非风湿性二尖瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的 评价二尖瓣瓣膜成形术(MVP)对非风湿性二尖瓣关闭不全的疗效.方法 2001年1月至2005年12月我院非风湿二尖瓣关闭不全心脏患者23例接受手术治疗,男性13例,女性10例,年龄16～71(49.4±5.7)岁.非风湿性二尖瓣关闭不全病因中,其中先天性5例,退行性改变12例,缺血性改变4例,感染性病变2例.术前超声心动图示二尖瓣均为大量返流,术前患者心功能Ⅲ级19例,Ⅳ级4例.瓣环成形13例,腱索短缩3例,裂修补1例,腱索转移1例,后瓣环成形 裂修补4例,部分瓣膜切除 裂修补1例.同期冠状动脉搭桥术5例,主动脉瓣膜置换术3例.结果 早期死亡率4.3%(1例),术后超声心动图示无或少量二尖瓣反流13例,少量到中量反流8例,大量反流1例.随访6～60个月(平均27个月),出院后2例患者死亡,再次手术1例.存活20例,心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级.结论 应用二尖瓣膜成形术治疗非风湿性二尖瓣关闭不全是可行的,可以取得良好的效果,外科技术值得进一步推广.     

Use of a Melody Pulmonary Valve in Transcatheter Valve-in-Valve Replacement for Tricuspid Valve Bioprosthesis Degeneration

Bioprosthetic heart valves can degenerate and fail over time. Repeat surgery as a means of replacement increases morbidity and mortality rates, and some patients are not candidates for reoperation. A newer treatment, percutaneous transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation, might delay or substitute for invasive procedures. We present the case of a 51-year-old woman, a poor candidate for surgery who had prosthetic tricuspid valve degeneration and stenosis. We successfully performed valve-in-valve placement of a Melody^® valve, using a procedure originally intended to treat pulmonary valve conduit obstruction or regurgitation. To our knowledge, this is among the first case reports to describe the use of the Melody pulmonary valve in transcatheter valve-in-valve replacement for prosthetic tricuspid stenosis that was otherwise not correctable. Additional data and longer follow-up periods are necessary to gain an understanding of ideal indications and selection of patients for the percutaneous transcatheter treatment of tricuspid valve stenosis.     

Development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI): A heart-warming adventure

The development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) spearheaded by our group has been a great adventure since we validated the concept in the early 1990s in aortic stenosis (AS) postmortem studies. We first tested prototypes in animal models before performing the daring first-in-man implantation in 2002. Prospective compassionate use series followed, accompanied by ongoing technological innovation of devices and of delivery systems. High surgical risk patients were enrolled in feasibility studies, which led to the Conformité Européenne (CE) mark being granted in 2007. Data from post-marketing registries involving thousands of patients have shown remarkable results and increasingly smaller complication rates, as a result of growing experience and improved technology. Survival and quality of life results from the landmark randomized PARTNER Edwards SAPIEN study have confirmed the important place of TAVI in non-operable and high surgical risk patients. To date, more than 50,000 patients have benefited from TAVI worldwide. TAVI is now recommended in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) guidelines, and by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States for the treatment of AS patients who are not suitable or at high risk for surgery, as assessed by a multidisciplinary heart team, and in whom a less invasive approach is favored. Multidisciplinary heart teams are critical in patient selection and in successful procedures. In future, TAVI may be extended to use in lower risk patients, although further clinical investigation is necessary. Just over 10 years after the first-in-man case, TAVI has quickly become an established AS treatment option.     

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a bridge-to-decision in high risk patients with aortic stenosis: a new paradigm for the heart team decision making

Background Whilst the majority of the patients with severe aortic stenosis can be directly addressed to surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), in some instances additional information may be needed to complete the diagnostic workout. We evaluated the role of balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) as a bridge-to-decision (BTD) in selected high-risk patients. Methods Between 2007 and 2012, the heart team in our Institution required BTD BAV in 202 patients. Very low left ventricular ejection fraction, mitral regurgitation grade ≥ 3, frailty, hemodynamic instability, serious comorbidity, or a combination of these factors were the main drivers for this strategy. We evaluated how BAV influenced the final treatment strategy in the whole patient group and in each specific subgroup. Results Mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) was 23.5% ± 15.3%, age 81 ± 7 years. In-hospital mortality was 4.5%, cerebrovascular accident 1% and overall vascular complications 4% (0.5% major; 3.5% minor). Of the 193 patients with BTD BAV who survived and received a second heart team evaluation, 72.6% were finally deemed eligible for definitive treatment (25.4% for AVR; 47.2% for TAVI): 96.7% of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction recovery; 70.5% of patients with mitral regurgitation reduction; 75.7% of patients who underwent BAV in clinical hemodynamic instability; 69.2% of frail patients and 68% of patients who presented serious comorbidities. Conclusions Balloon aortic valvuloplasty can be considered as bridge-to- decision in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis who cannot be immediate candidates for definitive transcatheter or surgical treatment.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Current status and future perspectives

