An 82-year-old male was hospitalized complaining of dyspnea for 1 year and aggravating for 2 weeks. He had been treated in other hospitals for several times due to such situation and his symptom could be relieved by diuretics. After admission, he was diagnosed as severe aortic stenosis with extremely low left ventricular contractile function; transthoracic echocardiography showed a left ventricular ejection fraction of only 16.1%. He was classified as a typical case of severe aortic stenosis with “low transaortic velocity and low transaortic gradient” since the transaortic velocity being 2.36 m/s and transaortic gradient being 22/14 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa). Dobutamine-stress echocardiography suggested that the patient’s left ventricular reserve function was extremely poor and the potential benefits of valvular surgery were finite as the former data being 2.59 m/s and 27/16 mm Hg respectively. In consideration of progressive exacerbation of the patient’s symptoms, we eventually conducted transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery with the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. His symptoms such as dyspnea disappeared after the surgery and clinical parameters had also got a significant improvement.
With the expanding indications for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) guidelines, combined valvular disease is often encountered in the clinic, and existing relevant studies have shown that preoperative moderate to severe mitral regurgitation is associated with higher mortality. In these patients, the optimal treatment strategy for TAVR with evidence-based heart failure, TAVR with transcatheter mitral intervention, or staging transcatheter therapy are unclear. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of the anatomy and function of the aortic and mitral valves, as well as an in-depth assessment of the patient’s baseline risk profile, are the basis for an individualized approach to treatment. This article will review the results of the relevant research to better help clinicians diagnose and treat relevant patients.
Objective To search and review the best clinical evidence to compare the clinical therapeutic effects and safety between TAVR and SAVR, thereby guiding its clinical use and providing references of treatments for such patients. Methods EMbase (1974～2016), MEDLINE (1996～2016) and The Cochrane Library (Issue 5, 2016) were systematically retrieved to collect randomized control trials, case-control studies and meta-analyses. Then, we assessed the quality of all the evidences to develop treatments based on those evidences and the situations of such patients. Results We identified 21 articles, including 2 articles of meta-analysis. With regard to the mortality and incidence of cardiovascular events, TAVR was not worse than SAVR. In addition, TAVR was more dominant than SAVR for patients who combined more basic diseases. Conclusion TAVR is one of the effective treatments for most patients with severe AS after sufficient assessment.
Objective To evaluate the coronary artery ostium obstruction caused by the commissure of transcatheter heart valve (THV) with the markers on THV under X-ray, which was identified by observing the position relationship between the commissure of THV and the coronary artery ostium from analyzing aortic root computed tomographic angiography (CTA) images after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 25 patients undergoing TAVR who were checked with electrocardiographically gated CTA for the aortic root after the TAVR procedure between January 2020 and December 2021 in General Hospital of Northern Theater Command. The images of THV with the lowest position of non-coronary sinus and the right anterior oblique and caudal in most cases were observed when the THVs were deployed. The position relationships of the three markers on the THV after valve release were recorded, which were divided into three conditions, namely the three markers being averagely distributed, the middle marker being close to left, and the middle marker being close to right. Postoperative CTA images of the patients were analyzed. The angle between the commissure of THV and the coronary artery ostium was measured, and the angles in each group were presented as medium (lower quartile, upper quartile). Results A total of 17 patients were finally included. The angles between the commissure of THV and the left coronary artery ostium were 19.0 (16.0, 31.0)°, 36.0 (15.0, 44.0)°, and 3.0 (3.0, 5.0)° in the markers averagely distributed group (n=7), the middle marker close to left group (n=6), and the middle marker close to right group (n=4), respectively, which were significantly different (P=0.033). The angles between the commissure of THV and the right coronary artery ostium were 43.0 (25.0, 51.0)°, 47.0 (41.0, 57.0)°, and 13.0 (7.5, 21.0)° in the markers averagely distributed group, the middle marker close to left group, and the middle marker close to right group, respectively, which were significantly different (P=0.017). There was significant difference in the obstruction degrees of left coronary artery ostium by the commissure of THV (P=0.008), and no significant difference in the obstruction degrees of right coronary artery ostium (P=0.062). When the middle marker was close to right, there was no more than moderately obstruction on the right coronary artery ostium and no any obstruction on the left coronary artery ostium. When the middle marker was close to left, the obstruction rate of the left coronary artery ostium with more than moderate degree was 4/6 (66.7%) and it was 6/6 (100.0%) for the right coronary artery ostium. Conclusions The degree of coronary artery ostium obstruction by the commissure of THV can be accurately evaluated by using markers on THV. Among them, when the middle marker is close to right, the commissures of THV are least likely to block the coronary artery ostium.
ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes of local anesthesia and general anesthesia in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).MethodsA total of 399 severe aortic stenosis patients were included, who underwent TAVR successfully in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between April 2012 and January 2019. The baseline characteristics, procedural details, postprocedural outcomes, and ultrasound data of those patients were collected. All patients were followed up and the end date of follow-up was June 20th 2020. According to anesthetic mode, the patients were divided into local anesthesia group and general anesthesia group. The differences between the two groups in incidence of postprocedural complications, hemodynamics, postprocedural 30-day mortality, and postprocedural 1-year mortality were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsOf the 399 patients, 206 (51.6%) received local anesthesia and 193 (48.4%) received general anesthesia. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in baseline characteristics. The symptoms of both groups were relieved. But the incidences of mild bleeding events (12.4% vs. 1.5%, P<0.001), severe bleeding events (10.4% vs. 0.5%, P<0.001), major vascular complications (0.5% vs. 3.6%, P=0.032), and postprocedural 30-day all causes mortality (1.9% vs. 6.7%, P=0.018) were significantly lower in the local anesthesia group than those in the general anesthesia group.ConclusionIn TAVR, compared with general anesthesia, local anesthesia is safer to use with lower incidence of postprocedural complications and postprocedural 30-day all causes mortality.
