Critical Aortic Stenosis Research Articles

Current follow-up results of Cyanotic Congenital Heart Diseases detected during Pregnancy in a specific Region

Background/Aims: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the main cause of death in infants among congenital anomalies. Fetal echocardiography is important for the diagnosis and treatment plan of congenital heart diseases in the prenatal period. This study aimed to retrospectively screen the follow-up and treatment results of cyanotic CHD patients detected on fetal echocardiography. Methods: Fetal echocardiography results were scanned from the hospital record system. Data of fetuses with major cardiac anomalies and cyanotic CHD were examined retrospectively. Results: Fetal echocardiography was performed on 420 pregnant women between July 2020 and April 2023. Major cardiac anomalies and cyanotic heart disease were detected in the fetuses of 40 pregnant women (9.5%) out of 420. The median age of the pregnant women was 29 (19-41 years). The median gestational age at check-up was 23 weeks (22-28 weeks). 9/40 pregnant women (22.5%) had risk factors. The most common cyanotic congenital heart diseases were hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and unbalanced complete atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) with obstructive lesions of the right or left ventricle. Three fetuses (7.5%) with heart failure findings died intrauterine. Two fetuses with HLHS and critical aortic stenosis (AS) died before being operated on. A patient with complete AVSD, hypoplasia of the left heart chambers, AS, and severe aortic coarctation died due to sepsis during the post-operative follow-up period. Chromosome analysis was performed in 8 patients. Down syndrome was detected in 3 of the patients with complete AVSD. 22q11 deletion and DiGeorge Syndrome were detected in 2 patients with tetralogy of Fallot. Conclusions: Congenital heart diseases and rhythm problems can be safely detected with fetal echocardiography. It is beneficial to perform a fetal echo scan at the appropriate gestational week, especially in fetuses with risk factors and in whom the four chambers view cannot be seen.

Long-term outcome after neonatal intervention for congenital critical aortic stenosis

BackgroundThis study explored long-term outcome and functional status of patients born with critical aortic stenosis (CAS) following neonatal surgical or catheter interventions. MethodsA 40-year retrospective review of all consecutive patients within a large, single-center referral unit who required neonatal (<30 days) intervention for CAS. Additional detailed evaluation of surviving patients >7 years age was performed, with clinical assessment, objective cardiopulmonary exercise testing and state-of-the-art characterization of myocardial function (advanced echocardiography and cardiac MRI). ResultsBetween 1970 and 2010, ninety-six neonates underwent CAS intervention (mean age 9 ± 7.5 days). Early death occurred in 19 (19.8%) and late death in 10 patients. Overall survival at 10 and 30 years was 70.1% and 68.5%, freedom from reintervention was 41.8% and 32.9% respectively.Among the 25 long-term survivors available for detailed assessment (median age 15.7 ± 6.4 years), 55% exhibited impaired peak oxygen uptake. Mean left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction was 65 ± 11.2%, with a mean LV end-diastolic volume z-score of 0.02 ± 1.4. Mean LV outflow tract Vmax was 2.3 ± 1.02 m/s. CAS patients had reduced LV longitudinal and increased radial strain (p = 0.003, p < 0.001 respectively). Five patients had severe LV diastolic dysfunction associated with endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) (p = 0.0014). ConclusionDespite high early mortality rate, long-term survival of patients with CAS is reasonable at the expense of high reintervention rate. With successful intervention, there remained long-term clinical and subclinical LV myocardial impairment, of which EFE was one marker. Long-term follow-up of all CAS patients is crucial, involving detailed myocardial functional assessment to help elucidate physiology and optimise management.

