Prohibitive Risk Research Articles

Endo-Bentall Repair: Early Results and Feasibility of a Physician-Constructed Endo-Bentall Device.

We present our experience with endovascular Bentall procedure (Endo-Bentall) using a modular valve conduit (Endo-Bentall) in high-risk patients with aortic root pathologies. The physician constructed Endo-Bentall device is composed of a self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve (TAVR), aortic endovascular stent graft (TEVAR), and two wire-reinforced fenestrations for coronary artery stenting. The TAVR valve is sutured into an appropriately sized TEVAR graft. The coronary fenestrations are made in the TEVAR graft based on CTA measurements. The Endo-Bentall device is then re-sheathed within the TEVAR delivery system, advanced via femoral access and is deployed during rapid pacing. If persistent endo-leak is present after device deployment, the coronary ostia are accessed and stented. No cardiopulmonary support is required. 5 patients with prohibitive risk (mean age 79 years) underwent Endo-Bentall repair from November 2022 - October 2023 (Type A dissection N = 4, aortic root aneurysm N = 1). Severe aortic insufficiency was present in 2 patients preoperatively. The median back table modification time was 120 minutes (range 55- 150 minutes). The Endobentall device was successfully implanted in all patients (100%). Two patients required concomitant total endo-arch repair. In hospital mortality was 0%. No patient had postoperative stroke. Coronary stenting was required in 3 patients. One patient required permanent pacemaker insertion. On follow - up CT scan (median of 172 days (range: 63-368), no patient had a type 1a endoleak. No aortic insufficiency was present on follow up transthoracic echocardiography. The Endo-Bentall repair using a single-stage valve-carrying conduit is feasible and effective with encouraging early outcomes for highly selected patients with aortic root dissection or aneurysm who are deemed not to be operative candidates. Long-term follow up data are required to assess the persistence of the seal and ongoing durability of this novel technique.

Contemporary Management of the Aortic Valve-Narrative Review of an Evolving Landscape.

Background: Aortic valve replacement has undergone novel changes in recent decades, providing not only a multitude of procedural options but expanding the treatable patient population. Specifically, a number of minimally invasive and interventional treatment options have allowed for the treatment of high and prohibitive risk surgical patients. Further, technology is allowing for the development of innovative surgical and transcatheter valve models, which will advance the treatment of aortic valve disease in the future. Objective: Here, we choose to describe the modern aortic valve replacement techniques and the available valves and designs.

Perioperative Mechanical Circulatory Support for Cardiac Assistance in Thoracic Surgery: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Over the past decades, the number of cardiac patients (e.g., with advanced heart failure or existing cardiovascular comorbidities that expose them to a heightened risk of acute cardiovascular decompensation) requiring noncardiac surgery is rising. For this patient population, potentially curative surgical treatments may be denied due to their prohibitive perioperative risk. Around 30% of patients undergoing general thoracic surgery experience cardiovascular complications of varying severity that may ultimately result in refractory heart failure and/or hemodynamic instability. In both these scenarios, perioperative implantation of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) may improve patient outcomes by both expanding preoperative surgical eligibility criteria and enabling safer management of unexpected periprocedural complications. This scoping review seeks to summarize the current existing evidence on the role of tMCS for cardiac assistance in thoracic surgery and provide a thorough overview. We will perform a scoping review adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the extension for Scoping Reviews of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis checklist (PRISMA). We will carry out a comprehensive search of several online databases to identify studies on the perioperative implantation of tMCS in patients undergoing thoracic surgery to provide cardiac assistance either due to their heightened preoperative cardiac risk (pre-emptive tMCS) or for acute cardiac failure due to inherent surgical complications (bail-out tMCS). Standardized forms will be employed to perform data charting and extraction. Retrieved studies will be presented through a narrative synthesis following initial categorization, supplemented by descriptive statistical analyses of quantitative data if adequate inter-study homogeneity is observed and further complemented by figures and tables. The planned scoping review aims to assess the safety and feasibility of perioperative implantation of tMCS in patients undergoing thoracic surgery either to mitigate their heightened cardiovascular risk or as a rescue strategy in the event of life-threatening surgical complications. It will identify knowledge gaps, offer direction for future research, and improve clinical practices within the field.

