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International audience; BackgroundThe effect of oral anticoagulation on clinical and haemodynamic outcomes following successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation is unclear.AimsTo evaluate the effect of oral anticoagulation within the first year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.MethodsAll patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation in two French tertiary centres from 2010 to 2016 were included prospectively. The composite outcome of death, stroke, readmission for heart failure or major/life-threatening bleeding according to Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 criteria within 1 year was evaluated. Valvular haemodynamic deterioration was defined as mean transprosthetic gradient ≥ 20 mmHg or an increase of ≥ 10 mmHg during echocardiographic follow-up.ResultsOf the 1139 patients included, 400 (35.1%) were discharged on oral anticoagulation. The primary endpoint was more frequent in the group with versus without oral anticoagulation (29.4% vs. 17.3% 21.5%; hazard ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.42–2.35). Composite endpoint risk factors were chronic pulmonary and kidney diseases, previous atrial fibrillation, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 30% at discharge and no femoral vascular approach, but not oral anticoagulation prescription at discharge. Conversely, 58 patients were identified with valvular haemodynamic deterioration, including 11 (19%) in the group with oral anticoagulation and 47 (81%) in the group without oral anticoagulation. Valvular haemodynamic deterioration risk factors were absence of oral anticoagulation exposure, increased body mass index, use of a balloon-expandable bioprosthesis and use of a bioprosthesis with diameter ≤ 23 mm. Antithrombotic treatment crossover (i.e. oral anticoagulation interruption or introduction during follow-up) occurred in 9.6% of patients, and was a risk factor for death (adjusted hazard ratio 3.39, 95% confidence interval 1.63–7.07).ConclusionsBaseline characteristics, rather than oral anticoagulation prescription at discharge, were associated with adverse outcomes following successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Conversely, oral anticoagulation was associated with reduced valvular haemodynamic deterioration.; ContexteL’impact du traitement anticoagulant oral (TAO) sur les paramètres cliniques et hémodynamiques après TAVI demeure incertain.ObjectifsÉvaluer l’impact du TAO dans l’année suivant un TAVI.MéthodesTous les patients traités par TAVI dans deux centres français entre 2010 et 2016 furent prospectivement inclus. Le critère de jugement principal (CJP) était composé de la mortalité, accident vasculaire cérébrale, hospitalisation pour insuffisance cardiaque ou hémorragie sévères, défini selon les critères VARC-2. Une détérioration hémodynamique valvulaire prothétique (DHV) était définie par un gradient moyen transprothétique ≥ 20 mmHg ou par une majoration ≥ 10 mmHg durant le suivi échocardiographique.RésultatsUn TAO fut prescrit à 400 patients soit 35,1 % des 1139 patients inclus dans le registre. Le CJP est survenu plus fréquemment en cas de TAO post-TAVI qu’en son absence (29,4 % vs 17,3 % %; HR 1,83, IC à 95 % 1,42–2,35). Les facteurs de risque (FdR) du CJP étaient une pneumopathie chronique, une insuffisance rénale chronique, une fibrillation atriale, une FEVG ≤ 30 % après TAVI et un abord vasculaire extrafémoral. La prescription de TAO après un TAVI n’était pas un FdR indépendant du CJP. Une DHV fut relevée chez 58 patients, dont 11 (19 %) traités par TAO et 47 (81 %) non traités par TAO. Les FdR de DHV étaient l’absence de TAO après TAVI, un IMC augmenté, l’utilisation de bioprothèse expansible au ballon et un diamètre de bioprothèse ≤ 23 mm. Un crossover de TAO (défini comme un arrêt ou une initiation de TAO au cours du suivi) survenu chez 9,6 % des patients et était associé à la mortalité (HR ajusté 3,39, IC à 95 % 1,63–7,07).ConclusionsLes antécédents médicaux et non la prescription de TAO sont associés au devenir clinique après un TAVI. A l’inverse, la prescription de TAO est associée à une moindre survenue de DHV. Previous article in issue

