Zulkif Tanriverdi

Treatment of an unusual complication of transfemoral TAVI with a new technique : successful occlusion of ventricular septal defect by opening the closure device in the ascending aorta : case report

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a rare complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) via the transfemoral approach. Aetiological factors leading to VSD have been reported as post-balloon dilatation, oversized prosthesis implantation, and severe calcification of the aorta. However, we present a case of VSD occurring after TAVI with an Edwards Sapien XT prosthesis without any distinct aetiological factors. We used a new technique for closure of the significant VSD; opening the left ventricular disc of the closure device in the ascending aorta and successfully implanting the device without any damage to the bioprosthetic valve.

GuideLiner catheter application in complex coronary lesions: experience of two centers

Objective: GuideLiner catheter provides adequate back-up support and a coaxial guide engagement for stent delivery in complex coronary anatomies. In this study, we aimed to present one of the largest series of experience with GuideLiner catheter utilized for challenging percutaneous coronary interventions in two centers. Methods: We retrospectively collected the coronary angiography records of 64 patients between January 1, 2012 and August 1, 2014 in whom conventional techniques failed for stent delivery and 5-in-6 Fr GuideLiner catheter was used for this purpose. The data were assessed in terms of the lesion characteristics, procedural success, and complications. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used in statistical analyses. Results: The mean age of the patients was 69.8±10.0 years. Femoral approach was employed in all cases. Lesions were mostly (90.6%) class B2 or C according to the AHA/ACC lesion classification. The GuideLiner catheter was mainly used to increase back-up of the guide catheter (85.9%), and in 95.3% of all cases, the procedure was successful. The mean depth of the GuideLiner catheter intubation was 30.3±21.6 mm. None of the patients had coronary dissection or major complications. Conclusion: In this study, we presented a large registry of two centers used the GuideLiner catheter. The device effectively allowed stent delivery in challenging lesions, where conventional techniques have failed, without major complications.

The Relationship between Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio and Fragmented QRS in Acute STEMI Patients Treated with Primary PCI ☆ ☆☆

BACKGROUND No study so far investigated fragmented QRS (fQRS) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) together in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between NLR and fQRS, and determine the prognostic significance of the combined use of these two parameters in STEMI. METHODS We included 368 patients with first acute STEMI who successfully revascularized with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. RESULTS Patients with fQRS had significantly higher NLR, and in-hospital mortality rate compared to patients with no-fQRS. The best cut-off value of NLR to predict mortality was 5.47. Patients with NLR≥5.47 had a higher frequency of fQRS and in-hospital mortality rate. Multivariate analysis showed that NLR was an independent predictor of the presence of fQRS (OR: 1.095, 95% CI: 1.039-1.153, P=0.001). When patients were stratified by fQRS and cut-off value of NLR, in-hospital mortality gradually increased (P<0.001). CONCLUSION NLR is independently associated with the presence of fQRS in STEMI patients. Combined use of both parameters provides additional prognostic contribution for identifying patients at higher cardiac risk.

Usefulness of fragmented QRS in hypertensive patients in the absence of left ventricular hypertrophy

In the absence of left ventricular hypertrophy, importance of fragmented QRS complex (fQRS) in individuals with hypertension is unknown. The authors aimed to evaluate the relationship between blood pressure levels and fQRS in the absence of left ventricular hypertrophy. A total of 548 never‐treated patients who underwent 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were enrolled. The frequency of fQRS was significantly higher in patients with hypertension than normotension (36.4% vs 17.6%, P<.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that systolic blood pressure is significantly associated with presence of fQRS on electrocardiography (odds ratio, 0.931; 95% CI, 0.910–0.9521 [P<.001]) even after adjusting for other confounding factors. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a cutoff value of 147.65 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure to predict presence of fQRS (sensitivity: 51%, specificity: 99%, area under the curve=0.764; 95% CI, 0.717–0.811 [P<.001]). fQRS may be a sign of increased blood pressure and may predict higher fibrotic burden in patients with hypertension.

