Degenerative Aortic Stenosis Research Articles

Aortic valve replacement with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting in very elderly patients aged 85years and older.

Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common structural heart valve disease affecting the aging population. Catheter-based heart valve interventions are less invasive and very useful for very elderly patients. However, we often consider open heart surgery for these patients because of anatomical reasons and co-existing cardiac diseases, i.e., severe coronary artery disease. We aimed to analyze the outcomes of very elderly patients aged ≥ 85years undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) with or without coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Twenty-nine very elderly patients aged ≥ 85years who underwent AVR with CABG (n = 11, Group AC) or isolated AVR (n = 18, Group A) were examined. The overall mean age of the patients was 87.2 ± 2.6 (range 85-94) years. The estimated operative mortality rate, calculated using the Japan score, EuroSCORE II, and STS risk score, was 5.72%-10.88% in Group AC and 5.63%-8.30% in Group A. Aortic cross-clamp time (126.5 ± 29.0 vs. 96.9 ± 29.2min, p = 0.016) was significantly longer in Group AC than in Group A. Although the major morbidity rate was higher in Group AC than in Group A (36% vs. 6%, p = 0.0336), the length of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay was comparable between both groups. There was no 30-day and hospital mortality in both groups. Eleven patients died during follow-up (senility, 5; cerebrovascular events, 2; renal failure, 1; unknown, 3). There were no significant differences in survival rates during follow-up (log-rank p value = 0.1051). The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year survival rates were 91%, 80%, 69%, 69% and 69%, respectively, in Group AC and 94%, 94%, 94%, 94% and 88%, respectively, in Group A. In conclusion, AVR with or without CABG could be safely performed in carefully selected very elderly patients with acceptable early- and long-term results. AVR with CABG in very elderly patients aged ≥ 85 offers similar results to isolated AVR in terms of 30-day mortality, hospital mortality, and long-term survival.

Degenerative Severe Aortic Stenosis and Concomitant Coronary Artery Disease: What Is Changing in the Era of the "Transcatheter Revolution"?

To summarize epidemiology, pathophysiology, prognostic relevance, and treatment options of coronary artery disease (CAD) when coupled with severe aortic stenosis (SAS). In regard to treatment options, we focused on the most recently adopted therapeutic approaches and on the future perspectives in light of the latest percutaneous and surgical technical improvements in the field of both CAD and SAS management. Nowadays, SAS is the most common valve disease requiring intervention, either surgical or percutaneous. On the other side, CAD is one of the leading causes of death in the developed countries. CAD and degenerative SAS share several predisposing factors and are often concurrently found in clinical practice. Despite in the last years the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been deeply changing the therapeutic approach to SAS, the correct management of patients with concomitant CAD remains controversial due to limited and heterogeneous data in the literature. Coronary revascularization is often performed in patients with concomitant CAD and SAS. Complete surgical approach is still the standard of care according to international guidelines. However, in light of the recent results of TAVR trials, the therapeutic approach is expected to change. To date, percutaneous coronary intervention performed before TAVR is safe and feasible even if the optimal timing for revascularization remains debated. Due to the great complexity of the patients affected by SAS and CAD and until unquestionable truths will come from large randomized trials, the role of the Heart Team in the decision-making process is of primary importance to guarantee the best tailored therapeutic strategy for the single patient.

Transcatheter Valve Replacement: A Revolution

Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common valvular disease worldwide; however, its physiopathology remains poorly understood. Although, developments in prevention of this disease have remained relatively stagnant, the last decade has brought about innovative treatment options incorporating different percutaneous and surgical approaches. These advances have allowed physicians to offer relief to high-risk patients, previously deemed nonsurgical. Increasingly, there is a shift toward offering percutaneous valve replacement to moderate and low-risk patients with aortic stenosis. Enthusiasm for a new treatment option must always be tempered by caution; as defining appropriate patient selection is essential to achieve optimal outcomes.

