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Surgical aortic valve replacement can be performed through a minimally invasive (MI) or full sternotomy (FS) approach. The present study compared outcomes of MI vs FS for isolated surgery among patients enrolled in the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) 3 low-risk trial.Patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis at low surgical risk with anatomy suitable for transfemoral access were eligible for PARTNER 3 enrollment. The primary outcome was the composite end point of death, stroke, or rehospitalization (valve-, procedure-, or heart failure-related) at 1 year. Secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary end point as well as patient-reported health status at 30 days and 1 year.In the PARTNER 3 study, 358 patients underwent isolated valve replacement at 68 centers through an MI (n = 107) or FS (n = 251) approach (8 patients were converted from MI to FS). Mean age and Society of Thoracic Surgeons score were similar between groups. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the primary outcome was similar in the MI vs FS groups (16.9% vs 14.9%; hazard ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.66-2.03; P = .618). There were no significant differences in the 1-year rates of all-cause death (2.8% vs 2.8%), all stroke (1.9% vs 3.6%), or rehospitalization (13.3% vs 10.6%, P.05 for all). Quality of life, as assessed by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score at 30 days or 1 year, was comparable in both groups.For patients at low risk for isolated surgery, MI and FS approaches were associated with similar in-hospital and 1-year outcomes.

4D Flow MRI is a quantitative imaging technique to evaluate blood flow patterns; however, it is unclear how compressed sensing (CS) acceleration would impact aortic hemodynamic quantification in type B aortic dissection (TBAD).To investigate CS-accelerated 4D Flow MRI performance compared to GRAPP-accelerated 4D Flow MRI (GRAPPA) to evaluate aortic hemodynamics in TBAD.Prospective.Twelve TBAD patients, two volunteers.1.5T, 3D time-resolved cine phase-contrast gradient echo sequence.GRAPPA (acceleration factor [R] = 2) and two CS-accelerated (R = 7.7 [CS7.7] and 10.2 [CS10.2]) 4D Flow MRI scans were acquired twice for interscan reproducibility assessment. Voxelwise kinetic energy (KE), peak velocity (PV), forward flow (FF), reverse flow (RF), and stasis were calculated. Plane-based mid-lumen flows were quantified. Imaging times were recorded.Repeated measures analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients (r), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). P 0.05 indicated statistical significance.The KE and FF in true lumen (TL) and PV in false lumen (FL) did not show difference among three acquisition types (P = 0.818, 0.065, 0.284 respectively). The PV and stasis in TL were higher, KE, FF, and RF in FL were lower, and stasis was higher in GRAPPA compared to CS7.7 and CS10.2. The RF was lower in GRAPPA compared to CS10.2. The correlation coefficients were strong in TL (r = [0.781-0.986]), and low to strong in FL (r = [0.347-0.948]). The ICC levels demonstrated moderate to excellent interscan reproducibility (0.732-0.989). The FF and net flow in mid-descending aorta TL were significantly different between CS7.7 and CS10.2.CS-accelerated 4D Flow MRI has potential for clinical utilization with shorter scan times in TBAD. Our results suggest similar hemodynamic trends between acceleration types, but CS-acceleration impacts KE, FF, RF, and stasis more in FL.1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2.

Objective Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Currently, there is no reliable way to determine preoperatively which patients will develop POAF following CABG. The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative left atrial (LA) strain analysis might identify patients destined to develop POAF following CABG. Methods From 2016 to 2018, 211 patients who had a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction >50% and adequate preoperative, predischarge, and follow-up echo images for interpretation underwent isolated CABG surgery. Postoperatively, patients had continuous rhythm monitoring until hospital discharge. Retrospective speckle-tracking analysis of preoperative echocardiograms was performed to calculate preoperative left ventricular global longitudinal strain and LA compliance and contraction strains in 92 matched patients. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the predictors of POAF after CABG. Results POAF occurred in 50 patients (24%). They were older, had longer intensive care unit and hospital stays, and a slightly greater 30-day mortality (P = .07). Preoperative LA volume index was larger in the patients with POAF but still “normal” as defined by current guidelines. However, preoperative LA compliance and contraction strains were significantly lower in patients who developed POAF after CABG. Conclusions Decreased preoperative LA strain measurements, especially LA-fractional area change, LA-emptying fraction, and LA-reservoir strain, taken jointly, are more specific and sensitive than other preoperative parameters in identifying patients who will develop POAF following CABG. The ability to identify patients preoperatively who are destined to develop POAF following CABG provides a basis for limiting POAF prophylactic therapy to only those patients undergoing CABG who are most likely to benefit from it rather than to all patients undergoing CABG.

