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AIMS: The requirement for a permanent pacemaker (PPM) is an important sequela after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this analysis was to identify predictive factors for pacemaker dependence in PPM-insertions post-TAVI. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective analysis of all PPM insertions done between January 2009 and December 2018 (n=1,373) identified 33 patients who received a PPM within one month of TAVI. Thirty-two had completed a PPM check at one year and were included in the final analyses. Of those who had PPM insertions after TAVI, 41% (13/32) were not PPM-dependent at one year. This cohort was predominantly European (94%) and over half were octogenerians (56%). Statistically significant associations with being PPM-dependent at one year include intraoperative PPM dependence (OR 5.714 [95% CI: 1.163-28.070]; p=0.032), third-degree heart block being the indication for PPM insertion (OR 8.533 [95% CI: 1.616-45.063]; p=0.012) and mean valve depth over 6.0 mm (OR 6.222 [95% CI: 1.200-32.273]; p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of patients are not dependent on the PPMs inserted after TAVI. Although small, our study suggests that those who are pacing-dependent intraoperatively, have a third-degree heart block as their PPM indication or have a mean valve depth of over 6.0 mm, are more likely to be pacing-dependent in the long term. Larger studies are required to draw more definitive conclusions.

Background: polymer-free drug-coated stents provide superior clinical outcomes to bare-metal stents in patients at high bleeding risk who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and are treated with 1 month of dual antiplatelet therapy. Data on the use of polymer-based drug-eluting stents, as compared with polymer-free drug-coated stents, in such patients are limited. Methods: in an international, randomized, single-blind trial, we compared polymer-based zotarolimus-eluting stents with polymer-free umirolimus-coated stents in patients at high bleeding risk. After PCI, patients were treated with 1 month of dual antiplatelet therapy, followed by single antiplatelet therapy. The primary outcome was a safety composite of death from cardiac causes, myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis at 1 year. The principal secondary outcome was target-lesion failure, an effectiveness composite of death from cardiac causes, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically indicated target-lesion revascularization. Both outcomes were powered for noninferiority. Results: a total of 1996 patients at high bleeding risk were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive zotarolimus-eluting stents (1003 patients) or polymer-free drug-coated stents (993 patients). At 1 year, the primary outcome was observed in 169 of 988 patients (17.1%) in the zotarolimus-eluting stent group and in 164 of 969 (16.9%) in the polymer-free drug-coated stent group (risk difference, 0.2 percentage points; upper boundary of the one-sided 97.5% confidence interval [CI], 3.5; noninferiority margin, 4.1; P = 0.01 for noninferiority). The principal secondary outcome was observed in 174 patients (17.6%) in the zotarolimus-eluting stent group and in 169 (17.4%) in the polymer-free drug-coated stent group (risk difference, 0.2 percentage points; upper boundary of the one-sided 97.5% CI, 3.5; noninferiority margin, 4.4; P = 0.007 for noninferiority). Conclusions: among patients at high bleeding risk who received 1 month of dual antiplatelet therapy after PCI, use of polymer-based zotarolimus-eluting stents was noninferior to use of polymer-free drug-coated stents with regard to safety and effectiveness composite outcomes. (Funded by Medtronic; ONYX ONE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03344653.).

This first-in-human study evaluated the safety and technical feasibility of the Tempo temporary cardiac pacing lead (BioTrace Medical), which includes a novel fixation mechanism and soft tip.Complications of temporary pacing leads include dislodgment, arrhythmias, and ventricular perforation. Temporary pacing applications have increased with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) growth, for rapid pacing during balloon valvuloplasty (BAV) and valve deployment, and for periprocedural bradyarrhythmia support.Eligible patients required temporary pacing for TAVR, BAV, or electrophysiology (EP) procedures. Transthoracic echocardiograms were obtained at baseline and 24 hours after lead removal. Safety was defined as freedom from pericardial effusion requiring intervention or evidence of tamponade. Technical feasibility involved successful intracardiac delivery and pace capture. Additional evaluations included pacing threshold (PCT), rapid pacing, dislodgment, or sustained ventricular arrhythmias. Follow-up was to 30 days.Twenty-five patients (60% female; mean age, 64 ± 19 years) underwent 13 TAVRs (7 Sapien 3 valves [Edwards Lifesciences], 4 CoreValves [Medtronic], and 2 Lotus valves [Boston Scientific]), 11 EP procedures, and 1 BAV at two New Zealand centers from January 2016 to June 2016. Safety was met in all patients, with no device-related adverse events. Technical feasibility was achieved in 23 cases (92%); 2 patients had unsuitable anatomy. No patient had lead dislodgment or sustained ventricular arrhythmias, and the final procedural PCT was 0.7 ± 0.5 mA. Rapid pacing was successful in all cases. Five patients had successful postprocedural use up to 5 days.This first-in-human study demonstrates the safety and technical feasibility of the Tempo lead, providing stable periprocedural temporary pacing support.