Research on the Effect of Aortic Valve Replacement with Mechanical Prosthesis on the Evolution of Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients with Degenerative Aortic Stenosis

Aortic valvulopathies, and especially aortic stenosis (AS), are the most common valvular disorders. Untreated, 50% of patients with severe AS will die within 2-3 years from the onset of symptomatology. The standard treatment consists in the surgical replacement of the aortic valve with mechanical or biological prosthesis. 40 patients were included in the study after replacement of the aortic valve with double disc mechanical prosthesis for severe degenerative AS. The disks of the prosthesis are made of pyrolytic carbon characterized by extreme hardness, which provides wear protection over the years. The ring is composed of a graphite substrate coated with pyrolytic carbon and attached to a suture collar made of polyethylene (polytetrafluoroethylene - PTFE) or polyester (Dacron� or Teflon�). This study evaluates mass regression and left ventricular mass index at three months and one year postoperatively. The regression of the left ventricular mass at 3 months after the surgery is 25.86%, and at one year after the surgery this regression was reduced - 15.11%. The regression of the mass of the left ventricle and especially the premature regression, correlated with the degree of hypertrophy of the left ventricle preoperatively, highlight the beneficial effect of the double disc mechanical prosthesis.

Determinants and clinical significance of aortic stiffness in patients with moderate or severe aortic stenosis

BackgroundPatients with degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) are often older and have systemic hypertension and atherosclerosis, which all lead to increased aortic stiffness. We aimed to assess the determinants of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), a direct measure of aortic stiffness, and its association with revealed symptoms and clinical outcome in patients with AS. MethodsWe included 103 asymptomatic patients aged 66.6 ± 13.2 years (range 27–85 years, 69% males) with moderate (n = 50) and severe (n = 53) AS. All underwent a comprehensive echocardiography, exercise treadmill test (ETT) and assessment of aortic stiffness derived from cf-PWV by applanation tonometry. ResultsThe mean cf-PWV was 10.6 ± 3.1 m/s and resting brachial blood pressure (BP) 139 ± 20/79 ± 11 mmHg. Increased cf-PWV (≥10 m/s) was found in 44% (n = 45) patients. Patients with moderate and severe AS had a similar degree of aortic stiffness (cf-PWV 10.7 ± 3.3 vs. 10.5 ± 3.0 m/s, p = 0.698). In a univariate logistic regression analysis, higher cf-PWV was not associated with revealed symptoms (odds ratio [OR] for 1SD higher cf-PWV 1.12; 95% CI 0.62–2.04, p = 0.706). In a multivariable linear regression analysis, age, resting brachial systolic BP and diabetes were associated with higher cf-PWV independent of antihypertensive treatment and left ventricular ejection fraction. The event-free survival was significantly lower in patients with cf-PWV ≥10 m/s compared to those with cf-PWV <10 m/s (p = 0.015). ConclusionIncreased cf-PWV was common in patients with moderate or severe AS, and was associated with higher cardiovascular disease burden and impaired prognosis. cf-PWV did not correlate with the severity of AS or the frequencies of revealed symptoms by ETT.

Update to the position paper of the Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (SICI-GISE) on institutional and operator requirements for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Chapter 2: Technical nursing care in TAVI

Calcific degenerative aortic stenosis is the most frequent valve disease in the western population. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures are significantly increasing, as they now represent the first choice in inoperable patients and have been shown to be non-inferior to cardiac surgery in patients at high and intermediate surgical risk. In this scenario, it is necessary to define and standardize the technical nursing care to guarantee patient safety and improve quality of care.The purpose of this document is to propose, on the basis on currently available literature, a model for the development of assistance based on shared objectives and clinical competence.