Aortic wall remodelling in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients is heterogeneous and characterized by elastin fiber breakdown alongside impaired biomechanics. However, the relationship between aortic histopathological changes and biomechanics are incompletely understood. We clarify the influence of elastin fiber integrity on ex vivo aortic wall mechanical properties in BAV patients, and explore the influence of patient age.Aortic tissue samples (N=66) from 19 BAV patients undergoing prophylactic ascending aortic resection surgery were analyzed. Semi-quantitative histopathological analysis was conducted to assess elastin fiber integrity including elastin content and elastic fiber fragmentation.No statistically significant differences in elastin content were observed between younger and older BAV patients. Older patients showed greater elastin fiber fragmentation compared to their younger cohort (74% versus 61%). Elastin fiber histopathology was associated with differences in physiological mechanical properties: elastin fragmentation corresponded with lower LTM (P=0.005) and TZo (P=0.044) in younger BAV patients and higher LTM (P=0.049) and TZo (P=0.001) in older BAV patients. Histopathology changes were significantly associated with supraphysiological mechanical properties only in older BAV patients: decreased elastin integrity was associated with increased TZe (P=0.049) and HTM (P0.001).Elastin histopathologic changes in BAV aortopathy correspond with differences in mechanical properties and this relationship is influenced by patient age. These novel findings provide additional mechanistic insights into aortic wall remodeling and support a more nuanced stratification of BAV patients by age.

The notion that medically-refractory arrhythmias might one day be amenable to interventional therapy slowly began to appear in the early 1960's. At that time, there were no "interventional electrophysiologists" or "arrhythmia surgeons" and there was little appreciation of the relationship between anatomy and electrophysiology outside the heart's specialized conduction system.In this review, we describe the evolution of collaboration between electrophysiologists and surgeons.Although accessory atrio-ventricular (AV) connections were first identified in 1893 and the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome was described 37 years later (1930), it was another 37 years (1967) before those anatomic AV connections were proven to be responsible for the clinical syndrome. The success of the subsequent surgical procedures for the WPW syndrome, AV node reentry tachycardia, automatic atrial tachycardias, ischemic and non-ischemic ventricular tachycardias and atrial fibrillation over the next two decades depended on a close, sometimes daily, collaboration between electrophysiologists and surgeons. In the past two decades, that tight collaboration was largely abandoned until the recent introduction of "hybrid procedures" for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.A retrospective assessment of the 50 years of interventional therapy for arrhythmias clearly demonstrates the clinical benefits of a close collaboration between electrophysiologists and arrhythmia surgeons, regardless of which one is actually performing the intervention.