Pre-procedural planning for increasingly complex transcatheter procedures requires accurate and detailed understanding of cardiac anatomy. Echocardiography is widely used but has limitations of interoperator variability (2-dimensional [2D] and 3-dimensional [3D]), wider anatomic appreciation (2D)

Background We report the findings of the SOURCE-ANZ registry of the clinical outcomes of the Edwards SAPIEN™ Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) in the Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) clinical environment. Methods This single arm registry of select patients treated in eight centres, represent the initial experience within ANZ with the balloon expandable Edwards SAPIEN THV delivered by transfemoral (TF) and transapical (TA) access. Results The total enrolment for the study was 132 patients, 63 patients treated by TF, 56 by TA, and 2 patients were withdrawn from the study. The mean ages: 83.7 (TF) and 81.7 (TA), female: 34.3% (TF) and 61.3% (TA), logistic EuroSCORE: 26.8% (TF) and 28.8% (TA), and with procedural success (successful implant without conversion to surgery or death): 92.4% (TF) and 87.1% (TA) (p=0.32). Outcomes were not significantly different between TF and TA implants. These included one year mortality of 13.6% (TF) and 21.7% (TA) (p=0.24), MACCE: 16.7% (TF) and 28.3% (TA) (p=0.12), pacemaker: 4.6% (TF) and 8.3% (TA) (p=0.39), and VARC major vascular complication of 4.6% (TF) and 5.0% (TA) (p=0.91). Conclusion TAVI in the ANZ clinical environment has demonstrated excellent outcomes for both the TA and TF approaches in highly selected patients. These results are consistent with those demonstrated in European, Canadian registries and the pivotal US clinical trials. ACTRN12611001026910.

A 30-year-old man with complex congenital heart disease presented with severe heart failure. He was born with a double-inlet left ventricle with leva-transposition of the great arteries and severe pulmonary stenosis. This had been palliated by bicavopulmonary anastomosis and, in 1999, by a Damus

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of use of a new self-expanding transcatheter heart valve with unique locator technology which anatomically aligns and ‘clips’ the bioprosthesis over the native aortic valve with resultant minimal paravalvular leak and a low transvalvular

Background We reported the first case of successful transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a human subject in 2005 and have now completed a 12-month follow-up on our first 26 patients. This is, to date, the longest follow-up of patients undergoing transapical aortic valve implantation. Methods Between October 2005 and January 2007, 26 patients (13 female) underwent transcatheter transapical aortic valve implantation with either 23- or 26-mm Edwards Lifesciences transcatheter bioprostheses. All patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis were declined for conventional aortic valve replacement because of unacceptable operative risks and were not candidates for transfemoral aortic valve implantation because of poor arterial access. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was performed before discharge and at 1, 6, and 12 months. Data from the 17 patients who survived over 12 months were used for comparisons of the baseline and follow-up results. Results The mean age was 80 ± 9 years, and the predicted operative mortality was 37% ± 20% by using logistic EuroSCORE and 11% ± 6% by using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Risk Calculator. Valves were successfully implanted in all patients. Six patients died within 30 days (30-day mortality, 23%), and 3 patients died from noncardiovascular causes after 30 days (late mortality, 12%). Among patients who survived at least 30 days, 12-month survival was 85%. There were no late valve-related complications. New York Heart Association functional class improved significantly. The aortic valve area and mean gradient remained stable at 12 months (1.6 ± 0.3 cm 2 and 9.6 ± 4.8 mm Hg, respectively). Conclusion Our 1-year clinical and echocardiographic outcomes suggest that transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a viable alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement in selected high-risk patients.