Recursive multiresolution convolutional neural networks for 3D aortic valve annulus planimetry.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the standard of care in a large population of patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. The sizing of TAVR devices is done from ECG-gated CT angiographic image volumes. The most crucial step of the analysis is the determination of the aortic valve annular plane. In this paper, we present a fully tridimensional recursive multiresolution convolutional neural network (CNN) to infer the location and orientation of the aortic valve annular plane. We manually labeled 1007 ECG-gated CT volumes from 94 patients with severe degenerative aortic valve stenosis. The algorithm was implemented and trained using the TensorFlow framework (Google LLC, USA). We performed K-fold cross-validation with K = 9 groups such that CT volumes from a given patient are assigned to only one group. We achieved an average out-of-plane localization error of (0.7 ± 0.6) mm for the training dataset and of (0.9 ± 0.8) mm for the evaluation dataset, which is on par with other published methods and clinically insignificant. The angular orientation error was (3.9 ± 2.3)° for the training dataset and (6.4 ± 4.0)° for the evaluation dataset. For the evaluation dataset, 84.6% of evaluation image volumes had a better than 10° angular error, which is similar to expert-level accuracy. When measured in the inferred annular plane, the relative measurement error was (4.73±5.32)% for the annular area and (2.46±2.94)% for the annular perimeter. The proposed algorithm is the first application of CNN to aortic valve planimetry and achieves an accuracy on par with proposed automated methods for localization and approaches an expert-level accuracy for orientation. The method relies on no heuristic specific to the aortic valve and may be generalizable to other anatomical features.

P1810 Impact of pulmonary hypertension on survival in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis, prospective clinical trial

Abstract Introduction Aortic stenosis has become the most common degenerative valvular heart disease, due to aging of the population. It represents 43% of degenerative valvular disease. Methods We prospectively followed 196 patients with degenerative aortic stenosis, for a period of 6 years. Of these, 106 had mild aortic stenosis, 28 had moderate aortic stenosis and 62 patients had severe aortic stenosis. Of the 196 patients, 54 had mild pulmonary hypertension (PH), 22 had moderate PH and 7 had severe PH. The survival data were estimated by the Kaplan - Meier method and the logrank test. The Cox proportional- hazards regression was performed to assess the differences between the groups. Results During the follow-up period, of a total of 196 patients, 61 patients died. We studied if the presence of PH has an influence on survival in patients with aortic stenosis and we found out that the patients who had PH had reduced survival rates, compared with those who hadn"t. The survival rate at 5 years was lower in the group with mild PH compared with the group with normal pulmonary pressure ( p = 0.045, HR 1.84, 95%CI 1.01-3.36). In the group with mild PH, 20 patients (37.03%) died at 5 years, compared with 23 in the group without PH (20.35%). The survival rate at 5 years was also lower in the group with moderate PH compared with the group with normal pulmonary pressure ( p = 0.001, HR 5.82, 95% CI 3.02-11.22). At 5 years, 15 patients with moderate PH died ( 68.18% compared with 20.35 in the group without PH). Comparing the group with severe PH with the group with normal pulmonary pressure the results showed a reduced survival rate in those with severe pulmonary hypertension ( p = 0.139, HR 2.48, 95% CI 0.74-8.27). At 5 years, 3 patients with severe PH died (42.85% compared with 20.35 in the group without PH). Conclusion The presence of PH in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis has a negative impact on survival, highly statistically significant (p &amp;lt;0.001, HR 1.03, 95% CI, 1.02-1.04). Given these findings, perhaps an increased attention should be paid to the treatment of the patients with PH compared to those without PH.

The Prognostic Value of C-reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio in Patients with Isolated Degenerative Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prognostic value of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR).MethodsFour hundred seventy-six patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis who underwent successful isolated surgical AVR were enrolled. Hospitalization due to heart failure, surgical aortic reoperation, paravalvular leakage rates, and long-term mortality were evaluated in the whole study group. The participants were divided into two groups, as 443 patients without mortality (group 1) and 33 patients with mortality (group 2) during the follow-up time.ResultsCAR was lower in patients without mortality than in those with mortality during the follow-up time (0.84 [0.03-23.43] vs. 2.50 [0.22-26.55], respectively, P<0.001). Age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.062, confidence interval [CI]: 1.012-1.114, P=0.014), CAR (OR: 1.221, CI: 1.125-1.325, P<0.001), ejection fraction (OR: 0.956, CI: 0.916-0.998, P=0.042), and valve type (OR: 2.634, CI: 1.045-6.638, P=0.040) were also found to be independent predictors of long-term mortality. Additionally, rehospitalization (0.86 [0.03-26.55] vs. 1.6 [0.17-24.05], P=0.006), aortic reoperation (0.87 [0.03-26.55] vs. 1.6 [0.20-23.43], P=0.016), and moderate to severe aortic paravalvular leakage (0.86 [0.03-26.55] vs. 1.86 [0.21-19.50], P=0.023) ratios were associated with higher CAR.ConclusionIt was firstly described that CAR was strongly related with increased mortality rates in patients with isolated severe aortic stenosis after surgical AVR. Additionally, rehospitalization, risk of paravalvular leakage, and aortic reoperation rates were higher in patients with increased CAR than in those without it.