Single Derivation Fragmented QRS Can Predict Poor Prognosis in Successfully Revascularized Acute STEMI Patients

Background QRS fragmentation (fQRS) is classically defined as the presence of slurred QRS morphology in at least two contiguous leads, and its prognostic importance has been shown in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, no study has investigated the significance of single lead fQRS (sl-fQRS) in surface electrocardiography (ECG). Objectives To evaluate whether sl-fQRS is as valuable as classical fQRS in patients with acute STEMI who had successful revascularization with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Methods We included 330 patients with a first STEMI who had been successfully revascularized with pPCI. The patient’s electrocardiography was obtained in the first 48 hours, and the patients were divided into three groups according to the absence of fQRS (no-fQRS); fQRS presence in a single lead (sl-fQRS); and ≥2 leads with fQRS (classical fQRS). Results In-hospital mortality was significantly higher both in patients with sl-fQRS and in patients with ≥ 2 leads with fQRS compared to patients with no-fQRS. In ROC curve analysis, ≥ 1 leads with fQRS yielded a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 57.4% for the prediction of in-hospital mortality. Multivariate analysis showed that sl-fQRS is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR: 3.989, 95% CI: 1.237-12.869, p = 0.021). Conclusions Although the concept of at least two derivations is mentioned for the classical definition of fQRS, our study showed that fQRS in only one lead is also associated with poor outcomes. Therefore, ≥1 leads with fQRS can be useful when describing the patients under high cardiac risk in acute STEMI.

Comparison of echocardiographic results of CoreValve versus Edwards Sapien valves in patients with bicuspid aortic valve

Although the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was performed in a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis, treatment of BAV with TAVI has traditionally been regarded as a relative contraindication [1,2]. Asymmetry of the valve orifice and annulus with heavily calcified leaflets and raphe could impair the expansion of transcatheter aortic valves, eventually leading to paravalvular leak and poor hemodynamic function. Nevertheless, limited number of case reports demonstrated the feasibility of TAVI in BAV stenosis [3–5]. We read with a great interest the manuscript by Watanabe et al. [6] titled “Comparison of Multislice Computed Tomography Findings Between Bicuspid and Tricuspid Aortic Valves Before and After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation” published on January 9, 2015 in the Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. The authors reported that the postprocedural mean transaortic gradient was significantly higher after CoreValve implantation in BAV compared to tricuspid aortic valves (TAV) while this situation was not observed with the Edwards valve. They proposed that CoreValve bioprosthesis may not fully expand in patients with heavily calcified BAV leading to a residual pressure gradient. In order to make such a conclusion in favor of balloon-expandable valve we think that a head-to-head comparison of CoreValve and Edwards valves in BAV group for post-procedural mean transaortic gradients should have been analyzed, however the authors did not mention such an analysis in their study. We suggest this gap should absolutely be filled with a revision. If there is significant difference between the bioprosthetic valves in BAV group, this result will be more interesting since in a recently published study with more participants any significant difference was not found between bioprosthetic valves in BAV [7]. Furthermore, it is plausible to think that compliance of self-expandable bioprosthesis will be greater to an oval shaped annulus because of the unique properties of nitinol in the CoreValve and the oval shape at the inflow portion of bioprosthesis is not expected to affect the valvular functions since the level of the leaflets is supra-annular. Finally, if calcification of aortic valve actually limits the self-expandable valve to expand then it will also be expected to occur in the case of calcified TAV which was not observed in any study before. In contrast, the mean post-procedural transaortic gradients were found to be lower with the effective orifice tending to be greater in CoreValve than Edwards valve [8].

Effect of transcatheter aortic valve replacement on P-wave duration, P-wave dispersion and left atrial size