Although surgical aortic valve replacement is the standard therapy for severe aortic stenosis(AS),about one third of patients are considered inoperable due to unacceptable surgical risk.Under medical treatment alone these patients have a very poor prognosis with a mortality rate of 50%at 2 years.Transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI)has been used in these patients,and has shown robust results in the only randomized clinical trial of severe AS treatment performed so far.In this review,we will focus on the two commercially available systems:Edwards SAPIEN valve and CoreValve Revalving system.Both systems have demonstrated success rates of over 90%with 30-d mortality rates below 10%in the most recent transfemoral TAVI studies.Moreover,long-term studies have shown that the valves have good haemodynamic performance.Some studies are currently exploring the non-inferiority of TAVI procedures vs conventional surgery in high-risk patients,and long-term clinical results of the percutaneous valves.In this article we review the current status of TAVI including selection of patients,a comparison of available prostheses,results and complications of the procedure,clinical outcomes,and future perspectives.     

First report on a human percutaneous transluminal implantation of a self-expanding valve prosthesis for interventional treatment of aortic valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous aortic valve replacement is a new technology for the treatment of patients with significant aortic valve stenosis. We present the first report on a human implantation of a self-expanding aortic valve prosthesis, which is composed of three bovine pericardial leaflets inserted within a self-expanding nitinol stent. The 73-year-old woman presented with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis (mean transvalvular gradient of 45 mmHg; valve area of 0.7 cm2). Surgical valve replacement had been declined for the patient because of comorbidities, including previous bypass surgery. METHOD AND RESULTS: A retrograde approach via the common iliac artery was used for valve deployment. The contralateral femoral vessels were used for a temporary extracorporal circulation, unloading the left ventricle during the actual stent expansion. Clinical, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic outcomes were assessed serially during the procedure. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up at day 1, 2, and 14 post procedure was performed to evaluate the short-term outcome. The prosthesis was successfully deployed within the native aortic valve, with accurate and stable positioning and with no impairment of the coronary artery or vein graft blood flow. 2D and doppler echo immediately after device deployment showed a significant reduction in transaortic mean pressure gradient (from 45 to 8 mmHg) without evidence of aortic or mitral valve insufficiency. The clinical status has then significantly improved. These results remained unchanged up to the day 14 follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case report demonstrates a successful percutaneous implantation of a self-expanding aortic valve prosthesis with remarkable functional and clinical improvements in the acute and short-term outcome.     

Mitral Valve Surgery in 6 Patients after Failed MitraClip Therapy

The MitraClip percutaneous mitral valve repair system, developed as an option for percutaneous mitral repair, was clinically introduced in 2007. From 2010 through 2012, 6 of our patients underwent mitral valve surgery after MitraClip failure. Their mean age was 75 ± 7.7 years (range, 62–87 yr). Three had undergone cardiac surgery previously. In 5 of the 6 patients, mitral regurgitation recurred after initially successful MitraClip deployment and was the indication for surgery. The mean interval between MitraClip implantation and surgery was 106 ± 86 days (range, 0–238 d).Mitral valve repair was feasible in 3 patients; the others underwent valve replacement. All the patients underwent additional cardiac procedures, because the MitraClip worsened existing conditions. Echocardiograms revealed sufficient valvular repairs. Two patients died during hospitalization, one of cerebral infarction and the other of bowel ischemia.Mitral valve repair after failed MitraClip therapy can be complex and a surgical challenge. Careful consideration should be given to appropriate patient selection for MitraClip therapy, because the MitraClip can cause existing pathologic valvular conditions to deteriorate substantially. The interval between MitraClip failure and corrective surgery should be as short as possible. The primary indication is an issue of ongoing discussion.     

New insights in minimally invasive valve replacement: description of a cooperative approach for the off-pump replacement of mitral valves.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether off-pump mini-invasive mitral valve replacement is possible after prior bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement in animals. METHODS AND RESULTS: To validate this concept for off-pump redo mitral valve insertion, we first replaced surgically mitral valves of six sheep under extracorporeal circulation using a Mosa?c valve. Prior to its insertion, we added a radio-opaque ring on its base to enhance its visualization under fluoroscopy. A bovine jugular valve mounted into a stent was then inserted off-pump through an opening of the atrial wall. Mitral valves were replaced successfully in all animals. Following the surgical valve insertion, mean left atrium and left ventricular end-diastolic pressures were 38 (22-42) and 18.8 mmHg (13-22), respectively. Angiography showed perfectly functioning valves, no subaortic valve obstruction, and a mild paravalvular leak in one animal. In one animal, we were unable to control the bleeding from the atrial opening. In this case, trans-atrial valvulation was not attempted. The off-pump valvular implantation was successful in the other five sheep. Haemodynamic data did not change after the insertion of valved stents. Implanted valves were all competent. The animal with the better haemodynamics was kept alive and is still alive 3 months after implantation. CONCLUSION: Surgically implanted bioprosthetic valves provide excellent support for off-pump insertion of a valved stent. Further experiments are necessary, in particular with appropriate valve size, before considering this approach for percutaneous mitral valvular replacement in patients with a dysfunctional bioprosthesis.