As technology advances, current evidence supports the use of devices for valvular heart disease interventions, including transcatheter aortic valve implantation, transcatheter mitral or tricuspid valve repair, and transcatheter mitral valve implantation. These procedures require antithrombotic therapy to prevent thromboembolic events during the perioperative period, and these therapies are associated with an increased risk of bleeding complications. To date, there are challenges and controversies regarding how to balance the risk of thrombosis and bleeding in these patients, and therefore the optimal antithrombotic regimen remains unclear. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for antithrombotic therapy after transcatheter intervention in patients with valvular heart disease and highlight the importance of an individualized approach in targeting these patients.
Pure native aortic valve regurgitation (NAVR) is one of the common heart valve diseases, and the prognosis of symptomatic chronic NAVR is poor. Although transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is currently an "off-label" procedure, it remains the option for patients with high risk for surgery. In this case, an 81-year-old man with multiple comorbidity and high Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, the risk for surgery is rather high. Through the preoperative evaluation by the multidisciplinary heart team, considering that the patient had calcification at the junction of annulus, as well as mild aortic stenosis, after careful consideration, 29# Venus A-Valve was chosen. After the procedure, the symptoms were obviously improved and the follow-up effect was good. Due to various causes of NAVR, great anatomical variation of annulus, little calcification of aortic valve, and lack of anchor point and other problems, the procedure to treat NAVR with TAVR is still difficult. At the same time, there are few valve systems developed for the anatomical characteristics of aortic regurgitation valve. TAVR in the treatment of patients with high risk for surgery still requires long-term practice and technical development.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) through apical approach for aortic regurgitation of large annulus.MethodsFrom November 2019 to May 2020, 10 male patients aged 64.50±4.20 years with aortic valve insufficiency (AI) underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital. The surgical instruments were 29# J-valveTM modified and the patients underwent TAVR under angiography. The preoperative and postoperative cardiac function, valve regurgitation, complications and left ventricular remodeling were summarized by ultrasound and CT before and after TAVR.ResultsA total of 10 valves were implanted in 10 patients. Among them, 1 patient was transferred to the aortic arch during the operation and was transferred to surgical aortic valve replacement; the other 9 patients were successfully implanted with J-valve, with 6 patients of cardiac function (NYHA) class Ⅱ, 4 patients of grade Ⅲ. And there was a significant difference between preoperation and postoperation in left ventricular ejection fraction (44.70%±8.78% vs. 39.80%±8.48%, P<0.05) or aortic regurgitation (1.75±0.72 mL vs. 16.51±8.71 mL, P<0.05). After 3 months, the patients' cardiac function was good.ConclusionTAVR is safe and effective in the treatment of severe valvular disease with AI using J-valve.
Transcatheter aortic valves implantation have been widely used in patients with high risk of non-surgical or surgical procedures since the first implantation in 2002, and have achieved good therapeutic results. However, as one of the main complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation, paravalvular regurgitation seriously affects the outcome of patients. This article reviews recent researches on transcatheter aortic valve paravalvular regurgitation, and summarizes the influencing factors of paravalvular regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation and the corresponding countermeasures. This review can provide guidance and reference for clinical application and research of transcatheter aortic valves.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) developed rapidly since firstly introduced to clinical practice in 2002. In 2015, Experts Consensus for Transeatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (abbreviated as the Consensus) helped TAVR develop normatively and safely in China. This article interpreted the Consensus in combination of new evolutions of TAVR field: first, the indications of TAVR expand from inoperative and high risk patients to the intermediate risk patients; second, although the Consensus recommended pre-dilation with balloon of modest size, the necessity of pre-dilation is under debate; third, the Consensus pointed out main complications of TAVR, and the main strategies to avoid complications are careful pre-procedural analysis and development of new device; fourth, our experts had made outstanding contribution to TAVR in the treatment of patients with bicuspid aortic valve, which still has many problems to be solved urgently.
Before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), echocardiography is the first choice for preoperative screening of suitable patients, which can be used to observe the morphology of aortic valve, determine the cause of aortic stenosis, and evaluate the severity of aortic stenosis and other cardiac structure and function. During TAVR procedure, echocardiography is mainly used for real-time monitoring of complications and immediate postoperative evaluation. After TAVR, echocardiography can be used to evaluate the shape and function of the prosthesis valve and monitor long-term complications. This article reviews the research progress of echocardiography in TAVR for guiding clinical practice.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience in the treatment of high-risk patients with severe aortic valve disease by transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) via heart apex approach and to evaluate the early efficacy.MethodFive patients who underwent TAVI via heart apex approach from September 2017 to February 2019 in Henan Thoracic Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 3 males and 2 females, aged 65-84 (74.6±4.5) years.ResultAll operations were performed through a small left incision into the thoracic cavity (3-5 cm), and then through the J-Valve transport system, the aortic valve was successfully released via heart apex after precise positioning under digital subtraction angiography. One patient developed ventricular fibrillation during the operation, and the operation was completed with the assistance of emergency femoral arteriovenous catheterization cardiopulmonary bypass; one patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention first because of severe coronary stenosis; one patient had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during the perioperative period, and had hepatorenal insufficiency and thrombocytopenia after the operation, and was improved after medical treatment; one patient had perivalvular leak during the operation, and was improved after re-implantation of the valve; one patient was in stable condition during operation and recovered smoothly after operation. Surgery was successful in all 5 patients. The follow-up time was 2-19 months, and the early clinical effect was good.ConclusionThe short-term clinical efficacy of TAVI via heart apex approach in the treatment of high-risk severe aortic valve disease is definite and safe, but the long-term and medium-term effects need to be further evaluated.
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.
ObjectiveTo systematically assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous access and surgical cutdown in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI).MethodsWe searched databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, OVID, Embase, China National Knowledge Internet and Wanfang Database to collect randomized or non-randomized controlled trials comparing percutaneous access (PC group, the trial/exposure group) with surgical cutdown (SC group, the control group) in TF-TAVI between January 2002 and October 2017. The quality evaluation and data extraction were carried out by 2 reviewers independently. The Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3.5 software.ResultsA total of 11 literatures involving 4 893 aortic valve stenosis patients treated by TF-TAVI (2 877 patients in PC group and 2 016 patients in SC group) were included in this Meta-analysis. There was no significant difference between PC and SC group in terms of major vascular complications [odds ratio (OR)=0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.70, 1.06), P=0.17], minor vascular complications [OR=1.43, 95%CI (0.87, 2.37), P=0.16], major bleeding [OR=1.02, 95%CI (0.55, 1.90), P=0.94], minor bleeding [OR=0.90, 95%CI (0.51, 1.61), P=0.73] and all-cause mortality within 30 days [OR=1.03, 95%CI (0.76, 1.40), P=0.85]. As for the length of stay after TAVI, there was significant difference between the two groups [standard mean difference=–0.32, 95%CI (–0.52, –0.12), P=0.002].ConclusionPercutaneous access is as effective and safe as surgical cutdown in TF-TAVI, meanwhile leading to shorter length of stay after TAVI.
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.