This JAMA Patient Page describes aortic dissection, a tear in the aorta, and how it is diagnosed and treated.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of wall shear stress (WSS) as a predictor of ascending aorta (AAo) growth at 5 years or greater follow-up.Aortic 4-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can quantify regions exposed to high WSS, a known stimulus for arterial wall dysfunction. However, its association with longitudinal changes in aortic dilation in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is unknown.This retrospective study identified 72 patients with BAV (age 45 ± 12 years) who underwent CMR for surveillance of aortic dilation at baseline and ≥5 years of follow-up. Four-dimensional flow CMR analysis included the calculation of WSS heat maps to compare regional WSS in individual patients with population averages of healthy age- and sex-matched subjects (database of 136 controls). The relative areas of the AAo and aorta (in %) exposed to elevated WSS (outside the 95% CI of healthy population averages) were quantified.At a median follow-up duration of 6.0 years, the mean AAo growth rate was 0.24 ± 0.20 mm/y. The fraction of the AAo exposed to elevated WSS at baseline was increased for patients with higher growth rates (0.24 mm/y, n = 32) compared with those with growth rates 0.24 mm/y (19.9% [IQR: 10.2%-25.5%] vs 5.7% [IQR: 1.5%-21.3%]; P = 0.008). Larger areas of elevated WSS in the AAo and entire aorta were associated with higher rates of AAo dilation0.24 mm/y (odds ratio: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.05-2.17; P = 0.026 and odds ratio: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.01-3.15; P = 0.046, respectively).The area of elevated AAo WSS as assessed by 4-dimensional flow CMR identified BAV patients with higher rates of aortic dilation and thus might determine which patients require closer follow-up.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common of all cardiac arrhythmias, affecting roughly 1% of the general population in the Western world. The incidence of AF is predicted to double by 2050. Most patients with AF are treated with oral medications and only approximately 4% of AF patients are treated with interventional techniques, including catheter ablation and surgical ablation. The increasing prevalence and the morbidity/mortality associated with AF warrants a more aggressive approach to its treatment. It is the purpose of this invited editorial to describe the past, present, and anticipated future directions of the interventional therapy of AF, and to crystallize the problems that remain.

The aim of this study was to compare 5-year cardiovascular, renal, and bioprosthetic valve durability outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).Patients with severe AS and CKD undergoing TAVR or SAVR are a challenging, understudied clinical subset.Intermediate-risk patients with moderate to severe CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate 60 mL/min/mThe study population included 1,045 TAVR patients (512 SAPIEN XT, 533 SAPIEN 3) and 479 SAVR patients. At 5 years, SAVR was better than SAPIEN XT TAVR (52.8% vs 68.0%; P = 0.04) but similar to SAPIEN 3 TAVR (52.8% vs 58.7%; P = 0.89). Perioperative AKI was more common after SAVR than TAVR (26.3% vs 10.3%; P 0.001) and was independently associated with long-term outcomes. Compared with SAVR, bioprosthetic valve failure and stage 2 or 3 structural valve deterioration were significantly greater for SAPIEN XT TAVR (P 0.05) but not for SAPIEN 3 TAVR.In intermediate-risk patients with AS and CKD, SAPIEN 3 TAVR and SAVR were associated with a similar risk for the primary endpoint at 5 years. AKI was more common after SAVR than TAVR, and SAPIEN 3 valve durability was comparable with that of surgical bioprostheses.

In this prospective US investigational device exemption trial, we assessed the safety and 1-year clinical outcomes of the Thoraflex Hybrid device (Terumo Aortic) for the frozen elephant trunk technique to repair the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending thoracic aorta.For the trial, which involved 12 US sites, 65 patients without rupture were recruited into the primary study group, and 9 patients were recruited into the rupture group. All patients underwent open surgical repair of the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending thoracic aorta in cases of aneurysm and/or dissection. The primary end point was freedom from major adverse events (MAE), defined as permanent stroke, permanent paraplegia/paraparesis, unanticipated aortic-related reoperation (excluding reoperation for bleeding), or all-cause mortality.In the primary study group, 2 patients were lost to follow-up at 1 year. Freedom from MAE at 1 year was 81% (51/63). Seven patients (11%) died (including 2 before 30 days or discharge), 3 patients (5%) suffered permanent stroke, and 3 (5%) developed permanent paraplegia/paraparesis. Twenty-six patients (41%) underwent planned extension procedures, including 22 endovascular procedures within a median of 122 (interquartile range, 64-156) days. In the aortic rupture group, 2 patients were lost to follow-up at 1 year. Freedom from MAE at 1 year was 71% (5/7). One patient (14%) died, 2 patients (29%) had permanent stroke, and none had permanent paraplegia/paraparesis. No extension procedures were performed in the rupture group.One-year results with the Thoraflex Hybrid device are acceptable. Long-term data are necessary to assess the durability of these repairs.

