-
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to reduce postoperative complications and promote earlier recovery. Although it is well established in noncardiac... (Review)
Review
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to reduce postoperative complications and promote earlier recovery. Although it is well established in noncardiac surgery fields, the ERAS approach has only recently been adopted in cardiac surgery. The aim of this review is to evaluate the status and implementation of ERAS protocols in patients undergoing heart valve surgery and to summarise associated clinical results. A literature search for the period January 2015 and January 2024 was performed through online databases. Clinical studies (randomised controlled trials and cohort studies) on patients undergoing heart valve surgical procedures and comparing ERAS and conventional approaches were included. The data extracted covered studies and populations characteristics, early outcomes and the features of each ERAS protocol. There were 14 studies that fulfilled the final search criteria and were ultimately included in the review. Overall, 5142 patients were identified in the 14 studies, with 2501 in ERAS groups and 2641 patients who were representative of control groups. Seven experiences exclusively included patients who underwent heart valve surgery. Twelve out of fourteen protocols involved multiple interventions from the preoperative to postoperative phase, while two studies reported actions limited to intraoperative and postoperative care. We found high heterogeneity among the included protocols regarding key actions targeted for improvement and measured outcomes. All the studies showed that ERAS pathways can be safely adopted in cardiac surgery and in most of the experiences were associated with shorter mechanical ventilation time, reduced postoperative opioid use and reduced ICU and hospital stays. As demonstrated in noncardiac surgery, the adoption of structured ERAS protocols has the potential to improve results in patients undergoing heart valve surgery. Further evidence based on larger populations is needed, including more homogenous pathways and reporting further outcomes in terms of patient satisfaction, recovery and quality of life after surgery.
PubMed: 38792445
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102903 -
Journal of the American Heart... May 2024Coronary pressure indices to assess coronary artery disease are currently underused in patients with aortic stenosis due to many potential physiological effects that... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Coronary pressure indices to assess coronary artery disease are currently underused in patients with aortic stenosis due to many potential physiological effects that might hinder their interpretation. Studies with varying sample sizes have provided us with conflicting results on the effect of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) on these indices. The aim of this meta-analysis was to study immediate and long-term effects of TAVR on fractional flow reserve (FFR) and nonhyperemic pressure ratios (NHPRs).
METHODS AND RESULTS
Lesion-specific coronary pressure data were extracted from 6 studies, resulting in 147 lesions for immediate change in FFR analysis and 105 for NHPR analysis. To investigate the long-term changes, 93 lesions for FFR analysis and 68 for NHPR analysis were found. Lesion data were pooled and compared with paired tests. Immediately after TAVR, FFR decreased significantly (-0.0130±0.0406 SD, : 0.0002) while NHPR remained stable (0.0003±0.0675, : 0.9675). Long-term after TAVR, FFR decreased significantly (-0.0230±0.0747, : 0.0038) while NHPR increased nonsignificantly (0.0166±0.0699, : 0.0543). When only borderline NHPR lesions were considered, this increase became significant (0.0249±0.0441, : 0.0015). Sensitivity analysis confirmed our results in borderline lesions.
CONCLUSIONS
TAVR resulted in small significant, but opposite, changes in FFR and NHPR. Using the standard cut-offs in patients with severe aortic stenosis, FFR might underestimate the physiological significance of a coronary lesion while NHPRs might overestimate its significance. The described changes only play a clinically relevant role in borderline lesions. Therefore, even in patients with aortic stenosis, an overtly positive or negative physiological assessment can be trusted.
Topics: Humans; Aortic Valve; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Coronary Artery Disease; Coronary Vessels; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial; Hyperemia; Severity of Illness Index; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38761080
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.124.034401 -
ESC Heart Failure May 2024The efficacy and safety of new-generation devices (NGDs) for severe aortic regurgitation (AR) have mostly been based on single-arm studies with limited sample sizes. Our... (Review)
Review
The efficacy and safety of new-generation devices (NGDs) for severe aortic regurgitation (AR) have mostly been based on single-arm studies with limited sample sizes. Our goal was to summarize the current evidence on NGDs and compare the safety and efficacy of 'off-label' and 'on-label' devices in NGDs. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus for articles on transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with AR. A total of 31 studies that included 1851 patients were identified through April 2023. Among these, 1067 (57.6%) patients received treatment with 'on-label' devices (JenaValve and J-Valve). For NGDs, the total device success rate at 30 days was 94.5% (on-label: 97.8%, off-label: 89.9%; P < 0.001), the all-cause mortality was 4.2% (on-label: 2.6%, off-label: 5.1%; P = 0.006), permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) was 8.8% (on-label: 6.9%, off-label: 18.4%; P < 0.001), and the rate of greater-than-mild paravalvular leak (PVL) was 1.2% (on-label: 0.9%, off-label: 3.8%; P = 0.003). On-label devices showed significantly better safety and efficacy in terms of the success rate, PPI, greater-than-mild PVL, and 30 day mortality than off-label devices.
