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JACC. Basic To Translational Science May 2023Tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHVs) are emerging alternatives to current valve prostheses and prospectively a lifelong replacement. Calcification, a pathological... (Review)
Review
Tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHVs) are emerging alternatives to current valve prostheses and prospectively a lifelong replacement. Calcification, a pathological complication for biological protheses, has been reported in preclinical TEHV studies. Systematic analysis of its occurrence is missing. This review aims to: 1) systematically review reported calcification of pulmonary TEHVs in large-animal studies; and 2) analyze the influence of engineering methodology (choice of scaffold material, cell preseeding) and animal model (animal species and age) on calcification. Baseline analysis included 80 studies, of which 41 studies containing 108 experimental groups were included in meta-analysis. Inclusion was low because only 55% of studies reported on calcification. Meta-analysis showed an overall average calcification event rate of 35% (95% CI: 28%-43%). Calcification was more prominent ( 0.023) in the arterial conduit region (34%; 95% CI: 26%-43%) than in the valve leaflets (21%; 95% CI: 17%-27%), and was mostly (42% in leaflets, 60% in conduits) present in a mild form. Time-analysis showed an initial surge within 1 month after implantation, decreased calcification between 1 and 3 months, and then progression over time. There were no significant differences in degree of calcification between TEHV strategy nor animal models. Much variability between individual studies was observed in degree of calcification as well as quality of analysis and reporting thereof, hampering adequate comparisons between studies. These findings underline the need for improved analysis and better reporting standards of calcification in TEHVs. It also necessitates control-based research to further enlighten the risk of calcification for tissue-engineered transplants compared to current options. This can bring the field of heart valve tissue engineering forward toward safe clinical use.
PubMed: 37325410
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.09.009 -
Tricuspid valve repair concomitant with mitral valve surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.International Journal of Surgery... Jul 2023Uncertainties persist about whether to aggressively and effectively treat tricuspid regurgitation (TR) during mitral valve (MV) surgery. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Uncertainties persist about whether to aggressively and effectively treat tricuspid regurgitation (TR) during mitral valve (MV) surgery.
REVIEW METHODS
Systematic literature searches were performed in five databases to collect all relevant studies published before May 2022 on whether the tricuspid valve was treated during MV surgery. Separate meta-analyses were performed on data from unmatched studies and randomized controlled trials (RCT)/adjusted studies.
MAIN RESULTS
A total of 44 publications were included, of which eight were RCT studies and the rest were retrospective studies. There was no difference in 30-day mortality [odds ratio (OR): 1.00, 95% CI: 0.71-1.42, OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.30-1.41)] or overall survival [hazard ratio (HR): 1.01, 95% CI: 0.85-1.19, HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.52-1.14] in unmatched studies and RCT/adjusted studies. Late mortality (OR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.21-0.64) and cardiac-related mortality (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.21-0.62) were lower in the tricuspid valve repair (TVR) group in the RCT/adjusted studies. In the unmatched studies, overall cardiac mortality (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26-0.88) was lower in the TVR group. In the late TR progression analysis, the late TR progression was lower among patients in the concomitantly intervened tricuspid group, and patients in the untreated tricuspid group were prone to TR progression in both studies (HR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.22-0.41, HR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.23-0.58).
CONCLUSIONS
TVR concomitant with MV surgery is most effective in patients with significant TR and dilated tricuspid annulus, especially those with a significantly reduced risk of distant TR progression.
Topics: Humans; Tricuspid Valve; Mitral Valve; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Treatment Outcome; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37300887
DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000000396 -
Acta Cardiologica Sep 2023Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been established as a reasonable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been established as a reasonable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, long-term outcomes including valve durability and the need for reintervention are unanswered, especially in younger patients who tend to be low surgical risk. We performed a meta-analysis comparing clinical outcomes after TAVI and SAVR over 5 years stratified to low, intermediate, and high surgical risks.