Background P-wave dispersion (PWD), a measure of heterogeneity of atrial refractoriness, is defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum P-wave duration. In patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), P-wave duration and PWD were shown to be increased, indicating atrial electrical remodeling. However, the effect of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) on P-wave morphology has not been established yet. The aim of this study is to assess the short and long-term effects of TAVR with two types of bioprosthetic valves on P-wave duration and PWD in association with left atrial (LA) size. Methods Fifty-two (36 female) eligible patients in sinus rhythm who underwent transfemoral TAVR between June 01, 2012 and July 31, 2014 with either a Medtronic CoreValve (MCV) (n = 32) or an Edwards SAPIEN XT Valve (n = 20) were enrolled. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram and echocardiographic evaluations were performed pre-procedurally, post-TAVR day one and 6 months post-TAVR. P-wave duration and PWD were measured and correlation analyses with echocardiographic variables were performed. Results P-wave duration and PWD were significantly decreased on post-TAVR day one (P < 0.05). They continued to decrease during the six month follow-up period, but were not significantly different from short-term values (P > 0.05). The decrease of LA diameter was found significant at the sixth-months of follow-up (P < 0.05). These changes were independent from the types of bioprosthetic valves implanted (P > 0.05). A positive correlation was detected between minimum P-wave duration and maximum aortic valve gradients at post-TAVR day one (r = 0.297, P = 0.032). Conclusions P-wave duration and PWD were significantly reduced early after TAVR indicating early reverse atrial electrical remodeling. Moreover, structural reverse remodeling of atrium was detected at the 6-months of follow-up. The effects of two types of bioprosthetic valves on atrial remodeling were similar.

The usefulness of fQRS and QRS distortion for predicting reperfusion success and infarct-related artery patency in patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy.

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to determine whether the presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) and QRS distortion on admission ECG can be used to predict the success of treatment before beginning thrombolytic therapy (TT). Patients and methodsTwo hundred and three eligible patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction who received TT consecutively between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2013 were enrolled. The presence of fQRS and QRS distortion was analyzed at admission ECG. The electrocardiographic criteria of reperfusion were defined as 50% or more of ST resolution (STR), whereas the angiographic criteria of reperfusion were defined as thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 2/3 flow in the infarct-related artery. ResultsfQRS was detected in 63 (31%) patients. Compared with patients with non-fQRS, STR was lower (46.1±17.7 vs. 73.6±20.9, respectively; P<0.001), thrombolysis failure was higher (44.4 vs. 9.3%, respectively; P<0.001), and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 0/1 flow was more common (39.7 vs. 10.7%, respectively; P<0.001) in patients with fQRS. Higher numbers of fQRS derivations were significantly related to low percentages of STR (r=−0.615, P<0.001). In predicting occluded infarct-related artery, we found no difference between the negative predictive values of fQRS and inadequate STR after TT (89.3 vs. 95.1%; P>0.05). However, there was no relationship between QRS distortion and failed thrombolysis. ConclusionfQRS was detected in just 31% of the patients, but we found that it can be used to predict thrombolytic failure. Patients who have this simple marker on admission ECG may be directed to percutaneous interventions as a first-line therapy without any delay.

Inferior vena cava assessment can predict contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization: A single-center prospective study

Contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) following cardiac catheterization remains a considerable clinic challenge. Volume status is very important in the development of CIN. It can be assessed noninvasively by measuring inferior vena cava (IVC) diameters. The aim of this study was to assess whether IVC can be used for prediction of CIN in patient undergoing cardiac catheterization.

The importance of frontal QRS-T angle for predicting non-dipper status in hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy

ABSTRACT Background: Frontal QRS-T angle is a novel marker of myocardial repolarization, and an increased frontal QRS-T angle associated with adverse cardiac outcomes. Non-dipper hypertension is also associated with adverse cardiac outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between frontal QRS-T angle and non-dipper status in hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Methods: This study included 122 hypertensive patients without LVH. Patients were divided into two groups: dipper hypertension and non-dipper hypertension. The frontal QRS-T angle was calculated from 12-lead electrocardiography. Results: Frontal QRS-T angle (47.9° ± 29.7° vs. 26.7° ± 19.6°, P < 0.001) was significantly higher in patients with non-dipper hypertension than in patients with dipper hypertension. In addition, frontal QRS-T angle was positively correlated with sleeping systolic (r = 0.211, P = 0.020), and diastolic (r = 0.199, P = 0.028) blood pressures (BP), even if they were weak. Multivariate analysis showed that the frontal QRS-T angle was independent predictor of non-dipper status (QR: 1.037, 95% CI: 1.019–1.056, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Frontal QRS-T angle is independent predictor of non-dipper status in hypertensive patients without LVH.