PubMed: 38749505
DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.14832 -
Journal of the American Heart... May 2024The mortality risk attributable to moderate aortic stenosis (AS) remains incompletely characterized and has historically been underestimated. We aim to evaluate the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Moderate Aortic Valve Stenosis Is Associated With Increased Mortality Rate and Lifetime Loss: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Reconstructed Time-to-Event Data of 409 680 Patients.
BACKGROUND
The mortality risk attributable to moderate aortic stenosis (AS) remains incompletely characterized and has historically been underestimated. We aim to evaluate the association between moderate AS and all-cause death, comparing it with no/mild AS (in a general referral population and in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction).
METHODS AND RESULTS
A systematic review and pooled meta-analysis of Kaplan-Meier-derived reconstructed time-to-event data of studies published by June 2023 was conducted to evaluate survival outcomes among patients with moderate AS in comparison with individuals with no/mild AS. Ten studies were included, encompassing a total of 409 680 patients (11 527 with moderate AS and 398 153 with no/mild AS). In the overall population, the 15-year overall survival rate was 23.3% (95% CI, 19.1%-28.3%) in patients with moderate AS and 58.9% (95% CI, 58.1%-59.7%) in patients with no/mild aortic stenosis (hazard ratio [HR], 2.55 [95% CI, 2.46-2.64]; <0.001). In patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, the 10-year overall survival rate was 15.5% (95% CI, 10.0%-24.0%) in patients with moderate AS and 37.3% (95% CI, 36.2%-38.5%) in patients with no/mild AS (HR, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.69-2.0]; <0.001). In both populations (overall and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction), these differences correspond to significant lifetime loss associated with moderate AS during follow-up (4.4 years, <0.001; and 1.9 years, <0.001, respectively). A consistent pattern of elevated mortality rate associated with moderate AS in sensitivity analyses of matched studies was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Moderate AS was associated with higher risk of death and lifetime loss compared with patients with no/mild AS.
Topics: Humans; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Rate; Heart Failure; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Stroke Volume; Cause of Death; Time Factors; Female; Aged; Male
PubMed: 38700000
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.033872 -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) May 2024Recent guidelines suggest that antiplatelet therapy (APT) is the standard of care in the absence of long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) indications in patients... (Review)
Review
Efficacy and outcomes of antiplatelet therapy versus oral anticoagulants in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Recent guidelines suggest that antiplatelet therapy (APT) is the standard of care in the absence of long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) indications in patients post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The superiority of one method over the other remains controversial.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Several databases, including MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and EMBASE, were electronically searched. The primary endpoint was the all-cause mortality (ACM) rate. Secondary endpoints included cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke/TIA, haemorrhagic stroke, bleeding events, systemic embolism, and valve thrombosis in post-TAVR patients receiving APT and oral anticoagulants (OACs). Forest plots were generated using Review Manager version 5.4, with a value less than 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Subgroup analysis was performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Twelve studies were selected. No significant differences were observed in APT and OAC group for ACM [risk ratio (RR): 0.67; 95% CI:0.45-1.01; =0.05], cardiovascular death [RR:0.91; 95% CI:0.73-1.14; =0.42], MI [RR:1.69; 95% CI:0.43-6.72; =0.46], Stroke/TIA [RR:0.79; 95% CI:0.58-1.06; =0.12], ischaemic stroke [RR:0.83; 95% CI:0.50-1.37; =0.47], haemorrhagic stroke [RR:1.08; 95% CI: 0.23-5.15; =0.92], major bleeding [RR:0.79; 95% CI:0.51-1.21; =0.28], minor bleeding [RR:1.09; 95% CI: 0.80-1.47; =0.58], life-threatening bleeding [RR:0.85; 95% CI:0.55-1.30; =0.45], any bleeding [RR:0.98; 95% CI:0.83-1.15; =0.78], and systemic embolism [RR:0.87; 95% CI:0.44-1.70; =0.68]. The risk of valve thrombosis was higher in patients receiving APT than in those receiving OAC [RR:2.61; 95% CI:1.56-4.36; =0.0002].