METHODS
We identified propensity score-matched observational studies and randomised controlled trials comparing TAVI and SAVR. Primary outcomes, including all-cause mortality, moderate or severe aortic regurgitation, moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation, pacemaker placement, and stroke, were extracted. Meta-analyses of outcomes after TAVI compared to SAVR were conducted for different periods of follow-up. Meta-regression was also performed to analyse the correlation of outcomes over time.
RESULTS
A total of 36 studies consisting of 7 RCTs and 29 propensity score-matched studies were selected. TAVI was associated with higher all-cause mortality at 4-5 years in patients with low or intermediate surgical risk. Meta-regression time demonstrated an increasing trend in the risk of all-cause mortality after TAVI compared with SAVR. TAVI was generally associated with a higher risk of moderate or severe aortic regurgitation, moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation, and pacemaker placement.
CONCLUSIONS
TAVI demonstrated an increasing trend of all-cause mortality compared with SAVR when evaluated over a long-term follow-up. More long-term data from recent studies using newer-generation valves and state-of-the-art techniques are needed to accurately assign risks.
Topics: Humans; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Aortic Valve; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Aortic Valve Insufficiency; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37294002
DOI: 10.1080/00015385.2023.2218025 -
Medical Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023Previous studies have demonstrated gender disparities in mortality and vascular complications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with early generation... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Previous studies have demonstrated gender disparities in mortality and vascular complications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with early generation transcatheter heart valves (THVs). It is unclear, however, whether gender-related differences persist with the newer generation THVs. We aim to assess gender disparities after TAVR with newer generation THVs. The MEDLINE and Embase databases were thoroughly searched from inception to April 2023 to identify studies that reported gender-specific outcomes after TAVR with newer generation THVs (Sapien 3, Corevalve Evolut R, and Evolut Pro). The outcomes of interest included 30-day mortality, 1-year mortality, and vascular complications. In total, 5 studies (4 databases) with a total of 47,933 patients (21,073 females and 26,860 males) were included. Ninety-six percent received TAVR via the transfemoral approach. The females had higher 30-day mortality rates (odds ratio (OR) = 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-1.79, -value () < 0.001) and vascular complications (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.23-1.65, < 0.001). However, one-year mortality was similar between the two groups (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.61-1.00, = 0.28). The female gender continues to be associated with higher 30-day mortality rates and vascular complications after TAVR with newer generation transcatheter heart valves, while there was no difference in 1-year mortality between the genders. More data is needed to explore the causes and whether we can improve TAVR outcomes in females.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Aortic Valve; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Treatment Outcome; Risk Factors; Heart Valve Prosthesis
PubMed: 37218985
DOI: 10.3390/medsci11020033 -
Heart, Lung & Circulation Aug 2023Aortic valve (AV) thrombosis is an uncommon but ominous complication in patients managed with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. In this systematic review, we...
BACKGROUND
Aortic valve (AV) thrombosis is an uncommon but ominous complication in patients managed with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. In this systematic review, we summarised the data on clinical presentations and outcomes in such patients.
METHODS
We searched articles on PubMed and Google Scholar, reporting at least one adult patient with aortic thrombosis on MCS support and where the individual patient data could be extracted. We grouped the patients by the type of MCS (temporary or durable), and the type of the AV (prosthetic, surgically modified, or native) RESULTS: We identified reports on six patients with aortic thrombus on short-term MCS, and on 41 patients on durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). On temporary MCS, AV thrombus typically causes no symptoms and is found incidentally pre- or intra-operatively. For those with durable MCS, the occurrence of aortic thrombus forming on prosthetic or surgically modified valves appears to be more related to the intervention on the valve, rather than from the presence of LVAD. The mortality in this group was 18%. In patients with native AV on durable LVAD support, 60% of patients presented with acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, or acute heart failure, and mortality in this cohort was 45%. In terms of management, heart transplantation was most successful.