Objectives Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a promising approach to aortic valve disease. The implications of this new therapy are not entirely known. We describe the potential for the development of new atrioventricular (AV) block. Background Atrioventricular block is a known complication of conventional surgical AVR. Block is presumed to occur as a consequence of surgical trauma to the cardiac conduction tissue during excision of the diseased aortic valve and debridement of the calcified annulus. Whether AV block might occur as a consequence of nonsurgical implantation of an aortic stent valve is unknown. Methods We reviewed our experience with patients undergoing transcatheter AVR using both the percutaneous transarterial and the open-chest direct left ventricular apical ventriculotomy approaches. Patients were considered at high risk for conventional surgery because of comorbidities. Continuous arrhythmia monitoring was performed for at least 48 h after the valve implantation procedure. Patients who developed apparently new, clinically significant AV block were identified. Results Transcatheter AVR was successfully performed in 123 patients. Seventeen of these patients (13.8%) had pre-existing permanent pacemakers. Two patients (1.6%) required pacemaker implantation because of pre-existing intermittent bradycardia. Seven patients (5.7%) developed new and sustained complete AV block requiring pacemaker implantation. An additional 4 patients (3.3%) developed new and sustained left bundle branch block but did not require pacemaker implantation. Conclusions As with conventional AVR surgery, transcatheter AVR may result in impaired atrioventricular conduction. Physicians and patients should be aware of the potential for AV block and pacemaker dependence.

Objectives In the present study, the anatomy of the aortic root was assessed noninvasively with multislice computed tomography (MSCT). Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been proposed as an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. For this procedure, detailed knowledge of aortic annulus diameters and the relation between the annulus and the coronary arteries is needed. Methods In 169 patients (111 men, age 54 ± 11 years), a 64-slice MSCT scan was performed for evaluation of coronary artery disease. Of these, 150 patients had no or mild aortic stenosis, and 19 patients had moderate to severe aortic stenosis. Reconstructed coronal and sagittal views were used for assessment of the aortic annulus diameter in 2 directions. In addition, the distance between the annulus and the ostium of the right and left coronary arteries and the length of the coronary leaflets were assessed. The LV outflow tract and interventricular septum were analyzed on the single oblique sagittal view at end-diastole. Results The diameter of the aortic annulus was 26.3 ± 2.8 mm on the coronal view, and 23.5 ± 2.7 mm on the sagittal view. Mean difference between the 2 diameters was 2.9 ± 1.8 mm, indicating an oval shape of the aortic annulus. Mean distance between the aortic annulus and the ostium of the right coronary artery was 17.2 ± 3.3 mm, and mean distance between the annulus and the ostium of the left coronary artery was 14.4 ± 2.9 mm. In 82 patients (49%), the length of the left coronary leaflet exceeded the distance between the annulus and the ostium of the left coronary artery. There were no significant differences in the diameter of annulus, diameter of sinus of Valsalva, or the distance between the annulus, left coronary leaflet, and the ostium of the left coronary artery, between the patient with and without severe aortic stenosis. Conclusions The MSCT can provide detailed information on the shape of the aortic annulus and the relation between the annulus and the ostia of the coronary arteries. Thereby, MSCT may be helpful for avoiding paravalvular leakage and coronary occlusion and may facilitate the selection of candidates for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background— Percutaneous aortic valve replacement represents an endovascular alternative to conventional open heart surgery without the need for sternotomy, aortotomy, or cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods and Results— Transcatheter implantation of a balloon-expandable stent valve using a femoral arterial approach was attempted in 50 symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis in whom there was a consensus that the risks of conventional open heart surgery were very high. Valve implantation was successful in 86% of patients. Intraprocedural mortality was 2%. Discharge home occurred at a median of 5 days (interquartile range, 4 to 13). Mortality at 30 days was 12% in patients in whom the logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation risk score was 28%. With experience, procedural success increased from 76% in the first 25 patients to 96% in the second 25 ( P =0.10), and 30-day mortality fell from 16% to 8% ( P =0.67). Successful valve replacement was associated with an increase in echocardiographic valve area from 0.6±0.2 to 1.7±0.4 cm 2 . Mild paravalvular regurgitation was common but was well tolerated. After valve insertion, there was a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction ( P P =0.01), and functional class ( P Conclusion— Percutaneous valve replacement may be an alternative to conventional open heart surgery in selected high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.