CONCLUSIONS
Although the risk of valve thrombosis increased in patients receiving APT, the risk of other endpoints was comparable between the two groups.
PubMed: 38694361
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001908 -
JTCVS Open Apr 2024Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Despite the recognized negative impact of SCH on cardiovascular health, research...
BACKGROUND
Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Despite the recognized negative impact of SCH on cardiovascular health, research on cardiac postoperative outcomes with SCH has yielded conflicting results, and patients are not currently treated for SCH before cardiac surgery procedures.
METHODS
We performed a study-level meta-analysis on the impact of SCH on patients undergoing nonurgent cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting and valve and aortic surgery. The primary outcome was operative mortality. Secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) stay, postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use, renal complications, and long-term all-cause mortality.
RESULTS
Seven observational studies, with a total of 3445 patients, including 851 [24.7%] diagnosed with SCH and 2594 [75.3%] euthyroid patients) were identified. Compared to euthyroid patients, the patients with SCH had higher rates of operative mortality (odds ratio [OR], 2.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-6.04; = .03), prolonged hospital LOS (standardized mean difference, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.02-0.62; = .04), a higher rate of renal complications (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.74-3.69; < .0001), but no significant differences in ICU stay, POAF, or IABP use. At mean follow-up of 49.3 months, the presence of SCH was associated with a higher rate of all-cause mortality (incidence rate ratio, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.18-2.83; = .02).
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with SCH have higher operative mortality, prolonged hospital LOS, and increased renal complications after cardiac surgery. Achieving and maintaining a euthyroid state prior to and after cardiac surgery procedures might improve outcomes in these patients.
PubMed: 38690432
DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2024.02.009 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024Neural crest cells (NCCs) are multipotent and are attributed to the combination of complex multimodal gene regulatory mechanisms. Cardiac neural crest (CNC) cells,...
INTRODUCTION
Neural crest cells (NCCs) are multipotent and are attributed to the combination of complex multimodal gene regulatory mechanisms. Cardiac neural crest (CNC) cells, originating from the dorsal neural tube, are pivotal architects of the cardio-neuro-vascular domain, which orchestrates the embryogenesis of critical cardiac and vascular structures. Remarkably, while the scientific community compiled a comprehensive inventory of neural crest derivatives by the early 1980s, our understanding of the CNC's role in various cardiovascular disease processes still needs to be explored. This review delves into the differentiation of NCC, specifically the CNC cells, and explores the diverse facets of non-syndromic cardiovascular neurocristopathies.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted as per the PRISMA Statement. Three prominent databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, were searched, which yielded 1,840 studies. We excluded 1,796 studies, and the final selection of 44 studies formed the basis of this comprehensive review.
RESULTS
Neurocristopathies are a group of genetic disorders that affect the development of cells derived from the NC. Cardiovascular neurocristopathy, i.e., cardiopathy and vasculopathy, associated with the NCC could occur in the form of (1) cardiac septation disorders, mainly the aortico-pulmonary septum; (2) great vessels and vascular disorders; (3) myocardial dysfunction; and (4) a combination of all three phenotypes. This could result from abnormalities in NCC migration, differentiation, or proliferation leading to structural abnormalities and are attributed to genetic, familial, sporadic or acquired causes.
DISCUSSION
Phenotypic characteristics of cardiovascular neurocristopathies, such as bicuspid aortic valve and thoracic aortic aneurysm, share a common embryonic origin and are surprisingly prevalent in the general population, necessitating further research to identify the underlying pathogenic and genetic factors responsible for these cardiac anomalies. Such discoveries are essential for enhancing diagnostic screening and refining therapeutic interventions, ultimately improving the lives of individuals affected by these conditions.
PubMed: 38660479
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1333265 -
International Journal of Cardiology.... Jun 2024Owing to the minimally invasive nature of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), TAVR seems to be preferred in patients with cancer; however, related research on...
BACKGROUND
Owing to the minimally invasive nature of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), TAVR seems to be preferred in patients with cancer; however, related research on the clinical efficacy and safety of TAVR in patients with cancer and severe aortic stenosis is limited, and conclusions are controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with cancer who underwent TAVR.