The role of intravascular physiological assessment of the significance of coronary involvement in patients with severe aortic stenosis

As technology improves, the number of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures performed is steadily increasing. Due to the comparable outcomes with surgical treatment of aortic stenosis, TAVI is increasingly being performed in a group of younger patients. In this connection, there is an increasing need for a reasonable approach to assessing the severity of concomitant coronary lesions. Non-invasive studies in this group of patients have low sensitivity and specificity in identifying significant coronary narrowing. In addition, the use of stress testing is limited by the risks of potential complications due to the severity of patients with critical aortic stenosis. The assessment of fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), which has become widespread in isolated coronary heart disease (CAD), in the case of a combination of CAD with aortic stenosis, requires careful study and analysis. The literature review shows that today there are the first results of using the assessment of coronary physiology to determine indications for myocardial revascularization in patients with aortic stenosis. New threshold values of FFR and iFR applicable for patients in this group are considered. The results of literature data indicate the need for large randomized studies to better understand the method capabilities and develop the most optimal approach to the treatment of TAVI candidates with concomitant CAD.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in fetuses with critical aortic stenosis before and after fetal aortic valvuloplasty.

Critical aortic stenosis (AS) in fetuses may progress to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with need for postnatal single ventricular (SV) palliation. Fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) is performed to achieve postnatal biventricular (BV) circulation. However, the impact of FAV on fetal myocardial function is difficult to measure. Prediction of postnatal circulatory status and, therefore, counseling is challenging. Retrospective study of fetuses with critical AS who underwent FAV. Global Longitudinal Peak Systolic Strain (GLPSS) of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) were retrospectively analyzed before and after intervention. Fisher's Exact Test and Mann-Whitney-U Test were used for univariant statistical analysis. 23 fetuses with critical AS were included. After intervention fetuses demonstrated more negative LV-GLPSS mean values post- vs. pre-intervention (-5.36% vs. -1.57%; p < 0.05). RV-GLPSS was decreased in all fetuses, there was no peri-interventional change. 20 fetuses were born alive. Postnatally, 10 had BV and 10 SV circulation. Improved post-interventional LV-GLPSS strain values correlated with BV outcome (p < 0.05). Pre-interventional continuous LV-GLPSS values correlated with postnatal SV vs. BV outcome (p < 0.05). In some fetuses, LV myocardial function assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) improves after FAV. Improved post-interventional LV-GLPSS correlates with biventricular postnatal outcome. Furthermore, pre-interventional LV- and RV-GLPSS correlate with postnatal outcome. Further studies are needed to asses, if pre-interventional STE parameters might predict which fetuses will benefit from FAV with postnatal BV circulation.

Pre-intervention myocardial stress is a good predictor of aortic valvoluplasty outcome for fetal critical aortic stenosis and evolving HLHS.

Fetal critical aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome (CAS-eHLHS) causes biomechanical and functional aberrations, leading to a high risk of progression to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) at birth. Fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) can resolve outflow obstruction and may reduce progression risk. However, it is currently difficult to accurately predict which patients will respond to the intervention and become functionally biventricular (BV) at birth, as opposed to becoming functionally univentricular (UV). This prediction is important for patient selection, parental counselling, and surgical planning. Therefore, we investigated whether biomechanics parameters from pre-FAV image-based computations could robustly distinguish between CAS-eHLHS cases with BV or UV outcomes in a retrospective cohort. To do so we performed image-based finite element biomechanics modelling of nine CAS-eHLHS cases undergoing intervention and six healthy fetal control hearts, and found that a biomechanical parameter, peak systolic myofibre stress, showed a uniquely large difference between BV and UV cases, which had a larger magnitude effect than echocardiography parameters. A simplified equation was derived for quick and easy estimation of myofibre stress from echo measurements via principal component analysis. When tested on a retrospective cohort of 37 CAS-eHLHS cases, the parameter outperformed other parameters in predicting UV versus BV outcomes, and thus has a high potential of improving outcome predictions, if incorporated into patient selection procedures. Physiologically, high myocardial stresses likely indicate a healthier myocardium that can withstand high stresses and resist pathological remodelling, which can explain why it is a good predictor of BV outcomes. KEY POINTS: Predicting the morphological birth outcomes (univentricular versus biventricular) of fetal aortic valvuloplasty for fetal aortic stenosis with evolving HLHS is important for accurate patient selection, parental counselling and management decisions. Computational simulations show that a biomechanics parameter, pre-intervention peak systolic myofibre stress, is uniquely robust in distinguishing between such outcomes, outperforming all echo parameters. An empirical equation was developed to quickly compute peak systolic myofibre stress from routine echo measurements and was the best predictor of outcomes among a wide range of parameters tested.

