Transfemoral Compared to Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Chronic Dialysis-Dependent Patients.

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) represent a high-risk population in terms of both development of and death by cardiovascular diseases. Outcome data of ESRD patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) treated by transcatheter aortic valve implantation (AVI) are scarce. We aim to compare the outcome of ESRD patients undergoing transfemoral (TF) or transapical (TA) AVI.

The Resilience of Polish Doctors and Their Behavioral Patterns in Coping with Work-Related Stress.

The aim of this study was to assess stress-coping patterns among Polish doctors, taking into account their degree of resilience and sociodemographic characteristics. This study involved 832 (100%) Polish physicians working in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. All respondents gave their informed and voluntary consent to participate.

Empagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction in patients with and without type 2 diabetes: A pre-specified analysis of the EMPACT-MI trial.

Aims: In the EMPACT-MI trial, empagliflozin reduced heart failure (HF) hospitalizations but not mortality in acute myocardial infarction (MI). Contemporary reports of clinical event rates with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in acute MI trials are sparse. The treatment effect of empagliflozin in those with and without T2DM in acute MI is unknown.

2024 Update on Cerebral Embolic Protection After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Cerebral embolic protection (CEP) during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an important tool in reducing stroke risk associated with this intervention. With the recent expansion of TAVR into lower-risk populations, the role of preventive strategies gained greater significance. Despite advancements in TAVR technologies, peri-procedural stroke remains a significant complication, with rates ranging between 2 and 5%.

Advances in Cardiac Imaging and Genetic Testing for Diagnosis and Risk Stratification in Cardiomyopathies: 2024 Update.

Cardiomyopathies represent a diverse group of heart muscle diseases marked by structural and functional abnormalities that are not primarily caused by coronary artery disease. Recent advances in non-invasive imaging techniques, such as echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and computed tomography, have transformed diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification, reemphasizing the role of cardiac imaging in diagnosis, phenotyping, and management of these conditions. Genetic testing complements imaging by clarifying inheritance patterns, assessing sudden cardiac death risk, and informing therapeutic choices.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Function in Three Oncologic Therapeutic Modalities in Women with Breast Cancer: The ONCO-ECHO Multicenter Study.

: Oncological treatment of breast cancer may be associated with adverse effects on myocardial function. : The objective of this study was to compare the influence of three oncological treatment methods of intervention on the echocardiographic (ECHO) parameters of left ventricular function. : One hundred and fifty-five women with breast cancer were divided into three groups depending on the type of therapy used: group I (AC)-anthracyclines; group II (AC + TZ)-anthracyclines + trastuzumab; and group III (RTls+)-anthracyclines with or without trastuzumab + left-sided radiotherapy.

The role of external iliac artery diameter indexed to BSA score in predicting vascular access complications after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Introduction: Aortic stenosis is the most common primary valve disease and requires invasive treatment. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) from a transfemoral access is a routine intervention worldwide.

Aim: To investigate the correlation between external iliac artery diameter (EIAD) indexed to body surface area (BSA) (EIAD-BSA) and access site complications in patients undergoing TAVI via transfemoral access (TF) (TF-TAVI).

VARC-3 defined outcome of valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation in stentless compared with stented aortic bioprostheses.

Background: Valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a viable alternative to redo surgery in selected patients with bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. Most ViV-TAVI procedures have been performed in stented bioprosthetic valves (ST); stentless bioprostheses (SL) lack fluoroscopic markers and could be more challenging for ViV-TAVI. Data on more recent patients applying Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-3 defined outcomes are scarce.

Accelerometer vs. other activity measures in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the VITALITY-HFpEF trial.

Aims: The relationship between accelerometry data and changes in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Physical Limitation Score (KCCQ-PLS) or 6 min walk test (6MWT) is not well understood.

Methods And Results: VITALITY-HFpEF accelerometry substudy (n = 69) data were assessed at baseline and 24 weeks. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to assess the association between accelerometry activity and deterioration, improved, or unchanged KCCQ-PLS (≥8.

Impact of vs. Induced Infective Endocarditis after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background: The two most common organisms found in infective endocarditis following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI-IE) are (EC-IE) and (SC-IE). We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with EC-IE and SC-IE.