Impact and limitations of 3D computational modelling in transcatheter mitral valve replacement-atwo-centre Dutch experience.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged as aminimally invasive alternative to mitral valve surgery for patients at high or prohibitive operative risk. Prospective studies reported favourable outcomes in patients with annulus calcification (valve-in-mitral annulus calcification; ViMAC), failed annuloplasty ring (mitral valve-in-ring; MViR), and bioprosthetic mitral valve dysfunction (mitral valve-in-valve; MViV). Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT)-derived 3D-modelling and simulations may provide complementary anatomical perspectives for TMVR planning. We aimed to illustrate the implementation of MSCT-derived modelling and simulations in the workup of TMVR for ViMAC, MViR, and MViV. For this retrospective study, we included all consecutive patients screened for TMVR and compared MSCT data, echocardiographic outcomes and clinical outcomes. Sixteen out of 41patients were treated with TMVR (ViMAC n = 9, MViR n = 3, MViV n = 4). Eleven patients were excluded for inappropriate sizing, 4for anchoring issues and 10for an unacceptable risk of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) based on 3D modelling. There were 3procedure-related deaths and 1non-procedure-related cardiovascular death during 30days of follow-up. LVOTO occurred in 3ViMAC patients and 1MViR patient, due to deeper valve implantation than planned in 3patients, and anterior mitral leaflet displacement with recurrent basal septum thickening in 1patient. TMVR significantly reduced mitral mean gradients as compared with baseline measurements (median mean gradient 9.5(9.0-11.5) mm Hg before TMVR versus 5.0(4.5-6.0) mm Hg after TMVR, p = 0.03). There was no residual mitral regurgitation at 30days. MSCT-derived 3D modelling and simulation provide valuable anatomical insights for TMVR with transcatheter balloon expandable valves in ViMAC, MViR and MViV. Further planning iterations should target the persistent risk for neo-LVOTO.

Outcomes of patients with active cancer after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: an updated meta-analysis

BackgroundPatients with active cancer and aortic stenosis may be under-referred for valve interventions due to concerns over a prohibitive risk. However, whether active cancer impacts outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unknown.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library in December 2023 for studies comparing the post-TAVR outcomes of patients with versus without active cancer. We pooled odds ratios (OR) and adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) applying a random-effects model. Statistical analyses were performed in R version 4.3.2.ResultsWe included nine observational studies analyzing 133,906 patients, of whom 9,792 (7.3%) had active cancer. Compared with patients without cancer, patients with active cancer had higher short- (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.15–1.55; p < 0.001) and long-term mortality (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.80–2.91; p < 0.001) rates, not driven by cardiovascular mortality (OR 1.30; 95% CI 0.70–2.40; p = 0.40), and higher major bleeding rates (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.15–2.42; p = 0.008). The higher mortality rate was sustained in an adjusted analysis (aHR 1.77; 95% CI 1.34–2.35; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in cardiac, renal, and cerebral complications at a follow-up ranging from 180 days to 10 years.ConclusionPatients with active cancer undergoing TAVR had higher non-cardiovascular mortality and bleeding rates, with comparable incidences of other complications. This highlights the need for a shared decision and appropriate patient selection considering cancer type, staging, bleeding risk, and optimal timing for intervention.Graphical

Approaches to Cholecystitis: Surgical, Endoscopic, and Percutaneous Management.

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the gold standard of treatment. Therapeutic endoscopy for management of AC continues to emerge as a favorable alternative to percutaneous gallbladder drainage in patients with prohibitive operative risk. Endoscopic management of AC includes transpapillary and transmural stenting. When patient-specific factors prevent both surgical and endoscopic treatment, percutaneous cholecystostomy tube (PCT) placement is an option. Early studies show PCT to have worse outcomes when compared against all other described treatment options for the management of AC.

