Bioprosthetic Valve Replacement Research Articles

IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES AFTER BIOPROSTHETIC MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT WITH THE PRESERVATION OF THE SUBVALVULAR APPARATUS

Aim. To assess the immediate and long-term outcomes after bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement with the preservation of the subvalvular apparatus. Methods. 304 patients who underwent primary bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement in the period from 2001 to 2009 were included in the study. Patients were enrolled into two groups with either preserved subvalvular structures (Group 1. n = 142, 47%) or resected structures (Group 2, n = 162) during bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement. For the unbiased assessment of the efficiency of valve-preserving approach, randomly selected patients from Group 1 (n = 75) and Group 2 (n = 40) underwent preoperative and postoperative invasive monitoring of the central hemodynamics using the Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter. Results In-hospital mortality was 1.4% (n = 2) in Group 1 and 4.3% in Group 2. The most common cause of death was acute left ventricular failure. We found that the preservation of subvalvular structures allows ensuring the optimal linear and volumetric echocardiography parameters in the immediate postoperative period, despite the hemodynamic profile of the defect. However, the positive effects were more pronounced in patients with more severe mitral regurgitation. Patients with preserved subvalvular structures had more durable surgical mitral valve replacement according to the echocardiographic findings in the long-term period. The invasive monitoring of central hemodynamics allowed determining that total subvalvular apparatus preservation was associated with more significant pressure decline in the pulmonary circulation (mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) and improved cardiac index and output. Posterior leaflet preservation was associated with less pronounced changes and patients who underwent routine mitral valve replacement had the worst intermediate outcomes. Conclusion The results of the presented study suggest that the preservation of subvalvular apparatus, unless otherwise indicated, is associated with improved immediate and long-term outcomes after mitral valve replacement.

Very late presentation of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: case report

BackgroundAnomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital coronary anomaly. The enlarged right coronary artery provides retrograde collaterals to supply the left ventricle then preferentially directs into the lower pressure pulmonary artery system causing coronary steal phenomenon. Few patients who survive through adulthood without surgery must have abundant, well-formed functioning collaterals with adequate perfusion of the left ventricle. We present the oldest reported patient with ALCAPA to undergo corrective surgery.Case presentationA 79-year-old woman presented with a 3-months history of worsening shortness of breath and orthopnea. Physical examination discovered a soft continuous murmur at the left upper chest. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated an unusual, tubular-like structure inside the interventricular septum with a turbulent flow from color Doppler. Moreover, there was a severe mitral regurgitation from posterior mitral leaflet restriction associated with ventricular remodeling in combination with mitral annular dilatation. Coronary angiography and coronary computed tomography angiography established the diagnostic hallmark of ALCAPA syndrome. Stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance perfusion imaging demonstrated no myocardial ischemia suggesting adequate collateral circulation. Remarkably, there was a left coronary ostial stenosis, which served as a protective mechanism against myocardia ischemia by limiting the steal effect. The patient successfully underwent the ligation of anomalous artery at its origin in combination with bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement. Her postoperative course was uneventful.ConclusionsThis case utilized multimodality imaging for delineating the course of abnormal vessels and helping to formulate therapeutic decision.

Biaxial Mechanical Behavior of Bovine Saphenous Venous Valve Leaflets

Chronic venous disease is caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which results in significant symptoms such as venous ulcers, ankle eczema, leg swelling, etc. Venous valve incompetence is a major cause of CVI. When the valves of veins in the leg become incompetent (i.e., do not close properly), blood is able to flow backwards (i.e., reflux), which results in blood pooling in the lower extremities, distal venous hypertension, and CVI. Current clinical therapies, such as surgical venous valve reconstruction and bioprosthetic venous valve replacement, are highly invasive and only moderately successful. This is due, in part, to the scanty information available about venous valve leaflet structure and mechanical properties. To date, only one previous study by our research group has reported on the mechanical properties of venous valve leaflet tissue, and specifically in the case of jugular vein valves. In this study, we conducted equibiaxial tensile tests on bovine saphenous vein valve leaflet tissues to better understand their nonlinear, anisotropic mechanical behavior. By stretching the valvular tissues to 60% strain in both the circumferential and radial directions, we generated stress-strain curves for proximal (i.e., those closest to the heart) and distal (i.e., those furthest from the heart) valve leaflets. Histology and collagen assays were also conducted to study corresponding leaflet microstructures and the biochemical properties of the tissues. Results showed: (1) saphenous venous valve tissues possessed overall anisotropic properties. The tissues were stiffer in the circumferential direction than in the radial direction (p<0.01), and (2) saphenous venous valve tissues from the proximal end showed nonlinear isotropic mechanical properties, while those from the distal end showed nonlinear anisotropic mechanical properties. (3) Distal saphenous venous valve tissues appeared to be stiffer than proximal ones in the circumferential direction, p=0.04 (i.e., inter-valvular variability), and (4) the collagen concentration showed a decreasing trend from the proximal to the distal end. This study focuses on highly relevant animal (bovine) tissues to develop test protocols, establish biomechanical structure-function correlations, and to provide data critical to the design of clinical prosthetic venous valves. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study reporting the biaxial mechanical properties of saphenous venous valve leaflet tissues and thus contributes toward refining our collective understanding of valvular tissue biomechanics.

