AKI following TAVI occurred in 19% of the patients. RBC transfusion was found to be an independent predictor of AKI, which in turn predicted both 30-day and cumulative late mortality.

Eligibility varied substantially depending on the sizing criterion. In clinical practice both under- and oversizing were common. Industry guidelines should recognize the oval shape of the aortic annulus.

Dual-source MSCT demonstrated incomplete and nonuniform expansion of the CRS frame, but the functionally important mid-segment was well expanded and almost symmetrical. Undersizing and incomplete apposition were seen in the majority of patients.

on behalf of the Zwolle myocardial infarction study group Abstract Aim: Poorer outcomes in women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are often attributed to gender differences in baseline characteristics. However, these may be age dependent. We examined the importance of gender in separate age groups of patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods and results: Data of 6746 consecutive patients with STEMI admitted for PPCI between 1998 and 2008 in our hospital were evaluated. Age was stratified into two groups, <65 years (young group) and ≥65 years (elderly). Endpoints were enzymic infarct size as well as 30-day and 1 year mortality. We studied a total of 4991 (74.0%) men and 1755 (26.0%) women; 40% of women were <65 years and 60% of men were <65 years of age. In the elderly group (≥65 years), women had more frequently diabetes and hypertension while they smoked less frequently than men. Younger women smoked more often than similarly aged men and had more hypertension. At angiography, single-vessel disease and TIMI 3 flow before PPCI was more present in younger women than men, whereas these differences were not found in the older age group. Patient delay before admission was shorter in men at all ages, while women had lower creatine kinase levels. Younger women had a higher mortality after 30 days (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3−3.4) and at 1 year (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2−2.6), whereas in the older age group women mortality rates were higher at 30 days (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1−2.0) but not at 1 year (HR 1.2, 95% CI 0.9−1.5). After multivariate analysis, 1-year mortality remained significantly higher in women at younger age (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1−2.5). Patient delay before admission was shorter in men in both age groups. Creatine kinase levels were in both age groups higher in men. Conclusions: Differences in mortality between men and women with STEMI treated with PPCI are age dependent. Although young women have less obstructive coronary artery disease and more often TIMI 3 flow before PCI (suggesting a lower risk), survival was worse compared to similarly aged men. Women had a longer patient delay compared to men, but this was not related to gender-specific mortality.

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Objectives: To assess the acute and intermediate changes in mitral regurgitation (MR) severity after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with the CoreValve Revalving SystemTM (CRS). Background: Following surgical aortic valve replacement, improvement in MR is reported in 27-82% of the patients. The changes in MR severity following CRS implantation are unknown. Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 79 consecutive patients before and after treatment, and at the first outpatient visit. Left ventricular dimensions and ejection fraction (LVEF), left atrial (LA) size, and aortic gradient were measured. MR was assessed by color flow mapping and was graded as none, mild, moderate, or severe. It was defined as organic or functional. The depth of CRS implantation was measured by angiography. Results: Post-treatment, the mean gradient decreased from 48 6 16 mm Hg to 9 6 5 mm Hg (P < 0.0001). There was no significant change in the left ventricular dimensions, LA size, and LVEF. MR pretreatment was mild, moderate, or severe in 57%, 18%, and 1% of the patients, respectively. It was defined as organic in 27 patients (36%) and functional in 27 patients (36%). The degree of MR remained unchanged in 61% of the patients, improved in 17%, and worsened in 22%. MR improvement was associated with a lower baseline LVEF (P 5 0.02). There was no association between the changes in MR severity and the depth of CRS implantation. Conclusions: Most patients who underwent TAVI had some degree of MR. Overall there was no change in the degree of MR post-treatment. Patients in whom MR improved had a lower LVEF at baseline. V C 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

These results suggest that early conduction abnormalities occurring after TAVI persist at 6-months follow-up. Patient-related, anatomical-related, and procedure-related factors need to be considered in the pathogenesis of conduction abnormalities after TAVI.

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