Combined Use of MITRACLIP and Ventricular ASSIST Devices in Cardiogenic Shock: MITRA-ASSIST Registry.

Background: Patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) and mitral regurgitation (MI) have a prohibitive risk that contraindicates surgical treatment. Although the feasibility of transcatheter edge-to-edge therapy (TEER) has been demonstrated in this setting, the benefit of the combined use of TEER with mechanical circulatory support devices (MCS) has not been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of TEER in patients with MCS. Methods: The MITRA-ASSIST study is a retrospective multicentre Spanish registry that included patients with MR and CS who underwent TEER in combination with MCS. The primary endpoint was death from any cause at 12 months. The secondary endpoint was a composite of death from any cause or hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months. Results: A total of twenty-four patients in nine high-volume Spanish centres (66.2 (51-82) years, 70.8% female, EuroSCORE II 20.4 ± 17.8) were included. Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction was the main CS aetiology (56%), and the most implanted MCS was the intra-aortic balloon pump (82.6%), followed by ECMO (8.7%), IMPELLACP® (4.3%), or a combination of both (4.3%). Procedural success was 95.8%, with 87.5% in-hospital survival. At 12-month follow-up, 25.0% of patients died, and 33.3% had a composite event of death from any cause or hospitalisation for heart failure. Conclusions: TEER in patients with concomitant CS and MR who require MCS appears to be a promising therapeutic alternative with a high device procedural success rate and acceptable mortality and heart failure readmission rates at follow-up.

Beyond Medical Therapy-An Update on Heart Failure Devices.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex and progressive disease marked by substantial morbidity and mortality rates, frequent episodes of decompensation, and a reduced quality of life (QoL), with severe financial burden on healthcare systems. In recent years, several large-scale randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have widely expanded the therapeutic armamentarium, underlining additional benefits and the feasibility of rapid titration regimens. This notwithstanding, mortality is not declining, and hospitalizations are constantly increasing. It is widely acknowledged that even with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) on board, HF patients have a prohibitive residual risk, which highlights the need for innovative treatment options. In this scenario, groundbreaking devices targeting valvular, structural, and autonomic abnormalities have become crucial tools in HF management. This has led to a full-fledged translational boost with several novel devices in development. Thus, the aim of this review is to provide an update on both approved and investigated devices.

Alternative Access for TAVR: Choosing the Right Pathway.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an alternative treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis regardless of surgical risk, particularly in those with a high and prohibitive risk. Since the advent of TAVR, transfemoral access has been the standard of care. However, given comorbidities and anatomical limitations, a proportion of patients are not good candidates for a transfemoral approach. Alternative access, including transapical, transaortic, transaxillary, transsubclavian, transcarotid, and transcaval, can be considered. Each alternative access has advantages and disadvantages, so the vascular route should be tailored to the patient's characteristics. However, there is no standardized algorithm when choosing the optimal alternative vascular access. In this review, we analyzed the evolution and current evidence for the most common alternative access for TAVR and proposed an algorithm for choosing the optimal vascular access in this patient population.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure for stroke prevention in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with atrial fibrillation

BackgroundPercutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is an effective alternative strategy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at high risk for bleeding with anticoagulation (AC). Efficacy of this strategy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains uncertain. ObjectiveThe study aimed to compare risk of stroke in HCM-AF patients treated with LAAC with those treated with AC. MethodsBy use of the TriNetX Global Research Network, HCM-AF patients from 2015 to 2024 were assigned to categories of treatment with LAAC and treatment solely with AC and observed for 3 years for ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, and all-cause mortality. Propensity score matching was used to limit confounders. ResultsOf 14,867 HCM-AF patients identified, 364 (2.5%) were treated with LAAC vs 14,503 (97.5%) treated with AC. HCM LAAC patients were older (72 vs 67 years; P < .001) and had more comorbidities and more prior bleeding events, including higher rate of prior gastrointestinal bleeding (68% vs 18%; P < .001), compared with HCM patients treated solely with AC. After propensity score matching, there was no baseline difference between groups including prior bleeding events (P > .05). During follow-up, HCM patients treated with LAAC had higher rates of ischemic stroke (13% vs 8%; hazard ratio, 1.9; P = .006) and systemic embolism (14% vs 9%; hazard ratio, 1.8; P = .006) but no difference in mortality compared with matched HCM patients receiving AC. ConclusionThese real-world data do not support percutaneous LAAC in HCM-AF patients as the primary treatment strategy during long-term AC to reduce stroke risk. However, LAAC may remain a reasonable option for HCM-AF patients who are unable to tolerate AC because of prohibitive bleeding risk.

