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Background: Increased left ventricular (LV) afterload in patients with aortic stenosis consists of valvular and vascular loads; however, the effects of vascular load induced by arterial stiffness on clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remain unclear. This study evaluated the prognostic value of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) after TAVR., Methods: A retrospective study including 161 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with a pre-procedural baPWV assessment was conducted. We investigated the association between baPWV and the 1-year composite outcome comprising all-cause death and rehospitalization related to heart failure. Echocardiographic measurements including the LV mass index (LVMi) and LV diastolic function at 1, 6, and 12 months after TAVR were assessed., Results: Of the 161 patients, 31 patients experienced composite outcome within 1 year after TAVR. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the discriminating baPWV level to discern 1-year composite outcome was 1,639 cm/s, and all subjects were allocated to two groups based on the result. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the high baPWV (n = 72) and low baPWV groups (n = 89). The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed a significantly higher cumulative 1-year composite outcome in the high baPWV group than in the low baPWV group (31% vs. 10%; log-rank test, p<0.001). High baPWV was an independent predictor of the 1-year composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.62-7.85; p = 0.002). Furthermore, post-procedural echocardiography revealed that the high baPWV group had less LVMi regression and higher E/e' after TAVR compared to the low baPWV group. The delayed reversal in LVMi and diastolic function attributable to arterial stiffness might be linked to impaired clinical outcomes after TAVR., Conclusions: Higher baPWV could be associated with adverse clinical outcomes and delayed reverse LV remodeling after TAVR., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: In candidates for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), preoperative computed tomography (CT) may detect clinically relevant non-cardiac findings. In particular, when malignant findings are detected, patients may be less likely to undergo the procedure. Additionally, they might require further examinations, which may prolong their time to treatment. We investigated how malignant findings affect candidacy for TAVI., Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, 98 patients with severe aortic stenosis who had undergone preoperative CT between September 2013 and October 2016 were evaluated for malignant findings., Results: Seven patients (7.1%) had malignant findings. 74 of 91 patients who did not have malignant findings underwent TAVI, SAVR, or balloon aortic valvuloplasty (81.3%). All patients who had malignant findings underwent TAVI or SAVR, and they underwent the procedure sooner after CT than the rest of the patients (mean time to TAVI or SAVR: 24.6 ± 16.8 versus 48.5 ± 45.4 days; P = .003). All 5 patients who had malignant findings without metastatic cancer and who underwent TAVI were still alive during the follow-up period (the mean duration of the follow-up period was 22.3 ± 8.8 months). However, 1 patient who had a malignant finding with metastatic cancer died 7 months after CT., Conclusion: Our outcomes indicated that the mean duration before TAVI or SAVR was reduced when malignant findings were detected by CT; and TAVI may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with aortic stenosis and a malignant tumor., (2020 Forum Multimedia Publishing, LLC)

Severe aortic stenosis (AS) is considered as an independent risk factor for perioperative cardiac complications of non-cardiac surgery. Surgical aortic valve replacement should be considered before non-cardiac surgery in patients with symptomatic severe AS. However, recently, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an alternative approach for selected AS patients. We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of TAVR in preparation for major non-cardiac surgery. From our retrospective database, seven patients who underwent TAVR in preparation for major non-cardiac surgery were identified, and their clinical and hemodynamic data were collected. After TAVR, a significant reduction in the mean transaortic pressure gradient from 54.0 (Interquartile range (IQR) 47.5-64.5) to 18.0 (IQR 12.5-19.0) mmHg (p = 0.016) and an increase in the calculated aortic valve area from 0.6 (IQR 0.6-0.7) to 1.3 (IQR 1.1-1.5) cm 2 (p = 0.022) were noted. Non-cardiac surgery included lung segmentectomy and lymph node dissection, lung lobectomy, ileocecal resection, partial colectomy, partial nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, laparoscopic nephrectomy, and laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. All the initial non-cardiac surgeries were performed without cardiac complications, under general anesthesia, 37 (IQR 32-74) days after TAVR. Two of the patients eventually needed additional non-cardiac surgery, which was performed uneventfully without the need for additional AS treatment. TAVR was an effective and safe procedure that might reduce the risk of general anesthesia and major non-cardiac surgery in severe AS.

