Submitral Pseudoaneurysm Repair and Posterior Leaflet Augmentation: Reoperative Mitral Valve Repair.

A 33-year-old woman who had previously undergone mitral valve repair for native valve endocarditis presented with a submitral left ventricular pseudoaneurysm, with related mitral valve dysfunction. The operative approach to this complex pathophysiologic process is presented.

Long-term outcomes following ultrathin vs thin-strut drug-eluting stents for percutaneous coronary intervention: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

Objectives: Current thin-strut 2 generation drug eluting stents (DES) are considered as optimal standard of care for revascularization of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Ultrathin (≤ 70 μm strut thickness) strut DES have recently been shown to reduce target lesion failure (TLF) compared to thin-strut DES. Therefore, in order to assess the validity of improved outcomes associated with ultrathin-strut DES, we conducted an updated meta-analysis that includes recently published follow-ups of previously conducted randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Across Hemodynamic Subtypes of Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: A Network Meta-analysis.

Background: Studies assessing outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) with hemodynamic subtypes have demonstrated mixed results with respect to outcomes and periprocedural complications. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of TAVR in patients across various hemodynamic subtypes of severe AS.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched through September 2023 to identify all observational studies comparing outcomes of TAVR in patients with paradoxical low flow low gradient (pLFLG), classic LFLG, and high gradient AS (HGAS).

Comparative Outcomes of Surgical and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-Analysis and Parametric Extrapolation of Clinical Trials.

Introduction: We aimed to pool randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and extrapolate pooled time-to-event data to compare long-term outcomes.

Methods: An electronic database search was performed for RCTs comparing SAVR with TAVR. The most current longest follow-up data for each RCT were included.

Outcomes of outflow graft stenting in HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist devices: A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Purpose: LVAD outflow graft stenosis continues to remain prevalent with a high complication rate. We sought to pool the existing evidence on indications, utilization patterns, and outcomes of transcatheter interventions for outflow graft stenosis in the HeartMate 3 LVAD.

Methods: An electronic search was performed to identify all studies in the English literature reporting on HeartMate 3 LVAD outflow graft stenting.

Spectrum of Surgical Site Infection Pathogens in Chronic Infectious Spondylitis Requiring Revision Surgery: A 5-Year Cohort Study.

Spectrum monitoring of the pathogen in spondylitis patients plays a key role in preventing infectious complications of spinal reconstructions in chronic spondylitis (CS) and in the treatment of surgical site infection (SSI). The aim of this study is to characterize the spectrum of SSI pathogens in CS requiring revision surgery. The primary cohort encompassed 569 surgical patients with infectious CS.

Evaluation of Intracardiac Pressures Using Subharmonic-aided Pressure Estimation with Sonazoid Microbubbles.

Purpose To investigate if the right ventricular (RV) systolic and left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressures can be obtained noninvasively using the subharmonic-aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) technique with Sonazoid microbubbles. Materials and Methods Individuals scheduled for a left and/or right heart catheterization were prospectively enrolled in this institutional review board-approved clinical trial from 2017 to 2020. A standard-of-care catheterization procedure was performed by advancing fluid-filled pressure catheters into the LV and aorta ( = 25) or RV ( = 22), and solid-state high-fidelity pressure catheters into the LV and aorta in a subset of participants ( = 18).

Major cardiovascular events after COVID-19, event rates post-vaccination, antiviral or anti-inflammatory therapy, and temporal trends: Rationale and methodology of the CORONA-VTE-Network study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with excess risk of cardiovascular and thrombotic events in the early post-infection period and during convalescence. Despite the progress in our understanding of cardiovascular complications, uncertainty persists with respect to more recent event rates, temporal trends, association between vaccination status and outcomes, and findings within vulnerable subgroups such as older adults (aged 65 years or older), or those undergoing hemodialysis. Sex-informed findings, including results among pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as adjusted comparisons between male and female adults are similarly understudied.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Cardiac Amyloidosis and Aortic Stenosis.