MITRACLIP TREATMENT FOR CARDIOGENIC SHOCK DUE TO ACUTE MITRAL REGURGITATION IN A PATIENT WITH POSTINFARCTION PAPILLARY MUSCLE RUPTURE

Abstract A 85–year–old woman presented to ED with worsening dyspnea for 24 hours; no other related symptom. Her medical history included hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 DM and surgical coronary revascularization 13 years before for multiple critical coronary artery disease (LIMA to LAD and sequential SVG to PDA and OM branch). The ECG promptly revealed a subacute infero–lateral STEMI. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed inferior and postero–lateral wall akinesia with severely reduced left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), mildly reduced right ventricle systolic function and severe mitral regurgitation (MR) due to posterior papillary muscle (PM) rupture (Fig.1). Clinical scenario was complicated by pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock treated with diuretics and sodium nitroprusside infusion, non–invasive ventilation and IABP insertion. Urgent coronary angiography revealed a thrombotic occlusion of the venous graft for OM branch. Surgical correction was excluded due to hemodynamic instability. Graft occlusion was treated with manual thromboaspiration, balloon dilatations and abciximab infusion. After an initial stabilization, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed confirming severe MR resulting from rupture of one head of a bifid posterior PM (red arrows, Fig.1) and prolapse of the anterior leaflet combined with restrictive systolic movement of the posterior leaflet due to wall motion abnormalities. 3 days later a transcatheter mitral valve edge–to–edge repair (MTEER) was performed using a MitraClip device (1 XTR clip and 1 NTR clip, Fig.2). TEE with 3D and TrueVue vision confirmed the correct placement of clips (Fig.3), a mild–to–moderate residual MR, absence of significant transmitral gradient and a mildly reduced LVEF. No clinical events were reported during recovery; patient was discharged after 2 weeks. Conclusion MTEER is an established therapy for reducing degenerative and functional MR. Little data is available on its use in the setting of PM rupture. This rare complication of AMI carries a mortality rate of 80% during the first week without surgical correction but more than half of patients are excluded because of prohibitive operative risk. TEER may be an alternative for these patients. In this case report we described the utility of MTEER in the setting of cardiogenic shock secondary to acute ischemic MR with papillary muscle partial rupture. This procedure can be useful with acceptable safety and procedural success.

The role of surgical disconnection for posterior fossa pial arteriovenous fistulas and dural fistulas with pial supply: an illustrative case series.

