Incidence and predictors of permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a balloon-expandable biosprosthesis in patients with bicuspid aortic valves.

Introduction: There are few data on permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) in patients who have undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictors and incidence of PPMI in bicuspid patients using a balloon-expandable (BE) TAVI device.

Material And Methods: A total of 62 patients with bicuspid morphology who had undergone successful TAVI using a BE device without previous PPMI were included (retrospectively).

Assessment of s-nitrosothiol and thiol/disulfide levels in acute coronary syndrome patients.

Background: The level of nitric oxide (NO) is important to protect the heart from ischemic damage in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. S-nitrosothiol (SNO) is a molecule that represents the main form of NO storage in the vascular structure. In addition, dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis (TDH) is known to play an important role in maintaining the oxidant-antioxidant balance.

Baseline Anemia Is an Independent Predictor of Long-Term Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between baseline anemia and long-term mortality in a single-center retrospective study involving patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The study population included 412 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI at a center for severe aortic valve stenosis between August 2011 and November 2018. The primary end point of the study was all-cause mortality.

Plasma thiol and disulphide levels and their relationship with left ventricular systolic functions: A propensity score matching analysis.

Objective: Left ventricular (LV) systolic function measured through LV ejection fraction (LVEF) has prognostic implications in patients with cardiac and non-cardiac conditions. The balance of thiol and disulphide levels reflects oxidative status in the body. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma thiol and disulphide levels, and LVEF calculated by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

The relationship between calcific severe aortic stenosis and systemic immune-inflammation index.

Aim: Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is a common valvular disease especially in elderly population. Inflammation plays significant role in the pathophysiological mechanism. Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a novel marker of immune system and inflammation that includes neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet cell counts.

Evaluation of QT dispersion and T-peak to T-end interval in patients with early-stage sarcoidosis.

Introduction And Aim: Sarcoidosis increases inhomogeneity in ventricular repolarization due to the presence of sarcoid granuloma, which significantly correlates with ventricular fibrillation. Various studies have suggested that the interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (T-peak to T-end [Tpe] interval) may correspond to the transmural dispersion of repolarization and that increased Tpe interval and Tpe/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The present study hypothesized that QT and Tpe intervals are significantly prolonged in sarcoidosis patients without apparent cardiac involvement.

Dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis and its prognostic value in patients with non-ST elevation-acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are still one of the leading causes of death in industrialised countries, and oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis plays an important role in maintaining the oxidant-antioxidant balance.

Aim: We aimed to demonstrate the relationship between dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters and non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS).

The effect of transcatheter aortic valve implantation on mean platelet volume.

Background/aim: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an innovative approach to the treatment of aortic stenosis (AS) as an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is considered an indicator of endothelial dysfunction, platelet function, and activation. In this study, we aimed to investigate MPV changes in patients undergoing TAVI.

Comparison between fractional flow reserve and visual assessment for moderate coronary artery stenosis.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is an interventional diagnostic method, based on intracoronary pressure measurement, used for the assessment of the severity of coronary artery stenoses.

Aim: Our study aimed to compare visual measurements made by multiple observers with FFR measurement in the assessment of angiographically moderate coronary artery stenosis.

Methods: The angiographic images of moderate coronary artery lesions of 359 patients enrolled in the study were interpreted independently by three interventional cardiologists assigned as observers (O1, O2, O3).

An unusual presentation of papillary fibroelastoma originating from right ventricular outflow tract.

Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are primary cardiac tumors with a benign and avascular nature. Majority of the PFEs are originated from the valvular endocardium, while the most common site is aortic valve. In this case, we present a patient with multiple PFEs originating from the right ventricular outflow tract who was admitted to our clinic with exertional dyspnea.

Successful simultaneous ipsilateral stenting of common iliac artery stenosis and transfemoral aortic valve replacement.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was designed to treat elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis at high risk for surgery, and is most commonly performed with retrograde approach through femoral arteries. However, in up to 30% of cases, it is either not possible to use this access route or it is considered to have high risk of vascular injury. Alternative approaches have been described for patients with no suitable femoral access: trans-subclavian, transaortic, or direct aortic access; however, since the introduction of new valves deployed with low-profile delivery systems, another alternative transcatheter approach has been discovered.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the Edwards Sapien 3 valve: First experiences in Turkey.

Objective: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has shown promising results in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) at high risk for open heart surgery. We aimed to evaluate outcomes of patients who underwent TAVI with Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve (S3), a second-generation TAVI device.