CASE-TA-01 - A Case of Critical Aortic Stenosis with Dysfunctional Left Ventricle and EFE Judged to Be Amenable to Biventricular Repair Based on Multiple Imaging Evaluations

CASE-TA-01 - A Case of Critical Aortic Stenosis with Dysfunctional Left Ventricle and EFE Judged to Be Amenable to Biventricular Repair Based on Multiple Imaging Evaluations

Fetal aortic valvuloplasty for critical aortic stenosis: A single center retrospective review focusing on postnatal outcome

Fetal aortic valvuloplasty for critical aortic stenosis: A single center retrospective review focusing on postnatal outcome

Fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of the descending aorta in suspected left-sided cardiac obstructions.

Severe left-sided cardiac obstructions are associated with high morbidity and mortality if not detected in time. The correct prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is difficult. Fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) may improve the prenatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart defects. Flow measurements in the ascending aorta could aid in predicting postnatal CoA, but its accurate visualization is challenging. To compare the flow in the descending aorta (DAo) and umbilical vein (UV) in fetuses with suspected left-sided cardiac obstructions with and without the need for postnatal intervention and healthy controls by fetal phase-contrast CMR flow. A second objective was to determine if adding fetal CMR to echocardiography (echo) improves the fetal CoA diagnosis. Prospective fetal CMR phase-contrast flow in the DAo and UV and echo studies were conducted between 2017 and 2022. A total of 46 fetuses with suspected left-sided cardiac obstructions [11 hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), five critical aortic stenosis (cAS), and 30 CoA] and five controls were included. Neonatal interventions for left-sided cardiac obstructions (n = 23) or comfort care (n = 1 with HLHS) were pursued in all 16 fetuses with suspected HLHS or cAS and in eight (27%) fetuses with true CoA. DAo or UV flow was not different in fetuses with and without need of intervention. However, DAo and UV flows were lower in fetuses with either retrograde isthmic systolic flow [DAo flow 253 (72) vs. 261 (97) ml/kg/min, p = 0.035; UV flow 113 (75) vs. 161 (81) ml/kg/min, p = 0.04] or with suspected CoA and restrictive atrial septum [DAo flow 200 (71) vs. 268 (94) ml/kg/min, p = 0.04; UV flow 89 vs. 159 (76) ml/kg/min, p = 0.04] as well as in those without these changes. Adding fetal CMR to fetal echo predictors for postnatal CoA did not improve the diagnosis of CoA. Fetal CMR-derived DAo and UV flow measurements do not improve the prenatal diagnosis of left-sided cardiac obstructions, but they could be important in identifying fetuses with a more severe decrease in blood flow across the left side of the heart. The physiological explanation may be a markedly decreased left ventricular cardiac output with subsequent retrograde systolic isthmic flow and decreased total DAo flow.

Simultaneous replacement of the aortic valve and hip joint in a patient with critical aortic stenosis and femoral neck fracture

Concomitant cardiovascular diseases in elderly patients with a hip fracture significantly increase the risk of developing postoperative complications. Developing the treatment algorithm for a combination of two or more diseases in this category of patients is the main task. The advantages of simultaneous surgery are one-stage repair of two or more surgical diseases, the implementation of one anesthetic procedure, the reduction in the total time of the patient’s stay in the hospital and the reduction in rehabilitation time. This paper presents the clinical observation of simultaneous surgical treatment of severe aortic stenosis and femoral neck fracture in an elderly patient.