TCTAP A-078 Subclinical Leaflet Thrombosis in Transcatheter and Surgical Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Detected by Multidetector Computed Tomography Is Associated with Adverse Cerebrovascular Events: A Meta-analysis of Observational Studies

Leaflet thrombosis (LT) is becoming increasingly recognized following transcatheter and surgical aortic bioprosthetic valve (ABV) replacement and can be identified by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). MDCT-defined LT features such as hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) and reduced

Cardiovascular tissue engineering: From basic science to clinical application.

Valvular heart disease is an increasing population health problem and, especially in the elderly, a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The current treatment options, such as mechanical and bioprosthetic heart valve replacements, have significant restrictions and limitations. Considering the increased life expectancy of our aging population, there is an urgent need for novel heart valve concepts that remain functional throughout life to prevent the need for reoperation. Heart valve tissue engineering aims to overcome these constraints by creating regenerative, self-repairing valve substitutes with life-long durability. In this review, we give an overview of advances in the development of tissue engineered heart valves, and describe the steps required to design and validate a novel valve prosthesis before reaching first-in-men clinical trials. In-silico and in-vitro models are proposed as tools for the assessment of valve design, functionality and compatibility, while in-vivo preclinical models are required to confirm the remodeling and growth potential of the tissue engineered heart valves. An overview of the tissue engineered heart valve studies that have reached clinical translation is also presented. Final remarks highlight the possibilities as well as the obstacles to overcome in translating heart valve prostheses into clinical application.

What is the optimal anticoagulation strategy within the first year of bioprosthetic valve replacement?

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER The answer is unclear. Outcomes for patients treated with warfarin compared with patients treated with antiplatelet therapy or no therapy do not differ in the 3 to 6 months after bioprosthetic valve replacement, except for twice the risk of bleeding in patients treated with warfarin (SOR: A, meta-analysis). Warfarin plus aspirin therapy confers a slightly lower mortality but more than doubles the risk of bleeding in the 3 months after bioprosthetic valve replacement (SOR: B, cohort). Antiplatelet therapy or vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy are both options in all patients in the first 3 months after bioprosthetic valve replacement (SOR: C, consensus guideline).

Bioprosthetic Versus Mechanical Valve Replacement for Infective Endocarditis: Focus on Recurrence Rates

Consensus guidelines for prosthesis selection in infective endocarditis recommend bioprosthetic or mechanical valve replacement based on life expectancy and comorbidity. However, contemporary outcome data are limited to institution series. The outcomes of 3,447 patients identified from mandatory discharge databases in California and New York who had either primary isolated mitral (n= 1,603) or aortic (n= 1,844) valve replacement for active endocarditis between 1998 and 2010 were compared according to whether they received bioprosthetic (n= 1,673, 48.5%) or mechanical (n= 1,774, 51.5%) valves. Drug abusers were analyzed as a separate cohort. The primary outcome was endocarditis recurrence. Median follow-up time was 6.8 years (range, 0 to 12). Last follow-up for survival was December 31,2015. Patients receiving bioprosthetic valves were older (60.4 ± 14.9 versus 53.4 ± 14.3 years, p < 0.001), with more comorbidity. There was no significant difference in 12-year survival with bioprosthetic versus mechanical valves after mitral (adjusted hazard ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.98 to 1.34, p= 0.10) or aortic (adjusted hazard ratio 1.10, 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.29, p= 0.26) valve replacement. Bioprosthetic and mechanical valves were associated with similar recurrence rates at 12 years: 10.4% (95% CI: 8.0% to 13.1%) versus 8.8% (95% CI: 6.9% to 10.9%), adjusted Cox p= 0.79 after mitral replacement; and 9.4% (95% CI: 7.5% to 11.6%) versus 10.0% (95% CI: 8.0% to 12.4%), adjusted Cox p= 0.81 after aortic valve replacement. Bioprosthetic and mechanical valves are associated with similar survival and freedom from endocarditis recurrence. These data support guideline recommendations that patient factors guide prosthesis choice in infective endocarditis.

Bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement in patients aged 65 years or younger: long-term outcomes with the Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT pericardial valve.

Mitral valve replacement using a bioprosthesis remains controversial in young patients because data on long-term outcomes are missing. This study evaluated the long-term results of the PERIMOUNT pericardial mitral bioprosthesis in patients aged 65 years or younger. From 1984 to 2010, 148 Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT mitral bioprostheses were implanted in 148 patients aged 65 years or younger. Baseline clinical, perioperative and follow-up data were recorded prospectively. Structural valve deterioration (SVD) was defined by strict echocardiographic assessment. The mean follow-up period was 8.6 ± 5.5 years, for a total of 1269 valve-years. Operative mortality rate was 2.0%. Fifty-one late deaths occurred (linearized rate 4.0% per valve-year). Actuarial survival rates averaged 70 ± 4%, 53 ± 6% and 31 ± 7% after 10, 15 and 20 years of follow-up, respectively. Actuarial freedom from SVD at 10, 15 and 20 years was 78 ± 5%, 47 ± 7% and 19 ± 7%, respectively. Reoperation was associated with no operative mortality. Actuarial freedom from reoperation due to SVD at 10, 15 and 20 years was 82 ± 4%, 50 ± 6% and 25 ± 8%, respectively. Competing risk analysis demonstrated an actual risk of explantation secondary to SVD at 20 years of 44 ± 5%. Expected valve durability was 14.2 years for this age group. In the selected patients aged 65 years or younger undergoing mitral valve replacement with a pericardial bioprosthesis, the expected valve durability was 14.2 years. Reoperation for SVD was associated with a low risk of mortality.

Bioprosthetic aortic valve leaflet thrombosis detected by multidetector computed tomography is associated with adverse cerebrovascular events: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Leaflet thrombosis (LT) has become increasingly recognised following transcatheter and surgical aortic bioprosthetic valve (ABV) replacement and can be reliably identified by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). However, it is an ongoing debate whether MDCT-defined LT is associated with adverse cerebrovascular outcomes. We sought to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to assess the incidence and clinical outcomes associated with MDCT-defined leaflet thrombosis following (ABV) replacement. Electronic databases were searched for studies that performed mandatory MDCT imaging following ABV replacement. The primary endpoint was the incidence of cerebrovascular events, defined as a composite of stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Secondary endpoints included major adverse cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events (MACCE), stroke, TIA, death or myocardial infarction. In total, six studies met the inclusion criteria with 11.6% (198/1,704) of patients having MDCT-defined LT. The prevalence of LT following transcatheter and surgical ABV replacement was 13.2% and 3.6%, respectively. Cerebrovascular events were significantly increased in patients with LT (odds ratio [OR] 3.38, 95% CI: 1.78-6.41, p<0.001). The risk of MACCE (OR 2.10, 95% CI: 1.21-3.64, p<0.001) and TIA (OR 5.86, 95% CI: 2.05-16.75, p<0.001) was also increased in patients with LT, although there were no differences in the incidence of stroke (OR 2.43, 95% CI: 1.00-5.93, p=0.05), death (OR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.42-2.03, p=0.84) or myocardial infarction (OR 1.72, 95% CI: 0.34-9.78, p=0.54) between groups. MDCT-defined LT following ABV replacement is associated with a significantly increased risk of adverse cerebrovascular events. Further prospective studies are required to ascertain whether LT can be prevented or treated with pharmacological strategies.

