Diagnostic accuracy study of routine echocardiography for bicuspid aortic valve: a retrospective study and meta-analysis.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the standard procedure to distinguish tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) from bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Published studies assessed the accuracy of TTE for BAV under ideal conditions. Conversely, we aimed at assessing accuracy of TTE for BAV under routine conditions.

Mitral valve prolapse syndrome and MASS phenotype: Stability of aortic dilatation but progression of mitral valve prolapse.

Background: Mitral valve prolapse syndrome (MVPS) and MASS phenotype (MASS) are Marfan-like syndromes that exhibit aortic dilatation and mitral valve prolapse. Unlike in Marfan syndrome (MFS), the presence of ectopia lentis and aortic aneurysm preclude diagnosis of MVPS and MASS. However, it is unclear whether aortic dilatation and mitral valve prolapse remain stable in MVPS or MASS or whether they progress like in MFS.

Thirty-day VARC-2 and performance data of a new self-expanding transcatheter aortic heart valve.

Aims: Transcatheter aortic valve therapy has become an established procedure for patients at high risk for surgical valve replacement. The BIOVALVE-I study aims to assess the safety and performance of a novel self-expanding transcatheter heart valve.

Methods And Results: In this prospective, single-centre, first-in-human study, 13 patients with severe aortic stenosis suitable for transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation were enrolled.

The main pulmonary artery in adults: a controlled multicenter study with assessment of echocardiographic reference values, and the frequency of dilatation and aneurysm in Marfan syndrome.

Background: Echocardiographic upper normal limits of both main pulmonary artery (MPA) diameters (MPA-d) and ratio of MPA to aortic root diameter (MPA-r) are not defined in healthy adults. Accordingly, frequency of MPA dilatation based on echocardiography remains to be assessed in adults with Marfan syndrome (MFS).

Methods: We enrolled 123 normal adults (72 men, 52 women aged 42 ± 14 years) and 98 patients with MFS (42 men, 56 women aged 39 ± 14 years) in a retrospective cross-sectional observational controlled study in four tertiary care centers.

Blood transfusion is associated with impaired outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the relationship of blood transfusion after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and mid-term outcome to improve patient selection and periprocedural treatment.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests a negative influence of blood transfusion on outcomes of patients with cardiovascular diseases. While the adverse impact of bleeding events on survival has been documented after TAVI, data on the impact of postoperative blood transfusions are scarce.