P983 ATTR cardiac amyloidosis and aortic stenosis: the same physiopathology, different prognosis?

Abstract Introduction Degenerative aortic stenosis and age-related amyloidosis share common demographic and clinical characteristics. Both surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement provide excellent outcomes in elderly patients with isolated aortic stenosis, however previous reports have suggested the potential negative impact of concomitant transthyretin amyloidosis. Purpose Evaluation of the association of ATTR amyloidosis and degenerative aortic stenosis. Methods Single center retrospective analysis of patients’ data referred to perform a 99mTc-DPD between September 2014- July 2018 due to an abnormal echocardiogram or family history of ATTR. Data was collected regarding clinical, echocardiographic and 99mTc-DPD parameters to evaluate prognostic impact of concomitant cardiac ATTR amyloidosis and aortic stenosis. Results 35 patients were reviewed. 12 (34.3%) had a positive 99mTc-DPD, performing the diagnosis of an ATTR amyloidosis. 33.3% had a cardiac uptake level 2 and 66.6% level 3. 16.7% of patients with ATTR amyloidosis had at the same time of amyloidosis diagnosis, a diagnosis of at least moderate degenerative aortic stenosis (mean maximal velocity 3.73 m/sec and mean gradient 22mmHg). These patients were older (mean age 80.5 ± 14.1 versus 77.9 ± 6.4 years, p 0.527) and all male gender in both groups. There was no evidence of higher level of cardiac uptake in patients with aortic stenosis. Cardiac function was not significantly different between groups: mean ejection fraction 45.5 ± 13.4% in patients with concomitant aortic stenosis versus 45.5 ±10.1% in patients without (p 0.672); mean global longitudinal strain -8.7 ± 2.4% versus -7.3 ± 3.0% (p 0.402). Most patients in both groups were at NYHA class II at the diagnosis. There was no difference regarding mean value of NTproBNP (7381.5 ± 32.6 versus 43332.1 ± 23.7 pg/ml, p 0.267). During follow up, 30% of patients without aortic stenosis was hospitalized due to acute heart failure and 50% died. In the group of aortic stenosis, the hospitalization and all-cause mortality rate was 100%. Conclusions In this study, although there were no differences regarding demographic neither clinical parameters between groups, patients with aortic stenosis presented more cardiac events and higher mortality, dying yet before the aortic stenosis became symptomatic. More studies are needed to evaluate the prognosis of cardiac amyloidosis on the postoperative.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Complications Regarding Cardiac Conductance

Degenerative aortic stenosis is an inflammatory process, affecting up to 12% of patients aged over 85 years. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the preferred option for symptomatic, high and intermediate risk patients, including those denied for surgical valve replacement. Aortic stenosis is associated with prolonged atrio-ventricular (AV) conduction time, as well as higher degree of AV conduction disorders. In addition, it was observed that TAVI patients have a higher incidence of conduction abnormalities during the procedure, as well as during the following days, many of them requiring the implantation of a permanent pacemaker. Definitive guidelines for management of the conduction disorders are not yet available, the burden of choosing the best approach being put on each individual clinician.

P953 When one problem is not enough.