Comparing functional and quality of life outcomes in transcatheter aortic valve implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundTo compare functional and health related quality of life outcomes post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with critical aortic stenosis (AS) across low to high-risk surgical candidates. These patient-centred factors will be compared between both groups in the short to medium term time frames and will aid in shared decision making between patients and healthcare workers.Materials and methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials which compared TAVI with SAVR and reported on quality of life (QoL) and functional scores.The scores used were the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), Euroqol-5DL (EQ5DL), the short form-36/12 (SF-36/12) and the NYHA.ResultsWe identified eight trials with a total of 8898 participants. Both groups showed improvements from baseline at one month. At one month there was a statistically significant difference in standardised mean difference (SMD) in favour of TAVI for EQ5DL (SMD 0.37, 95% CI 0.26,0.49), KCCQ (SMD 0.53,95% CI 0.48, 0.58), SF physical summary (SMD 0.55, 95% CI 0.31 – 0.78) and SF mental summary (SMD 0.34, 95% CI 0.27 – 0.40). At one year there was no statistically significant difference between any of these QoL metrics. For NYHA, no significant difference in odds ratio of class III/IV was observed at one month between TAVI and SAVR (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.83, 1.07), however, TAVI was associated with reduced odds ratio of NYHA class I/II at one year (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78, 0.98).ConclusionBoth groups were associated with improvements in QoL and functional outcomes with TAVI reporting more significant improvements in QoL at one-month post-procedures. No significant improvements between groups were seen at one year. This is the largest meta-analysis comparing post-operative health-related quality of life outcomes post SAVR and TAVI and has major implications in shared decision making for the treatment of aortic stenosis.

Ross-Konno procedure as a rescue operation in a newborn with critical aortic stenosis.

Ross-Konno procedure as a rescue operation in a newborn with critical aortic stenosis.

Risk of bleeding requiring blood transfusion after transcatheter implantation of the aortic valve in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease

Introduction. Perioperative bleeding is a potentially life-threatening complication of surgical intervention. The incidence of perioperative bleeding during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) reaches 6%. An increased risk of perioperative bleeding is noted in patients requiring constant antiplatelet therapy, which includes patients with concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD).Aim. The study of risk factors of bleeding, which require blood transfusion in candidates for TAVI with concomitant CAD.Materials and methods. A retrospective study. The patients with concomitant CAD who underwent TAVI from 2016 to 2021 with hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis (n = 270) were included in this study. The incidence of early postoperative bleeding requiring blood transfusions was analyzed. Risk factors of bleeding development were evaluated.Results. The average age of the patients was 77.7 ± 7.2 years, the number of male and female patients was comparable (45.9 and 54.1%).The majority of patients were diagnosed with chronic heart failure (90.4%), more than half of the patients suffered from pulmonary hypertension (51.9%). The incidence of bleeding that required blood transfusion was 9.3%. The risk factors of the bleeding were dual antiplatelet therapy, baseline anemia (hemoglobin less than 120 g/l), history of stroke, chronic renal failure and critical aortic stenosis. The risk factors were included in the predictive model.Conclusion. Bleeding requiring blood transfusion in patients with severe aortic stenosis and CAD after TAVR occurs in 9.3%. It can be partially predicted using the predictive model. The using of the predictive model may be useful in determining the predominant risk of thrombotic or bleeding events after surgery.

Prognosis and outcome of intrauterine treatment of fetuses with critical congenital heart disease.

Intrauterine valvuloplasty is an innovative therapy, which promotes ventricular growth and function in some congenital heart diseases (CHDs). The technique remains challenging and can only be performed in a few centers. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and mid-term outcomes of fetal cardiac intervention (FCI) in fetuses with critical CHD in an experienced tertiary center. Five fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) or fetal pulmonary valvuloplasty (FPV) procedures were performed in our fetal heart center between August 2018 and May 2022. Technical success was defined as crossing the aortic or pulmonary valve and balloon inflation, followed by evidence of increased blood flow across the valve and/or new regurgitation. Follow-up clinical records and echocardiography were obtained during the prenatal and postnatal periods. Five fetuses received FAV or FPV, including critical aortic stenosis ( n = 2) and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum ( n = 3). The mean maternal age was 33.0 ± 2.6 years. The median gestational age (GA) at diagnosis was 24 weeks (range, 22-26 weeks). The median GA at intervention was 29 weeks (range, 28-32 weeks). All five cases underwent successful or partially successful procedures. One patient had pulmonary valve perforation without balloon dilation. No procedure-related deaths or significant complications occurred. However, one neonatal death occurred due to heart and renal failure. The median follow-up period was 29.5 months (range, 8.0-48.0 months). The four surviving patients had achieved biventricular circulation, exhibited improved valve, and ventricular development at the last follow-up visit. Intrauterine FCI could be performed safely with good prognosis in critical CHD.

