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BACKGROUND: The choice of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) prosthesis is crucial in optimizing short- and long-term outcomes. The objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis comparing outcomes of third-generation balloon-expandable valves (BEV) vs self-expanding valves (SEV). METHODS: Electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2023 for studies comparing third-generation BEV vs SEV. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included clinical and hemodynamic end points. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs). RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 16 studies and 10,174 patients (BEV, 5753 and SEV, 4421). There were no significant differences in 1-year all-cause mortality (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.89-1.48) between third-generation BEV vs SEV. TAVR with third generation BEV was associated with a significantly lower risk of TIA/stroke (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44-0.87), permanent pacemaker implantation (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.44-0.70), and ≥moderate paravalvular leak (PVL, OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.25-0.75), and higher risk of ≥moderate patient-prosthesis mismatch (OR, 3.76; 95% CI, 2.33-6.05), higher mean gradient (WMD, 4.35; 95% CI, 3.63-5.08), and smaller effective orifice area (WMD, -0.30; 95% CI, -0.37 to -0.23), compared with SEV. CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis, TAVR with third-generation BEV vs SEV was associated with similar all-cause mortality, lower risk of TIA/stroke, permanent pacemaker implantation, and ≥moderate PVL, but higher risk of ≥moderate patient-prosthesis mismatch, higher mean gradient, and smaller effective orifice area. Large, adequately powered randomized trials are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes of TAVR with latest generations of BEV vs SEV.

Background Many patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and an indication for aortic valve replacement (AVR) do not undergo treatment. The reasons for this have not been well studied in the transcatheter AVR era. We sought to determine how patient- and process-specific factors affected AVR use in patients with severe AS. Methods and Results We identified ambulatory patients from 2016 to 2018 demonstrating severe AS, defined by aortic valve area [Formula: see text]1.0 cm2. Propensity scoring analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to evaluate associations between predictors and the odds of undergoing AVR at 365 days and subsequent mortality at 730 days. Of 324 patients with an indication for AVR (79.3±9.7 years, 57.4% men), 140 patients (43.2%) did not undergo AVR. The odds of AVR were reduced in patients aged >90 years (odds ratio [OR], 0.24 [95% CI, 0.08-0.69]; P=0.01), greater comorbid conditions (OR, 0.88 per 1-point increase in Combined Comorbidity Index [95% CI, 0.79-0.97]; P=0.01), low-flow, low-gradient AS with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (OR, 0.11 [95% CI, 0.06-0.21]), and low-gradient AS with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (OR, 0.18 [95% CI, 0.08-0.40]) and were increased if the transthoracic echocardiogram ordering provider was a cardiologist (OR, 2.46 [95% CI, 1.38-4.38]). Patients who underwent AVR gained an average of 85.8 days of life (95% CI, 40.9-130.6) at 730 days. Conclusions The proportion of ambulatory patients with severe AS and an indication for AVR who do not receive AVR remains significant. Efforts are needed to maximize the recognition of severe AS, especially low-gradient subtypes, and to encourage patient referral to multidisciplinary heart valve teams.

This study examined the association between cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) hematocrit and postoperative acute renal failure (ARF) in patients undergoing aortic arch surgery with hypothermic circulatory arrest. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried from 2011 to 2019 for patients undergoing aortic arch surgery with hypothermic circulatory arrest. A multivariable logistic regression model estimated the adjusted odds of postoperative ARF on the basis of CPB hematocrit. Effects were stratified by preoperative kidney function and the duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest by using interaction terms. The study also investigated the association between postoperative ARF and major postoperative outcomes by using multivariable regression models. On adjusted analysis, higher CPB hematocrit (>20%-25%, >25%-30%, >30%) was associated with lower odds of ARF as compared with lower CPB hematocrit (≤20%) (>20-25%, aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.93; P =.006; >25%-30%, aOR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50-0.84; P =.0007; >30%, aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.28-0.72; P =.0008). The predicted probability of postoperative ARF by CPB hematocrit was higher in patients with lower preoperative renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate, <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) (interaction P =.03). The association between hematocrit and postoperative ARF was not significantly modified by hypothermic circulatory arrest time (interaction P =.74). All postoperative outcomes were significantly worse in patients with postoperative ARF (all P <.0001). Among patients undergoing aortic arch surgery, a higher CPB hematocrit level is associated with reduced likelihood of postoperative ARF. Preoperative renal function, but not hypothermic circulatory arrest duration, significantly modified this association. The maintenance of higher CPB hematocrit may reduce the incidence of postoperative ARF, especially for patients with poor preoperative renal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This manuscript describes the rationale and design of a randomized, controlled trial comparing outcomes with Warfarin vs Novel Oral Anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy in patients with new onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. Background: