Evaluation of aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: aortic root angiography in comparison to cardiac magnetic resonance.

Aims: Aortic regurgitation (AR) is common after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Intraprocedural assessment of AR relies on aortic root angiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) phase-contrast mapping of the ascending aorta provides accurate AR quantification.

Functional effect of new atrial septal defect after percutaneous mitral valve repair using the MitraClip device.

Percutaneous mitral valve repair using the MitraClip device has become a therapeutic alternative for high surgical risk patients with symptomatic mitral regurgitation. The procedure involves transseptal puncture and results in a new atrial septal defect (ASD) after withdrawal of the 22Fr guiding catheter. The functional effect of the new ASD is not defined.

Two-year mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus medical therapy for high-surgical risk or inoperable aortic stenosis patients.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a therapeutic option for the treatment of high-risk or inoperable patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. The study aim was to compare the two-year mortality of high-risk or inoperable patients treated by TAVI compared to medical therapy, in a single-center setting.

Methods: A total of 135 consecutive patients (58 males, 77 females; mean age 80 +/- 6 years; logistic EuroSCORE 21 +/- 13%) who had undergone TAVI was compared to 135 patients (60 males, 75 females; mean age 79 +/- 3 years; logistic EuroSCORE 21 +/- 19%) who had undergone medical treatment before TAVI became available.

Impact of a new conduction defect after transcatheter aortic valve implantation on left ventricular function.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the impact of new conduction defects after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on the evolution of left ventricular (LV) function during 1-year follow-up.

Background: New left bundle branch block (LBBB) or need for permanent pacing due to atrioventricular (AV) block are frequent after TAVI.

Methods: A total of 90 consecutive patients treated with TAVI and who had 12-month echocardiographic follow-up were included in the study.

Analysis of procedural effects of percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair by 2D and 3D echocardiography.

Background: Analysis of procedural effects in patients undergoing percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) using the edge-to-edge technique is complex, and common methods to define mitral regurgitation severity based on 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography are not validated for postprocedural double-orifice mitral valve. This study used 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to determine the functional and morphological effects of PMVR.

Methods And Results: In 39 high-risk surgical patients with moderate to severe functional mitral valve regurgitation, 3D TEE with and without color Doppler as well as 2D transthoracic and TEE was performed before and after PMVR (MitraClip device).

Thirty-day outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with surgical valve replacement in patients with high-risk aortic stenosis: a matched comparison.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a therapeutic alternative to surgery for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in high-surgical risk patients. The aim of this study was to compare 30-day mortality of high-risk patients treated by TAVI versus surgical aortic valve replacement.

Methods: A total of 175 patients (60 men; mean age, 80±6 years; Euroscore 21±13%) having undergone TAVI were compared with 175 matched patients (76 men; mean age, 79±3 years; Euroscore 17±9%), which have undergone conventional aortic valve replacement and were deemed to be high-risk patients by the cardiothoracic surgeons.

Comparison of two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging techniques for measurement of aortic annulus diameters before transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: Different two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques are used for procedure planning and selection of prosthesis size before transcatheter aortic valve implantation. This study sought to compare different 2D and 3D imaging techniques and determine the accuracy of 3D transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for accurate analysis of aortic annulus dimensions.

Methods: In 49 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation angiography, 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 2D and 3D TEE, and dual-source CT (DSCT) were performed to determine aortic annulus diameters.

Incidence and predictors of left bundle branch block after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and predictors of left bundle branch block (LBBB) after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) using CoreValve and Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis.

Methods: 154 consecutive patients (53 male, mean age 81 ± 7 years) with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis underwent TAVI. Transfemoral AVI (CoreValve) was performed in 72 patients (47%).

Impact of transcutaneous aortic valve implantation on myocardial deformation.

Aims: To define the impact of transcutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the CoreValve prosthesis on myocardial deformation in a serial echocardiographic study with analysis of strain and strain rate.

Methods: In 36 patients (83 ± 6 years; EuroScore: 26 ± 13%) with severe aortic stenosis scheduled for CoreValve implantation serial echocardiographic studies pre- and postintervention (within 1 month) were performed. Midparasternal short-axis and three apical views were acquired.

Association of aortic valve calcification severity with the degree of aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: This study sought to examine a possible relationship between the severity of aortic valve calcification (AVC), the distribution of AVC and the degree of aortic valve regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: 57 patients (22 men, 81 ± 5 years) with symptomatic AS and with a logistic EuroSCORE of 24 ± 12 were included. 38 patients (67%) received a third (18F)-generation CoreValve® aortic valve prosthesis, in 19 patients (33%) an Edwards SAPIEN™ prosthesis was implanted.