Full Sternotomy or Minimally Invasive Access in Patients with Heart Failure and Aortic Valve Disease

Abstract Background Diseases of the aortic valve are a common reason for heart surgery. Aortic stenosis (AS) is associated with pressure and aortic regurgitation (AR) with a volume overload of the left ventricle (LV). Over time both pathologies lead to systolic and diastolic heart failure, while progressive downregulation of β-adrenoceptors occurs. While LV re-remodeling occurs in the majority of patients after aortic valve surgery, LV dysfunction persists in one fourth of such patients and leads to a terminal heart failure. We aimed to investigate whether differential remodeling in the protein kinase A (PKA) dependent inotropic response in myocytes and myocardial tissue obtained from patients undergoing aortic valve surgery is associated with the LV re-remodeling after surgery. Methods Preoperatively, pro BNP levels were measured and left ventricular strain analysis via echocardiography was performed. Interventricular septal biopsy was obtained intraoperatively in 10 patients who underwent aortic valve surgery. In-vitro contractility was analyzed in myocardial tissue paced with 4 Hz at 37 °C. Freshly isolated cells were transduced with an adenovirus expressing a cytosolic Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) based cAMP biosensor (Epac1-camps). After 48 hours of culture, Föster-resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used for the first time to measure cAMP in 60 isolated human ventricular myocytes. Isoprenaline (10 nM – 10 μM) was used for β-adrenoceptor activation and forskolin (10 μmol) to activate adenylyl cyclase directly. Results We found a significantly downregulated β-adrenergic sensitivity in cardiomyocytes of patients with aortic valve disease, although contractile response to forskolin was maintained. Furthermore, we found a clear association between reduced sensitivity to isoprenaline (i.e., high EC50 values) and low maximum effect size to isoprenaline in myocardial tissue of patients with aortic valve disease, pointing out relevant β-adrenoceptor dysfunction. There were no significant differences in basal myocardial force between tissue samples of patients with AR and AS. Conclusion Collectively, our data show a profound remodelling in the cAMP/PKA pathway in patients with aortic valve disease. These disturbances may have an impact on the postoperative ventricular function and possibly on the long-term LV re-remodelling after aortic valve surgery.

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Prognostic implications of valvular heart disease in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.0421 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

A Samaras ◽

E Vrana ◽

A Kartas ◽

G Rampidis ◽

I Doundoulakis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Aortic Valve ◽

Valvular Heart Disease ◽

Aortic Valve Disease ◽

Valve Disease ◽

Heart Failure Hospitalization ◽

Prognostic Effect

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) and valvular heart disease (VHD) are frequently encountered in clinical practice, and often coexist, especially in the elderly population. Both conditions are associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Recent guidelines suggest careful evaluation of patients with AF and VHD due to the puzzling nature of their coexistence. Purpose To evaluate the prognostic effect of significant valvular heart disease (sVHD) among patients with non-valvular AF. Methods This is a post-hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF trial (NCT02941978). Consecutive inpatients with non-valvular AF who underwent echocardiography were included. sVHD was defined as the presence of at least moderate aortic stenosis (AS) or aortic/mitral/tricuspid regurgitation (AR/MR/TR). Cox regression analyses with covariate adjustments were used for outcome prediction. Results In total, 983 patients with non-valvular AF (median age 76 years) were analyzed over a median follow-up period of 32 months. sVHD was diagnosed in 575 (58.5%) AF patients. sVHD was associated with all-cause mortality (21.6%/yr vs. 1.6%/yr; adjusted HR [aHR] 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–2.06; p=0.02), cardiovascular mortality (16%/yr vs. 4%/yr; aHR1.70, 95% CI 1.09–2.66; p=0.02) and heart failure-hospitalization (5.8%/yr vs. 1.8%/yr; aHR 2.53, 95% CI 1.35–4.63; p=0.02). The prognostic effect of sVHD was particularly evident in patients aged <80 years and in those without history of heart failure (p for interaction <0.05, in both subgroups) [Figure 1]. After multivariable adjustment, moderate/severe AS and TR were associated with mortality, while AS and MR with heart failure-hospitalization [Figure 2]. AS was the only independent predictor of valve intervention during follow-up (aHR 10.78, 95% CI 4.80–24.22; p<0.001). Mixed aortic valve disease (AS+AR) had superior prognostic power across patterns of combined VHD. Conclusions Among patients with non-valvular AF, sVHD was highly prevalent, and beared high prognostic value across a wide spectrum of clinical outcomes. AS, MR, TR and mixed aortic valve disease were associated with worse prognosis. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Subgroup analyses by VHD status Prognostic impact of valve lesions

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The impact of moderate Aortic Valve Disease in patients undergoing MitraClip for severe MR

