Early outcomes of transapical mitral valve implantation versus surgical replacement in matched elderly patients at intermediate surgical risk.

Background: Data comparing transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) with surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR) are lacking.

Aims: This study sought to compare the 30-day Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-3 device success of TMVI with that of SMVR.

Methods: Matching protocol combined exact matching (sex, atrial fibrillation, previous surgical aortic valve replacement [SAVR] or coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]), coarsened exact matching (age) and propensity score matching (body mass index, mitral valve pathology and concomitant tricuspid regurgitation).

Cone versus conventional repair for Ebstein's anomaly.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate tricuspid valve function and adverse events after conventional repair and valve replacement for Ebstein's anomaly and compare them with cone repair.

Methods: The medical records of 151 patients (mean age, 25 years; 62% were female) who underwent operation in a single center from 1985 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. To determine tricuspid valve regurgitation during follow-up, serial echocardiographic examination was used (n = 2397, tricuspid regurgitation grades were graphed for every patient).

Excellent Hemodynamic Performance After Aortic Valve Neocuspidization Using Autologous Pericardium.

Background: Aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo) for trileaflet aortic valve reconstruction using autologous pericardium (Ozaki procedure) offers an alternative treatment modality to overcome drawbacks of conventional prosthetic aortic valve replacement.

Methods: Between October 2016 and April 2019, 103 patients underwent surgery. Mean follow-up was 426 ± 270 days.

Beyond the five-year horizon: long-term outcome of high-risk and inoperable patients undergoing TAVR with first-generation devices.

Aims: We sought to determine the long-term outcome of high-risk patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with first-generation devices with a focus on the identification of predictors for mortality and valve durability.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients in our prospective single-centre registry undergoing TAVR with first-generation devices (n=214 CoreValve; n=86 SAPIEN) between 06/2007 and 07/2009 were retrospectively analysed (n=300, mean age 81.43±6.

Outcomes in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Bicuspid Versus Tricuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is being increasingly performed in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis (AS).

Objectives: This study sought to compare the procedural and clinical outcomes in patients with bicuspid versus tricuspid AS from the Bicuspid AS TAVR multicenter registry.

Methods: Outcomes of 561 patients with bicuspid AS and 4,546 patients with tricuspid AS were compared after propensity score matching, assembling 546 pairs of patients with similar baseline characteristics.

Access and closure of the left ventricular apex: state of play.

Calcific aortic stenosis is the most frequent manifestation of valvular heart disease. The preferred treatment for patients of all age groups is surgical aortic valve replacement. Recently, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the standard of care for patients that are deemed to be at high risk for open heart surgery.

Optical monitoring during bioreactor conditioning of tissue-engineered heart valves.

Currently, one approach to tissue engineering has been to develop in vitro conditions to fabricate functional cardiovascular structures such as heart valves before final implantation. In vivo conditions are simulated using a bioreactor system that supplies cells with oxygen and culture media while providing mechanical stimulation to promote tissue maturation. In our experiment, we developed a novel combined optical monitoring and conditioning device.

Use of human umbilical cord blood-derived progenitor cells for tissue-engineered heart valves.

Background: Tissue engineering of autologous heart valves with the potential to grow and to remodel represents a promising concept. Here we describe the use of cryopreserved umbilical cord blood-derived CD133(+) cells as a single cell source for the tissue engineering of heart valves.

Methods: After expansion and differentiation of CD133(+) cells, phenotypes were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and cryopreserved.