A Neonatal Heterotopic Rat Heart Transplantation Model for the Study of Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition.

Endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE), defined by subendocardial tissue accumulation, has major impacts on the development of the left ventricle (LV) and precludes patients with congenital critical aortic stenosis and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) from curative anatomical biventricular surgical repair. Surgical resection is currently the only available therapeutic option, but EFE often recurs, sometimes with an even more infiltrative growth pattern into the adjacent myocardium. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of EFE and to explore therapeutic strategies, an animal model suitable for preclinical testing was developed. The animal model takes into consideration that EFE is a disease of the immature heart and is associated with flow disturbances, as supported by clinical observations. Thus, the heterotopic heart transplantation of neonatal rat donor hearts is the basis for this model. A neonatal rat heart is transplanted into an adolescent rat's abdomen and connected to the recipient's infrarenal aorta and inferior vena cava. While perfusion of the coronary arteries preserves the viability of the donor heart, flow stagnation within the LV induces EFE growth in the very immature heart. The underlying mechanism of EFE formation is the transition of endocardial endothelial cells to mesenchymal cells (EndMT), which is a well-described mechanism of early embryonic development of the valves and septa but also the leading cause of fibrosis in heart failure. EFE formation can be macroscopically observed within days after transplantation. Transabdominal echocardiography is used to monitor the graft viability, contractility, and the patency of the anastomoses. Following euthanasia, the EFE tissue is harvested, and it shows the same histopathological characteristics as human EFE tissue from HLHS patients. This in vivo model allows for studying the mechanisms of EFE development in the heart and testing treatment options to prevent this pathological tissue formation and provides the opportunity for a more generalized examination of EndMT-induced fibrosis.

Post-extubation use of high-flow nasal oxygenation induces upper airway leak and intrathoracic sepsis after successful Bentall procedure: A case report.

In recent few years, high-flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO) has been widely used for management of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and during postextubation periods, including after endotracheal intubation general anesthesia (ETGA). However, HFNO generates positive pressure in the injured airway following removal of endotracheal tube may cause airway leaks. This is the first case report of severe airway leak syndrome following postextubation use of HFNO in surgical patients. This case report describes a 75-year-old female with critical aortic stenosis who underwent an emergency Bentall procedure. HFNO (flow rate of 45 L/min) was applied after weaning from mechanical ventilation and removal of the endotracheal tube. At 6 hours after HFNO application, subcutaneous emphysema in the neck bilaterally and face was noted, and the emphysema extended into the supraclavicular regions. The HFNO cannula was removed soon after and the patient was re-intubated with an endotracheal tube the following day due to progressive respiratory insufficiency. Unfortunately, the patient general condition deteriorated, as the subcutaneous air collections progressed into deep tissue infections of the neck, mediastinal abscesses, and left-sided empyema. Patient received surgical interventions repeatedly to drain the mediastinal abscess and empiric antimicrobial therapy was given. The patient passed away about 2 months later due to uncontrollable sepsis. Air leaks in the upper airway can occur during the use of post-extubation HFNO use, and the resulting subcutaneous emphysema can progress to severe intrathoracic infections in surgical patients who have a sternotomy wound. Therefore, HFNO-induced subcutaneous emphysema should be treated more aggressively in open thoracic or sternotomy surgeries to prevent the development of intrathoracic sepsis.

