No abstract

This prospective registry reflects the real-life experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in high-risk elderly patients in France. The early results are satisfactory in terms of feasibility, short-term haemodynamic and functional improvement, and safety. Longer term follow-up will be further assessed.

No abstract

Compared with tricuspid AS, TAVR in bicuspid AS was associated with a similar prognosis, but lower device success rate. Procedural differences were observed in patients treated with the early-generation devices, whereas no differences were observed with the new-generation devices.

No abstract

O besity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have reached epidemic levels worldwide. These 2 metabolic disorders are independent risk factors for the development of heart failure. [1][2][3] Epidemiological and clinical studies strongly support the existence of obesity and diabetic cardiomyopathies unrelated to coronary artery disease, hypertension, and other comorbidities. 4,5 Clinical Perspective on p 564Studies in rodent models of obesity and DM have identified intrinsic cardiomyocyte dysfunctions secondary to alterations in energy substrate utilization, mitochondrial dysfunction, increased oxidative stress, and intracellular accumulation of lipotoxic byproducts. Similarly, human studies have shown that dysregulation of the energy conversion process is one of the major characteristics of the failing heart of subjects with cardiomyopathy related to DM or obesity. 6,7Background-Obesity and diabetes mellitus are independently associated with the development of heart failure. In this study, we determined the respective effects of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus on the intrinsic contraction and mitochondrial function of the human myocardium before the onset of cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results-Right atrial myocardium was obtained from 141 consecutive patients presenting no sign of cardiomyopathy. We investigated ex vivo isometric contraction, mitochondrial respiration and calcium retention capacity, and respiratory chain complex activities and oxidative stress status. Diabetes mellitus was associated with a pronounced impairment of intrinsic contraction, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased myocardial oxidative stress, regardless of weight status. In contrast, obesity was associated with less pronounced contractile dysfunction without any significant perturbation of mitochondrial function or oxidative stress status. Tested as continuous variables, glycated hemoglobin A 1C , but neither body mass index nor the insulin resistance index (homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance), was independently associated with cardiac mitochondrial function. Furthermore, diabetes mellitus was associated with cardiac mitochondrial network fragmentation and significantly decreased expression of the mitochondrial fusion related protein MFN1. Myocardial MFN1 content was inversely proportional to hemoglobin A 1C . Conclusion-Worsening

Aims  Owing to new evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, we compared the collective safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) vs. surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) across the entire spectrum of surgical risk patients. Methods and results  The meta-analysis is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016037273). We identified RCTs comparing TAVI with SAVR in patients with severe aortic stenosis reporting at different follow-up periods. We extracted trial, patient, intervention, and outcome characteristics following predefined criteria. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality up to 2 years for the main analysis. Seven trials that randomly assigned 8020 participants to TAVI (4014 patients) and SAVR (4006 patients) were included. The combined mean STS score in the TAVI arm was 9.4%, 5.1%, and 2.0% for high-, intermediate-, and low surgical risk trials, respectively. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation was associated with a significant reduction of all-cause mortality compared to SAVR {hazard ratio [HR] 0.88 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78–0.99], P = 0.030}; an effect that was consistent across the entire spectrum of surgical risk (P-for-interaction = 0.410) and irrespective of type of transcatheter heart valve (THV) system (P-for-interaction = 0.674). Transcatheter aortic valve implantation resulted in lower risk of strokes [HR 0.81 (95% CI 0.68–0.98), P = 0.028]. Surgical aortic valve replacement was associated with a lower risk of major vascular complications [HR 1.99 (95% CI 1.34–2.93), P = 0.001] and permanent pacemaker implantations [HR 2.27 (95% CI 1.47–3.64), P < 0.001] compared to TAVI. Conclusion  Compared with SAVR, TAVI is associated with reduction in all-cause mortality and stroke up to 2 years irrespective of baseline surgical risk and type of THV system.

This registry analysis demonstrates the feasibility and potential procedure difficulties when using TAVI for severe NAVR. Acceptable results may be achieved in carefully selected patients who are deemed too high risk for conventional surgery, but the possibility of requiring 2 valves and leaving residual aortic regurgitation remain important considerations.