An odyssey of suturing cardiac wounds: Lessons from the past.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Cardiac wounds have been described for centuries and still remain to be fatal. For a long period of time, the suturing of a myocardial laceration was thought to be absolutely impossible if not sacrilege.

Methods: It is only at the end of the 19th century that pioneers decided to defy such a dogma in desperate cases.

Five-Year Clinical Outcome and Valve Durability After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in High-Risk Patients.

Background: The FRANCE-2 registry (French Aortic National Corevalve and Edwards) previously reported good early- and medium-term clinical and echocardiographic efficacy for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. We here report 5-year follow-up results from the registry.

Methods: The registry includes all consecutive patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis in France.

Hemodynamic Results and Mid-term Follow-up of 850 19 to 23 mm Perimount Magna Ease Valves.

Background:  Aortic valve replacement (AVR) in small aortic roots remains a surgical dilemma with a higher risk of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM). The Perimount Magna Ease aortic valve (PMEAV) represents an attractive device in such cases. We examined the early hemodynamic performance, the mid-term outcomes of the PMEAV, and the impact of PPM on outcome and functional class.

Conventional aortic valve replacement in 2005 elderly patients: a 32-year experience.

Objectives: Considering the good immediate results reported for transcatheter aortic valve implantation in high-risk patients, the role of conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) is being questioned, especially in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate our long-term results of conventional AVR in octogenarians.

Methods: A total of 2005 patients aged ≥80 years underwent AVR for aortic stenosis in our institution between 1978 and 2011.

Impact of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Insights from the FRANCE-2 registry.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is common in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the impact of CAD distribution before TAVR on short- and long-term prognosis remains unclear.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the long-term clinical impact differs according to CAD distribution in patients undergoing TAVR using the FRench Aortic National CoreValve and Edwards (FRANCE-2) registry.

Predictors and prognostic impact of new left bundle branch block after surgical aortic valve replacement.

Background: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) induces mechanical dyssynchrony that may lead to left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Aims: To evaluate the incidence, predictors and clinical impact of new LBBB in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods: After exclusion of patients with pre-existing LBBB, a previous pacemaker or a paced rhythm at hospital discharge, 547 consecutive patients undergoing SAVR were included.

Long-term follow-up of bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement in patients aged ≤60 years.

Objective: To address the long-term durability of bioprostheses used for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in adult patients aged ≤60 years at the time of surgery.

Methods: Through a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database, we identified 416 bioprosthetic AVRs performed between 1977 and 2013. A prospective follow-up of valve-related and non-valve-related events was performed.

Baseline characteristics and outcomes after transcatheter aortic-valve implantation in patients with or without previous balloon aortic valvuloplasty: Insights from the FRANCE 2 registry.

Background: Some patients who are at high surgical risk because of multiple co-morbidities undergo balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) as a bridge therapy towards transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI).

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical course of patients with or without previous BAV who underwent TAVI and were included in the FRANCE 2 registry.

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2011, 3953 patients underwent TAVI.

Increased valvulo-arterial impedance differently impacts left ventricular longitudinal, circumferential, and radial function in patients with aortic stenosis: A speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Background: In aortic stenosis (AS), the left ventricle (LV) should face an increased afterload that is due to both the stenotic aortic valve and the peripheral vascular resistance (PVR). Valvulo-arterial impedance (ZV ) is a recently introduced parameter, which permits the evaluation of global LV afterload in AS. Aim of this study was to assess the influence of increasing ZV on the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial components of LV mechanics.

Late Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in High-Risk Patients: The FRANCE-2 Registry.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized management of high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, survival and the incidence of severe complications have been assessed in relatively small populations and/or with limited follow-up.

Objectives: This report details late clinical outcome and its determinants in the FRANCE-2 (FRench Aortic National CoreValve and Edwards) registry.

Mid-term durability of the Trifecta bioprosthesis for aortic valve replacement.

Objective: To clarify the mid-term durability of the Trifecta bioprosthesis for aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected data of 824 consecutive implants of the Trifecta valve at a single institution. A 100% complete follow-up was available (average duration, 2.

