Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in low-risk tricuspid or bicuspid aortic stenosis: the NOTION-2 trial.

Background And Aims: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the first choice to treat older patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). This study aimed to compare TAVI with surgery in low-risk patients ≤75 years of age, including both tricuspid and bicuspid AS.

Methods: The Nordic Aortic Valve Intervention (NOTION)-2 trial enrolled and 1:1 randomized low-risk patients aged ≤75 years with severe symptomatic AS to TAVI or surgery.

Antithrombotic Medication and Major Complications After Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement.

Patients with mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) require lifelong vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy for stroke and systemic embolism prevention. However, VKA treatment predisposes patients to various types of bleeding. In the present study, we sought to assess the success of antithrombotic therapy and the occurrence and timing of strokes and bleeding events after mechanical AVR.

Impact of Intraprocedural Pressure Changes on Hemodynamic Outcome During Self-Expanding TAVR.

Introduction: During the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure, hemodynamic measurements can be used to evaluate transcatheter heart valve (THV) performance. We hypothesized that the occurrence of a significant decrease in invasive aortic pressure immediately after annular contact by a self-expanding THV indicates effective annular sealing. This phenomenon could thus be used as a marker for the occurrence of paravalvular leak (PVL).

Long-term outcomes of mechanical versus biological valve prosthesis in native mitral valve infective endocarditis.

. To study the long-term outcomes of mitral valve replacement with mechanical or biological valve prostheses in native mitral valve infective endocarditis patients. .

Impaired long-term outcomes of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder after coronary artery bypass surgery: nationwide case-control study.

Background: Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder have increased risk of coronary artery disease.

Aims: To investigate long-term outcomes of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and coronary artery disease after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG).

Method: Data from patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (n = 126) were retrospectively compared with propensity-matched (1:20) control patients without schizophrenia spectrum disorder (n = 2520) in a multicentre study in Finland.

Long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with RA ( = 378) were retrospectively compared to patients without RA ( = 7560), all treated with CABG in a multicentre, population-based cohort register study in Finland. The outcomes were studied with propensity score-matching adjustment for baseline features.

Long-Term Outcomes of Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and events. Little is, however, known about the influence of RA to the outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). In a retrospective, nationwide, multicenter cohort study, RA patients (n = 109) were compared to patients without RA (n = 1090) treated with isolated SAVR for aortic valve stenosis.

Intravenous Interferon-β1a for the Treatment of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Acute Myocardial Infarct in Pigs.

Background: To investigate the potential of intravenously administered porcine recombinant interferon-β1a (IFN-β1a) for myocardial protection during acute ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in an experimental animal model.

Methods: Twenty-two piglets (mean ± standard deviation, 26.7 ± 1.

Late incidence and recurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation after isolated surgical aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery. More knowledge is needed about long-term AF recurrence and adverse outcomes related to new-onset AF (NOAF) during the index hospitalization.

Methods: A total of 1073 patients underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement at the 4 participating hospitals (2002-2014).

Infective endocarditis and outcomes of mitral valve replacement.

Background: We investigated the long-term outcomes of mitral valve replacement (MVR) in native mitral valve infective endocarditis (IE).

Methods: Multicentre, population-based cohort register study consisted of 1233 consecutive adult patients treated with first-time MVR in Finland. Mitral valve IE was diagnosed in 170 of these patients.

A randomized prospective multicenter trial for stroke prevention by prophylactic surgical closure of the left atrial appendage in patients undergoing bioprosthetic aortic valve surgery--LAA-CLOSURE trial protocol.

Patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are at high risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke after surgery. There is an unmet clinical need to improve stroke prevention in this patient population. The LAA-CLOSURE trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of prophylactic surgical closure of the left atrial appendage for stroke and cardiovascular death prevention in patients undergoing bioprosthetic SAVR.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have impaired long-term outcomes after myocardial infarction: a nationwide case-control registry study.

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcomes of patients with RA after myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: All-comer, real-life MI patients with RA (n = 1614, mean age 74 years) were retrospectively compared with propensity score (1:5) matched MI patients without RA (n = 8070) in a multicentre, nationwide, cohort register study in Finland. The impact of RA duration and the usage of corticosteroids and antirheumatic drugs on RA patients' outcomes were also studied.

Dedicated plug based closure for large bore access -The MARVEL prospective registry.

Objectives: To study safety and performance of the MANTA Vascular closure device (VCD) under real world conditions in 10 centers.

Background: The MANTA is a novel plug-based device for large bore arteriotomy closure.

Methods: We included all eligible patients who underwent transfemoral large bore percutaneous procedures.

Surgical aortic valve replacement and infective endocarditis.

Background: We wanted to investigate the influence of native-valve infective endocarditis (IE) on long-term outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods: Native-valve patients with IE (n = 191) were compared to propensity score-matched patients without IE (n = 191), all treated with SAVR, in a multicentre, population-based cohort register study in Finland. The median follow-up was 6.