"From the simple to the complex through the combined". Case report

Every day, doctors are faced with severe patients with various diseases, which is aggravated due to comorbidities. However, the management of such patients is complicated due to severe surgical pathologies, the treatment of which involves exclusively surgical intervention. The case describes a patient with critical aortic valve stenosis, hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis, metabolic and hematological disorders, as well as respiratory pathology. In order to achieve an optimal result, the patient’s diabetes therapy was adjusted, specific therapy for secondary erythrocytosis was prescribed, and CPAP therapy for severe sleep apnea was initiated, which made it possible to perform simultaneous stenting of the affected coronary arteries and transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

INDIAMAN-20 (INstant DIAgnosis of 20 Major ANomalies) protocol: application of IOTA diagnostic strategy to fetal anomalies.

To compile a list of instant diagnoses of major fetal anomalies, and to present their sonographic descriptors and test them in a retrospective series of fetuses with congenital anomalies managed at our center. The first step was to identify major anomalies that meet the following criteria: (1) can be diagnosed directly and unequivocally on the basis of a set of descriptors evident on a single sonographic view; (2) are among those more commonly diagnosed in utero; (3) represent major lethal or life-threatening malformations or anomalies for which no or only palliative surgery can be performed. For each of these anomalies, a sonographic descriptor was produced. The second step was to test the descriptors of the instant diagnoses in all cases with these anomalies evaluated since January 2000 in our Fetal Medicine Unit, retrieved from our electronic database. For each congenital anomaly-sonographic descriptor pair we then evaluated the presence vs absence of an unequivocal relationship between anomaly and descriptor, assessing: whether a particular descriptor in a set reference plane identified unequivocally the anomaly, i.e. the same descriptor could not be found in any other malformation; and whether a particular anomaly presented the corresponding descriptor in all cases. Finally, we evaluated whether the sonographic descriptors could be applied in all trimesters or only selectively, considering the natural history of the 20 instant diagnoses. Of the 20 instant diagnoses, five involved the central/peripheral nervous system (exencephaly/anencephaly, alobar/semilobar holoprosencephaly, cephalocele, open spinal dysraphism, complete agenesis of corpus callosum), five involved the heart (hypoplastic left heart syndrome, complete atrioventricular septal defect, severe Ebstein's anomaly, critical aortic stenosis, transposition of the great arteries), five involved the abdominal wall (left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia, exomphalos, gastroschisis, body-stalk anomaly) or gastrointestinal tract (duodenal atresia), and five involved the remaining systems (three urinary (autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, multicystic dysplastic kidney, lower urinary tract obstruction), two skeletal (transverse limb defect, radial ray defect)). All of the descriptors were found to identify unequivocally the related malformations, whereas four of the malformations were not associated with their reference descriptors in every case. For example, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (left-sided) presented without the stomach in the thorax in 42/93 (45.2%) cases. Due to the natural history of the condition, not all signs were recognizable in the first trimester, some becoming evident only from the second trimester onwards. We have defined sonographic descriptors that enable an unequivocal instant diagnosis for a list of 20 major congenital anomalies: the 'INDIAMAN-20' (INstant DIAgnosis of Major ANomalies) protocol. We believe that using this approach may facilitate focused training of less experienced operators and that it may be incorporated into artificial intelligence and deep learning protocols, further boosting the instant prenatal recognition of these lethal or life-threatening malformations. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Features of 12-lead electrocardiography in patients with critical aortic stenosis