Background: The current treatment of choice for symptomatic aortic stenosis is aortic valve replacement (AVR) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB),butAVRisassociatedwithsignificantoperativemorbidityandmortalityinelderlypatientswithmultipleco-morbidconditions.Werecently reported the first successful aortic valve implantation procedure (AVI) via a mini-thoracotomy and left ventricular apical puncture without cardiopulmonary bypass. We now report 6-month follow-up in our initial seven patients. Methods: Seven patients (77 10 years old) with symptomatic aortic stenosis were deemed to be non-surgical candidates for AVR and not suitable for a transfemoral percutaneous heart valve implantation due to aorto-iliac disease. The predicted 30-day operative mortality was 31 23% according to logistic Euroscore. Patients underwent minimally invasive transapical AVI. With the guidance of fluoroscopy and transesophageal echocardiography, balloon predilation was followed by deployment of a 26 mm Cribier—Edwards TM valve (Edwards Lifesciences Inc., Irvine, CA) during rapid ventricular pacing to reduce forward flow and cardiac motion. Results: Valve implantation was successful in all seven patients. There were no intra-procedural mortalities or complications. Thirty-day operative mortality was 14%. One patient died at day 12 due to pneumonia. Two patients died from non-cardiac diseases at day 51 and 85. The remaining four patients completed 6-month follow-up. The aortic valve area increased from 0.7 0.3 to 1.8 0.7 and 1.5 0.5 cm 2 at 1 and 6 months, respectively. The mean transaortic gradient was reduced from 32 8t o 10 5 and 11 8 mmHg at 1 and 6 months, respectively. Following AVI, none or trivial, mild, and moderate aortic regurgitation was observed in 4, 2, and 1 patients, respectively. There were no valve-related complications during the follow-up. Conclusion: Aortic valve implantation can successfully be performed via a minimally invasive apical approach without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. The early results in this initial series are encouraging. This initial experience suggests that the minimally invasive transapical approach is a viable alternative for patients in whom open-heart surgery is not feasible or poses unacceptable risks. # 2007 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background— Percutaneous aortic valve implantation by an antegrade transvenous approach has been described but is problematic. Retrograde prosthetic aortic valve implantation via the femoral artery has potential advantages. Percutaneous prosthetic aortic valve implantation via the femoral arterial approach is described and the initial experience reported. Methods and Results— The valve prosthesis is constructed from a stainless steel stent with an attached trileaflet equine pericardial valve and a fabric cuff. After routine aortic balloon valvuloplasty, a 22F or 24F sheath is advanced from the femoral artery to the aorta. A steerable, deflectable catheter facilitates manipulation of the prosthesis around the aortic arch and through the stenotic valve. Rapid ventricular pacing is used to reduce cardiac output while the delivery balloon is inflated to deploy the prosthesis within the annulus. Percutaneous aortic prosthetic valve implantation was attempted in 18 patients (aged 81±6 years) in whom surgical risk was deemed excessive because of comorbidities. Iliac arterial injury, seen in the first 2 patients, did not recur after improvement in screening and access site management. Implantation was successful in 14 patients. After successful implantation, the aortic valve area increased from 0.6±0.2 to 1.6±0.4 cm 2 . There were no intraprocedural deaths. At follow-up of 75±55 days, 16 patients (89%) remained alive. Conclusions— This initial experience suggests that percutaneous transarterial aortic valve implantation is feasible in selected high-risk patients with satisfactory short-term outcomes.

Introduction: AS is a condition with an increasing prevalence in New Zealand (NZ). The natural history of severe AS is such that patients face a poor prognosis once the disease becomes clinically evident. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the standard of care, yet many are at high risk of poor outcomes due to comorbidity, frailty or anatomical limitations. Clinically TAVR may be an appropriate alternative treatment; however, at present it remains an expensive technology: the procurement cost of an Edwards Sapien trans catheter valve is NZD$30,000. Expansion of TAVR could have a major budget impact on the NZ public healthcare system. Conversely, the high cost of the transcatheter valve may be offset by intensive care unit stay and the cost of complications related to SAVR. Methods: To explore this further, we retrospectively compare index admission cost in AS patients with Euroscore 2 > 4 undergoing SAVR with those having TAVR. Patients were excluded if they had surgery outsourced to the private sector, if they had not had their procedure by 31/3/2014 or if full costing data could not be extracted from the hospital business department. Clinical variables include date of admission, date of procedure, age, gender, weight, Euroscore 2, renal function (GFR), LV function and previous sternotomy. Data was collected across the three TAVR centers in NZ. A total of 170 TAVR patients are compared with 168 SAVR patients. Initial Results: Mean Euroscore 2 was 9.8 +/- 5.4 in the TAVR group compared with 7.4 +/- 4.3 in the SAVR group. The mean cost of SAVR vs TAVR was $65,793 and $52,582 respectively. Median cost was $54,826 for SAVR and $46,899 for TAVR. 57% of the mean cost of TAVR was due to the valve. Average length of stay in TAVR patients was half that of SAVR patients. ICU cost in SAVR patients was $10,021 higher than in the TAVR patients. On average, TAVR required 10% of the blood product costs associated with SAVR. Conclusions: We show that the average index admission cost of SAVR is significantly higher than TAVR in this group of patients who were at moderate to high risk of surgery. Also, non-device costs are much higher in SAVR, suggesting higher hospital resource requirements compared to TAVR. This data has implications for TAVR funding in the NZ public healthcare system.