Outcome of acute myocardial infarction versus stable coronary artery disease patients treated with coronary bypass surgery.

Objective: To study the long-term outcome differences between acute myocardial infarction (MI) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: We studied retrospectively patients with MI ( = 1882) or stable CAD ( = 13117) treated with isolated CABG between 2004 and 2014. Inverse propensity probability weight adjustment for baseline features was used.

Outcomes After ST-Segment Versus Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Revascularized by Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the outcome differences between ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients treated with coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort follow-up study of consecutive patients with STEMI (surgery ≤48 hours of admission; n = 348) or NSTEMI (n = 1,160) revascularized with first-time isolated CABG in Finland using nationwide registries (median age 68 years, 24% women). The short- and long-term (10-year) outcomes were studied with inverse propensity probability weight adjustment for baseline features.

Indications and predictors for pacemaker implantation after isolated aortic valve replacement with bioprostheses: the CAREAVR study.

Objectives: We sought to study the indications, long-term occurrence, and predictors of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) after isolated surgical aortic valve replacement with bioprostheses.

Methods: The CAREAVR study included 704 patients (385 females, 54.7%) without a preoperative PPI (mean ± standard deviation age 75 ± 7 years) undergoing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement at 4 Finnish hospitals between 2002 and 2014.

Adverse events and survival with postpericardiotomy syndrome after surgical aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a relatively common complication after cardiac surgery. However, long-term follow-up data on the adverse events and mortality of PPS patients requiring invasive interventions are scarce.

Methods: We sought to assess the occurrence of mortality, new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), cerebrovascular events, and major bleeds in PPS patients requiring medical attention in a combination database of 671 patients who underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis (n = 361) or mechanical prosthesis (n = 310) between 2002 and 2014 (Cardiovascular Research Consortium-A Prospective Project to Identify Biomarkers of Morbidity and Mortality in Cardiovascular Interventional Patients [CAREBANK] 2016-2018).

Preoperative paroxysmal atrial fibrillation predicts high cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis: CAREAVR study.

Background: Preoperative permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with impaired outcome after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The impact of preoperative paroxysmal AF, however, has remained elusive.

Purpose: We assessed the impact of preoperative paroxysmal AF on outcome in patients undergoing SAVR with bioprosthesis.

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes of Patients Having Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement With Versus Without Simultaneous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Coronary artery disease is a common co-morbidity of aortic stenosis. When needed, adding coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the standard treatment method, but the impact of concomitant CABG on long-term outcomes is uncertain. We compared long-term outcomes of SAVR patients with and without CABG.

Performance of CHADS-VASc score for stroke prediction after surgical aortic valve replacement.

Objective: Stroke is a frequent complication occurring early and late after surgical aortic valve replacement. There is an unmet clinical need for simple tools to assess postoperative stroke risk. We sought to assess the predictive performance of Congestive heart failure; Hypertension; Age ≥75 (doubled); Diabetes mellitus; prior Stroke, transient ischemic attack or thromboembolism (doubled); Vascular disease; Age 65 to 74; Sex category (female) (CHADS-VASc) score in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis.

Thromboembolisms related to post-operative electrical cardioversions for atrial fibrillation in patients with surgical aortic valve replacement.

Aims: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent complication after open-heart surgery, and cardioversions (CV) are commonly performed to restore sinus rhythm. However, little data exists on thrombo-embolic risk related to early post-operative CV and on the recurrence of POAF after CV. CAREAVR study sought to assess the rate of strokes, transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), and mortality shortly after POAF-triggered CV in patients who underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with a bioprosthesis.

Systemic Dosing of Thymosin Beta 4 before and after Ischemia Does Not Attenuate Global Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Pigs.

The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross-clamping causes myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-RI) and can lead to reduced postoperative cardiac function. We investigated whether this injury could be attenuated by thymosin beta 4 (TB4), a peptide which has showed cardioprotective effects. Pigs received either TB4 or vehicle and underwent CPB and aortic cross-clamping for 60 min with cold intermittent blood-cardioplegia and were then followed for 30 h.

Is emergency and salvage coronary artery bypass grafting justified? The Nordic Emergency/Salvage coronary artery bypass grafting study.

Objectives: According to the EuroSCORE-II criteria, patients undergoing emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are operated on before the beginning of the next working day after decision to operate while salvage CABG patients require cardiopulmonary resuscitation en route to the operating theatre. The objective of this multicentre study was to investigate the efficacy of emergency and salvage CABG.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients that underwent emergency or salvage CAGB at four North-European university hospitals from 2006 to 2014.

Thirty-year results after implantation of the Björk-Shiley Convexo-Concave Heart valve prosthesis.

Background: Modifications of the Björk-Shiley valve prosthesis have shown good long-term results. The convexo-concave model, however, was recalled 27 years ago because of a propensity for breakage due to outlet strut fracture. The objective of this study is to describe the 30-year outcome after implantation of the Björk-Shiley convexo-concave mechanical heart valve prosthesis (Pfizer, Rye Brook, NY).