Aim. To study the features of 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) in patients with critical aortic stenosis referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.Material and methods. The study included 50 patients aged 76,6±6,5 years. The presence of intraventricular block, voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), fragmented QRS complex, and repolarization alternans were assessed on the ECG. The frontal QRS-T angle (fQRS-Ta) was estimated as the absolute value of the difference between the QRS axis and T wave axis.Results. Intraventricular blocks were present in 10 (20%) patients: 8 (36%) patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), 2 (7%) patients without PH (p=0,028). Voltage criteria for LVH were present in 24 (60%) patients. In the presence of voltage criteria for LVH, the mean aortic valve gradient, the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and the aortic valve area (AVA) were significantly greater. Fragmented QRS complex in the chest leads was more common in patients with past myocardial infarction, intraventricular block, with PH. Strain pattern was present in 9 (23%) patients, while nonspecific repolarization changes — in 27 (67%) patients. Patients with strain pattern had significantly higher mean pressure gradient and more often had PH. Correlations were found between fQRS-Ta and mean pressure gradient (r=0,39; p=0,005), AVA (r=-0,40; p=0,004), LVMI (r=0,30; p=0,03). The fQRS-Ta was significantly greater in the presence of PH — 128±48o, while without PH — 97±49o (p=0,03).Conclusion. In the studied group of patients with aortic stenosis, intraventricular block, fragmented QRS in the chest leads, strain pattern were more common in the presence of PH. In the presence of voltage criteria for LVH, LVMI, mean pressure gradient were significantly greater, while AVA — lower. The fQRS-Ta was significantly greater in the presence of intraventricular blocks, PH, as well as orrelated with mean pressure gradient and AVA.

Concomitant Electrophysiological Study with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation to Predict Risk of Atrioventricular Block

Introduction: Data on the impact of left bundle-branch block after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are scarce, and treatment has been individualized. Based on this, the electrophysiological study (EPS) concomitant with TAVI may be a strategy for the early stratification of patients needing permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM). Objective: To describe the use of EPS in risk stratification of a definitive pacemaker in patients undergoing TAVI. Materials and methods: Data from seven patients with indications for TAVI due to critical aortic stenosis were retrospectively evaluated. The EPS was performed with a quadripolar diagnostic catheter in His bundle to measure the His-ventricle (HV) interval. Measurement of HV at 70 ms or above was used for discussion on PPM implant indication. Results: Four analyzed patients evolved with left bundle-branch block after TAVI. PPM implantation was indicated for one patient, and the surgery was performed uneventfully during the same hospital stay. Before TAVI, the HV interval ranged from 46 to 58 ms (mean = 53.2 ms), increasing to 52 to 84 ms (mean = 62.8 ms) immediately after valve intervention. Conclusion: The strategy of EPS during TAVI is viable to stratify patients early according to the risk of 2nd or 3rd-degree atrioventricular block, allowing adequate treatment.

Fetal cardiac interventions: First‐year experience of a tertiary referral center in Turkey

To present the first-year experience of fetal cardiac interventions (FCIs) in a tertiary referral hospital and to evaluate the outcomes. This retrospective study consisted of four pregnant women who underwent fetal pulmonary or aortic balloon valvuloplasty between November 2020 and June 2021. The procedures were performed with a percutaneous cardiac puncture under the ultrasonography guidance. Gestational age at intervention, procedural success, complications, and perinatal outcomes were evaluated. Procedural complications defined as fetal bradyarrhythmia requiring treatment, pericardial effusion requiring drainage, balloon rupture, and fetal death. The procedure was considered technically successful if the valve was dilated with a balloon catheter. Ultimately successful procedure was defined as the discharge of infants alive with biventricular circulation. A total of 5 FCIs attempted between 26 + 3 and 28 + 2 gestational weeks. While the procedure was technically successful in 2 cases with pulmonary stenosis, both attempts were unsuccessful in the fetus with pulmonary atresia. Although the procedure was technically successful in the patient with critical aortic stenosis, it ultimately failed. No fetal death occurred in our series and there were no procedure-related significant maternal complications. However, three interventions were complicated by fetal bradycardia and pericardial effusion necessitating treatment, and balloon rupture cropped up in one case. FCIs may lead to improving the likelihood of a biventricular outcome for selected fetuses. Careful selection of patients and centralization of experience are essential for obtaining favorable outcomes. Operators should be aware of procedural complications. Improved procedural techniques with a lower complication rate will be achieved through advanced medical technology and special balloon catheters.