Background: Objective nutritional indexes have been shown to predict prognoses in some clinical settings. We aimed to investigate the prognostic values of these indexes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 95 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI at our institution from December 2013 to February 2017. As objective nutritional indexes, a controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) were calculated at baseline. The optimal cut-off values were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. According to the cut-off values, we investigated the association of these indexes with 1-year clinical outcomes including all-cause mortality and re-hospitalization due to heart failure., Results: In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with a higher CONUT score and lower PNI had significantly higher incidence rates of 1-year mortality (26.9% vs. 2.9%; p<0.001, 17.4% vs. 2.0%; p=0.011, respectively) and composite outcome of mortality and re-hospitalization due to heart failure (38.5% vs. 13.0%; p=0.006, 39.3% vs. 11.9%; p=0.002, respectively). On Cox hazard analysis, CONUT score and PNI were significantly associated with 1-year mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 1.91; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27-2.88; p=0.002, HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75-0.99; p=0.031, respectively] and the composite outcome (HR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.11-2.00; p=0.007, HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80-0.97; p=0.011, respectively)., Conclusions: The CONUT score and PNI are associated with 1-year clinical outcomes especially with 1-year all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVI. Moreover, the CONUT score and PNI might have better predictive values than GNRI., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Obesity has previously been identified as an indicator of good prognosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), an association known as the "obesity paradox". We investigated whether abdominal total fat area (TFA), visceral fat area (VFA), or subcutaneous fat area (SFA) are prognostic indicators of long-term clinical outcome in patients undergoing TAVI., Methods and results: We retrospectively analyzed 100 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI between December 2013 and April 2017. TFA, VFA, and SFA were measured from routine pre-procedural computed tomography (CT). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to median TFA, VFA, or SFA, and we investigated the association of abdominal fat area with adverse clinical events, including all-cause death and re-hospitalization due to worsening heart failure. At a median follow-up of 665 days, patients with higher SFA had significantly lower incidence of the composite outcome and all-cause death compared with patients with lower SFA (15.0% vs. 37.7%, P=0.025; and 8.9% vs. 23.7%, P=0.047, respectively). In contrast, patients with higher TFA or VFA did not show significant reduction in the incidences of the composite outcome or all-cause mortality., Conclusions: CT-derived SFA had prognostic value in patients undergoing TAVI.

Background: The Placement of AoRtic TraNscathetER Valves trials (PARTNER) showed favorable safety and efficacy versus medical or surgical therapy in inoperable, high, and intermediate surgical risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, the biological responses to transcatheter aortic valves have not been well characterized., Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform pathologic assessment of Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter aortic valves removed either at autopsy or surgically during the PARTNER I and II clinical trials., Methods: Explanted valves and frame were evaluated for pathologic responses including extent of thrombus, inflammation, neointima, and leaflet degeneration/calcification according to semiquantitative grading by implant duration (≤30 days; 31-90 days; >90 days)., Results: A total of 22 cases (median age 82.0 years, 45% men) were included, with a duration of implantation that ranged from 0 to 1739 days (median duration 16.5 days [interquartile range, 2.8-68.3]). Valve thrombosis resulting in severe aortic stenosis was observed in one case. Moderate leaflet thrombus was seen in 14% of cases (n = 3) and all were asymptomatic. Calcification was seen in two valves: one with severe leaflet calcification had severe aortic stenosis requiring surgical replacement, while the other showed early calcification. Mild structural leaflet changes were exclusively seen in valve implants >90 days. Valve inflammation and thrombus formation was mild in majority of the cases., Conclusions: Overall, our study demonstrates moderate thrombus formation in 14% and calcification in only 2 valves, ≥4 years duration. In this short-duration study, acceptable durability and biocompatibility of the Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter valve system was demonstrated; however, further studies are required to confirm the significance and application of our findings., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: This paper reviews the published data and reports 3 cases of thrombosis involving CoreValve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) and 1 involving Edward Sapien (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) devices. Three of these cases had pathological findings at autopsy., Background: Only a limited number of cases of valve dysfunction with rapid increase of transvalvular aortic gradients or aortic insufficiency post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have been described. This nonstructural valvular dysfunction has been presumed to be because of early pannus formation or thrombosis., Methods: Through reviews of the published reports and 4 clinical cases, pathological and clinical findings of early valve thrombosis are examined to elucidate methods for recognition and identifying potential causes and treatments., Results: This paper presents 4 cases, 2 of which had increasing gradients post-TAVR. All 3 pathology cases showed presence of a valve thrombosis in at least 2 TAV leaflets on autopsy, but were not visualized by transthoracic echocardiogram or transesophageal echocardiogram. One case was medically treated with oral anti coagulation with normalization of gradients. The consequence of valve thrombosis in all 3 pathology patients either directly or indirectly played a role in their early demise. At least 18 case reports of early valve thrombosis have been published. In 12 of these cases, the early treatment with anticoagulation therapy resolved the thrombus formation and normalized aortic pressures gradients successfully., Conclusions: These 4 cases elucidate the occurrence of valve thrombosis post-TAVR. Consideration should be given to treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy and oral anticoagulation in patients post-TAVR with increasing mean pressure gradients and maximum aortic valve velocity. Further research should be conducted to create guidelines for antithrombotic therapy following TAVR procedure., (Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)