Pial arteriovenous fistulas (pAVFs) are rare vascular malformations characterized by high-flow arteriovenous shunting involving a cortical arterial supply directly connecting to venous drainage without an intermediate nidus. Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) can infrequently involve additional pial feeders which can introduce higher flow shunting and increase the associated treatment risk. In the posterior fossa, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) angioarchitecture tends to be particularly complex, involving either multiple arterial feeders-sometimes from both dural and pial origins-or small caliber vessels that are difficult to catheterize and tend to be intimately involved with functionally critical brainstem or upper cervical cord structures. Given their rarity, published experience on microsurgical or endovascular treatment strategies for posterior fossa pAVFs and dAVFs with pial supply remains limited. Retrospective chart review from 2019-2023 at a high-volume center identified six adult patients with posterior fossa pAVFs that were unable to be fully treated endovascularly and required microsurgical disconnection. These cases are individually presented with a technical emphasis andsupported by comprehensive angiographic and intraoperative images. One vermian (Case 1), three cerebellopontine angle (Cases 2-4) and two craniovertebral junction (Cases 5-6) posterior fossa pAVFs or dAVFs with pial supply are presented. Three cases involved mixed dural and pial arterial supply (Cases 1, 4, and 6), and one case involved a concomitant microAVM (Case 2). Endovascular embolization was attempted in four cases (Cases 1-4): The small caliber and tortuosity of the main arterial feeder prevented catheterization in two cases (Cases 1 and 3). Partial embolization was achieved in Cases 2 and 4. In Cases 5 and 6, involvement of the lateral spinal artery or anterior spinal artery created a prohibitive risk forendovascular embolization, and surgical clip ligation was pursued as primary management. In all cases, microsurgical disconnection resulted in complete fistula obliteration without evidence of recurrence on follow-up imaging (mean follow-up 27.1 months). Two patients experienced persistent post-treatment sensory deficits without significant functional limitation. This illustrative case series highlights thetechnical difficulties and anatomical limitations of endovascular management for posterior fossa pAVFs and dAVFs with pial supply and emphasizes the relative safety and utility of microsurgical disconnection in this context. A combined approach involving partial preoperative embolization-when the angioarchitecture is permissive-can potentially decrease surgical morbidity. Larger studies are warranted to better define the role for multimodal intervention and to assess associated long-term AVF obliteration rates in the setting of pial arterial involvement.

A machine learning approach for predicting textbook outcome after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis is considered a late-stage manifestation of neoplastic diseases. Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) can be an effective treatment for these patients. However, the procedure is associated with significant morbidity. Our aim was to develop a machine learning model to predict the probability of achieving textbook outcome (TO) after CRS-HIPEC using only preoperatively known variables. Adult patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis and who underwent CRS-HIPEC were included from a large, single-center, prospectively maintained dataset (2001-2020). TO was defined as a hospital length of stay ≤14days and no postoperative adverse events including any complications, reoperation, readmission, and mortality within 90days. Four models (logistic regression, neural network, random forest, and XGBoost) were trained, validated, and a user-friendly risk calculator was then developed. A total of 1954 CRS-HIPEC procedures for peritoneal carcinomatosis were included. Overall, 13% (n=258) achieved TO following CRS-HIPEC procedure. XGBoost and logistic regression had the highest area under the curve (AUC) (0.76) after model optimization, followed by random forest (AUC 0.75) and neural network (AUC 0.74). The top preoperative variables associated with achieving a TO were lower peritoneal cancer index scores, not undergoing proctectomy, splenectomy, or partial colectomy and being asymptomatic from peritoneal metastases prior to surgery. This is a data-driven study to predict the probability of achieving TO after CRS-HIPEC. The proposed pipeline has the potential to not only identify patients for whom surgery is not associated with prohibitive risk, but also aid surgeons in communicating this risk to patients.

Comparison of Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair for Primary Mitral Regurgitation Outcomes to Hospital Volumes of Surgical Mitral Valve Repair.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve (MV) repair (TEER) is an effective treatment for patients with primary mitral regurgitation at prohibitive risk for surgical MV repair (MVr). High-volume MVr centers and high-volume TEER centers have better outcomes than low-volume centers, respectively. However, whether MVr volume predicts TEER outcomes remains unknown. We hypothesized that high-volume MV surgical centers would have superior risk-adjusted outcomes for TEER than low-volume centers. We combined data from the American College of Cardiology/Society of Thoracic Surgeons Transcatheter Valve Therapy registry and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons adult cardiac surgery database. MVr was defined as leaflet resection or artificial chords with or without annuloplasty and was evaluated as a continuous variable and as predefined categories (<25, 25-49, and ≥50 MV repairs/year). A generalized linear mixed model was used to evaluate risk-adjusted in-hospital/30-day mortality, 30-day heart failure readmission, and TEER success (mitral regurgitation ≤2+ and gradient <5 mm Hg). The study comprised 41 834 patients from 500 sites of which 332 (66.4%) were low, 102 (20.4%) intermediate, and 66 (13.2%) high-volume surgical centers (P<0.001). TEER success was 54.6% and was not statistically significantly different across MV surgical site volumes (P=0.4271). TEER mortality at 30 days was 3.5% with no significant difference across MVr volume on unadjusted (P=0.141) or adjusted (P=0.071) analysis of volume as a continuous variable. One-year mortality was 15.0% and was lower for higher MVr volume centers when adjusted for clinical and demographic variables (P=0.027). Heart failure readmission at 1 year was 9.4% and was statistically significantly lower in high-volume centers on both unadjusted (P=0.017) or adjusted (P=0.015) analysis. TEER can be safely performed in centers with low volumes of MV repair. However, 1-year mortality and heart failure readmission are superior at centers with higher MVr volume.

