Successful delayed endovascular correction of migration of transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis in left ventricle outflow tract: case report

<p>We report the successful endovascular correction of the migration of a transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis in the left ventricle outflow tract (LVOT). A 72-old man was underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) at Almazov National Medical Research Centre for severe aortic stenosis. During the procedure, the self-expanding prosthesis dislocated 10–12 mm into the LVOT. The frame was optimised with the use of a balloon catheter, and aortic regurgitation I-II degree was achieved. However, on day 17 of hospitalisation, acute heart failure with episodes of asystole occurred as a result of severe paravalvular regurgitation; cardiopulmonary resuscitation was necessary. The prosthesis malpositioning was corrected by traction with endovascular snare devices. The patient was stable during the postprocedural period and discharged on day 31. Dislocation of self-expanding prostheses into the LVOT is a complication specific to TAVI that may quickly aggravate a patient’s condition; therefore, correction of valve malpositioning should be performed as soon as possible. The case reported here in an illustration of successful endovascular correction of dislocation performed with the snare traction technique. This bail-out approach can be used by interventional cardiologists in similar situations.</p><p>Received 27 May 2021. Revised 29 July 2021. Accepted 30 July 2021.</p><p><strong>Funding:</strong> The study did not have sponsorship.</p><p><strong>Conflict of interest: </strong>Authors declare no conflict of interest.</p><p><strong>Contribution of the authors<br /> </strong>Literature review: A.D. Gorovaya, D.D. Zubarev, A.A. Prokhorikhin<br /> Drafting the article: A.D. Gorovaya, V.S. Krasnov, A.A. Prokhorikhin<br /> Critical revision of the article: A.D. Gorovaya, M.A. Chernyavskiy, A.A. Prokhorikhin<br /> Surgical treatment: D.D. Zubarev, V.S. Krasnov, A.A. Prokhorikhin<br /> Final approval of the version to be published: A.D. Gorovaya, D.D. Zubarev, V.S. Krasnov, M.A. Chernyavskiy, A.A. Prokhorikhin</p>

1269 Five Year Propensity Matched Outcomes of Minimally Invasive vs Conventional Isolated Aortic Valve Surgery

Aim To analyse the early and mid-term outcomes of the patients undergoing conventional isolated aortic valve replacement (CAVR) versus minimally invasive isolated aortic valve replacement (MIAVR). Method This is a single centre retrospective study involving 653 patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement either via CAVR (n = 516) or MIAVR (n = 137) between August 2015 and March 2020. Using pre-operative characteristics, patients were propensity matched (PM) to produce 114 matched pairs. Assessment of peri-operative outcomes, early and mid-term survival and echocardiographic parameters was performed. Results PM analysis showed the larger sized aortic valve prosthesis were inserted in the MIAVR group (22.8±2.5mm) compared to CAVR group (22.0±2.2mm)(p = 0.010). CPB time was longer with MIAVR (94.4±19.5mins) compared to CAVR (83.1 + 33.3; p = 0.003). There were no differences in the early post-operative complications and mortality between the two groups. Follow-up echocardiographic data showed significant difference in mean aortic valve gradients between CAVR and MIAVR groups (17.3±8.2mmHg and13.0±5.1mmHg, respectively; p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between CAVR and MIAVR in the mid-term survival at 3 years. (log-rank test p = 0.314). Conclusions This study found that larger aortic valve sizes with lower mean gradients are being implanted in the MIAVR group. Despite the longer CPB time in the MIAVR group, there was no significant difference in the early complications, mortality, and mid-term survival between MIAVR and CAVR. Further studies will be required to analyse the long-term survival.

Report on outcomes of valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation and redo surgical aortic valve replacement in the Netherlands

Objective We sought to investigate real-world outcomes of patients with degenerated biological aortic valve prostheses who had undergone valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (ViV-TAVI) or reoperative surgical aortic valve replacement (redo-SAVR) in the Netherlands. Methods Patients who had undergone ViV-TAVI or redo-SAVR for a degenerated biological aortic valve prosthesis in the Netherlands between January 2014 and December 2018 were eligible for this retrospective study. Patients with a prior homograft, active endocarditis or mechanical aortic valve prosthesis were excluded. Patients were matched using the propensity score. The primary endpoint was a composite of 30-day all-cause mortality and in-hospital postoperative stroke. Secondary endpoints were all-cause mortality at different time points, in-hospital postoperative stroke, pacemaker implantation and redo procedures within one year. Baseline characteristics and outcome data were collected from the Netherlands Heart Registration. Results From 16 cardiac centres, 653 patients were included in the study (374 ViV-TAVI and 279 redo-SAVR). European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation I (EuroSCORE I) was higher in ViV-TAVI patients (19.4, interquartile range (IQR) 13.3–27.9 vs 13.8, IQR 8.3–21.9, p < 0.01). After propensity score matching, 165 patients were matched with acceptable covariate balance. In the matched cohorts, the primary endpoint was not significantly different for ViV-TAVI and redo-SAVR patients (odds ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 0.57–3.02). Procedural, 30-day and 1‑year all-cause mortality rates, incidence of in-hospital postoperative stroke, pacemaker implantation and redo procedures within one year were also similar between cohorts. Conclusion Patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses treated with ViV-TAVI or redo-SAVR have similar mortality and morbidity.