Methods: TAVI-IE patients from 2007 to 2021 were included in this analysis.

Surgical Treatment of Patients With Infective Endocarditis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background: The optimal treatment of patients developing infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is uncertain.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with TAVI-IE treated with cardiac surgery and antibiotics (IE-CS) compared with patients treated with antibiotics alone (IE-AB).

Methods: Crude and inverse probability of treatment weighting analyses were applied for the treatment effect of cardiac surgery vs medical therapy on 1-year all-cause mortality in patients with definite TAVI-IE.

Perivalvular Extension of Infective Endocarditis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been associated with a dismal prognosis. However, scarce data exist on IE perivalvular extension (PEE) in such patients.

Methods: This multicenter study included 579 patients who had the diagnosis of definite IE at a median of 171 (53-421) days following TAVR.

Infective Endocarditis Caused by Staphylococcus aureus After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (SA) has been extensively studied as causative microorganism of surgical prosthetic-valve infective endocarditis (IE). However, scarce evidence exists on SA IE after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: Data were obtained from the Infectious Endocarditis After TAVR International Registry, including patients with definite IE after TAVR from 59 centres in 11 countries.

High Residual Gradient Following a Self-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve-in-Valve Implantation - Risk Factor Analysis, Outcomes, and Survival.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation (TAVI-ViV) can be associated with unfavorable hemodynamic outcomes. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, identify the risk factors, and evaluate the outcomes and survival of patients with high residual gradients after TAVI-ViV.

Methods: A total of 85 patients were included in the study.

Stroke Complicating Infective Endocarditis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Stroke is one of the most common and potentially disabling complications of infective endocarditis (IE). However, scarce data exist about stroke complicating IE after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with definite IE after TAVR complicated by stroke during index IE hospitalization.

Cardiac conduction abnormalities in patients with degenerated bioprostheses undergoing transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantations and their impact on long-term outcomes.

Background: The relationship between preoperative cardiac conduction abnormalities (CCA) and long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation (TAVI-VIV) remains unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative CCA on mortality and morbidity after TAVI-VIV and to estimate the impact of new-onset CCA on postoperative outcomes.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2020, 201 patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses were qualified for TAVI-VIV procedures in two German heart centers.

Direct Percutaneous Mitral Annuloplasty in Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation: When and How.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a frequent valvular disease among patients deemed too high risk for surgery. Echocardiography along with CT is the primary diagnostic tool for MR and offers a comprehensive 3D assessment in patient selection and screening for the optimal treatment method. The direct percutaneous mitral annuloplasty addresses the underlying mechanisms of functional MR with a less invasive, catheter-based approach.

Prospective multicenter Polish Stress Echocardiography Registry (PolStress-Echopro) - the role in clinical practice.

Background: Stress echocardiography (SE) is becoming an increasingly frequently performed diagnostic examination in Poland. After the published retrospective PolSTRESS Registry, this prospective study is the first one available so far.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze SE tests, taking into account the clinical characteristics of the patients, indications, applied protocols, and diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.

Transfemoral implantation of the ACURATE neo prosthesis using a low-profile expandable introducer system: A multicenter registry.

Background: The ACURATE neo prosthesis is commonly implanted using introducer sheaths with inner diameters of up to 20 French. The use of only the expandable mesh component of the transGlide introducer system (Mesh) would substantially decrease the inner diameter to 13 French. We sought to assess the feasibility and safety of using Mesh for femoral access of the ACURATE neo device and to compare outcomes with patients in whom standard sheaths were used.

Characterization of Bacteriophage vB-EcoS-95, Isolated From Urban Sewage and Revealing Extremely Rapid Lytic Development.

Morphological, biological, and genetic characteristics of a virulent phage, named vB-EcoS-95, is reported. This phage was isolated from urban sewage. It was found to infect some strains giving clear plaques.

Cerebral embolic protection systems for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

In the recent years, ischemic brain injury related to embolization after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has received increased attention as new embolic protection strategies emerged to protect the brain. Diverse cerebral protection devices have been developed to reduce cerebral embolization during TAVR. These devices work through various mechanisms and are in different stages of clinical translation.