METHOD AND RESULTS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the clinical outcomes in patients with and without cancer who underwent TAVR. We systematically reviewed and analyzed 15 studies (195,658 patients) published in PubMed and Cochrane Library databases between January 2022 and January 2023. The primary outcomes were short-term (in-hospital or 30-day) and long-term (≥12 months) mortality. The prevalence of current or previous cancer in the patients undergoing TAVR was 19.8 % (38,695 patients). Patients with cancer had a lower risk of short-term mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.69, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.61-0.77, P < 0.001) but a higher risk of long-term mortality (OR 1.54, 95 % CI 1.35-1.76, P < 0.001) than those without cancer. Patients with cancer had a lower incidence of postprocedural stroke and acute kidney injury but a higher incidence of pacemaker implantation than patients without cancer.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with cancer undergoing TAVR have a good short-term prognosis and acceptable perioperative complications compared with patients without cancer. However, the long-term outcomes are contingent on cancer survival.
PubMed: 38650615
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2024.101410 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) May 2024The objective of this review was to gain new insight into the rare condition, Austrian syndrome: the triad of endocarditis, meningitis and pneumonia caused by...
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this review was to gain new insight into the rare condition, Austrian syndrome: the triad of endocarditis, meningitis and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
METHODS
A systematic review of case reports was conducted using the PRISMA guideline. Cases were rigorously screened to meet a set of well-defined inclusion criteria. Relevant data was aggregated and reported using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS
Seventy-one cases from 69 case reports were included in the final review. The mean age was 56.5 years with a male-to-female ratio of 2.4:1. Alcoholism was reported in 41% of patients. Altered mental state (69%) and fever (65%) (mean temperature on admission = 38.9°C) were the commonest presenting symptoms. The mean duration of symptoms before presentation to the hospital was 8 days. The aortic valve was most commonly affected (56%). The mean duration of antibiotic therapy was 5.6 weeks. Seventy percent of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Fifty-six percent of patients had valvular surgery. The average length of stay in the hospital was 36.9 days. Mortality was recorded in 28% of patients.
CONCLUSION
Austrian syndrome is rare but deadly. The true incidence is unknown but is commoner in middle-aged men and in alcoholics. Affected patients are usually critically unwell, often requiring ICU admission and prolonged hospital stays. Treatment is aggressive including prolonged courses of antibiotics and often, surgery. Despite these, the case fatality rate is high, with death occurring in over a quarter of patients. Surgery appears to be associated with better prognosis.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Meningitis, Pneumococcal; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Syndrome
PubMed: 38649138
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinme.2024.100205 -
Cardiovascular Revascularization... Apr 2024In the 2021 Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) registry, 8.9 % of patients underwent TAVR via access sites other than the femoral artery. Transthoracic approaches may be...
BACKGROUND
In the 2021 Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) registry, 8.9 % of patients underwent TAVR via access sites other than the femoral artery. Transthoracic approaches may be contraindicated in some patients and may be associated with poorer outcomes. Therefore other alternative access routes are increasingly being performed. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on transcarotid transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TC-TAVR) and meta-analysis comparing outcomes of TC-TAVR and other access routes.
METHODS
We comprehensively searched for controlled randomized and non-randomized studies from 4 online databases. We presented data using risk ratios (95 % confidence intervals) and measured heterogeneity using Higgins' I.
RESULTS
Sixteen observational studies on transcarotid TAVR were included in the analysis; 4 studies compared TC-TAVR vs TF-TAVR. The mean age and STS score for patients undergoing TC-TAVR were 80 years and 7.6 respectively. For TF-TAVR patients, mean age and STS score were 81.2 years and 6.5 respectively. There was no difference between patients undergoing TC-TAVR and TF-TAVR in the following 30-day outcomes: MACE [8.4 % vs 6.7 %; OR 1.32 (95 % CI 0.71-2.46 p = 0.38) I = 0 %], mortality [5.6 % vs 4.0 %; OR 0.42 (95 % CI 0.60-3.37, P = 0.42) I = 0 %] and stroke [0.7 % vs 2.3 %; OR 0.49 (95 % CI 0.09-2.56, P = 0.40) I = 0 %]. There was no difference in 30-day major vascular complications [0.7 % vs 3 %; OR 0.55 (95 % CI 0.06-5.29, P = 0.61) I = 39 %], major bleeding [0.7 % vs 3.8 %; OR 0.39 (95 % CI 0.09-1.67, P = 0.21) I = 0 %], and moderate or severe aortic valve regurgitation [8.6 % vs 9.9 %; OR 0.89 (95 % CI 0.48-1.65, P = 0.72) I = 0 %].
CONCLUSION
There are no significant differences in mortality, stroke MACE and major or life-threatening bleeding or vascular complications when TC-TAVR is compared to TF-TAVR approaches.
PubMed: 38594159
DOI: 10.1016/j.carrev.2024.04.008