Efficacy and safety of a minimalistic balloon aortic valvuloplasty strategy in a centre without heart surgery.

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is a palliative tool for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) at prohibitive risk for surgery or as a bridge to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BAV is traditionally performed in hospitals with onsite cardiac surgery due to its potential complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of BAV procedures performed by trained high-volume operators in a centre without onsite surgery and to assess the effect of a minimalistic approach to reduce periprocedural complications. From 2016 to 2021, 187 BAV procedures were performed in 174 patients. Patients were elderly (mean age: 85.0±5.4 years) and had high-risk (mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score [EuroSCORE] II: 10.1±9.9) features. According to the indications, 4 cohorts were identified: 1) bridge to TAVR (n=98; 56%); 2) bridge to SAVR (n=8; 5%); 3) cardiogenic shock (n=11; 6%); and 4) palliation (n=57; 33%). BAV procedures were performed using the standard retrograde technique via femoral access in 165 patients (95%), although radial access was used in 9 patients (5%). Ultrasound-guided vascular puncture was performed in 118 patients (72%) and left ventricular pacing was administered through a stiff guidewire in 105 cases (60%). BAV safety was confirmed by 1 periprocedural death (0.6%), 1 intraprocedural stroke (0.6%), 2 major vascular complications (1%) and 9 minor vascular complications (5%). Nine cases of in-hospital mortality occurred (5%), predominantly in patients with cardiogenic shock. BAV is a safe procedure that can be performed in centres without onsite cardiac surgery using a minimalistic approach that can reduce periprocedural complications.

Optimal antithrombotic strategy following valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic and mitral valve replacement.

The treatment of aortic and mitral valve disease requiring replacement has shifted to an increasing use of bioprosthetic heart valves. Due to their limited durability, there is a growing need for reintervention in the setting of failing bioprosthesis. Even though the gold standard for the treatment of failed bioprosthesis remains surgical repair or replacement, valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic and mitral valve replacement have emerged as safe and effective alternatives for patients who are at high or prohibitive risk for surgery. Both procedures are associated with a substantial risk of postprocedural thromboembolic events and valvular thrombosis that is often higher than transcatheter replacement of native valves. With guidelines lacking specific protocols and a limited number of available studies, the optimal postprocedural antithrombotic therapy remains to be clarified. Multiple factors including valvular hemodynamics, the characteristics of the failing surgical valve, and the choice of the new transcatheter heart valve (THV) must be considered. Additionally, patients are often at an advanced age with multiple comorbidities and may require oral anticoagulation (OAC) due to other indications such as atrial fibrillation. Although the recommended antithrombotic strategy for native transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is antiplatelet monotherapy with aspirin or a P2Y12 inhibitor in the absence of another anticoagulation indication, the use of oral anticoagulants including vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and direct thrombin inhibitors has been shown to be effective in reducing valvular thrombosis and are commonly used after ViV procedures. Prospective studies investigating these results specifically for ViV transcatheter aortic and mitral valve replacement are needed to identify the optimal antithrombotic therapy.

Step-by-step transesophageal echocardiographic guidance for transjugular transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement with a radial force-independent bioprosthesis.