CONCLUSIONS
While the outcomes of aortic thrombosis were good in patients where temporary MCS was used in the setting of aortic valve surgery, patients with native AV who develop this complication on durable LVAD have high morbidity and mortality. Cardiac transplantation should be strongly considered in eligible candidates because other therapies provide inconsistent results.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Heart Failure; Heart-Assist Devices; Heart Transplantation; Myocardial Infarction; Thrombosis
PubMed: 37202310
DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.04.295 -
Infectious Diseases (London, England) Jul 2023Whipple's disease is an uncommon chronic systemic disease caused by . The most characteristic findings of late Whipple's disease include diarrhoea, abdominal pain,... (Review)
Review
Whipple's disease is an uncommon chronic systemic disease caused by . The most characteristic findings of late Whipple's disease include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and arthralgias, however, other clinical findings can occur, including lymphadenopathy, fever, neurologic manifestations, myocarditis and endocarditis. The aim of the present study was to systematically review all cases of Whipple's disease-associated infective endocarditis (IE) in the literature. A systematic review of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library (all published studies up to 28 May 2022) for studies providing data on epidemiology, clinical characteristics as well as data on treatment and outcomes of Whipple's disease-associated IE was performed. A total of 72 studies, containing data for 127 patients, were included. A prosthetic valve was present in 8% of patients. The aortic valve was the most commonly involved intracardiac site followed by the mitral valve. Heart failure, embolic phenomena, and fever were the most common clinical presentations, however, fever occurred in less than 30% of patients. Sepsis was rarely noted. The diagnosis was most commonly performed through pathology through positive PCR or histology in cardiac valves in 88.2% of patients. Trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole were the most commonly used antimicrobials followed by cephalosporins and tetracyclines. Surgery was performed in 84.3% of patients. Mortality was 9.4%. A multivariate logistic regression analysis model identified presentation with sepsis or development of a paravalvular abscess to be independently associated with increased mortality, while treatment with the combination of trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole was independently associated with reduced mortality.
Topics: Humans; Whipple Disease; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Trimethoprim; Sulfamethoxazole; Sepsis
PubMed: 37198913
DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2214610 -
Current Problems in Cardiology Sep 2023The diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) can pose a significant challenge, particularly in cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) or cardiac device-related... (Review)
Review
The diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) can pose a significant challenge, particularly in cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) or cardiac device-related endocarditis (CDIE) (1). While echocardiography remains a crucial diagnostic tool for identifying IE, including PVE and CDIE, there are certain circumstances where transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) may not be conclusive or practically feasible (2). Recently, intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has emerged as a promising alternative for diagnosing IE and evaluating intracardiac infections, especially in cases where transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has not been revealing, and TEE has been contraindicated. Furthermore, ICE has been found to be useful in guiding transvenous lead extractions in infected implantable cardiac devices (3). This systematic review aims to comprehensively explore the various applications of ICE in the diagnosis of IE and assess its efficacy in comparison to traditional diagnostic methods.
Topics: Humans; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Endocarditis; Echocardiography; Echocardiography, Transesophageal
PubMed: 37172870
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.101791 -
Catheterization and Cardiovascular... Jul 2023Papillary muscle rupture (PMR) is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) associated with high mortality and morbidity. Surgery is the gold-standard... (Review)
Review
Papillary muscle rupture (PMR) is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) associated with high mortality and morbidity. Surgery is the gold-standard treatment for these patients, but it is burdened by a high perioperative risk due to hemodynamic instability. Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) was reported to be safe and effective in unstable patients with significant mitral regurgitation. However, data in patients with post-AMI PMR are limited to a few case reports. In this review, we summarized all data available regarding percutaneous treatment of post-AMI PMR. These results show that M-TEER is safe and effective in this setting with low in-hospital mortality and complications and high rate of significant mitral regurgitation reduction.
