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Journal of the American College of... May 2023Mechanical prosthetic heart valves, though more durable than bioprostheses, are more thrombogenic and require lifelong anticoagulation. Mechanical valve dysfunction can... (Review)
Review
Mechanical prosthetic heart valves, though more durable than bioprostheses, are more thrombogenic and require lifelong anticoagulation. Mechanical valve dysfunction can be caused by 4 main phenomena: 1) thrombosis; 2) fibrotic pannus ingrowth; 3) degeneration; and 4) endocarditis. Mechanical valve thrombosis (MVT) is a known complication with clinical presentation ranging from incidental imaging finding to cardiogenic shock. Thus, a high index of suspicion and expedited evaluation are essential. Multimodality imaging, including echocardiography, cine-fluoroscopy, and computed tomography, is commonly used to diagnose MVT and follow treatment response. Although surgery is oftentimes required for obstructive MVT, other guideline-recommended therapies include parenteral anticoagulation and thrombolysis. Transcatheter manipulation of stuck mechanical valve leaflet is another treatment option for those with contraindications to thrombolytic therapy or prohibitive surgical risk or as a bridge to surgery. The optimal strategy depends on degree of valve obstruction and the patient's comorbidities and hemodynamic status on presentation.
Topics: Humans; Thrombosis; Bioprosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Anticoagulants; Heart Valves
PubMed: 37225366
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.03.412 -
Journal of the American College of... Jan 2023Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare but serious complication following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Despite substantial improvements in the TAVR... (Review)
Review
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare but serious complication following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Despite substantial improvements in the TAVR procedure (less invasive) and its expansion to younger and healthier patients, the incidence of IE after TAVR remains stable, with incidence rates similar to those reported after surgical aortic valve replacement. Although IE after TAVR is recognized as a subtype of prosthetic valve endocarditis, this condition represents a particularly challenging scenario given its unique clinical and microbiological profile, the high incidence of IE-related complications, the uncertain role of cardiac surgery, and the dismal prognosis in most patients with TAVR-IE. The number of TAVR procedures is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, increasing the number of patients at risk of developing this life-threatening complication. Therefore, a detailed understanding of this disease and its complications will be essential to improve clinical outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Endocarditis; Aortic Valve; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36697140
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.11.028 -
Journal of the American College of... Feb 2021
2020 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Topics: Female; Heart Valve Diseases; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular
PubMed: 33342586
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.018 -
Current Cardiology Reports Aug 2021Additional imaging modalities, such as FDG-PET/CT, have been included into the workup for patients with suspected infective endocarditis, according to major... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Additional imaging modalities, such as FDG-PET/CT, have been included into the workup for patients with suspected infective endocarditis, according to major international guidelines published in 2015. The purpose of this review is to give an overview of FDG-PET/CT indications and standardized approaches in the setting of suspected infective endocarditis.
RECENT FINDINGS
There are two main indications for performing FDG-PET/CT in patients with suspected infective endocarditis: (i) detecting intracardiac infections and (ii) detection of (clinically silent) disseminated infectious disease. The diagnostic performance of FDG-PET/CT for intracardiac lesions depends on the presence of native valves, prosthetic valves, or implanted cardiac devices, with a sensitivity that is poor for native valve endocarditis and cardiac device-related lead infections, but much better for prosthetic valve endocarditis and cardiac device-related pocket infections. Specificity is high for all these indications. The detection of disseminated disease may also help establish the diagnosis and/or impact patient management. Based on current evidence, FDG-PET/CT should be considered for detection of disseminated disease in suspected endocarditis. Absence of intracardiac lesions on FDG-PET/CT cannot rule out native valve endocarditis, but positive findings strongly support the diagnosis. For prosthetic valve endocarditis, standard use of FDG-PET/CT is recommended because of its high sensitivity and specificity. For implanted cardiac devices, FDG-PET/CT is also recommended, but should be evaluated with careful attention to clinical context, because its sensitivity is high for pocket infections, but low for lead infections. In patients with prosthetic valves with or without additional aortic prosthesis, combination with CTA should be considered. Optimal timing of FDG-PET/CT is important, both during clinical workup and technically (i.e., post tracer injection). In addition, procedural standardization is key and encompasses patient preparation, scan acquisition, reconstruction, subsequent analysis, and clinical interpretation. The recommendations discussed here will hopefully contribute to improved standardization and enhanced performance of FDG-PET/CT in the clinical management of patients with suspected infective endocarditis.