Summary Background The incidence of and risk factors for readmission for heart failure after successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are unclear. Aims We sought to evaluate the incidence of, risk factors for and clinical impact of readmission for heart failure after successful TAVI in an unselected patient population. Methods All patients who underwent successful TAVI in two high-volume French tertiary centres from February 2010 to December 2016 were included prospectively and followed up for 1 year. A Cox multivariable model was used to assess risk factors for readmission for heart failure and mortality. Results A total of 1139 patients (mean age 82.4 ± 7.7 years; 52.2% male sex) were included. Readmission for heart failure occurred in 99 (9.2%) patients. Risk factors for readmission for heart failure were previous atrial fibrillation (adjusted hazard ratio [adjHR] 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–2.40), diabetes mellitus (adjHR 1.67, 95% CI 1.11–2.50), chronic kidney disease (adjHR 1.72, 95% CI 1.13–2.62), chronic pulmonary disease (adjHR 1.81, 95% CI 1.17–2.81) and left ventricular ejection fraction after TAVI ≤ 35% (adjHR 2.12, 95% CI 1.20–3.75). Readmission for heart failure was strongly associated with mortality (adjHR 3.11, 95% CI 1.95–4.94), along with increased Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ score (adjHR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03–1.12), chronic pulmonary disease (adjHR 1.45, 95% CI 1.00–2.09), previous atrial fibrillation (adjHR 2.11, 95% CI 1.52–2.93) and shock during the index hospitalization (adjHR 2.56, 95% CI 1.41–4.65). Conclusions Readmission for heart failure occurs in one in 10 patients after successful TAVI, and is a strong risk factor for mortality. Co-morbidities and left ventricular ejection fraction after TAVI ≤ 35% are the main risk factors for readmission for heart failure.

Summary Background Mitral regurgitation is the second most frequent valvulopathy managed by surgery in Europe. For patients who have a contraindication to surgery or a high surgical risk, the percutaneous MitraClip® implantation procedure has emerged as a favourable alternative approach, but elevated procedural costs are a medicoeconomic concern. Aim The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the MitraClip® procedure is profitable in a high-volume French hospital. Methods Patients eligible for mitral valve repair with a MitraClip® device, and covered by the French National Health Service, were included retrospectively in this single-centre study between September 2016 and June 2018. Subgroups were considered based on medicoeconomic severity level. The study primary endpoint was the difference between hospital costs and revenues, calculated for each patient. Secondary endpoints included profit based on severity level, breakdown of costs and adverse events during hospitalization. Results Twenty-two patients were included in the study. The mean hospital cost and revenue were €30,039 ± 2476 and €30,331 ± 2720 per patient, respectively, resulting in a profit of €292 ± 2039 per patient. The total estimated profit was €6429 for the whole study period. The largest benefits were observed for patients assigned to the higher medicoeconomic severity levels (levels 2 and 3). Profit increased following a reduction in the device cost (€1136 ± 2415 per patient). The price of the device represented 78% of the total costs. Conclusions Percutaneous MitraClip implantation is a financially neutral procedure for a French university hospital, but this depends on patient severity level.

International audience; Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common rhythm disturbance. Among the major thromboembolic complications associated with AF, strokes are foremost, with a 4.4% yearly incidence in the absence of preventive treatment. Therefore, the prevention of these embolic accidents is a priority. While proof of the efficacy of oral anticoagulants (OACs) for this indication is long-standing and convincing, they are associated with haemorrhagic complications. Consequently, their prescription is based on an estimate of the risk (haemorrhagic complications)/benefit (thromboembolic prevention) ratio. In a patient subset at high thromboembolic and haemorrhagic risk, whether to prescribe or abstain from prescribing an OAC is a challenging decision, and an alternative means of thromboembolic prevention is desirable. Percutaneous occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is an alternative, interventional, non-pharmacological treatment that has been used widely in Europe and for a few years in France, with encouraging results. However, it remains an invasive procedure with a low level of proof in comparison with OACs. Moreover, the indications, the procedural environment and pre-per-post procedural patient management are major questions about this technique, with consequences on its efficacy and risk/benefit ratio. This document, composed by consensus among experts in the field, is an in-depth review of this new therapy.