Background Although cryosurgery has been used to treat cardiac arrhythmias for nearly 5 decades, the mechanism of action and the surgical technique that produces optimal cryolesions for the treatment of atrial fibrillation are still poorly understood. This has resulted in surgical outcomes that can be improved by a better understanding the mechanisms of cryothermia ablation and the proper surgical techniques that take advantage of those mechanisms. Methods The cryobiology underlying cryosurgical ablation is described, as are the nuances of cryosurgical techniques that ensure the reliable creation of contiguous, uniformly transmural atrial cryolesions. The oft-misunderstood “2-minute rule” for the application of cryothermia is clarified in detail, along with its variations that depend on target myocardial temperature. Results The creation of optimal cryolesions depends on cryoprobe temperature, the temperature of the target myocardium, the duration of cryothermia application, and the presence or absence of a “heat sink” or “cooling sink” created by intracavitary blood circulation. Cryothermia kills myocardial cells during both the freezing and thawing phases of cryoablation cycle. The critical lethal temperature for myocardium is –30°C. The slower the target tissue thaws, the higher the percentage of cell death. Conclusions The availability of cryosurgical techniques has revolutionized the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. By utilizing modern cryosurgical devices and adhering to the technical principles described, surgeons can now perform surgical procedures for atrial fibrillation that are quicker, safer, and as effective as the standard Maze-III/IV procedure.

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and prognostic impact of early and late postoperative atrial fibrillation or flutter (POAF) in patients with severe aortic sten...

Sutureless/rapid-deployment (SRD) valves for aortic valve replacement (AVR) are new surgical bioprosthetic valves that allow for expedited implantation and facilitate minimally invasive approaches. Although clinical trial data are available for SRDs in the United States, how their clinical outcomes compare with traditional stented bioprosthetic (SBP) valves is unknown in a post-approval, commercial setting.The Society of Thoracic Surgery Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried for patients who underwent an AVR. Transcatheter AVR cases were excluded. Thirty-day outcomes were compared between SRD valves (Perceval S [LivaNova, Houston, TX] and Intuity Elite [Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine CA]) and SBP valve patients. The SRD and SBP patients were propensity score-matched in a 1:(up to) 3 ratio. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality and secondary outcomes were major comorbidities, paravalvular regurgitation, and predischarge pacemaker implant.Propensity score matching resulted in 4486 SRD patients and 13,215 SBP patients. The SRD recipients had more permanent pacemakers (11.4% vs 4.9%, P.001) shorter cross-clamp times (median: 68 vs 86 minutes, P.001), and fewer full sternotomies (75% vs 77% , P.024) than SBP but similar 30-day mortality (3.1% vs 3.1%, P = .98) and moderate or greater paravalvular regurgitation (0.2% vs 0.1%, P = .21).SRD implantation was associated with reduced operative times and smaller incisions. Rates of 30-day mortality, major comorbidities, and perivalvular regurgitation were similar between SRD and SBP patients. Longer follow-up is needed to determine the implications of increased permanent pacemaker implantation rates in SRD patients.

The hemispherical aortic annuloplasty reconstructive technology (HAART) is an internal geometric annuloplasty ring designed to restore a natural elliptical shape to the aortic annulus as part of aortic valve repair. We present 4D flow hemodynamic analysis before and after implementation of the HAART ring in patients undergoing ascending aortic replacement. HAART patients displayed similar or improved flow profiles when compared to a patient undergoing ascending aortic replacement alone.

OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to determine if gender bias explains the worse outcomes in women than in men who undergo mitral valve surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation. METHODS Patients who underwent mitral valve surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation with or without concomitant ablation surgery for atrial fibrillation were identified from the Cardiovascular Research Database of the Clinical Trial Unit of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and were defined according to the Society of Thoracic Surgery National Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. Of the 1004 patients (33% female, mean age 62.1 ± 12.4 years; 67% male, mean age 60.1 ± 12.4 years) who met this criteria, propensity score matching was utilized to compare sex-related differences. RESULTS Propensity score matching of 540 patients (270 females, mean age 61.0 ± 12.2; 270 males, mean age 60.9 ± 12.3) demonstrated that 98% of mitral valve surgery performed in both groups was mitral valve repair and 2% was mitral valve replacement. Preoperative CHA2DS2-VASc scores were higher in women and fewer women were discharged directly to their homes. Before surgery, women had smaller left heart chambers, lower cardiac outputs, higher diastolic filling pressures and higher volume responsiveness than men. However, preoperative left ventricular and right ventricular strain values, which are normally higher in women, were similar in the 2 groups, indicating worse global strain in women prior to surgery. CONCLUSIONS The worse outcomes reported in women compared to men undergoing surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation are misleading and not based on gender bias except in terms of referral patterns. Men and women who present with the same type and degree of mitral valve disease and similar comorbidities receive the same types of surgical procedures and experience similar postoperative outcomes. Speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess global longitudinal strain of the left and right ventricles should be utilized to monitor for myocardial dysfunction related to chronic mitral regurgitation.