Topics: Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Prosthesis-Related Infections; Radiopharmaceuticals; Reference Standards
PubMed: 34363148
DOI: 10.1007/s11886-021-01542-y -
Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal 2022Despite improvements and advancements in surgical technique, paravalvular leaks (PVL) continue to present a challenge when caring for patients with prosthetic valve...
Despite improvements and advancements in surgical technique, paravalvular leaks (PVL) continue to present a challenge when caring for patients with prosthetic valve disease. Paravalvular leaks result from dehiscence of the surgical ring from the mitral annulus. Some theories suggest that uneven distribution of collagen fibers in the mitral annulus leaves the posterior mitral annulus without a well-formed fibrous structure, which may predispose it to recurrent mechanical injury that leads to PVL. The reported incidence of PVL is 2.2%. Risk factors associated with PVL include the presence of mitral annular calcification, infective endocarditis, active steroid use, and continuous surgical suturing, which poses a greater risk than an interrupted surgical approach. Risk of PVL varies by prosthesis type, with mechanical prostheses carrying a higher risk of PVL than bioprosthetic valves. Below are images of a 70-year-old male with severe mitral stenosis and pulmonary hypertension who had previously undergone mitral valve commissurotomy and subsequent mitral valve replacement with a bioprosthetic mitral valve. He presented to the hospital with pulmonary edema. Initial transthoracic echocardiogram showed depressed biventricular function with a dehiscence of the bioprosthetic mitral valve and a large eccentric posterior PVL, severe tricuspid regurgitation, and severe pulmonary hypertension. Transesophageal images in illustrate a significant posterior PVL with dehiscence of the prosthetic valve from the mitral annulus. The patient underwent closure of the paravalvular leak with two 18-mm Amplatzer ventricular septal defect occluders (Abbott) with excellent results and trace residual mitral regurgitation post closure ( ).
Topics: Aged; Cardiac Catheterization; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Male; Mitral Valve; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Prosthesis Failure; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35432730
DOI: 10.14797/mdcvj.1096 -
Surgical Technology International Nov 2020Heart valve replacement is the most common cardiac surgical operation performed worldwide for infective endocarditis (IE). Long-term durability and avoidance of...
Heart valve replacement is the most common cardiac surgical operation performed worldwide for infective endocarditis (IE). Long-term durability and avoidance of infection relapse are the goals of the procedure. However, no detailed guidelines on prosthesis selection and surgical strategies are available, which should be guided by a comprehensive evaluation of the extent of the infection and its microbiological characteristics, the clinical profile of the patient and the risk of infection recurrence. Conventional mechanical or stented xenografts are the preferred choice for localized heart infection. In cases of complex IE with involvement of the root or the aorto-mitral continuity, the use of homograft is suggested according to the surgeon's and center's experience. The use of homograft needs to be balanced against the risk of structural degeneration. Prosthetic bioroot and prosthetic valved conduit with a mechanical or bioprosthetic valve are also considered acceptable alternatives in patients with aortic valve endocarditis. The further development of preservation techniques to enable the longer durability of allogeneic substitutes is required. We discuss current evidence for the use of valve substitutes in heart valve endocarditis and propose an evidence-based algorithm for the choice of treatment.
Topics: Aortic Valve; Endocarditis; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Transplantation, Homologous
PubMed: 32520388
DOI: No ID Found -
The Journal of Thoracic and... Aug 2021
Review
2020 ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with valvular heart disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Topics: Consensus; Evidence-Based Medicine; Heart Valve Diseases; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Heart Valves; Hemodynamics; Humans; Prosthesis Design; Recovery of Function; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33972115
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2021.04.002 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... May 2021International guidelines recommend rifampin-based combinations for staphylococcal prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). However, no robust clinical data support this...
BACKGROUND
International guidelines recommend rifampin-based combinations for staphylococcal prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). However, no robust clinical data support this recommendation, and rifampin tolerability is an issue. We aimed to evaluate the impact of rifampin for the treatment of staphylococcal PVE.
METHODS
An observational retrospective cohort study of all adults with staphylococcal PVE (modified Duke criteria) was conducted in 3 referral centers for endocarditis, during years 2000-2018. Primary outcome measurement was 1-year mortality.