The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) high-pitch scan mode in the preoperative evaluation of severe aortic stenosis (AS) referred to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Thirty patients with severe AS referred for TAVI underwent cervico-femoral artery joint DSCT angiography. Measurement and calculation of contrast, contrast noise ratio (CNR) and noise of aorta and access vessels were performed. The intra-and inter-observer reproducibilities for assessing aortic root and access vessels were evaluated. Evaluation of shape and plagues of aorta and access vessels was performed. The contrast, CNR and noise of aorta and access vessels were 348.2~457.9 HU, 12.2~30.3 HU and 19.1~48.1 HU, respectively. There were good intra-and inter-observer reproducibilities in assessing aortic root and access vessels by DSCT (mean difference:-0.73~0.79 mm, r=0.90~0.98, P < 0.001; mean difference:-0.70~0.73 mm, r=0.90~0.96, P < 0.001). In the 30 patients, the diameters of external iliac artery, femeral artery or subclavian artery were less than 7 mm in 5 cases (16.7%), marked calcification in bilateral common iliac arteries in 1 case (3.3%) and marked soft plaque in left common iliac artery in 1 case (3.3%). DSCT high-pitch scan mode was feasible in the preoperative evaluation of aorta and access vessels in patients with AS referred for TAVI.
Conventional transcatheter aortic valve replacement is normally recommended with transthoracic echocardiography, and contrast agent mediated fluoroscopy under anesthesia to guide a better implantation of the transcatheter valve. However, iodine-containing contrast agent possibly damages the patient’s kidney, and even induces the acute kidney injury. We reported a 75-year-old patient diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis, moderate regurgitation, and chronic renal failure. We performed the aortic valve replacement under the guidance of fluoroscopy and transesophageal ultrasound without contrast agent. Seven days after surgery, the patient recovered well and discharged with alleviated aortic stenosis and fixed transcatheter aortic valve.
ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics of platelet changes and their influencing factors during postoperative hospitalization in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). MethodsThe patients who underwent TAVI at Beijing Anzhen Hospital Valve Surgery Center between March 2017 and October 2021 were retrospectively selected. The patients were divided into a self-limiting group and a non-self-limiting group according to the characteristics of postoperative platelet decline. In addition, the general preoperative data, preoperative and postoperative ultrasound data, intraoperative data, and the use of anticoagulant drugs during the postoperative stay in the hospital were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 249 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 175 (70.3%) patients in the self-limiting group, including 100 males and 75 females, and there were 74 (29.7%) patients in the non-self-limiting group, including 43 males and 31 females, with no statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.863). The mean age of patients was 73.11±8.88 years in the self-limiting group and 71.54±10.39 years in the non-self-limiting group (P=0.231). The decline of platelets in the self-limiting group generally occurred on the postoperative day 2 and reached the lowest count on the postoperative day 4, and returned to the baseline level on the postoperative day 5-7, while the platelets in the non-self-limiting group changed by simple rise, fall or irregular fluctuation. Patients in the self-limiting group had severer preoperative aortic stenosis (P<0.001) and used more extracorporeal circulation assistance during surgery (P<0.001). Postoperatively, patients in the self-limiting group were more likely to have periaortic valve leakage than those in the non-self-limiting group (P=0.013). ConclusionPlatelet changes in most patients after TAVI show a self-limiting decline, which may be related to the severity of patients’ preoperative aortic stenosis, intraoperative extracorporeal circulation device use, and postoperative perivalvular leakage.
Objective To summarize the characteristics of children diagnosed with secondary subaortic stenosis after the surgical closure for ventricular septal defect and explore its potential mechanism. Methods We retrospectively collected patients aged from 0 to 18 years, who underwent ventricular septal defect closure and developed secondary subaortic stenosis, and subsequently received surgical repair from 2008 to 2019 in Fuwai Hospital. Their surgical details, morphological features of the subaortic stenosis, and the follow-up information were analyzed. Results Six patients, including 2 females and 4 males, underwent the primary ventricular septal defect closure at the median age of 9 months (ranging from 1 month to 3 years). After the first surgery, patients were diagnosed with secondary subaortic stenosis after 2.9 years (ranging from 1 to 137 months). Among them, 2 patients underwent the second surgery immediately after diagnosis, and the other 4 patients waited 1.2 years (ranging from 6 to 45 months) for the second surgery. The most common type of the secondary subaortic stenosis after ventricular septal defect closure was discrete membrane, which located underneath the aortic valve and circles as a ring. In some patients, subaortic membrane grew along with the ventricular septal defect closure patch. During the median follow-up of 8.1 years (ranging from 7.3 to 8.9 years) after the sencond surgery, all patients recovered well without any recurrence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Conclusion Regular and persistent follow-up after ventricular septal defect closure combining with or without other cardiac malformation is the best way to diagnose left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in an early stage and stop the progression of aortic valve regurgitation.
Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is one of the major causes of aortic stenosis (AS), and its pathogenesis is related to inflammation infiltration, lipid deposition, endothelial damage, calcification osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Previous studies have shown that AVC is associated with the severity of AS, the incidence of cardiovascular events, mortality, and surgical outcomes. The quantitative analysis of AVC using imaging methods not only has diagnostic value for AS, but also has guiding significance for the selection of surgical timing, assessment of surgical risk, and prognosis prediction. This article comprehensively elaborates on the methods and values of evaluating AVC using echocardiography, CT, and positron emission tomography.