Coronary Artery Disease and Severe Aortic Stenosis: Contemporary Treatment Options for Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Approximately 50% of individuals eligible for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have coronary artery disease (CAD). The influence of CAD, both its prevalence and severity, on post-TAVI clinical results has yielded conflicting findings. Recent research has shown positive results for the use of computed tomography angiography and functional percutaneous evaluation of coronary lesions in the pre-TAVI assessment, besides the classic coronary angiography.

Recognizing and preventing complications regarding bioresorbable scaffolds during coronary interventions.

The evolution of coronary intervention techniques and equipment has led to more sophisticated procedures for the treatment of highly complex lesions. However, as a result, the risk of complications has increased, which are mostly iatrogenic and often include equipment failure. Stent dislodgement warrants vigilance for the early diagnosis and a stepwise management approach is required to either expand or retrieve the lost stent.

Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease: From Pathophysiology to Treatment.

The Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) is the most common congenital anomaly in adults, with a global incidence of 1.3%. Despite being well documented, BAV presents significant clinical challenges due to its phenotypic heterogeneity, diverse clinical manifestations, and variable outcomes.

Impact of Stress Echocardiography on Aortic Valve Stenosis Management.

Rest and stress echocardiography (SE) play a fundamental role in the evaluation of aortic valve stenosis (AS). According to the current guidelines for the echocardiographic evaluation of patients with aortic stenosis, four broad categories can be defined: high-gradient AS (mean gradient ≥ 40 mmHg, peak velocity ≥ 4 m/s, aortic valve area (AVA) ≤ 1 cm or indexed AVA ≤ 0.6 cm/m); low-flow, low-gradient AS with reduced ejection fraction (mean gradient < 40 mmHg, AVA ≤ 1 cm, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50%, stroke volume index (Svi) ≤ 35 mL/m); low-flow, low-gradient AS with preserved ejection fraction (mean gradient < 40 mmHg, AVA ≤ 1 cm, LVEF ≥ 50%, SVi ≤ 35 mL/m); and normal-flow, low-gradient AS with preserved ejection fraction (mean gradient < 40 mmHg, AVA ≤ 1 cm, indexed AVA ≤ 0.

Mortality Rates in Patients Undergoing Urgent Versus Elective Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-analysis.

Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AoS) often present with acute heart failure and compensation, frequently leading to cardiogenic shock. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) has been recently performed as a bailout treatment in such patients. The aim of our meta-analysis is to compare urgent TAVR with elective procedures.