Abstract Background Syncope is a serious complication of significant aortic valve stenosis. Left ventricular outflow obstruction, abnormal arterial and venous vasodilatation and arrhythmic events are usually the most common pathophysiological mechanisms. Structurally abnormal native valves with turbulent abnormal flow are a substrate for infective endocarditis in the elderly population. Clinical Case We report the case of an 74 year-old woman with a past history of hypertension, type II diabetes, dyslipidemia and degenerative severe aortic stenosis waiting valve replacement surgery who presented to the emergency department with syncope. Elevated inflammatory markers, fever and leukocyturia raised the hypothesis of urinary tract infection. Empirical antibiotic was initiated and the patient was admitted to the Internal Medicine ward. Evolution was unsatisfactory with evolution to cardiogenic shock. Urgent transthoracic echocardiogram showed dilated right cavities, mild pericardial effusion and high gradient flow between the left ventricle and right cavities with an unstructured calcified high mobility aortic valve with perivalvular abscess. Patient was transferred to a tertiary center for emergent surgery. A biologic aortic valve and pericardial bovine patch at the proximal membranous septum was implanted. Six-week empirical antibiotic treatment for endocarditis was completed after surgery. Initial blood cultures and native valve culture were negative. Residual restrictive left to right shunt was observed by TTE evaluation. The patient was discharged home and is doing well at follow-up. Conclusion Left-to-right shunt with subsequent cardiogenic shock is a non-common complication of aortic valve endocarditis. Patients presenting with syncope in the context of aortic stenosis must have a careful initial evaluation and mechanical complications excluded. Abstract P953 Figure. EuroEcho2019

Severe degenerative aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction does not change adipokines serum levels.

The role of the adipokines in the pathogenesis of aortic stenosis (AS) is not well established. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between adipokines and clinical characteristics as well as echocardiographic indices and noninvasive markers of vascular remodeling in patients with severe AS with preserved ejection fraction (EF). Sixty-five patients (F/M: 38/27; age: 68.3 ± 9.0 years; body mass index [BMI]: 29.6 ± 4.3 kg/m2) with severe AS with preserved EF: 33 patients with paradoxical low-flow low-gradient AS (PLFLG AS) and 32 patients with normal flow high-gradient AS (NFHG AS) were prospectively enrolled into the study. Twenty-four subjects (F/M: 14/10; age: 65.4 ± 8.7 years; BMI: 29.6 ± 4.3 kg/m2) who matched as to age, sex, BMI and coronary artery disease (CAD) constituted the control group (CG). Clinical data and markers of vascular remodeling were related to the serum adipokines. There were no differences in the adipokines concentrations in the AS/CG. Patients with AS and coexisting CAD were characterized by decreased serum adiponectin (9.9 ± 5.5 vs. 12.7 ± 5.8 μg/mL, p = 0.040) and leptin (8.3 ± 7.8 vs. 21.6 ± 17.1 ng/mL, p < 0.001) levels compared to subjects without CAD. There were no differences in the serum adipokines concentrations between patients with PLFLG AS and NFHG AS. Systemic hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia or markers of vascular remodeling did not discriminate adipokines concentrations. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that age (F = 3.02; p = 0.015) and E/E' index (F = 0.87, p = 0.032) were independent predictors of the adiponectin level in the AS group. The presence of AS with preserved EF did not change the adipokine serum profile. Adipokines levels were modified by coexisting atherosclerosis but not the typical cardiovascular risk factors or the hemodynamic type of AS.

Prevalence and risk factors of aortic stenosis and aortic sclerosis: a 21-year follow-up of middle-aged men

