Balloon aortic valvuloplasty bridge to transcatheter aortic valve replacement is associated with worse in-hospital mortality.

Background: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) has gained renewed interest as a bridge to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with aortic stenosis (AS). However, it is unclear whether they patients should undergo TAVR directly or receive a staged bridge to BAV before TAVR is unclear. We used a national database to examine the association between BAV and TAVR in patients with TAVR and its effect on in-hospital mortality.

Doppler Underestimates Transvalvular Gradient Measured by Catheterization in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis.

We sought to clarify characteristics of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) in whom transvalvular mean pressure gradient (MPG) was underestimated with Doppler compared with catheterization. Study subjects included 127 patients with severe AS who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Between subjects with Doppler MPG underestimation ≥10 mm Hg (group U) and those without (group C), we retrospectively compared echocardiographic parameters and aortic valve calcification score using the Agatston method.

Left ventricular hypertrophy as a predictor of cardiovascular outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Aims: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between cardiovascular prognosis and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and to investigate the relationship between cardiac sympathetic nerve (CSN) function and these factors using I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy.

Methods And Results: In this single-centre, retrospective observational study, 349 patients who underwent TAVR at our institution between July 2017 and May 2020 were divided into two groups: those with severe LVH pre-operatively [severe LVH (+) group] and those without LVH pre-operatively [severe LVH (-) group]. The rates of freedom from cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization) were compared.

Incidence and predictors of transcatheter aortic valve replacement device emboligenic matter detected by transesophageal echocardiography.

During transfemoral (TF) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) sometimes reveals an unexpected mobile membranous mass on the catheter tip within the proximal part of the descending thoracic aorta. Such mobile masses may cause critical embolic events if the TAVR device advances into the ascending aorta in the absence of preventive measures. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of emboligenic matter (EM) during TAVR, impact of EM on the procedure, and incidence of symptomatic ischemic stroke post procedure.

A very rare complication of subacute pericarditis: a case report of spontaneous coronary artery rupture.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery rupture (SCAR) is an extremely rare and highly lethal disease.

Case Summary: A 74-year-old man who had undergone respiratory surgery (robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) presented with exertional dyspnoea since postoperative day (POD) 6. Echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed diffuse pericardial effusion, and a 12-lead electrocardiogram showed widespread concave ST-segment elevation.

Serial changes in cardiac sympathetic nervous function after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A prospective observational study using I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine imaging.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) can rapidly improve cardiac sympathetic nervous function (CSNF) within 2 weeks in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). However, whether such short-term improvements will be sustained thereafter remains unclear.

Methods: Patients with severe AS who underwent TAVR between October 2017 and June 2019 were enrolled in this single-center, prospective, observational study.

The frequency and clinical characteristics of in-stent restenosis due to calcified nodule development after coronary stent implantation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluated the clinical characteristics of calcified nodule-like in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesions using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in vivo. A total of 124 ISR lesions that were treated with a repeat coronary intervention under OCT guidance were included in this analysis. ISR neointimal morphology was classified as "calcified nodule-like ISR", that appeared as a high-backscattering protruding mass with an irregular surface covered by signal-rich bands, or "non-calcified nodule-like ISR".

IVUS-Guided Wiring Improves the Clinical Outcomes of Angioplasty for Long Femoropopliteal CTO Compared with the Conventional Intraluminal Approach.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided intraplaque wiring for femoropopliteal (FP) chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Methods: This single-center, retrospective, observational study was performed at the Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini Hospital. From March 2013 to June 2017, a total of 75 consecutive patients (mean age: 75.