The prohibitive risk of isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery encouraged rapid development of a transcatheter solution for tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The favorable results of these devices informed recent guidelines to recommend considering transcatheter treatment of symptomatic secondary severe TR in inoperable patients. Transcatheter TV repair systems usually reduce TR through leaflet approximation and direct annuloplasty. Orthotopic transcatheter TV replacement (TTVR) devices generally rely on radial force and tricuspid leaflet engagement for implantation and stability. The LuX-Valve is a novel radial force-independent orthotopic TTVR device that is operated through the trans-atrial approach. Its radial force-independency is achieved through an interventricular septal anchor tab (septal insertion) and two leaflet graspers (leaflet engagement). Such a unique design makes the intraprocedural imaging different from that of other currently available TTVR systems. The latest generation of this device, the LuX-Valve Plus, comes with a newly designed delivery system through the transjugular approach, which makes the intraprocedural monitoring and adjustment of the device even more complex for successful implantation. However, its unique imaging needs for intra-procedural guidance and post-operative evaluation have not been described before. Therefore, we aimed to elaborate the key steps of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to guide this novel procedure. Herein, the primary 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic work planes are proposed and the critical steps are emphasized for better communication between imagers and interventionists. The suitability of 2D and 3D echocardiography to guide this procedure is also discussed to increase the flexibility of choice during the implantation.

Long-term outcomes of transcatheter tricuspid valve repair in prohibitive risk patients: futility or benefit?

Abstract Background Transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVR) for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is an emerging treatment option in inoperable patients. However, patient selection is challenging, and mostly predetermined by comorbidities and non-specific surgical risk scores. Current guidelines (1) distinguish between high-risk (HR) and prohibitive risk (PR) patients, in order to avoid clinical and procedural futility. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand if PR patients can benefit from TTVR long-term. Methods Forty-one consecutive patients with severe TR were assessed by the heart team, considered inoperable, and underwent edge-to-edge TTVR at our institution between November 2020 and January 2022. They were divided into a PR (n=23) and an HR group (n=18), in accordance with the latest guidelines (1). Subgroup allocation took into account STS (Society of Thoracic Surgeons) risk score, and several comorbidities (Figure 1A). Mean age was 82.2±5.9 (PR) vs 81.1±3.5 years (HR), with mean STS-Score 14.3±6.7% vs 6.2±1.6% (Figure 1B). Results The primary efficacy endpoint of at least one-grade TR reduction by 30 days was recorded in 92.7% of all patients, with no device related complications. By 12 months, 6 patients died, 5 PR and 1 HR, and MACE rate was 18.1%. Secondary endpoints addressed symptoms, quality of life and multiorgan function, which improved in both groups (Figure 2). More precisely, at inclusion, all patients in the PR group were in NYHA class III and IV, while after 12 months only 27.7%. In comparison, there were no more HR patients in NYHA stage III and IV, after one year. Similarly, self-reported quality of life increased, as assessed by the "Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire" (KCCQ) score, which increased by 23±18.2 (p&amp;lt;0.001) in PR and 27.5±16.1 (p&amp;lt;0.001) points in HR patients, respectively. Walk distance in the 6-minute test also improved by 79.2±82 (p&amp;lt;0.001) vs 113.6±72.8 (p&amp;lt;0.001) meters. Renal and liver function were also impacted by TR reduction, with statistical significance in the PR group [GFR- Glomerular Filtration Rate improvement from 46.7±13.9ml/min/1,73m2 to 51.9±18.1 (p=0.045) vs 62.1±17.1 to 62.1±18.5 (p=0.990); AST- Aspartate Aminotransferase from 33.7±15.4U/L to 27.3±12.3 (p=0.001) vs 33.2±26.1 to 26.2±6.8 (p=0.188)]. Furthermore, TR reduction led to long-term reverse cardiac remodeling, as right ventricular systolic function increased [TAPSE from 14.2±3.1mm to 17.7±2.2 (p&amp;lt;0.001) vs 16.4±3.5 to 20.7±5.4 (p&amp;lt;0.001)], and right atrial size decreased [indexed volume from 93.5±39.1 ml/m2 to 66.3±42.6 (p=0.005) vs 86.3±57.8 to 63.3±59.5 (p=0.032)]. Conclusions TTVR is feasible in very sick symptomatic patients and is associated with improved quality of life, functional capacity, multiorgan function and reverse cardiac remodeling. Patient selection based on risk assessment with surgical risk scores may deprive many symptomatic inoperable patients of this specific percutaneous treatment.Figure 1Figure 2

Abstract 14694: An Uncommon Mass, in an Uncommon Location, in a Common Patient?