Introduction. There is limited knowledge about factors associated with the development of aortic stenosis. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of aortic sclerosis or stenosis in 71-years-old men and determine which risk factors at 50 years of age predict the development of aortic sclerosis or aortic stenosis. Methods. A random sample of Swedish men from the general population, born in 1943 (n = 798) were followed for 21 years. Data on clinical characteristics and laboratory values were collected in 1993. An echocardiography was performed in 2014. We used logistic regression to examine the association between baseline data and the outcome. Results. Echocardiography was performed in 535 men, and aortic sclerosis or aortic stenosis was diagnosed in 27 (5.0%). 14 persons developed aortic stenosis (2.6%). Among men with aortic sclerosis or aortic stenosis, 29.6% were obese. In multivariable stepwise regression model, body mass index (odds ratio per unit increase 1.23 (95% CI 1.10–1.38; p = .0003)) and hypercholesterolemia, combined with high sensitive C-reactive protein (odds ratio versus all other 2.66 (1.18–6.00; p = .019)) were significantly associated with increased risk of developing aortic sclerosis or aortic stenosis. Body mass index was the only factor significantly associated with a higher risk of developing aortic stenosis. Conclusion. The prevalence of either aortic sclerosis or aortic stenosis was 5% and of aortic stenosis 2.6%. Obesity and hypercholesterolemia combined with elevated high sensitive C-reactive protein at the age of 50 predicted the development of degenerative aortic sclerosis or stenosis, whilst only obesity was correlated with the occurrence of aortic stenosis.

Transtoracical Ecocardiographic Assessment of Severe Degenerative Aortic Stenosis with Normal Ejection Fraction and Low Transvalvular Gradient

Purpose of the study: echocardiographic evaluation of the form of degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS) with preserved ejection fraction (EF) and low transvalvular gradient, in order to formulate the indication of valvular prosthesis as early as possible; retrospective observational study that includes patients admitted or sent for ambulatory evaluation by other medical services. The echocardiographic parameters used: systolic and diastolic indices, tissue and spectral, mitral and tricuspid veins, aortic orifice area, maximal aortic systolic velocity, maximal and medium aortic transvalvular gradient, myocardial mass index, volume of left atrium, left ventricular (LV) thickness. 42 patients with severe DAS and preserved EF, average age 71.7�3.85 years. Two groups were isolated: A - with increased gradient (22 patients) and B - with low gradient (20 patients). The gender distribution was comparable: women representing 33% in group A versus 30% in group B. The average age of women in both groups was higher than that of the men: in group A: 72�8 years in the case of women vs. 67�6 years in the case of men and in group B 72�3.5 years in women vs. 68�6 years in men. Apical displacement of the mitral ring: 14�2mm in lot A vs. 11�2mm in lot B. Myocardial mass index: 120 � 9g/m2 in lot A vs. 126 � 12g/m2 in lot B. Left ventricular filling ratio E/e�: 8�2 in lot A vs. 13�2 in lot B; maximum aortic systolic velocity: 4.3�0.9m/s in lot A vs. 3.1�0.8m/s in lot B; maximum gradient: 73.9�10mmHg in lot A vs. 37�12mmHg in lot B; aortic orifice area: 0.80�10.5 in lot A vs. 0.79�0.07 in lot B. Statistical analysis shows the Pearson correlation index r with the highest values of 95% at the significance threshold between the aortic orifice area and the valve opening (r=0.87), the ratio E/e� (r=-0.85) and diastolic thickness of the posterior wall of the aortic left ventricle (r = 0.78). Aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction and low gradient was more common in men. The filling ratio E/e� was increased (13 � 2) in group B, suggesting the increase of filling pressures of LV in patients with DAS and low transvalvular gradient. Tissue spectral systolic and longitudinal velocities were lower in group B, suggesting the onset of systolic LV dysfunction. The aortic valve opening and the E/e� ratio showed the highest correlation coefficient with the area of the aortic orifice in both groups. The myocardial mass index and the thickness of the walls of the LV cavity are similar in the two groups, suggesting that the reduction of the LV cavity through hypertrophy may not explain, at least in totality, the form of DAS with low gradient and preserved ejection fraction.

