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Background Chronic pressure overload secondary to severe aortic stenosis causes impairment of left ventricular myocardial deformation and associated with adverse outcome. The present study aimed to assess the response of myocardial mechanics after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods Assessment of myocardial mechanics by quantification of LV longitudinal, circumferential strain and rotational deformation (apical, basal rotation and twist) by 2-D Speckle-tracking echocardiography at baseline and at midterm follow-up post-TAVI. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on baseline left ventricular ejection fraction. 46 patients had preserved LV EF ≥50% preserved ejection fraction (PEF) and 34 patients had reduced left ventricular ejection (REF) < 50%. Results 80 patients with severe AS and high surgical risk were evaluated. At a mean follow-up of 8 ± 3 months after TAVI, left ventricular longitudinal strain (LS) significantly improved in reduced ejection fraction (REF) group from -9.88 ± 3.93% to 11.89 ± 3.15% (P = 0.001). In preserved ejection fraction (PEF) group, longitudinal strain improved from -13.8 ± 3.1% to -15.2 ± 3.3% (P < 0.001). Longitudinal strain rate (LSR) improved significantly in REFgroup, -0.48 ± 0.20sec −1 to -0.62 ± 0.16 sec −1 (P < 0.001) and in PEF group,-0.73 ± 0.19 sec −1 to-0.77 ± 0.16 sec −1 (P < 0.005). In PEF group, LV twist angle was supra-physiological at baseline and decreased after TAVI towards normal values (P = 0.006). In REF group LV twist angle was reduced at baseline with significant increase towards normal value after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI),P = 0.005. That was attributed to severe LV dysfunction associated with reduction of left ventricular twist at baseline which improved in response to TAVI alongside with improvement of left ventricular systolic function. In reduced ejection fraction (REF) group circumferential strain and strain rate improved significantly after TAVI. Conclusions Myocardial mechanics of the left ventricle including strain, strain rate and twist are deformed in severe aortic stenosis. TAVI restores myocardial mechanics towards physiological values in patients with preserved and reduced ejection fraction.

Mitral leaflet perforations after surgical aortic valve replacement may be iatrogenic or due to endocarditis. We present a 20-year-old female who underwent surgical mechanical aortic valve replacement 8 months prior to this presentation for bicuspid severe aortic valve stenosis. She presented with acute decompensated heart failure with dyspnea and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class of III-IV. Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated severe mitral regurgitation (MR) through an anterior mitral leaflet perforation. The patient refused surgical repair and percutaneous closure of the perforation was decided and performed using both antegrade and retrograde approaches. In this report, we emphasize the details and challenges of the procedure.

Background: Although the use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has recently become an attractive strategy in prohibitive surgical high-risk patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR), the most appropriate treatment option in patients with an intermediate- to high-risk profile— whether conventional surgery (SAVR) or TAVR—has been widely debated. Methods: One hundred and forty-three consecutive patients with intermediate to high risk were prospectively enrolled and selected to undergo SAVR (Group 1 [G1], n = 63) or TAVR (Group 2 [G2], n = 80) following a multidisciplinary evaluation including frailty, anatomy, and degree of atherosclerotic disease of the aorta/peripheral vessels. The mean logistic EuroSCORE (G1 = 20.11 ± 7.144 versus G2 = 23.33 ± 8.97; P = .022), STS score (G1 = 5.722 ± 1.309 versus G2 = 5.958 ± 1.689; P = .347), and preoperative demographics such as sex, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),  body mass index (BMI), peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, renal impairment and syncope were similar. Of note, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was more frequent in TAVR patients (G2 [46.2%] versus G1 [19.0%]; P = .001), whereas pulmonary hypertension was more frequent in SAVR group (G1 [47.6%] versus G2 [17.5%]; P = .000). The SAVR was performed with either a mechanical or tissue valve; meanwhile, TAVR was performed with either Core valve prosthesis or Edwards-Sapiens XT valve. Results: SAVR group showed higher incidence of some postoperative complications compared to TAVR, namely, postoperative bleeding (4.8% versus 0.0%; P = .048), tamponade (4.8% versus 0.0%; P = .048) and postoperative atrial fibrillation (34.9% versus 10.0%; P = .000), whereas TAVR group had a higher incidence of other sets of postoperative complications, namely, left bundle branch block (58.8% versus 4.8%; P = .000), need for permanent pacemaker implantation (25.0% versus 1.6%; P = .000) and peripheral vascular complications (15.0% versus 0.0%; P = .001). On the contrary, when the two groups were compared they did not show any significant difference regarding anemia requiring more than two units of blood transfusion, postoperative renal failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, and hospital mortality. P = .534, .873, .258, .373 and .072 respectively. Hospital mortality was similar among the two groups (G1 = 0% versus G2 = 5%; P = .072). At the 24-month follow-up, overall mortality, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were comparable between the two groups but prosthetic regurgitation was better in SAVR group (G2 = 8 patients [10.0%] versus G1 = 1 patient [1.6%] in SAVR group; P = .040). Conclusion: In this study, we could not detect an advantage in survival when SAVR or TAVR were utilized in intermediate to high surgical risk patients needing aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUNDTranscatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been recognized as a valid alternative to surgery for severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) in high-risk surgical patients.OBJECTIVEDetermine first-year clinical outcomes for TAVI at Madinah Cardiac Center (MMC) in Saudi Arabia.DESIGNRetrospective, analytical cross-sectional.SETTINGTertiary cardiac care center.PATIENTS AND METHODSAll patients who underwent TAVI for severe AS between February 2013 and December 2016 were included. Clinical, imaging, and laboratory information at baseline and at one year follow-up were analyzed.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESClinical and echocardiography outcomes at discharge, at 1-month, and at end of follow-up; one-year mortality, complications and clinical response to TAVI procedure.SAMPLE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICSN=80, mean (SD) age 79.5 (10.6) years, with severe AS and high-surgical risk.RESULTSFifty-five (69.2%) patients received Core valves, and 25 (30.8%) received Edward valves. Peri-procedure mortality was 3.8% and 1-year post-operative mortality was 13.8%. Ten patients (12.5%) had life-threatening or major bleeding. Nineteen (23.8%) patients had vascular complications, which were mostly minor. Fourteen patients (17.5%) developed acute kidney injury and 86% of these patients recovered. Five patients (6.25%) had pericardial effusion. Two patients (2.5%) developed endocarditis and another 2 patients (2.5%) had cerebrovascular accidents. Five patients (6.25%) received pacemakers. Mean aortic valve gradient significantly reduced from a mean (SD) 47.6 (19) mm Hg to 10.7 (6.0) mm Hg (P<.001). New York Heart Association functional class was significantly reduced (P<.001).CONCLUSIONThe TAVI experience at MCC is encouraging and comparable to international outcomes in terms of success, morbidity, and mortality rate.LIMITATIONSRetrospective, relatively small sample size. Rate of minor bleeding was overestimated.

This report describes a case of paravalvular leak (PVL) closure 20 days after surgery that was complicated by an embolized 10-mm device in a patient who underwent redo PVL closure after 6 months. Waiting for 3 months postoperatively to close a PVL is recommended. If earlier leak closure is mandatory, accepting a suboptimal result with a moderate residual leak is advised. ( Level of Difficulty: Intermediate. )

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