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Background The outcome of patients with low-flow low-gradient (LFLG) aortic stenosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is not well evaluated. Long-term clinical success is thought to be less pronounced in LFLG patients compared to patients with high gradient (HG) aortic stenosis. Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterise different LFLG groups and determine their outcome after TAVR. We hypothesised that there would be relevant differences in baseline characteristics and patient survival after TAVR. Methods All patients undergoing TAVR for severe aortic stenosis at our centre between 2013 and 2019 were included in the study. Patients have been split into groups according preinterventional echocardiography data according to mean pressure gradient (dPmean), ejection fraction (EF), and stroke volume index (SVi). Patients with a dPmean Results 1,772 patients were analysed (mean follow-up 2.2 years, median age 81.7 [77.5–85.7] years) and split into groups: HG, 953 patients (54.3%), cLFLG, 446 patients (25.2%), and pLFLG 373 patients (21.1%). Baseline characteristics showed significant differences (p Rates of periprocedural complications including death, device failure, pericardial effusion, stroke or myocardial infarction were comparable between groups. Mortality rate (figure 1) was highest for cLFLG patients (43.4% [95% confidence interval, 37.3–48.6%]) compared to HG (25.1% [21.6–28.5%]) or pLFLG (32.9% [26.9–38.4%]), Log-rank test, Conclusion In this all-comer analysis, almost half of the patients belong toLFLG groups with considerable differences in patient characteristics. While equally safe during the procedure, patients with LFLG aortic stenosis show increased 3-year mortality rates compared to patients with HG aortic stenosis. Further studies evaluating this are needed. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1. 3-year mortalityFigure 2. STS score-adjusted mortality

Background To investigate the impact of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) calcification on the incidence of device failure and mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods Of 690 consecutive patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI in our center from January 2013 to December 2015, 600 presented with non-severe (NSCALVOT) and 90 (13.0%) with severe (SCALVOT) LVOT calcification. Primary outcome of interest was device failure defined as a composite of procedural death, prosthesis dislocation, annulus rupture or significant para-valvular leakage (PVL). Secondary outcome of interest was 30-day and one-year all-cause mortality. Results Mean age of the population was 80.8 ± 7.2 years, mean STS score was 5.7 ± 4.6% and 50.6% of the patients were women. Patients with SCALVOT more frequently experienced device failure (10.0% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.009) and were at higher risk of 30 day (10.0% vs. 2.8%, p Conclusion Presence of severe LVOT calcification in patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI is associated with a higher risk of device failure and short-term mortality.

Objectives The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of oral anticoagulation (OAC) type on clinical outcomes 1 year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Background Non–vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are superior to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), while their comparative performance among patients in need of OAC undergoing TAVR is underinvestigated. Methods The study enrolled 962 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR in 4 tertiary European centers and were discharged on either NOACs (n = 326) or VKAs (n = 636). By using propensity scores for inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), the comparison of treatment groups was adjusted to correct for potential confounding. Results Mean age and Society of Thoracic Surgeons score of the population were 81.3 ± 6.3 years and 4.5% (interquartile range: 3.0% to 7.3%); 52.5% were women and a balloon-expandable valve was used in 62.7% of cases. The primary outcome of interest, combined incidence of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and any cerebrovascular event at 1-year after TAVR, was 21.2% with NOACs versus 15.0% with VKAs (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00 to 2.07; p = 0.050, IPTW-adjusted). The 1-year incidence of any Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleeds and all-cause mortality were comparable between the NOAC and VKA groups, 33.9% versus 34.1% (HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.74 to 1.26; p = 0.838, IPTW-adjusted) and 16.5% versus 12.2% (HR: 1.36; 95% CI: 0.90 to 2.06; p = 0.136, IPTW-adjusted), respectively. Conclusions Chronic use of both NOACs and VKAs among patients in need of OAC after TAVR are comparable regarding 1-year bleeding risk. The higher ischemic event rate observed with NOACs needs to be evaluated in large randomized trials.

Background: Even among biomarker-negative patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), periprocedural thrombotic and bleeding complications can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Whether stronger platelet inhibition by an intensified oral loading strategy (ILS) before PCI impacts on outcomes among these patients in contemporary practice remains unclear. Methods: This multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded trial tested the hypothesis that in elective PCI prasugrel 60 mg (ILS) is superior to standard loading strategy with clopidogrel 600 mg regarding a composite primary end point of all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, definite/probable stent thrombosis, stroke, or urgent vessel revascularization. After PCI, all patients were on clopidogrel 75 mg/day and aspirin. The trial was terminated prematurely because of slower-than-expected recruitment and funding discontinuation. Results: Of 781 patients included in the final analysis, 382 were assigned to ILS and 399 to standard loading strategy. At 30 days, the primary end point occurred in 66 patients (17.3%) assigned to ILS and 74 patients (18.6%) assigned to standard loading strategy (odds ratio, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.63–1.32]; P =0.64). Any myocardial infarction and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium ≥2 bleeding rates were similar among ILS and standard loading strategy groups 16.2% versus 17.5%, odds ratio, 0.91 (95% CI, 0.62–1.32), P =0.62 and 4.2% versus 4.8%, odds ratio 0.87 (95% CI, 0.44–1.73), P =0.70, respectively. Conclusions: In biomarker-negative stable and unstable angina patients undergoing elective PCI, the trial did not find a conclusive difference in efficacy or safety. This observation should be interpreted in the context of wide CIs and premature termination of the trial. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02548611.

Beyond thromboembolic events, peri-procedural bleeding remains one of the most frequent complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The majority of TAVI patients receive a dual anti-platelet treatment (DAPT) regimen. This analysis from the EVERY-TAVI register database aimed to analyse whether the level of on-treatment adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet reactivity predicts early outcomes at 30 days after TAVI. A total of 146 consecutive TAVI patients on DAPT who underwent platelet function testing with the Multiplate analyser were included here. Definition of bleeding events was done according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) classification. In our cohort, a status of low platelet reactivity (LPR, ≤ 18 units) was observed in 79 patients (54%), while high platelet reactivity (HPR, ≥ 46 units) was present in 18 patients (12%). At 30-day follow-up, the incidence of VARC-2 bleeds was 45.6% (n = 36) in LPR patients and 23.9% (n = 16) in patients without LPR (hazard ratio [HR] 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17–3.79; p = 0.01). In age-adjusted multivariate analysis, a status of LPR was independently associated with VARC-2 bleeding events (HRadj, 2.06, 95% CI, 1.14–3.71; p = 0.02). HPR was not associated with the 30-day risk of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction (p ≥ 0.43). In summary, presence of LPR was associated with bleeding events in patients undergoing TAVI while presence of HPR was not associated with ischaemic outcomes at 30 days. The value of platelet function testing for bleeding risk prediction and for a possible guidance of anti-thrombotic treatment in the elderly TAVI population warrants further investigation.

Presence of moderate or severe left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) calcification (SCALVOT) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been linked to adverse outcomes [(1,2)][1]. However, calcium quantification in contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CTA) scans

AIMS Our aim was to assess the incidence of aortic regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with the second (SXT) versus third-generation (S3) balloon-expandable SAPIEN prosthesis in patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS AND RESULTS Of 634 patients undergoing TAVI in our centre from May 2010 to July 2014, 354 were treated with the SXT and 100 with the S3 prosthesis. The primary outcome was the incidence of more-than-mild post-TAVI AR at discharge. Secondary outcomes were 30-day incidence of all-cause death, any bleeding complications and need for new pacemaker. The incidence of the primary outcome was 2.0% vs. 8.8%, p