P1847Comparing outcomes and complications between transfemoral TAVI performed with or without echoguided puncture

Abstract Objective Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVI) has become the reference procedure in intermediate or high surgical risk patients with degenerative aortic stenosis. Vascular complications are associated with poorer outcomes in patients after TAVI. Transfemoral (TF) echoguided puncture (EGP) became a routine procedure in our center in May 2017. We conducted a retrospective analysis to compare outcomes between patients whose TAVI was performed with or without routine EGP in our population. Methods We included all patients with TF TAVI performed in our center between January 2016 and December 2018. Since May 2017, all TF TAVI were performed using TF EGP for the main access and transradial puncture for the secondary access. Patient population was divided into two historical groups: fluoroscopic guided puncture (FGP) and EGP. Patients whose TAVI were performed in May 2017 were excluded due to operators learning curve. Post procedure mortality and vascular complications were retrospectively extracted from our institution data system. Results Among the 611 TAVI performed between January 2016 and December 2018, 28 did not have TF access. Twelve patients with procedure in May 2017 (learning curve) were excluded. Thus, 573 patients were analyzed. Age was not significantly different between FGP and EGP groups (84.9±5,7 vs. 83.8±6.6 years, p=0.051). No significant differences in in-hospital and 1 month mortality were observed between FGP and EGP groups (1.9 vs. 1.5%, p=0.74 and 3.2 vs. 1.8%, p=0.26). Minor vascular complications were not significantly different between groups (12.5 vs. 12.3%, p=1) but major vascular complications were significantly less frequent in EGP (5.6 vs. 10.2%, p=0.046). After introducing EGP, surgical TF access were also less frequently needed (2.8 vs. 0.3%, p=0.02). Conclusion Our single center retrospective study suggests that using TF EGP to perform TAVI is safe and may reduce both the rate of major vascular complication and the need for surgical TF access. Acknowledgement/Funding None

P6483Predictors of contractile reserve on dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with classical low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis

Abstract Background There is a lack of information on factors that influence contractile reserve (CR) on dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients with classical low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (LFLG-AS). Purpose This study sought to evaluate the predictors of CR in patients with LFLG-AS. Methods Prospective study including 43 consecutive LFLG-AS patients (aortic valve area [AVA] ≤1.0 cm2, mean transaortic gradient &lt;40 mmHg, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] &lt;50%) with true severe aortic stenosis. All patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography and T1-mapping cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). CR was defined as an increase ≥20% in the left ventricular stroke volume at peak stress. Patients with pseudo-severe aortic stenosis were excluded. Results All of the patients in the study had degenerative aortic stenosis, with a median age of 67 [60–74] years, most of them being male (83.7%). A high prevalence of comorbidities was found, highlighted by diabetes (42%), hypertension (70%), atrial fibrillation (25%) and coronary artery disease (38%). Mean transaortic gradient was 25 [20–33] mmHg, AVA was 0.88 [0.68–0.95] cm2, LVEF was 35 [28–43]% and 32.6% had moderate/severe functional mitral regurgitation. CMR myocardium extracellular volume fraction (ECV) was 28.8 [26.3–33.0] %, indexed ECV was 35.4 [25.0–41.2] ml/m2, 32.6% had positive transmural delayed-enhancement images and 25.6% had positive mesocardial delayed-enhancement images. On DSE, 30 patients (69.7%) had CR and 13 patients (30.3%) had no CR. Global longitudinal strain was 10 [7–12] %, Δ indexed flow rate was 25 [3–38] ml/m2.seg and Δ mean gradient was 10 [3–16] mmHg. By multivariate analysis, moderate/severe functional mitral regurgitation (HR 0.122, 95% CI 0.020–0.759, p=0.024) and AVA (HR 0.606, 95% CI 0.396–0.925, p=0.020 [for each increase of 0.05 cm2]) were the only factors associated with CR. ECV, indexed ECV and positive transmural or mesocardial delayed-enhancement images were not associated with CR in the univariate analysis. Conclusions In our study, the absence of moderate/severe functional mitral regurgitation and AVA were predictors of CR on DSE in patients with LFLG-AS. As AVA was smaller in patients with CR, our finding contradicts the hypothesis that more severe aortic stenosis could also contribute to the lack of CR. Other possible factors that are surrogate of myocardium fibrosis, as ECV, indexed ECV and positive delayed-enhancement images, were not associated with the absence of CR. Acknowledgement/Funding FAPESP