Summary The development of structural interventional catheterization for acquired or congenital heart disease was made possible through concomitant advances in catheterization techniques/tools and imaging techniques (fluoroscopy, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography). Imaging should provide an accurate view of the lesions and the surrounding cardiac structures, as well as the medical devices and catheters used. Here, we address the subject of image fusion. The principle of image fusion is based on the superposition of several imaging techniques: real-time fluoroscopy and multislice imaging performed offline or ultrasound imaging performed simultaneously. The goals are to improve the overall visualization of the organ and the surrounding structures, and to help the interventional cardiologist to interpret fluoroscopy images.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized the prognosis of inoperable patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. Yet, the implantation of expensive prostheses in patients with comorbidities may be questionable in an era when healthcare costs are becoming a major concern.The objective of this study was to assess whether the TAVR procedure is profitable in a high-volume French hospital.Consecutive patients eligible for transfemoral TAVR using the SAPIEN bioprostheses (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) were included retrospectively in this single-centre study between September 2014 and December 2015. Three medicoeconomic severity-level subgroups were considered. The primary clinical endpoint was the difference between hospital costs and revenues, calculated for each patient. Secondary composite endpoints included major adverse events within 30 days and breakdown of costs.Overall, 189 patients were included in the analysis. Three patients died (two from non-cardiac causes) within 30 days of the procedure. The mean hospital cost was €27,530±3814 per patient, and the mean hospital income was €30,313±2681 per patient (P0.001), resulting in a significant profit of €2783±1743 per patient. The total estimated profit was €525,000 for the whole study period. The largest benefits were observed for patients assigned to the lowest severity level. The price of the bioprosthesis represented 71% of the total costs.The TAVR procedure performed in carefully selected patients was profitable for the academic centre, regardless of the level of severity assigned to the patients.

BACKGROUND Several publications have considered results of percutaneous angioplasty for aortic recoarctation, but none focused on procedures performed in children aged

SummaryCardiac catheterization has contributed to the progress made in the management of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). First, it allowed clarification of the diagnostic assessment of CHD, by offering a better understanding of normal cardiac physiology and the pathophysiology and anatomy of complex malformations. Then, it became an alternative to surgery and a major component of the therapeutic approach for some CHD lesions. Nowadays, techniques have evolved and cardiac catheterization is widely used to percutaneously close intracardiac shunts, to relieve obstructive valvar or vessel lesions, and for transcatheter valve replacement. Accurate imaging is mandatory to guide these procedures. Cardiac imaging during catheterization of CHD must provide accurate images of lesions, surrounding cardiac structures, medical devices and tools used to deliver them. Cardiac imaging has to be ‘real-time’ with an excellent temporal resolution to ensure ‘eyes–hands’ synchronization and ‘device–target area’ accurate positioning. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of conventional cardiac imaging tools used in the catheterization laboratory in daily practice, as well as the effect of recent evolution and future imaging modalities.

SummaryBackgroundMany stents are used “off-label” during the management of congenital heart diseases (CHD).AimsTo describe indications for, results of, and adverse events associated with stenting in CHD in current practice.MethodsParticipation in this study was proposed to all catheterization laboratories that specialize in CHD in France (M3C network). All paediatric and adult CHD cases with stent implantation in 2013 were included retrospectively.ResultsOverall, 207 stents were implanted in 151 patients across 11 centres. Median age was 13.7 years (range, 5 days to 70.1 years). Main procedure indications were branch pulmonary artery angioplasty (n=46, 29.1%), aortic (re)coarctation stenting (n=43, 27.2%), percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (n=32, 20.2%) and ductus arteriosus stenting (n=14, 8.9%). The main stents implanted were the CP Stent™ (n=61, 29.5%), the Max™ LD stent (n=43, 20.8%), the Valeo® stent (n=28, 13.5%) and valved stents (n=30, 14.5%). Procedures were considered successful in 96.8% of cases (95% confidence interval [CI] 92.8–99.0%). Adverse events were observed in 23 procedures (14.7%, 95% CI 9.5–21.0%). Ductus arteriosus stenting (odds ratio 12.4, 95% CI 2.0–77.5; P