Surgically untreated aortic insufficiency (AI) is associated with a 10-year mortality rate of 34% and the development of significant heart failure in 50% of patients [(1)][1]. Approximately 10% of AI patients are not offered surgery, mainly due to age or significant comorbidities [(2)][2].

Attempted atrial transseptal puncture in a 63-year-old man undergoing an ablative procedure for atrial fibrillation was complicated by inadvertent delivery of an 8 Fr sheath across the aorta. Due to obesity-related perioperative risks, we opted for percutaneous repair rather than open-heart corrective surgery. Our case is unique for the novel percutaneous delivery of an Amplatzer atrial septal defect (ASD) closure device to the defect in the non-coronary aortic cusp through an 8 Fr left atrial multipurpose sheath not designed for this purpose. At 9-month follow-up, he had a mild residual internuclear ophthalmoplegia.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been performed at Waikato Hospital for high-risk severe symptomatic aortic stenosis patients who are considered unsuitable for conventional cardiac surgery for the last 3 years. The Medtronic CoreValve (MCV) is a self-expandable device, while the Edwards SAPIEN valve (EV) requires the use of a balloon to expand the device. This observational study reports and compares the incidence of heart block in both Medtronic and Edwards transcatheter valves.All patients who underwent TAVI between the periods of 28 August 2008 and 27 July 2011 were included in this study. Preprocedure and daily postprocedure until discharge electrocardiograms (ECG) were obtained prospectively. New onsets of significant atrioventricular (AV) and bundle branch blocks were recorded. Patients with existing pacemaker and those who did not survive the procedure were excluded.Sixty patients underwent TAVI during the study period, of whom 40 (67%) and 20 (33%) patients had MCV and EV implanted, respectively. Seven patients were excluded from the analysis; 38 MCV and 15 EV patients fulfilled the criteria for analysis. Mean age was 80 ± 7 years, 57% were male. Five patients (9%) required permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation, which occurred exclusively post MCV TAVI (MCV vs EV: 13% vs 0%, respectively; P=.02). The indications of PPM were complete heart block in 3 patients (60%), Mobitz II second-degree heart block in 1 patient (20%), and symptomatic sick sinus syndrome in 1 patient (20%). The incidence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) was increased after the TAVI procedure and was more significant with MCV implants (MCV vs EV: 42% vs 8%, respectively; P.01). Of note, 2 of the 5 patients (40%) with pre-existing right bundle branch block (RBBB) who underwent TAVI required PPM (P=.01).MCV implantation is associated with a higher incidence of significant AV block requiring PPM implantation and LBBB compared to EV. The overall rate of PPM requirement post MCV TAVI is, however, lower than previously published data. Pre-existing RBBB may help in predicting the likelihood of developing significant AV block.