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation ◽

10.3233/ch-200818 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. 447-455

Author(s):

Haitham Saleh Ali Al-Hindwan ◽

Günther Silbernagel ◽

Jonathan Curio ◽

Kamal Abulgasim ◽

Mark Schröder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Valve Disease ◽

Open Heart Surgery ◽

Valve Disease ◽

Heart Team ◽

Surgical Risk ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND: High surgical risk patients presenting with severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR) and concomitant aortic valve disease are frequently a challenge for the interdisciplinary heart team meeting. If open-heart surgery for severe MR is performed, aortic stenosis (AS) or regurgitation (AR) is corrected during the same procedure if at least moderate severity of AS or AR has been confirmed. In patients with prohibitive surgical risk, optimal management strategies in the light of available transcatheter interventions still needs to be established. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this retrospective single center study, we aimed to investigate the impact of coincident moderate aortic valve disease on the outcome of patients undergoing MitraClip for severe MR. In 286 MitraClip procedures performed in our institution, 21 patients (7,3%) were identified to suffer from concomitant moderate AS and 28 patients had moderate AR (9,8%). Patients with AS were found to have a higher incidence of >moderate MR following the procedure when compared to patients without aortic valve disease (14,3% vs. 8,9%, p = 0.001). No differences between the groups were found regarding a combined endpoint of all cause deaths and heart failure hospitalizations after 1 year follow up (no aortic-valve disease vs. moderate AS: 19% vs 18%; p = 0,881 and no aortic valve disease vs moderate AR: 19% vs. 25%; p = 0.477). However, mortality was significantly higher in patients with coincidental moderate AR (3.8% patients without aortic valve disease, 5% in patients with AS, 17,9% in patients with AR; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: According to our analysis coincidental Aortic valve stenosis may be associated with worse technical results regarding residual MR after MitraClip. Although our results regarding a combined endpoint of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalizations within one year of follow up were comparable between the groups, patients with moderate AR had significantly higher mortality rates. Due to the limited number of patients, our study is only hypothesis generating. Larger trials are necessary to confirm our result.

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Selection of the Best of 2016 on Aortic Valve Disease and Heart Failure in Elderly Patients

Revista Española de Cardiología (English Edition) ◽

10.1016/j.rec.2016.11.015 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 60-61

Author(s):

Pablo Díez-Villanueva ◽

Albert Ariza-Solé ◽

Javier López ◽

Héctor García-Pardo ◽

Manuel Martínez-Sellés

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Aortic Valve ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Aortic Valve Disease ◽

Valve Disease ◽

Selection Of

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Video-Assisted Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Through Right Anterior Minithoracotomy for All Comers With Aortic Valve Disease

Innovations Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery ◽

10.1177/1556984520977212 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 155698452097721

Author(s):

Farhad Bakhtiary ◽

Ali El-Sayed Ahmad ◽

Mohamed Amer ◽

Saad Salamate ◽

Sami Sirat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Valve Replacement ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Valve Replacement ◽

Aortic Valve Disease ◽

Valve Disease ◽

Paravalvular Leak ◽

Ischemic Time ◽

Video Assisted ◽

The Right

Objective Right anterior minithoracotomy is a promising technique for aortic valve replacement and has shown excellent results in terms of mortality and morbidity. Against this background, we analyzed our institutional experience in this technique during the last 3 years. Methods Between April 2017 and March 2019, 513 consecutive all comers with aortic valve disease underwent video-assisted minimally invasive aortic valve replacement through a 3-cm skin incision as right anterior minithoracotomy at our institution. A camera and automatic fastener technology were used for the valve implantation in all patients. Clinical data were prospectively entered into our institutional database. Results Cardiopulmonary bypass time accounted for 68 ± 24 min and the myocardial ischemic time 38 ± 12 minutes. Thirty-day mortality and overall mortality was 0.4% (2 patients) and 1.4% (7 patients), respectively. Postoperative cerebrovascular events were noted in 8 patients (1.5%). Intensive care stay and hospital stay were 2 ± 2 and 9 ± 7 days, respectively. Pacemaker implantation, injury of the right internal mammary artery, and conversion to full sternotomy were noted in 7 patients (1.4%), 3 patients (0.6%), and 1 patient (0.2%), respectively. Paravalvular leak need to intervention was noted in 2 patients (0.4%). Rethoracotomy rate was 2% (11 patients). Transient postoperative dialysis was necessary for 14 patients (3%). Conclusions Video-assisted minimally invasive aortic valve replacement through the right anterior minithoracotomy is a safe approach and yields excellent outcomes in high-volume centers. The use of a camera and automatic fastener technology facilitates this procedure.

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