Numerical and experimental justification of transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis design

Objective: to justify the design of a self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis based on a biomaterial stabilized with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether using numerical simulation and a series of field experiments with working prototypes to determine the consistency of the proposed design solutions.Material and methods. Numerical computer models of a developed aortic valve prosthesis intended for transcatheter implantation, as well as prototypes of the most promising concepts for a series of field tests, were used in the work. Computer 3D models were subjected to numerical analysis in the Abaqus/CAE environment (Dassault Systemes, France) based on the finite element method with iterative design optimization and repeated numerical experiments. Physical prototypes of the transcatheter prosthesis were subjected to a series of mechanical tests for axial and radial compression, as well as tests on a Vivitro hydrodynamic stand (Vivitro Labs, Canada) under simulated normal flow. All studies were carried out in a comparative aspect with a similar transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis (control), the CoreValve™ bioprosthesis (Medtronic, Inc., USA).Results. Computer simulation demonstrates the stress-strain state values that do not significantly exceed the critical levels (628 and 756 MPa versus the threshold value 1080 MPa) for two basic concepts of support frames. The fatigue strength based on the calculation of the mean and alternating stresses corresponding to normo- and hypertensive states based on the Goodman diagrams, did not reveal any evidence that the threshold values (destruction area after 200 million cycles) were exceeded. The hydrodynamic characteristics of working prototypes made on the basis of computer models correspond to the testing data of CoreValve™ clinical bioprosthesis: the effective orifice area was 1.97 cm2, the mean transprosthetic gradient was 8.9 mm Hg, the regurgitant volume was 2.2–4.1 mL per cycle depending on the prototype model.Conclusion. Generally, experiments carried out showed the consistency of the concepts, including from the point of view of implementation of the leaflet apparatus based on xenogeneic tissues treated with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether.

Passing a Mechanical Aortic Valve With a Short Tip Dilator to Facilitate Aortic Arch Endovascular Branched Repair

Purpose To present a novel technique to successfully cross a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis. Technique A 55-year-old female patient with genetically verified Marfan syndrome presented with a 5-cm anastomotic aneurysm of the proximal aortic arch after previous ascending aortic replacement due to a type A aortic dissection in 2007. The patient also underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement in 1991. A 3-stage hybrid repair was planned. The first 2 steps included debranching of the supra-aortic vessels. In the third procedure, a custom-made double branched endovascular stent-graft with a short 35-mm introducer tip was implanted. The mechanical valve was passed with the tip of the dilator on the lateral site of the leaflet, without destructing the valve and with only mild symptoms of aortic insufficiency, as one leaflet continued to work. This allowed the implantation of the stent-graft directly distally of the coronary arteries. Postoperative computed tomography angiography showed no endoleaks and patent coronary and supra-aortic vessels. Conclusion Passing a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis at the proper position is feasible and allows adequate endovascular treatment in complex arch anatomy. However, caution should be taken during positioning of the endovascular graft as the tip may potentially damage the valve prosthesis.

Minimally invasive redo aortic valve replacement with a sutureless valve implant

Reoperations for a dysfunctional mechanical aortic valve prosthesis are usually performed with a repeat sternotomy. Reopening the chest may be associated with a heart structure tear, bleeding, excessive transfusion, and a possible unfavorable outcome. Experience performing a redo aortic valve replacement with a minimally invasive approach and avoiding lysis of the pericardial adhesions is growing. We describe a redo aortic valve replacement procedure performed because of subvalvular pannus formation in a patient with a mechanical prosthesis. A partial J-shaped hemisternotomy at the 3rd intercostal space was performed; the ascending aorta was exposed and the valve was replaced with a sutureless bioprosthesis. The video tutorial shows the surgical approach, cardiopulmonary bypass solutions, and sutureless valve deployment.