Surgical aortic valve replacement remains the gold standard of the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis but is often not considered due to excessive risk factors and comorbidities especially in elderly patients. We describe the burden of untreated severe aortic stenosis at a tertiary care hospital in New Zealand.Consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis presented between January-December, 2005 were studied retrospectively. Outcome assessment included mortality, hospital stay and on going symptoms (anginaCCS class II, dyspnoeaNYHA class II and syncope).A total of 105 patients with severe aortic stenosis were identified (mean age 76 plus or minus 13 years, 51% men). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the management strategy. (Group 1: Not referred for surgery as asymptomatic (n=25), Group 2: Declined for surgery (n=41), Group 3: Accepted for surgery (n=39)). Median follow-up was 34 months (interquartile range: 16-36 months). All-cause mortality in Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 were 36%, 73% and 18% respectively while hospital days per 100 patient-years were 3.5, 10.1 and 6.4 and symptoms on last follow-up were 0%, 64% and 0% respectively. Almost half of symptomatic patients (Group 2 versus 3) were denied valve surgery due to comorbidities. Symptomatic patients had a significant mortality (p0.0001) benefit with less hospitalisations (p0.0001) post surgery.Untreated symptomatic severe aortic stenosis is associated with a poor prognosis and significant morbidity. For symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis who are denied surgery, alternative therapies such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation could be a viable option.

A 52-year-old man was referred to the cardiology outpatient service with exertional angina and shortness of breath due to hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. He underwent transcoronary ethanol septal ablation (TESA) with successful procedural outcome. The patient returned to hospital with a 3-week history of intermittent fever and a positive blood culture showing Staphylococcus aureus, sensitive to flucloxacillin. Transoesophageal echocardiography on admission demonstrated vegetation on interventricular septum and a repeated scan 10 days later demonstrated Doppler flow across the interventricular septum, confirming the presence of a small ventricular septal defect. This patient was successfully managed with 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics and remained well at 1-year follow-up.

A 70-year-old male presented to hospital with both anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction and spontaneous oesophageal rupture (Boerhaave’s syndrome). He underwent primary angioplasty and stenting for a lesion of the left anterior descending in addition to cardiothoracic surgery for the oesophageal rupture. This combination of pathologies is a rare entity and often difficult to diagnose. To date, only a few cases have been reported.

The prognostic significance of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the potential for reversibility in the setting of aortic stenosis (AS) have been debated. We examined the clinical correlates and prognostic significance of PH in high risk elderly patients with symptomatic severe AS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (AVI). AVI was performed in 143 patients. Adequate echocardiographic estimation of baseline pulmonary artery systolic pressure was available in 115 (80%). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to baseline pulmonary artery pressure estimated by transthoracic echocardiogram: I: 50 mmHg. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was obtained at 1, 6 and 12 months after AVI. Group I consisted of 17 patients (15%), group II 58 patients (50%) and group III 40 patients (35%). At baseline the three groups were similar in terms of age, functional status, presence of severe pulmonary disease, aortic valve area and mean gradient. Patients with severe PH (group III) were more likely to have left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF

Objectives: We describe the outcome of 168 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This cohort includes the first in man transarterial and off-pump transapical patients. Methods: The balloon-expandable aortic prosthesis was implanted via the femoral artery or left ventricular apex in 113 and 58 patients respectively. Data are described as 1–57, 58 –114 femoral and 1–58 apical procedures, respectively. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up occurred at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months. Unsuccessful cases were censored at 30 days. Results: Mean age was 82.5 years (range 50 –97) with 57% males. Procedural success was 94.2% [88%, 96%, & 98%] with no unsuccessful procedures in the last 46 cases. One patient had a successful transfemoral procedure after a prior failure, and 3 patients had successful transapical procedures following failed transfemoral attempts. Logistic EuroSCORE and STS predicted 30-day surgical mortality was 31% [28.4%, 29.1% & 36%], and 10.4% [8.9%, 9.6% & 12.6%] respectively. Observed 30-day mortality was 10.5% [10.5%, 3.5%, & 17.2%], and 0% in the last 39 trans-femoral cases. Intra-procedural mortality was 1.1% [1.8%, 0% & 1.7%]. Peri-procedural stroke occurred in 4% [3.5%, 7%, & 1.7%]. Median hospital stay was 5 days [4, 5, & 7]. Survival at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months was 88%, 80%, 74% [73.9%, 84%, & 65.6%] and 61%. AVA, MG, LVEF and MR significantly improved post TAVI (Table 1 ), and MR, EF, and NYHA class significantly improved during follow-up. MG did not increase during follow-up, but AVA decreased slightly at 1 year (mean difference: 0.2±0.54cm 2 , p=0.04). Mild paravalvular AR was common but severe AR was not observed post-implant or at follow-up. Conclusion: TAVI provides sustained clinical benefit for up to 2 years in patients with symptomatic severe AS and high operative risk. Procedural outcome continues to improve with experience and device development. Table 1: Echocardiographic follow-up

