Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis Using Lotus Valve System

Bicuspid aortic stenosis (BAS) has been excluded in clinical trials on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) due to the presumed uneven expansion of the aortic prosthesis, leading to significant paravalvular regurgitation (PVR). There is no transcatheter heart valve (THV) commercially approved for treating BAS. The Lotus Valve System mitigates PVR by possessing an adaptive seal and being fully re‐positionable. The latter is also important in preventing embolization, as the location of prosthesis fixation in BAS could be variable due to the presence of less expandable raphe. We report our early experience with the Lotus Valve System in three consecutive TAVR for BAS. They all provide good clinical and hemodynamic results without significant PVR. We conclude that the use of Lotus Valve System for treating BAS is feasible and safe, and may have advantages over the previous generation TAVR systems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Atrioventricular Conduction After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

AV Conduction After TAVI and SAVR . Introduction: Atrioventricular conduction abnormalities (AVCA) may complicate transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate AVCA after TAVI and SAVR. Methods and Results: Among 50 patients undergoing TAVI and 25 patients undergoing SAVR a continuous 7‐day Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded after the procedure. ECGs during TAVI and 12‐lead ECGs before and 1 and 7 days after TAVI and SAVR were analyzed. At baseline, TAVI patients were older (mean 82.1 vs 75.4, P < 0.001), had a longer PR interval (median 200 milliseconds vs 175 milliseconds, P = 0.004) and broader QRS width (median 100 milliseconds vs 80 milliseconds, P = 0.007) than SAVR patients. New AVCA were observed among 29 TAVI patients (58%), mostly new left bundle branch block (76%). Predilatation induced new AVCA in 14 TAVI patients (28%). New AVCA resolved within 24 hours in 15 TAVI patients (30%), and persisted in 14 TAVI (28%) and 3 SAVR patients (12%, P = 0.12). Among patients with persistent QRS width <120 milliseconds during the first 24 hours after TAVI, QRS width remained stable during the remainder of the observation period. During Holter monitoring complete AV block was observed in 4 TAVI patients (8%) and 3 SAVR patients (12%; P = 0.68). Conclusions: Almost half of AVCA during TAVI are induced by predilatation, but half of them resolve within 24 hours. Persistent AVCA are more frequently observed after TAVI than SAVR. If QRS width is below 120 milliseconds the first day after TAVI, the risk of late AVCA seems low. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23 pp. 1115‐1122, October 2012)     

Late Giant Aortic Root Aneurysm Following Aortic Valve Replacement

A 74-year-old female with previous permanent pacemaker insertion for complete heart block and no history of connective tissue disease presented to our regional cardiothoracic center with progressive exertional shortness of breath. Nine years later, when the patient was 83 years old, a computed tomography scan of the thoracic aorta revealed an isolated aneurysm of the aortic root measuring 7.6 × 5.1 cm at the sinus of Valsalva.     

经导管主动脉瓣置入术临床应用

经导管主动脉瓣膜置入术是近年来出现一种治疗主动脉瓣狭窄的新兴技术,可以通过微创的方法治疗心脏瓣膜病。主动脉瓣狭窄传统治疗需要外科手术换瓣治疗,尤其合并左心功能不全的老年患者风险很大,且有些患者存在手术禁忌证。经导管置换主动脉瓣会给患者带来巨大的利益,其主要优点是体现在微创、避免体外循环及输血、缩短住院时间等方面。     

Role of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Versus Conventional Aortic Valve Replacement in the Treatment of Aortic Valve Disease

Conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery has been in clinical use since 1960. Results, particularly in high-risk populations such as the very elderly and frail, continue to improve in response to the challenges posed by this growing segment of the patient population. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a fairly recent development, performed for the first time in 2002. The last decade has seen an exponential growth in the application of this technology in higher-risk populations. Results of recent randomized prospective trials demonstrate both the future promise and current problems of the TAVI approach. Many patients deemed inoperable for AVR have been treated successfully by TAVI. However, elevated procedural and late mortality rates, excessive early and late stroke, and a significant incidence of periprosthetic aortic valve insufficiency and patient-prosthesis mismatch all suggest caution in extending this technology to patients able to undergo conventional AVR with a low risk of early or late complications.