Background Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) concomitant with cardiac surgery is a Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) class I recommendation, although the AF is frequently ignored. Analysis of the STS Database 30-day outcomes of isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) with and without AF ablation is presented. Methods Data on 87,426 surgical aortic valve replacement patients were extracted from the STS database (version 2.81, 2014-2017) and patients were divided into 3 groups: (1) No preoperative AF, (2) Preoperative AF with concomitant ablation, and (3) Preoperative AF without ablation. The latter 2 groups were propensity score–matched in 1-(up)-to-2 ratio to alleviate covariate imbalances and reduce bias. Thirty-day outcomes were evaluated and compared. Results Preoperative AF was present in 17.8% (15,596 of 87,426 patients). Ablation was performed in 33.1% (5,167 of 15,596), and 57.7% (2,983) had left atrial appendage closure. Propensity score matching (AF ablated n = 3692; AF non-ablated n = 5724), revealed that there was no difference between the AF ablated and AF non-ablated groups in mortality (2.8% vs 3.0%, respectively; P = .65) or for stroke (1.6% vs 1.7%, respectively; P = .82), but postoperative pacemaker implantation was higher in the AF ablated patients (6.8% AF ablated vs 5.0% AF non-ablated, P Conclusions Despite being a class I recommendation, AF ablation concomitantly with other cardiac surgical procedures remains lower than current guideline recommendation in surgical aortic valve replacement patients. Ablation for AF does not increase the 30-day operative mortality or perioperative morbidity compared with non-ablated patients, although new pacemaker requirements were higher in the AF ablated group.

Background In low surgical risk patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, the PARTNER 3 (Safety and Effectiveness of the SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve in Low Risk Patients With Aortic Stenosis) trial demonstrated superiority of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) versus surgery for the primary endpoint of death, stroke, or re-hospitalization at 1 year. Objectives This study determined both clinical and echocardiographic outcomes between 1 and 2 years in the PARTNER 3 trial. Methods This study randomly assigned 1,000 patients (1:1) to transfemoral TAVR with the SAPIEN 3 valve versus surgery (mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score: 1.9%; mean age: 73 years) with clinical and echocardiography follow-up at 30 days and at 1 and 2 years. This study assessed 2-year rates of the primary endpoint and several secondary endpoints (clinical, echocardiography, and quality-of-life measures) in this as-treated analysis. Results Primary endpoint follow-up at 2 years was available in 96.5% of patients. The 2-year primary endpoint was significantly reduced after TAVR versus surgery (11.5% vs. 17.4%; hazard ratio: 0.63; 95% confidence interval: 0.45 to 0.88; p = 0.007). Differences in death and stroke favoring TAVR at 1 year were not statistically significant at 2 years (death: TAVR 2.4% vs. surgery 3.2%; p = 0.47; stroke: TAVR 2.4% vs. surgery 3.6%; p = 0.28). Valve thrombosis at 2 years was increased after TAVR (2.6%; 13 events) compared with surgery (0.7%; 3 events; p = 0.02). Disease-specific health status continued to be better after TAVR versus surgery through 2 years. Echocardiographic findings, including hemodynamic valve deterioration and bioprosthetic valve failure, were similar for TAVR and surgery at 2 years. Conclusions At 2 years, the primary endpoint remained significantly lower with TAVR versus surgery, but initial differences in death and stroke favoring TAVR were diminished and patients who underwent TAVR had increased valve thrombosis. (Safety and Effectiveness of the SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve in Low Risk Patients With Aortic Stenosis [PARTNER 3]; NCT02675114 )

