‐old female patient who underwent successful coronary artery intervention few months after a CoreValves percutaneous implantation for severe aortic valve stenosis. Verifying the position of the used wires (crossing from inside the self expanding frame) is of utmost importance before proceeding to coronary intervention. In this case, crossing the aortic valve, coronary angiography, and multivessel stenting were successfully performed. Conclusion: Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with previous CoreValve is feasible and safe.

Early hemodynamic and neurohormonal response after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

BACKGROUND The conventional surgical aortic bioprostheses used for treatment of aortic stenosis (AS) are inherently stenotic in nature. The more favorable mechanical profile of the Medtronic CoreValve bioprosthesis may translate into a better hemodynamic and neurohormonal response. PATIENTS AND METHODS The early hemodynamic and neurohormonal responses of 56 patients who underwent successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the Medtronic CoreValve bioprosthesis for severe symptomatic AS were compared with those of 36 patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) using tissue valves in the same period. RESULTS At baseline, patients in the TAVI and SAVR group had comparable indexed aortic valve area (0.33 ± 0.1 vs 0.34 ± 0.1 cm² , respectively; P = .69) and mean transvalvular gradient (51.1 ± 16.5 vs 53.1 ± 14.3 mm Hg, respectively; P = .56). At 30-day follow-up, mean transvalvular gradient was lower in the TAVI group than in the SAVR group (10.3 ± 4 vs 13.1 ± 6.2 mm Hg, respectively; P = .015), and the indexed aortic valve area was larger in the TAVI group (1.0 ± 0.14 vs 0.93 ± 0.13 cm²/m²; P = .017). There was a trend toward a higher incidence of moderate patient-prosthesis mismatch in the surgical group compared with the TAVI group (30.5% vs 17.8%, respectively; P = .11). The overall incidence of prosthetic regurgitation (any degree) was higher in the TAVI group than in the SAVR group (85.7% vs 16.7%, respectively; P < .00001). The left ventricular mass index decreased after TAVI (175.1 ± 61.8 vs 165.6 ± 57.2 g/m²; P = .0003) and remained unchanged after SAVR (165.1 ± 50.6 vs 161 ± 64.8 g/m²; P = .81). Similarly, NT-ProBNP decreased after TAVI (3,479 ± 2,716 vs 2,533 ± 1,849 pg/mL; P = .033) and remained unchanged after SAVR (1,836 ± 2,779 vs 1,689 ± 1,533 pg/mL; P = .78). There was a modest correlation between natriuretic peptides and left ventricular mass index in the whole cohort (r = 0.4, P = .013). CONCLUSION In patients with severe AS, TAVI resulted in lower transvalvular gradients and higher valve areas than SAVR. Such hemodynamic performance after TAVI may have contributed to early initiation of a reverse cardiac remodeling process and a decrease in natriuretic peptides.

Long-Term Clinical Outcome of Thin-Strut Cobalt-Chromium Stents in the Drug-Eluting Stent Era: Results of the COBALT (Comparison of Bare-Metal Stents in All-Comers’ Lesion Treatment) Registry

BACKGROUND Despite widespread penetration of drug-eluting stents (DES) in clinical practice, a relevant percentage of patients with coronary artery disease are still treated with bare-metal stents (BMS). Contemporary BMS, however, are less well investigated and comparative data on clinical outcome are lacking. METHODS AND RESULTS This single-center registry aimed to assess characteristics and outcome of patients treated with 2 different new-generation cobalt-chromium BMS, the MULTI-LINK VISION and PRO-Kinetic stents. During the study, adopted criteria for BMS selection were: (1) limited compliance to dual antiplatelet therapy, (2) ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) or saphenous vein graft (SVG) interventions, and (3) noncomplex lesions located either in the right coronary artery or in the nonproximal segments of the left coronary artery. During a 24-month period 1,176 patients were treated with the VISION (n = 438) or PRO-Kinetic stent (n = 738). Median duration of follow-up was 549.5 and 528.5 days, respectively. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel revascularization were numerically lower in the VISION group (10.4 vs. 12.3% and 11.9 vs. 15.2%, P = 0.24 and 0.11). Death (4.1 vs. 4.3%, P = 0.85), MI (2 vs. 2.3%, P = 0.78), and ARC definite stent thrombosis (0.5 vs. 0.5%, P = 0.84) were similar. By multivariate analysis, variables associated with TLR were SVG interventions (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.26-3.86), total stent length (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02), and smoking (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.05-2.16). CONCLUSION In the DES era, the use of last-generation thin-strut BMS in selected patients is associated with acceptable clinical outcome, with similar clinical results for both the MULTI-LINK VISION and PRO-Kinetic stents.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure with a novel self-modelizing device: A pre-clinical feasibility study

The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder. Twelve pigs were included. In 2 pigs the implantation process failed due to pericardial tamponade in 1 pig and device embolization in the other pig. The placement of the devices was controlled via TEE and fluoroscopy. After 6 weeks of implantation the hearts were explanted. The devices were found to be easy to deploy and showed a very good adaptation to the LAA tissue. Eight out of 10 pigs had full closure of the LAA directly after implantation. After six weeks, due to the self-modelizing properties of the device, all pigs had a full closure of the LAA. The macroscopic evaluation of the explanted hearts showed that all devices were securely integrated in LAA tissues. There was one case of mild pericarditis but no macroscopic signs of inflammation on the device surrounding endocardium. The explantation revealed that device loops had penetrated the LAA tissue in three pigs. However, no signs of bleeding, pericardial effusion, or other damage to the LAA wall could be detected and the pigs were in good condition with normal weight gain and no clinical symptoms. The Occlutech® LAA occluder achieved complete closure of the LAA in all pigs, and remained in the LAA, with benign healing and no evidence of new thrombus or damage to surrounding structures. Moreover, the uncompromised survival of all implanted pigs demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the device.

Clinical and hemodynamic predictors of natriuretic peptide elevation among aortic valve disease patients

We investigated the relative contribution of hemodynamic and clinical factors to serum natriuretic peptide elevation in seventy-one patients with either aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation. We found that pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and renal failure are the most powerful independent predictors of natriuretic peptide elevation in patients with aortic valve disease, irrespective of the type or severity of valvular lesion itself.

Pooled analysis of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty in Egypt

Till now, no pooled analysis summarizing the Egyptian experience in percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) exists.