Haemodynamic performance of the small supra-annular Trifecta bioprosthesis: results from a French multicentre study.

Objectives: The St Jude Medical Trifecta bioprosthesis incorporates a single pericardial sheet externally mounted on a titanium stent that provides excellent haemodynamic results. The purpose of this multicentre study was to report on the haemodynamic performance and the expected lower risk of prosthesis-patient mismatch in patient with small aortic annulus diameters.

Methods: The 19- and 21-mm Trifecta valves were implanted in 88 and 266 eligible patients, respectively between 2011 and 2013 at three centres in France (Angers, Rennes and Amiens).

Combined Coronary Revascularization: Single-Center 10-Year Experience.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the long-term outcome of combined coronary revascularization.

Methods: Between January 2000 and September 2010, 106 consecutive patients underwent combined coronary revascularization, either the same day or staged within 90 days. Percutaneous coronary intervention was always performed before coronary artery bypass grafting.

Feasibility of Valve-in-Valve Procedure for Degenerated St. Jude Medical Trifecta Bioprosthesis.

The valve-in-valve (ViV) procedure is an option for patients with symptomatic structural degeneration of a bioprosthesis and excessive reoperative risk. The risk of coronary obstruction appears to be increased if ViV is performed for certain pericardial prostheses in which the leaflets are mounted outside the stent posts. Herein is described a successful ViV for a degenerated Trifecta aortic bioprosthesis, and the technical considerations for performing a ViV procedure within such types of prosthesis are considered.

Appraisal of Long-Term Outcomes of Tricuspid Valve Replacement in the Current Perspective.

Background: We address the differential long-term results of tricuspid valve replacement and late valve-related events among bioprostheses versus mechanical prostheses.

Methods: In a single-institution investigation, we reviewed the patients' prospectively collected data and performed a clinical follow-up. Both the Kaplan-Meier (actuarial) and the competing risks (actual) methodologies were used.

Baseline Characteristics and Prognostic Implications of Pre-Existing and New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Results From the FRANCE-2 Registry.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF) and of patients who presented with new-onset AF after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Background: Little is known regarding the impact of AF after TAVI.

Methods: The FRANCE-2 registry included all patients undergoing TAVI (N = 3,933) in France in 2010 and 2011.

Survival and quality of life after extracorporeal life support for refractory cardiac arrest: A case series.

Objectives: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is an emerging option to treat selected patients with cardiac arrest refractory to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Our primary objective was to determine the mortality at 30 days and at hospital discharge among adult patients receiving veno-arterial ECLS for refractory cardiac arrest. Our secondary objectives were to determine the 1-year survival and the health-related quality of life, and to examine factors associated with 30-day mortality.

Comparison of Preoperative and Postoperative Characteristics in Octogenarians Having Isolated Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Before Versus After Introduction of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most frequent heart valve disease. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the reference treatment. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an alternative treatment.

Three-year haemodynamic performance of the St Jude Trifecta bioprosthesis.

Objectives: To examine the haemodynamic performance of the St Jude Trifecta valve for aortic valve replacement (AVR) at 3 years after implantation.

Methods: In a single-centre, prospective, observational, independent study, we enrolled 122 patients who had AVR using a Trifecta bioprosthesis in the July 2010-June 2011 period. A clinical and echocardiographic in-house follow-up was scheduled.

Comparison of Outcome of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With Versus Without Previous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (from the FRANCE 2 Registry).

Previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) increases operative risk in conventional valve replacement. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been shown to be successful in high-risk patient subgroups. The present study compared outcome and overall survival in patients who underwent TAVI with and without history of CABG.

Comparison of outcomes after one-versus-two transcatheter aortic valve implantation during a same procedure (from the FRANCE2 Registry).

Analysis of the causes, outcomes, and mortality of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis requiring the implantation of 2 valves during transcatheter aortic valve implantation was conducted from the French Aortic National CoreValve and Edwards 2 (FRANCE2) registry. Pre- and postprocedural data from 3,919 patients from January 2010 to December 2011 (CoreValve or Edwards) were collated and analyzed. Characteristics of patients requiring immediate second valve procedures were compared with those of the other patients.