ImportanceThe management of aortic valve disease, including aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation (AR), in younger adult patients (age ObservationsTraditional surgical approaches carry significant considerations, including compulsory lifelong anticoagulation for patients who receive a mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) and the risk of structural valvular deterioration and need for subsequent valve intervention in those who receive a bioprosthetic AVR. These factors are magnified in young adults who are considering pregnancy, for whom issues of anticoagulation and valve longevity are heightened. The Ross procedure has emerged as a promising alternative; however, its adoption is limited to highly specialized centers. Valve repair is an option for selected patients with AR. These treatment options offer varying degrees of durability and are associated with different risks and complications, especially for younger adult patients. Patient-centered care from a multidisciplinary valve team allows for discussion of the optimal timing of intervention and the advantages and disadvantages of the various treatment options.Conclusions and RelevanceThe management of severe aortic valve disease in adults younger than 65 years is complex, and there are numerous considerations with each management decision. While mechanical AVR and bioprosthetic AVR have historically been the standards of care, other options are emerging for selected patients but are not yet generalizable beyond specialized surgical centers. A detailed discussion by members of the multidisciplinary heart team and the patient is an integral part of the shared decision-making process.

Shorter length of stay (LOS) is a welcome consequence of optimized perioperative care. However, accelerated hospital discharge may have unintended consequences. Before implementing an institutional enhanced recovery after surgery protocol, we evaluated the safety of shorter LOS and compared outcomes of patients with shorter LOS (LOS ≤ 3 days) to those with longer LOS (LOS 3 days).We identified all patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between July 2004 and June 2017. Transcatheter approaches, ventricular assist devices, transplants, and traumas were excluded. Patients were divided into two cohorts, one with shorter hospitalizations (LOS ≤ 3 days) and one with longer hospitalizations (LOS 3 days). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed and differences between the two groups were compared.A total of 5,987 patients (63.0 ± 13.8 years old, 34% female) were identified and 131 (2.2%) patients were LOS ≤ 3 days; median STS Risk score was 1.2 (0.6-2.4). PSM resulted in a total of 478 patients (357 LOS 3 and 121 LOS ≤ 3 days); median STS Risk score was 0.4 (0.3-0.9). LOS ≤ 3 days had lower rates of postoperative atrial fibrillation (2% vs. 19%; p .001) and major in-hospital complications (0% vs. 9%; p = .001); however, 30-day readmissions (8% LOS ≤ 3 vs. 6% LOS 3 days; p = .66) and mortality rates (0% vs. 0%) were comparable between the two groups.LOS ≤ 3 days was associated with less postoperative atrial fibrillation and fewer major in-hospital complications. LOS ≤ 3 days was not associated with rehospitalization or mortality. Shorter LOS after elective cardiac surgery appears to be a safe practice with favorable outcomes, especially in low operative risk patients.