Background: Patients present with acute congestive heart failure due to severe aortic stenosis have increased mortality andmorbidity following urgent surgical aortic valve replacement. We used balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in these high risk surgical patients with a view to reduce the risk of subsequent AVR. Methods: BAV was used in 12 patients who were otherwise suitable for conventional urgent in-patient aortic valve replacement surgery for congestive heart failure. All patients had a high perioperative risk for aortic valve replacement (mean logistic EuroSCORE of 18% 12%; Society of Thoracic Surgeons [STS] score 10% 3%). Clinical and echocardiographic variables were entered prospectively into a database. Late follow-up for survival, clinical outcomes including the New York Heart (NYHA) Association functional class, and echocardiographic assessment was 100% complete. Results: A mean follow-up of 18 months 4.5 months, overall mortality was 8.3% and, 30-day mortality was 8.3% (1/12). There was 1 perioperative re sternotomy for bleeding. Mortality was due to stroke, no morbidity in any of the patients. Length of post SAVR 9 2.5 days. NYHA functional class improved from 3.4 0.4 before operation to 1.9 0.5 at late follow-up (p = 0.02). Pre BAV mean ejection fraction was 32% 8 weeks post BAV 40 12% and following SAVR 55% 8%. Time from BAV to SAVRwas 3 1.5 days in patient and 80 12 days as an out patient. No complications due to BVA. Despite modest improvement in the valve area from 0.8 cm .03 cm to 1.1 0.2 cm there was a significant symptomatic improvement allowed. 100% discharge rate before readmission for SAVR. Conclusions: BAV is useful as a bridge to surgical aortic valve replacement for treatment of patients with severe AS presenting with congestive heart failure. It is associated with good medium-term cardiac outcomes and enables patients to receive definitive therapy with low morbidity and mortality.

flow measurement in the main (MPA), right (RPA) and left (LPA) pulmonary arteries on a 1.5T Siemens Avanto MR scanner, using both the standard and the interleaved sequences, in a varying order. Internal consistency of the measurements was checked by the sum MPA flow (RPA + LPA flows). Flow measurements were analysed using Argus software (Siemens), statistical analysis with SPSS Statistics. Results: The mean MPA flow was 5.90 l/min using the standard sequence vs 5.47 l/min with the interleaved sequence (p=0.484). Mean RPA flow was 3.07 l/min vs. 2.75 l/min (p=0.249), and the mean LPA flow was 2.89 l/ min vs. 2.59 l/min (p=0.310). Internal consistency was comparable at 0.29 l/min standard vs. 0.28 l/min interleaved (p=0.959). Conclusion: The interleaved flow sequence produces similar results to the standard sequential method. No advantage for the interleaved sequence was demonstrated, but use thereof has no disadvantage either. In clinical situations where flow should be measured at multiple sites, eg shunt calculation, the interleaved sequence is preferable, with one source of potential error eliminated.

Background— Aortic valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass is currently the treatment of choice for symptomatic aortic stenosis but carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with comorbidities. Recently, percutaneous transfemoral aortic valve implantation has been proposed as a viable alternative in selected patients. We describe our experience with a new, minimally invasive, catheter-based approach to aortic valve implantation via left ventricular apical puncture without cardiopulmonary bypass or sternotomy. Methods and Results— A left anterolateral intercostal incision is used to expose the left ventricular apex. Direct needle puncture of the apex allows introduction of a hemostatic sheath into the left ventricle. The valve prosthesis, constructed from a stainless steel stent with an attached trileaflet equine pericardial valve, is crimped onto a valvuloplasty balloon. The prosthetic valve and balloon catheter are passed over a wire into the left ventricle. Positioning within the aortic annulus is confirmed by fluoroscopy, aortography, and echocardiography. Rapid ventricular pacing is used to reduce cardiac output while the balloon is inflated, deploying the prosthesis within the annulus. Transapical aortic valve implantation was successfully performed in 7 patients in whom surgical risk was deemed excessive because of comorbidities. Echocardiographic median aortic valve area increased from 0.7±0.1 cm 2 (interquartile range) to 1.8±0.8 cm 2 (interquartile range). There were no intraprocedural deaths. At a follow up of 87±56 days, 6 of 7 patients remain alive and well. Conclusions— This initial experience suggests that transapical aortic valve implantation without cardiopulmonary bypass is feasible in selected patients with aortic stenosis.