Management of aortic insufficiency in patients with left ventricular assist device ̶ a retrospective analysis

Background&#x0D; Aortic insufficiency is increasingly recognized as a complication of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support and may lead to clinical decompensation requiring correction. This article describes experiences in managing patients presenting with concomitant aortic insufficiency and with de novo aortic insufficiency following left ventricular assist device implantations.&#x0D; Methods&#x0D; All patients undergoing LVAD implantation between 2012 and 2014 were included in this retrospective analysis if aortic valve insufficiency was present on implantation or newly developed (de novo) after implantation. Moderate to severe aortic valve insufficiency was corrected at implantation.&#x0D; Results&#x0D; The data of 39 patients were included. At the time of LVAD implantation, moderate to severe aortic valve insufficiency was present in 3 patients and was corrected by bioprosthetic valve replacement (2 patients) and by bioprosthetic valve replacement associated with ascending aorta with hemi arch replacement with a graft due to ascending aortic aneurysm (one patient). Four patients developed moderate to severe aortic insufficiency after LVAD surgery. Treatment with conservative medical management was successful in 3 patients. One patient underwent transcatheter aortic valve occlusion using an Amplatzer closure device after failure of medical management.&#x0D; Conclusions&#x0D; Concomitant aortic valve replacement with LVAD implantation is a safe and viable option in managing aortic valve insufficiency. De novo aortic insufficiency may lead to recurrent heart failure and presents a clinical treatment challenge following successful LVAD support; the most appropriate and effective treatment option awaits definition.

Comparison of Bioprosthetic and Mechanical Valve Replacement for Left-sided Infective Endocarditis

Background: There is no specific recommendation of valve choice for left-sided infective endocarditis in the current guidelines. There are controversies and limited studies regarding which valve type is clinically superior for patients with native or prosthetic valve endocarditis. In this study we aim to compare bioprosthetic and mechanical valve replacement for left-sided infective endocarditis.

Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Leaflet Thrombosis Detected by Multidetector Computed Tomography is Associated With Adverse Cerebrovascular Events: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Objectives: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the incidence and clinical outcomes associated with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT)-defined leaflet thrombosis following aortic bioprosthetic valve (ABV) replacement. Leaflet thrombosis (LT) has become increasingly recognised following transcatheter and surgical aortic ABV replacement, and can be reliably identified by MDCT. However, there is ongoing debate as to whether MDCT-defined LT is associated with adverse cerebrovascular outcomes.

Three-Dimensional Printing for Diagnosis of Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction after Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Replacement

Three-Dimensional Printing for Diagnosis of Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction after Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Replacement

Bioprosthetic Valve Thrombosis.

Degenerative valve disease is on the rise with greater than 100,000 valve operations performed in the US alone per year. The majority of those procedures employ tissue bioprostheses to avoid the attendant risk of anticoagulation, especially in the elderly. Though traditionally this approach has been considered a superior option to avoid anticoagulation, more recent analyses have demonstrated a significant incidence of previously unrecognized thrombosis associated with bioprosthetic valves, especially with the more recent advent of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement implantations. Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is a major cause of either acute or indolent bioprosthetic valve degeneration, and often has an elusive presentation causing delayed recognition and treatment. The literature has extensively addressed the risks and benefits of anticoagulation following bioprosthetic valve replacement to prevent bioprosthetic valve thrombosis (BPVT), without conclusive evidence-based recommendations. The duration of anticoagulation following an episode of BPVT is unclear, and lifelong anticoagulation has been suggested. The increasing use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in various risk groups has introduced new challenges with regards to valve thrombosis, which have been poorly studied with regards to optimal treatment and prevention. The increasing use of valve-in-valve procedures is expected to bring on further uncharted challenges.

単独の生体三尖弁置換術後に右房血栓症発症，右心不全を繰り返し，初回手術から27年後に再弁置換術を施行した1例

単独の生体三尖弁置換術後に右房血栓症発症，右心不全を繰り返し，初回手術から27年後に再弁置換術を施行した1例

Biaxial mechanical behavior of bovine saphenous venous valve leaflets.