OBJECTIVES The study compared 1-year outcomes between transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) morphology and clinically similar patients having tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) morphology.BACKGROUND There are limited prospective data on TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 device in low-surgical-risk patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis and bicuspid anatomy.METHODS Low-risk, severe aortic stenosis patients with BAV were candidates for the PARTNER 3 (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves 3) (P3) bicuspid registry or the P3 bicuspid continued access protocol. Patients treated in these registries were pooled and propensity score matched to TAV patients from the P3 randomized TAVR trial. Outcomes were compared between groups. The primary endpoint was the 1-year composite rate of death, stroke, and cardiovascular rehospitalization.RESULTS Of 320 total submitted BAV patients, 169 (53%) were treated, and most were Sievers type 1. The remaining 151 patients were excluded caused by anatomic or clinical criteria. Propensity score matching with the P3 TAVR cohort (496 patients) yielded 148 pairs. There were no differences in baseline clinical characteristics; however, BAV patients had larger annuli and they experienced longer procedure duration. There was no difference in the primary endpoint between BAV and TAV (10.9% vs 10.2%; P = 0.80) or in the rates of the individual components (death: 0.7% vs 1.4%; P = 0.58; stroke: 2.1% vs 2.0%; P = 0.99; cardiovascular rehospitalization: 9.6% vs 9.5%; P = 0.96).CONCLUSIONS Among highly select bicuspid aortic stenosis low-surgical-risk patients without extensive raphe or subannular calcification, TAVR with the SAPIEN 3 valve demonstrated similar outcomes to a matched cohort of patients with tricuspid aortic stenosis. (C) 2022 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Aims Chronic total occlusion (CTO) has been linked to worse survival. While controversial and limited to observational data, successful CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with improved left ventricular (LV) function and mortality. However, the role of CTO PCI prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is not clear. We sought to explore the prognostic impact of a pre-TAVR CTO on post-TAVR outcomes. Methods and results We retrospectively reviewed 783 consecutive TAVR cases performed at a single tertiary care medical center. Pre-TAVR angiograms were analyzed for the presence of a CTO. At the time of TAVR, 12.6% (n = 99) patients had a CTO. At one-year post-TAVR, there was no significant association between the presence of a CTO and death (14.2% vs 13.1%, p = 0.75), functional status, quality of life, or adverse events. There was also no difference in long-term survival (4.1 years vs 4.1 years, p = 0.55). LV ejection fraction was lower in the CTO group at baseline and one year (p Conclusions The presence of a CTO did not have any prognostic impact on mortality, change in LV function, or improvement in functional status and angina scores following TAVR in our cohort of elderly, high-risk patients. CTO before TAVR was associated with decreased ejection fraction at baseline and at one year.

As patients with cardiac disease live longer, reoperative mitral valve surgery has become more common. Although these operations are technically challenging and of high risk, outcomes continue to improve. Minimally invasive techniques, better cardioprotective strategies, and advanced perioperative care have contributed to this. In this review, we discuss surgical approaches, intraoperative strategies, novel catheter-directed devices, and clinical outcomes of contemporary reoperative mitral valve surgery.

Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement (TMVR) offers a less invasive strategy for managing bioprosthetic mitral valve dysfunction. TMVR positioning is challenging in the setting of a radiolucent bioprosthetic sewing ring. We present 2 cases demonstrating the roles of fluoroscopy and echocardiography in guiding TMVR placement within bioprostheses with radiolucent sewing rings. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.), Graphical abstract, Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement (TMVR) offers a less invasive strategy for managing bioprosthetic mitral valve dysfunction…

Purpose The Edwards Intuity Elite (EIE; Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) valve system is a recent surgical aortic valve designed to expedite implantation, facilitate minimally invasive approaches, and provide low gradients, particularly in smaller valve sizes. The report reviews various best practices learned through experience with the EIE valve system. Description With its sealing frame designed to anchor and seal the valve after resection of the diseased native aortic valve, EIE use differs from that of conventional sutured valves. Evaluation Critical technical aspects include patient selection, aortotomy and debridement, valve sizing, guiding suture technique and valve seating and deployment. In addition, special anatomic and pathologic conditions are considered, as well as intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and postimplantation cardiac rhythm monitoring. Conclusions These best practices simplify and standardize the use of the EIE valve system and may benefit surgeons adopting this valve.

Background: Valve-in-valve (VIV) treatment with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a viable option for patients with failing aortic bioprosthetic valves. Optimal management of those with concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) remains undetermined. Therefore, we sought to assess the implications of concomitant MR in patients undergoing VIV-TAVR. Methods and Results: The PARTNER 2 VIV registry enrolled patients with degenerated surgical aortic bioprosthesis at high risk for reoperation. Patients with core-laboratory echocardiographic assessment of MR were analyzed; severe MR was excluded. We compared patients with ≤mild MR versus moderate MR and assessed changes in MR severity and clinical outcomes. A total of 339 patients (89 initial registry, 250 continued access) underwent VIV procedures; mean age 79.0 ± 10.2 years, mean Society of Thoracic Surgeon score 8.9 ± 4.5%. At baseline, 228/339 (67.3%) had ≤mild MR and 111/339 (32.7%) had moderate MR. In paired analysis, there was significant improvement in ≥moderate MR from baseline to 30 days (32.6% vs. 14.5%, p