Methods: Between November 2014 and June 2016, 31 high-risk patients received balloon-expandable S3 valve at Atatürk Training and Research Hospital that has the largest case series in Turkey.

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Left Ventricular Apical Thrombus in Patients with Myocardial Infarction.

Background And Objectives: In this study, we examined the role of inflammatory parameters in an apical mural thrombus with a reduced ejection fraction due to large anterior myocardial infarction (MI).

Subjects And Methods: A total of 103 patients who had suffered from heart failure, 45 of whom had left ventricular apical thrombus (AT) after a large anterior MI, were enrolled in the study. A detailed clinical history was taken of each participant, biochemical inflammatory markers, which were obtained during admission, were analyzed and an echocardiographical and angiographical evaluation of specific parameters were performed.

Trans-subclavian aortic valve replacement with various bioprosthetic valves: Single-center experience.

Objective: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been accepted as an alternative to surgery in high risk or inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Although transfemoral approach is the most often preferred means of access, in patients with severe ilio-femoral arteriopathy, other vascular access sites may be required. The aim of the present study was to report our experience with trans-subclavian approach for TAVR using different valve systems.

Higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is related to a lower ejectionfraction in bicuspid aortic valve patients.

Background/aim: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of vascular disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the associations of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR; an indicator of inflammation) with left ventricular ejection fraction and ascending aorta diameter in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).

Materials And Methods: One hundred and thirty-nine consecutive patients with the diagnosis of BAV were enrolled in the study.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis 7 months after transcatheter aortic valve implantation diagnosed with 3D TEE.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was introduced as an alternative treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis for whom surgery would be high-risk. Prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis is a serious complication of surgical AVR (SAVR) with high morbidity and mortality. According to recent cases, post-TAVI prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) seems to occur very rarely.

Crucial role of safety guidewire in transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Two cases with vascular complication.

Vascular complications increasing the rates of morbidity and mortality are among the most common complications observed during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Endovascular management is often life-saving. However, due to limitations of time in cases of iliac rupture and dissection, precautions taken prior to the procedure and the placement of safety guidewire in the contralateral femoral artery are crucial.

[Long-term survival in a case of unoperated single ventricle].

Single ventricle is a rare congenital heart disease, typically diagnosed with dyspnea and cyanosis. The number of patients who reach adulthood without having undergone surgical treatment is limited due to poor prognosis. While some reports describe patients who have reached the 2nd and 3rd decades of life, it is very interesting that the case of the patient who has lived the longest with unoperated single ventricle is reported in Turkey.

Immediate recovery of the left atrial and left ventricular diastolic function after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A transesophageal echocardiography study.

Background: Chronic increased afterload due to severe aortic stenosis (AS) results in com-pensatory concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and LV dysfunction. These in turn cause remodeling of the left heart. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on left atrial (LA) mechanics and LV diastolic function.

Bulging sign: A precursor of annular rupture observed before aortic balloon rupture during valvuloplasty in transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) is a reliable alternative to surgical aortic-valve replacement in inoperable or high-risk patients. However, this evolving therapy is associated with a wide range of potential complications- some specific to TAVI, some often fatal. Prevention, early recognition, and taking essential precautions will significantly improve results.

Assessment of the left ventricular function in normotensive prediabetics: a tissue Doppler echocardiography study.

Objective: Several studies have shown that left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is increased in individuals with diabetes. However, there are scarce data about LV function in prediabetics. This study assessed the early changes in LV diastolic and systolic myocardial function in normotensive prediabetics using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE).

Transfemoral aortic valve implantation in severe aortic stenosis patients with prior mitral valve prosthesis.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis in patients with a previous mitral valve prosthesis is technically challenging, and pre-procedural comprehensive assessment of these patients before transcatheter aortic valve implantation is vital for an uncomplicated and successful procedure.

Aim: We want to share our experience with transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with a preexisting functional mitral valve prosthesis and describe a series of important technical and pre-procedural details.

Material And Methods: At our center, 135 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis were treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in the presence of hematologic malignancies.

Objective: Cardiac surgery may be performed in patients with hematologic disorders, but carries an increased risk of morbidity. This series describes an experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with hematologic malignancies, and highlights the technical considerations to be kept in mind.

Methods: Between June 2011 and April 2014, 133 consecutive high-risk patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis were treated with TAVI at our centre.