Topics: Humans; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Mitral Valve; Papillary Muscles; Heart Rupture, Post-Infarction; Treatment Outcome; Myocardial Infarction; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Heart Failure
PubMed: 37161909
DOI: 10.1002/ccd.30682 -
International Journal of Surgery... Aug 2023Whether there are differences among the new-generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) devices for patients with aortic stenosis remains unclear. The aim... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Comparisons of different new-generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation devices for patients with severe aortic stenosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Whether there are differences among the new-generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) devices for patients with aortic stenosis remains unclear. The aim of the study was to compare the efficiency and safety of different new-generation TAVI devices for patients with aortic stenosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from their inception to 1 February 2022. Randomized clinical trials and observational studies that compared two or more different TAVI devices were enroled. Pairwise meta-analysis and frequentist network meta-analysis were conducted to pool the outcome estimates of interest.
RESULTS
A total of 79 studies were finally included. According to the surface under the cumulative ranking, the top two ranked valves for lower rates of events were as follows: direct flow medical (DFM) (4.6%) and Lotus (48.8%) for lower rate of device success; Sapien 3 (16.8%) and DFM (19.7%) for lower mortality; DFM (8.6%) and Sapien 3 (25.5%) for lower rates of stroke; Evolut (27.6%) and DFM (35.8%) for lower rates of major and life-threatening bleeding; Portico (22.6%) and Sapien 3 (41.9%) for lower rates of acute kidney injury; Acurate (8.6%) and DFM (13.2%) for lower rates of permanent pacemaker implantation; Lotus (0.3%) and Sapien 3 (22.7%) for lower rates of paravalvular leak; Evolut (1.4%) and Portico (29.1%) for lower rates of mean aortic valve gradients.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study suggested that the device success rates were comparable among these new-generation valves except for DFM. After excluding DFM, Sapien 3 might be the best effective for decreased mortality and stroke; Lotus might be the best effective for decreased paravalvular leak; Evolut might be the best effective for decreased major and life-threatening bleeding and mean aortic valve gradients; Acurate and Portico might be the best effective for decreased permanent pacemaker implantation and acute kidney injury, respectively.
Topics: Humans; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Aortic Valve; Network Meta-Analysis; Postoperative Complications; Treatment Outcome; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Prosthesis Design; Severity of Illness Index; Aortic Valve Stenosis; Stroke; Acute Kidney Injury
PubMed: 37161443
DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000000456 -
Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging Apr 2023Minimizing contrast dose and radiation exposure while maintaining image quality during computed tomography angiography (CTA) for transcatheter aortic valve replacement...
BACKGROUND
Minimizing contrast dose and radiation exposure while maintaining image quality during computed tomography angiography (CTA) for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is desirable, but not well established. This systematic review compares image quality for low contrast and low kV CTA versus conventional CTA in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR planning.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature review to identify clinical studies comparing imaging strategies for patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR planning. The primary outcomes of image quality as assessed by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were reported as random effects mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI).
RESULTS
We included 6 studies reporting on 353 patients. There was no difference in cardiac SNR (mean difference, -1.42; 95% CI, -5.71 to 2.88; p = 0.52), cardiac CNR (mean difference, -3.83; 95% CI, -9.98 to 2.32; p = 0.22), aortic SNR (mean difference, -0.23; 95% CI, -7.83 to 7.37; p = 0.95), aortic CNR (mean difference, -3.95; 95% CI, -12.03 to 4.13; p = 0.34), and ileofemoral SNR (mean difference, -6.09; 95% CI, -13.80 to 1.62; p = 0.12) between the low dose and conventional protocols. There was a difference in ileofemoral CNR between the low dose and conventional protocols with a mean difference of -9.26 (95% CI, -15.06 to -3.46; p = 0.002). Overall, subjective image quality was similar between the 2 protocols.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review suggests that low contrast and low kV CTA for TAVR planning provides similar image quality to conventional CTA.
PubMed: 37096677
DOI: 10.4250/jcvi.2022.0108