Chronic venous disease is caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which results in significant symptoms such as venous ulcers, ankle eczema, leg swelling, etc. Venous valve incompetence is a major cause of CVI. When the valves of veins in the leg become incompetent (i.e., do not close properly), blood is able to flow backwards (i.e., reflux), which results in blood pooling in the lower extremities, distal venous hypertension, and CVI. Current clinical therapies, such as surgical venous valve reconstruction and bioprosthetic venous valve replacement, are highly invasive and only moderately successful. This is due, in part, to the scanty information available about venous valve leaflet structure and mechanical properties. To date, only one previous study by our research group has reported on the mechanical properties of venous valve leaflet tissue, and specifically in the case of jugular vein valves. In this study, we conducted equibiaxial tensile tests on bovine saphenous vein valve leaflet tissues to better understand their nonlinear, anisotropic mechanical behavior. By stretching the valvular tissues to 60% strain in both the circumferential and radial directions, we generated stress-strain curves for proximal (i.e., those closest to the heart) and distal (i.e., those furthest from the heart) valve leaflets. Histology and collagen assays were also conducted to study corresponding leaflet microstructures and the biochemical properties of the tissues. Results showed: (1) saphenous venous valve tissues possessed overall anisotropic properties. The tissues were stiffer in the circumferential direction than in the radial direction (p<0.01), and (2) saphenous venous valve tissues from the proximal end showed nonlinear isotropic mechanical properties, while those from the distal end showed nonlinear anisotropic mechanical properties. (3) Distal saphenous venous valve tissues appeared to be stiffer than proximal ones in the circumferential direction, p=0.04 (i.e., inter-valvular variability), and (4) the collagen concentration showed a decreasing trend from the proximal to the distal end. This study focuses on highly relevant animal (bovine) tissues to develop test protocols, establish biomechanical structure-function correlations, and to provide data critical to the design of clinical prosthetic venous valves. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study reporting the biaxial mechanical properties of saphenous venous valve leaflet tissues and thus contributes toward refining our collective understanding of valvular tissue biomechanics.

Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Patients Presenting With Warfarin Coagulation Abnormality Following Heart Valve Replacement- A Descriptive Study

Despite revolutionary changes in the field of medicine and eradication or prevention of many diseases worldwide in the past few decades, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) still remains as one of the largest preventable disease burdens in the world and is seen to be more prevalent in the developing countries1 . Majority of RHD patients develop valvular heart disease with mitral valve incompetence as the most common valvular lesion seen in these patients2 . In symptomatic patients or those in whom evidence of impaired LV function at rest is seen, surgical intervention is the definitive treatment 3 . Patients who undergo surgical intervention may have either a bio prosthetic valve replacement or a mechanical valve replacement. Those in the latter group requires to be initiated on vitamin K receptor antagonist drugs like warfarin in order to prevent thrombus formation of the mechanical valves.

TCT-85 Contemporary Outcomes of Isolated Bioprosthetic Tricuspid Valve Replacement: A Benchmark for Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement

There is a growing interest in transcatheter therapies for tricuspid regurgitation (TTVR), with several dedicated systems in development. Contemporary outcomes of bioprosthetic tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) surgery can be used as a benchmark for TTVR until randomized trials in the field are

Bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement: Revisiting prosthesis choice in patients younger than 50 years old

ObjectiveAortic prosthesis choice is controversial in young adults because robust comparative outcome data are lacking. We therefore compared mortality and morbidity in young adults after bioprosthetic versus mechanical aortic valve replacement. MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of 5111 patients aged 18 to 50 years undergoing primary aortic valve replacement in California and New York State from 1997 to 2006. Median follow-up time was 11.8 years (maximum 18.9 years). The primary endpoint was mortality; secondary endpoints were stroke, bleeding, and reoperation. Propensity score matching yielded 1175 patient pairs. ResultsBioprosthetic valves increased from 14% to 47% of aortic valve replacements between 1997 and 2014 (P < .001). There was no survival difference with bioprosthetic versus mechanical aortic valves in the propensity score-matched cohort: actuarial 15-year survival was 79.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75.8%-81.8%) versus 81.5% (95% CI, 78.5%-84.2%) respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14; 95% CI, 0.93-1.40, P = .20). No interaction was found between age and prosthesis choice on survival (Pinteraction = 0.16). After bioprosthetic valve replacement, stroke rates were lower (5.4% [95% CI, 3.8%-7.2%] vs 8.1% [95% CI, 6.3%-10.2%], HR 0.62 [95% CI 0.43-0.91]), bleeding rates were lower (4.2% [95% CI, 3.0-5.6%] vs 8.4% [95% CI, 6.6-10.4%], HR 0.48 [95% CI, 0.33-0.69]), but reoperation rates were greater (24.5% [95% CI, 21.3%-27.8%] vs 9.3% [95% CI, 7.2%-11.7%], HR 5.9 [95% CI 3.2-11.0]) at 15 years versus mechanical valve replacement. ConclusionsAlthough lifetime risks are represented incompletely, these findings suggest that in adults aged 18-50 years, bioprostheses are a reasonable alternative to mechanical valves for aortic valve replacement.

Streptococcus bovis prosthetic valve endocarditis associated with silent colonic carcinoma

A 75-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 3-month history of fever. Of note, she had a bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement 1 year prior to admission. Streptococcus bovis...