RESULTS
We enrolled 180 patients with PVE due to Staphylococcus aureus (n = 114, 63.3%), or coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 66, 36.7%), on bioprosthesis (n = 111, 61.7%), mechanical valve (n = 67, 37.2%), or both (n = 2). There were 132 males (73.3%), and mean age was 70.4 ± 12.4 years. Valvular surgery was performed in 51/180 (28.3%) cases. Despite all isolates were susceptible to rifampin, only 101 (56.1%) were treated with rifampin, for a median duration of 33.0 days, whereas 79 (43.9%) received no rifampin. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. One-year mortality was, respectively, 37.6% (38/101), and 31.6% (25/79), in patients treated with, or without, rifampin (P = .62). Relapse rates were 5.9% (6/101), and 8.9% (7/79), P = .65. Patients treated with rifampin had longer hospital length-of-stay: 42.3 ± 18.6 vs 31.3 ± 14.0 days (P < .0001). On multivariate analysis, only cerebral emboli (odds ratio [OR] 2.95, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-6.70, P = .009), definite endocarditis (OR 7.15, 95% CI, 1.47-34.77, P = .018), and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (OR 6.04, 95% CI, 1.34-27.26, P = .019), were associated with 1-year mortality.
CONCLUSIONS
A large proportion (43.9%) of staphylococcal PVE received no rifampin. One-year survival and relapse rates were similar in patients treated with or without rifampin.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Humans; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Prosthesis-Related Infections; Retrospective Studies; Rifampin; Staphylococcal Infections
PubMed: 32706879
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1040 -
Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases 2022Percutaneous paravalvular leak closure represents a small but important niche in structural interventions in the current era of interventional cardiology. It is... (Review)
Review
Percutaneous paravalvular leak closure represents a small but important niche in structural interventions in the current era of interventional cardiology. It is estimated that paravalvular regurgitation affects 2-17% of all implanted prosthetic heart valves (which equates to 500 to 10,200 cases annually). Patients may present with clinical signs and evidence of heart failure, hemolysis or both. Due to the increased morbidity and mortality, reoperation is often best avoided, especially if the underlying perivalvular tissue is friable or heavily calcified. Perimitral defects are usually approached in an antegrade approach via a transeptal puncture; periaortic defects usually in a retrograde approach. Depending on the number, size and shape of the defect(s) - as determined by 2D and 3D echocardiography as well as 4D computed tomography - one or multiple closure devices are deployed using various wiring and anchor techniques. This brief review provides an updated summary of the currently applied paravalvular leak closure techniques.
Topics: Cardiac Catheterization; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Prosthesis Failure; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35718114
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2022.06.006 -
Deutsches Arzteblatt International Oct 2023In Germany, a total of 38 547 heart valve procedures were performed in 2022. With a growing number of patients undergoing the surgical and interventional implantation of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
In Germany, a total of 38 547 heart valve procedures were performed in 2022. With a growing number of patients undergoing the surgical and interventional implantation of heart valves, the incidence of prosthetic endocarditis is also rising.
METHODS
We summarize the current state of the prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of prosthetic endocarditis in a selective review of the literature.
RESULTS
Prosthetic endocarditis accounts for 10-30% of all cases of endocarditis. As its echocardiographic and microbiologic findings are often less specific than those of native endocarditis, its diagnosis now increasingly relies on alternative imaging modalities such as F-18-FDG PET-CT. Anti-infective and surgical treatment are made more difficult by biofilm formation on the prosthetic valve and the frequent formation of perivalvular abscesses.
CONCLUSION
Increased awareness of this clinical entity in the outpatient setting will promote the earlier initiation of appropriate diagnostic studies. Proper diagnostic evaluation is an essential prerequisite for the early detection and timely treatment of prosthetic endocarditis, with the goal of preventing progressive destruction and thus improving the outcome. Preventive and educative measures should be intensified, and certified, multidisciplinary endocarditis teams should be established. Antibiotic prophylaxis is now given much more restrictively than in earlier years; the risk of infection must be weighed against the potential development of both individual and collective resistance to antibiotic drugs.
Topics: Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Endocarditis; Heart, Artificial
PubMed: 37427994
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2023.0104