New onset atrial fibrillation commonly occurs after cardiac surgery and is associated with increased rates of stroke and mortality. in nonsurgical patients with atrial fibrillation, NOACs have been shown to confer equivalent benefits for stroke prevention with less bleeding risk and less tedious monitoring requirements compared with Warfarin. However, NOAC use has yet to be adopted widely in cardiac surgery patients. Methods: The NEW-AF study has been designed as a pragmatic, prospective, randomized controlled trial that will compare financial, convenience and safety outcomes for patients with new onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery that are treated with NOACs versus Warfarin Results: Study results may contribute to optimizing the options for stroke prophylaxis in cardiac surgery patients and catalyze more widespread application of NOAC therapy in this patient population. Conclusions: The study is ongoing and actively enrolling at the time of the publication. The trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov under registration number NCT03702582. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalized formalization of recognition algorithm for specialized computer systems is presented in this paper. The structure features of image recognition methods, which have to be taken into account when developing classifiers for object recognition in specialized computer systems, are described. The fundamental types of images characteristics-features, which are used in various methods of image recognition, are discussed. Approaches to development of classifiers for recognizing robotization objects, which are implemented on basis of Haar classifiers, are discussed. The issues of using machine learning algorithm of adaptive gain AdaBoost for development of such classifiers are also considered. Utilities have been developed for implementation of classifiers for object recognition in specialized computer systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately one-quarter of patients with acute type A aortic dissection (TAAD) present with concomitant malperfusion of coronary arteries, mesenteric circulation, lower extremities, kidneys, brain, and/or coma. It is generally accepted that TAAD patients who present with malperfusion experience higher mortality rates than patients without, although how specific malperfusion syndromes, alone or in combination, affect mortality is not well described. The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection database was queried for patients who underwent surgical repair of TAAD. Patients were stratified according to the presence/absence of malperfusion at presentation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate in-hospital mortality according to malperfusion type. Kaplan–Meier estimates were used to estimate 30-day postoperative survival. Six thousand four hundred thirty-seven patients underwent surgical repair of acute TAAD, of whom 2642 (41%) had 1 or more preoperative malperfusion syndromes. Mesenteric malperfusion (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.84; P <.001) was associated with the highest odds of in-hospital mortality, followed by coma (AOR, 1.88; P =.007), limb ischemia (AOR, 1.73; P =.008), and coronary malperfusion (AOR, 1.51; P =.02). Renal malperfusion (AOR, 1.37; P =.24) and neurologic deficit (AOR, 1.35; P =.28) were not associated with increased in-hospital mortality. In patients who survived to discharge, there was no difference in 1-year postdischarge survival in the malperfusion and no malperfusion cohorts (P =.36). Survival during the index admission after TAAD repair varies according to the presence and type of malperfusion syndromes, with mesenteric malperfusion being associated with the highest odds of in-hospital death. Not only the presence of malperfusion but rather specific malperfusion syndromes should be considered when assessing a patient's risk of undergoing TAAD repair. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current management of acute complicated type B aortic dissection is a combination of medical therapy and endovascular repair. Endovascular repair is not feasible when the dissection extends into the aortic arch. We describe 3 patients with acute type B aortic dissection complicated by retrograde arch extension and visceral malperfusion who were successfully treated with a total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are at risk of developing prolonged atrial fibrillation (AF) after surgery. Prophylactic interventions such as left atrial appendage amputation (LAAA) and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) impose cost and operative risk, discouraging routine use. To guide such interventions, we investigated preoperative predictors of AF. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing SAVR between 2011 and 2017. Patients were excluded if they had a preoperative history of AF or underwent a LAAA or PVI. Baseline characteristics were compared between those who did and did not develop prolonged postoperative AF. Predictors of prolonged AF were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Of 720 patients identified, 170 (25%) developed prolonged (beyond 30 days) AF. Compared with patients who did not develop AF, those who developed prolonged AF were older (70.1 vs 62.4 years, P <.001), had a greater incidence of hypertension (78% vs 61%, P <.001), and were less likely to smoke (16% vs 31%, P <.01). On multivariable regression, older age (odds ratio, 1.05; P <.01) and left atrial enlargement (odds ratio, 1.66; P =.04) were predictors of prolonged AF. In this high-risk cohort, the incidence of prolonged postoperative AF was 40%. Older age and left atrial enlargement identify a stratum of patients at high risk of developing prolonged postoperative AF after SAVR. Multicenter, prospective studies should investigate the value of prophylactic interventions such as LAAA, Cox maze, or PVI in these individuals to obviate the consideration of late anticoagulation. Advanced age and left atrial enlargement are risk factors for prolonged AF after SAVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]