Pregnancy and transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a severely stenotic Freestyle full aortic root stentless bioprosthesis

Symptomatic degenerative prosthetic aortic valve stenosis during pregnancy represents a significant risk to both mother and fetus, and until recently, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) during pregnancy was often the only choice for women opting to continue pregnancy. However, symptomatic severe stenosis in a pregnant woman with a degenerated full aortic root Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis (FSB) and reimplanted coronary arteries presents additional complexities that require an alternative surgical approach. In this case report, we describe the first successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in SAVR for a severely stenotic degenerative FSB in a pregnant woman and subsequent delivery of a healthy infant several months later. TAVR in SAVR of a severely stenotic aortic FSB should be considered as a surgical option in symptomatic pregnant women. Short-term and long-term implications for future pregnancy should be discussed by a multidisciplinary team and with the patient.

Epicardial adipose tissue volume is associated with left ventricular remodelling in calcific aortic valve stenosis

The severity of left ventricular (LV) remodelling is only partially related to the severity of aortic valve stenosis; additional factors, including diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity and metabolic syndrome, may play important roles. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), now considered as a metabolically active organ, is also linked to these factors. To analyse the association between EAT volume measured using computed tomography and LV remodelling in a prospective cohort of patients with aortic stenosis. Consecutive asymptomatic patients with at least mild degenerative aortic stenosis enrolled in a prospective cohort that aimed to assess the determinants of aortic stenosis occurrence and progression constituted our population. We enrolled 143 patients (78±5 years; 65% men). Mean LV mass and EAT volume were 219±64g and 134±56mL, respectively. LV hypertrophy was diagnosed in 86 patients (60%), and concentric hypertrophy (32%) was the main remodelling pattern. EAT was associated with body mass index (P<0.001) and body surface area (P<0.001), but not with age (P=0.33) or aortic stenosis severity (all P>0.10). EAT was correlated with LV mass (r=0.41; P<0.0001), and after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index/body surface area, hypertension, waist circumference, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and aortic stenosis severity, EAT was independently associated with LV mass (P=0.01/P=0.02). Similar results were found when EAT and LV mass index (adjusted for body surface area) were considered instead of absolute values (P=0.04). In this prospective cohort of patients with aortic stenosis, EAT volume was independently associated with LV mass. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this link.

Clonal haematopoiesis in patients with degenerative aortic valve stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

AimsClonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), defined as the presence of an expanded somatic blood cell clone without other haematological abnormalities, was recently shown to increase with age and is associated with coronary artery disease and calcification. The most commonly mutated CHIP genes, DNMT3A and TET2, were shown to regulate inflammatory potential of circulating leucocytes. The incidence of degenerative calcified aortic valve (AV) stenosis increases with age and correlates with chronic inflammation. We assessed the incidence of CHIP and its association with inflammatory blood cell phenotypes in patients with AV stenosis undergoing transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI).Methods and resultsTargeted amplicon sequencing for DNMT3A and TET2 was performed in 279 patients with severe AV stenosis undergoing TAVI. Somatic DNMT3A- or TET2-CHIP-driver mutations with a VAF ≥ 2% were detected in 93 out of 279 patients (33.3%), with an age-dependent increase in the incidence from 25% (55–69 years) to 52.9% (90–100 years). Patients with DNMT3A- or TET2-CHIP-driver mutations did not differ from patients without such mutations in clinical parameters, concomitant atherosclerotic disease, blood cell counts, inflammatory markers, or procedural characteristics. However, patients with DNMT3A- or TET2-CHIP-driver mutations had a profoundly increased medium-term all-cause mortality following successful TAVI. Differential myeloid and T-cell distributions revealed pro-inflammatory T-cell polarization in DNMT3A-mutation carriers and increased pro-inflammatory non-classical monocytes in TET2-mutation carriers.ConclusionThis is the first study to show that acquired somatic mutations in the most commonly mutated CHIP-driver genes occur frequently in patients with severe degenerative AV stenosis, are associated with increased pro-inflammatory leucocyte subsets, and confer a profound increase in mortality following successful TAVI.