Aortic stenosis (AS) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA) occur concomitantly in a significant number of patients and portend a higher risk of all-cause mortality. Previous studies have investigated outcomes in patients with concomitant CA/AS who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) versus medical therapy alone, but no evidence-based consensus regarding the ideal management of these patients has been established. Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched to identify relevant studies.

Three-dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography for Transcatheter Patent Foramen Ovale Closure: Standardizing Anatomic Nomenclature and Novel Sizing Concepts.

• Terminology for PFO tunnel sizing remains unstandardized. • Device size selection for transcatheter PFO closure is highly variable. • Tunnel width measurements may be a better descriptor of PFO size.

Trends and Outcomes of TAVI and SAVR in Cancer and Noncancer Patients: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background: Patients with severe aortic stenosis and cancer are often denied surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) due to a prohibitive risk of perioperative mortality.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis and cancer.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2002-2018) was used to study the outcomes of TAVI vs SAVR in patients with active or prior history of prostate, lung, colorectal, breast, and renal cancer.

Microaxial circulatory support for percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Microaxial circulatory support devices have been used to support patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (AMICS). The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to pool and analyze the existing evidence on the baseline characteristics, periprocedural data, and outcomes of microaxial support before and after PCI in AMICS.

Methods: An electronic database search was performed to identify all cohort studies on Impella and PCI for cardiogenic shock in the English language.

Trends and Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease: Insights From the National Readmissions Database.

Due to shared risk factors, many patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) also have concomitant peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The readmission rates and long term clinical outcomes of these patients following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in a large sample has not been well defined. The National Readmissions Database (NRD) (2015-2019) was used to identify patients undergoing TAVI.

Noninvasive Evaluation of Cardiac Chamber Pressures Using Subharmonic-Aided Pressure Estimation With Definity Microbubbles.

Background: Noninvasive and accurate assessment of intracardiac pressures has remained an elusive goal of noninvasive cardiac imaging.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate if errors in intracardiac pressures obtained noninvasively using contrast microbubbles and the subharmonic-aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) technique are <5 mm Hg.

Methods: In a nonrandomized institutional review board-approved clinical trial (NCT03243942), patients scheduled for a left-sided and/or right-sided heart catheterization procedure and providing written informed consent were included.

PCI for acute myocardial infarction in patients with a pre-existing LVAD, does it improve survival?

Background: It is well established that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a life-saving procedure for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the general population and is guideline-recommended for both STEMI and NSTEMI. There is little literature regarding its use in patients with a pre-implanted Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database to select all US adult patients (>18 years) with an LVAD diagnosed with an AMI divided into two groups; those who received PCI during the hospitalization and those who did not.

Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation versus redo surgical mitral valve replacement in patients with failed mitral bioprostheses.

Background: Data on the safety of valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement (ViV-TMVR) compared with redo surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR) in patients with a history of bioprosthetic mitral valve (MV) remain limited.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the in-hospital, 30-day and 6-month readmission outcomes of ViV-TMVR compared with redo-SMVR in a real-world cohort.

Methods: The Nationwide Readmission Database was utilised, analysing data from 2015 to 2019.

DFV890: a new oral NLRP3 inhibitor-tested in an early phase 2a randomised clinical trial in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and impaired respiratory function.

Background: Coronavirus-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) has limited effective therapy to date. NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 contributes to cytokine storm.

Methods: This randomised, multinational study enrolled hospitalised patients (18-80 years) with COVID-19-associated pneumonia and impaired respiratory function.

Innovative use of biotrace tempo pacemaker lead following cardiac surgery.

The Tempo® Temporary Pacing Lead is a temporary, transvenous, active fixation pacemaker lead used exclusively in structural heart and electrophysiology procedures since regulatory approval in 2016. We utilized the Tempo lead for four patients undergoing redo-robotic cardiac surgery in which surgical epicardial leads could not be placed. No failure-to-pace events were encountered and patients were able to participate in various levels of physical activity without limitation.