Background: Myeloid sarcomas (MS) are rare extramedullary tumors composed of mature or immature myeloid cells. The heart is an uncommon site for this neoplasm. Case Presentation: A 68-year-old woman with a remote history of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and allogeneic stem cell transplant presented with dyspnea. Her oxygen saturation was 70% on room air. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a nonhomogeneous intrapericardial mass measuring 6.3 cm by 10.0 cm, invading the right atrium and compressing the right ventricle (Figure 1). Due to persistent hypoxia, additional investigation with agitated saline contrast revealed a right-to-left intra-cardiac shunt. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed invasion of the right and left ventricles, extension into the superior vena cava, and encasement of the right coronary artery. Due to worsening hypoxemia, vasopressin infusion and inhaled epoprostenol were initiated to reduce intracardiac shunting. Direct cardiac mass biopsy was considered prohibitive risk, however, a pericardiocentesis allowed for cytologic analysis of pericardial fluid which revealed atypical white blood cells, and subsequent flow cytometry indicated an aberrant myeloid population with monocytic features consistent with MS. She initiated chemotherapy with decitabine and low dose cytarabine. On day 6 of chemotherapy, she started external beam radiation therapy. A repeat TTE on day 10 of therapy showed a marked reduction in tumor size and intracardiac shunting. Discussion: MS can manifest before the development of bone marrow disease, following treatment for bone marrow disease, as relapse or progression of previous myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative neoplasms. With approximately fifty cases reported in the literature, most achieved temporary remission. Our approach to management included chemotherapy with decitabine and cytarabine and subsequent external-beam radiotherapy.

Abstract 17327: Heterogenous Shared Decision-Making Approaches to Sports Eligibility Decisions for Athletes With Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Historically, almost all pathologic cardiovascular (CV) diagnoses led to complete restriction from competitive sports. In 2015, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association began to embrace a more nuanced, patient-centered approach to sports eligibility using shared decision-making (SDM). While SDM is a conceptually defensible approach to sports eligibility, operationalization is complex, and we know very little about how physicians understand and deploy it. Methods: To assess sports cardiologists’ understandings of SDM and approaches to eligibility decisions, in-depth interactive interviews were conducted with (N=20) self-identified sports cardiologists. Participants were sampled at random from the ACC Sports and Exercise Cardiology Section. Interviews were conducted using video conference or telephone, and transcripts were analyzed for qualitative description of key domains. Results: Analysis revealed heterogeneity regarding core elements of SDM. All 20 clinicians endorsed SDM, but conceptions of what SDM means varied. Some emphasized communication between physicians rather than with patients, and there was variation in describing the clinician’s role primarily as a provider of information or a more active driver of the decision. Furthermore, even though lifestyle considerations are a key component of SDM for sports eligibility, few clinicians (n=6) specifically referenced elicitation of a patient’s preferences as part of the SDM process. Clinicians also stated highly variable thresholds for prohibitive annual risk of sudden cardiac death during sports participation ranging from &lt;1% to &gt;10%, and they expressed heterogenous views of how athletes interpret risk. Some believed athletes can interpret risk in similar ways as other people; others felt they are largely blind to risk. Conclusions: These data collectively demonstrate heterogenous views of and approaches to SDM for sports eligibility decisions that likely result in very different encounters and decision outcomes. There is a need to develop a more robust understanding of how SDM is operationalized in this context and determine an evidence-based approach to SDM for sports and exercise eligibility in the context of CV disease.