To determine the prevalence of concomitant aortic regurgitation (AR) in cardiac surgery and the outcomes of treatment options.Between April 2004 and June 2018, 3289 patients underwent coronary artery bypass, mitral valve, or aortic aneurysm surgery without aortic stenosis. AR was graded none/trivial (score = 0), mild (score = 1+), or moderate (score = 2+). Patients with untreated 2+ AR were compared with those with 0 or 1+ AR, and to those with 2+ AR who had aortic valve surgery. Thirty-day and late survival, echocardiography, and clinical outcomes were compared using propensity score matching.One hundred thirty-eight patients (4.2%) had 2+ AR; and 45 (33%) received aortic valve repair (n = 9) or replacement (n = 36) in the treated group and were compared with 2765 untreated patients with 0 AR and 386 patients with 1+ AR. Valve surgery was more common with anatomic leaflet abnormalities: bicuspid aortic valve (9% vs 0%; P lt; .01), rheumatic valve disease (16% vs 3%; P lt; .01), and calcification (47% vs 27%; P = .021). In unadjusted analysis, lower preoperative AR grade was associated with increased 10-year survival (P lt; .001). At year 10, progression to more-than-moderate AR among moderate AR patients was 2.6% and late intervention rate was 3.1%. In the untreated 2+ AR group, on last follow-up echocardiogram, 58% had improvement in AR, 41% remained 2+, and only 1% progressed to severe AR.Aortic valve surgery in select patients with concomitant moderate AR can be added with minimal added risk, but untreated AR does not influence long-term survival after cardiac surgery and rarely required late intervention.

Patients with bicuspid aortic valves commonly require an intervention on their valve and/or aorta. Because of their heterogeneous presentations, recommendations for imaging surveillance and surgery timing are highly individualized. Critical points in care include time of diagnosis, transition from adolescent to adult medicine, and surgery referral. To better support patients with bicuspid aortic valves, we developed a comprehensive program that utilizes the multidisciplinary care team, complex interventions, and translational research protocols. We describe our program structure and experience with this common and sometimes challenging diagnosis.

Four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been used to describe flow through a Thoraflex Hybrid graft. We present the first 4D flow MRI depiction of Thoraflex Hybrid graft after use as a frozen elephant trunk to repair a DeBakey Type I aortic dissection.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is recommended for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. However, the incidence of worsening tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following transcatheter compared with surgical AVR (TAVR, SAVR), and the impact of worsening TR on outcomes, is ill-defined. Accordingly, among patients randomized to TAVR or SAVR, we describe the differential incidence of worsening TR and its association with survival. Methods: From the PARTNER IIA trial (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves IIA), 1334 patients were included with baseline and 30-day postprocedure core-lab echocardiograms. Worsening TR was defined as deterioration of ≥1 grade from baseline to 30 days. Outcomes included cardiovascular and all-cause death between 30 days and 2 years. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify associations with worsening TR; survival analyses were performed to assess associations with mortality. Results: Worsening TR occurred in 17.3% (125/721) of TAVR and 27.0% (165/611) of SAVR patients. On multivariable analysis, SAVR (odds ratio, 2.09 [95% CI, 1.40–3.11]), female sex (odds ratio, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.44–3.42]), atrial fibrillation (odds ratio, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.03–2.51]), and right ventricular enlargement (odds ratio, 2.25 [95% CI, 1.17–4.31]) were associated with worsening TR. Cardiovascular and all-cause death occurred in 9.0% (26/290) and 17.9% (52/290) of patients with worsening TR, compared with 4.8% (50/1042) and 10.9% (114/1042) without worsening TR, respectively. In patients with worsening TR, cardiovascular and all-cause death were similar in TAVR compared with SAVR, (hazard ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 0.55–2.16]) and (hazard ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.62–1.87]), respectively. After adjustment, worsening TR was independently associated with cardiovascular (hazard ratio, 3.62 [95% CI, 2.08–6.29]) and all-cause death (hazard ratio, 2.11 [95% CI, 1.37–3.27]). Conclusions: Worsening TR is associated with female sex, atrial fibrillation, right ventricular enlargement, and SAVR. Regardless of mode of AVR, worsening TR is similarly associated with a poor prognosis. Future studies should focus on whether preventing or treating worsening TR improves outcomes. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01314313.