A case of an elderly patient with severe aortic insufficiency who carried high risks for surgical valve replacement. After a detailed preoperative evaluation, the patient successfully received transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Postoperatively, complete left bundle branch block developed, resulting in impaired left ventricular function. Despite guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure, cardiac function showed no significant recovery. At 4.5 months post-surgery, left bundle branch pacing was performed, leading to a marked improvement in cardiac function.
Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/surgery* ; Bundle-Branch Block/etiology* ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Postoperative Complications/therapy* ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the early clinical efficacy and safety of trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with severe pure native aortic regurgitation (PNAR) who are not suitable for conventional surgical aortic valve replace-ment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 48 patients with PNAR who underwent TAVR at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between March 2019 and February 2025. These included 25 cases with transfemoral approach (TF-TAVR group) and 23 cases with transapical approach (TA-TAVR group). Efficacy and safety were assessed by analyzing baseline characteristics, all-cause mortality, and procedure-related complications. RESULTS: Compared with the TA-TAVR group, the TF-TAVR group exhibited significantly smaller aortic annulus circumference and diameter, left ventricular outflow tract circumference and diameter, diameters of the left, right, and non-coronary sinuses, and sinotubular junction (STJ) diameter, along with a shorter distance from the STJ to the aortic annular plane ring plane, a smaller annulus angle (all P<0.05). Additionally, the TF-TAVR group showed a deeper prosthesis implantation depth relative to the aortic annular plane (P<0.01). The overall technical success rate was 91.67%, and the device success rate was 83.33%. Post-TAVR, both groups demonstrated significant improvement in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (both P<0.05), while only the TA-TAVR group showed significant reduction in left ventricular end-systolic diameter (P<0.05). For primary outcomes, in-hospital mortality occurred in 2 patients (4.17%). No additional deaths were reported at 60 or 90 d after surgery. During 90-180 d after surgery, one patient in the TF-TAVR group died of sudden cardiac death, and one in the TA-TAVR group died of gastroin-testinal bleeding. During 180 d-1 year after surgery, one patient in the TF-TAVR group died of low cardiac output syndrome. No statistically significant differences were observed in 1-year Kaplan-Meier survival curves between the two groups (P>0.05). No conduction block events occurred in TA-TAVR group during hospitalization or 1-year follow-up, while high-grade atrioventricular block, left bundle branch block, permanent pacemaker implantation occurred in TF-TAVR group during hospitalization (12.00%, 4.00%, and 12.00%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS TAVR demonstrates high feasibility and acceptable safety for severe PNAR patients who are not suitable for conventional SAVR. Both TF-TAVR and TA-TAVR show comparable early postoperative efficacy and safety profiles.
Humans ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/adverse effects* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Heart Valve Prosthesis

INTRODUCTION: Management of aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may often be overlooked, and this could confer poorer outcomes. METHODS: Consecutive patients ( n = 727) with index echocardiographic diagnosis of moderate to severe AS (aortic valve area <1.5 cm 2 ) were examined. They were divided into those with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min) and those without. Baseline clinical and echocardiographic parameters were compared, and a multivariate Cox regression model was constructed. Clinical outcomes were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: There were 270 (37.1%) patients with concomitant CKD. The CKD group was older (78.0 ± 10.3 vs. 72.1 ± 12.9 years, P < 0.001), with a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia and ischaemic heart disease. AS severity did not differ significantly, but left ventricular (LV) mass index (119.4 ± 43.7 vs. 112.3 ± 40.6 g/m 2 , P = 0.027) and Doppler mitral inflow E to annular tissue Doppler e' ratio (E: e' 21.5 ± 14.6 vs. 17.8 ± 12.2, P = 0.001) were higher in the CKD group. There was higher mortality (log-rank 51.5, P < 0.001) and more frequent admissions for cardiac failure (log-rank 25.9, P < 0.001) in the CKD group, with a lower incidence of aortic valve replacement (log-rank 7.12, P = 0.008). On multivariate analyses, after adjusting for aortic valve area, age, left ventricular ejection fraction and clinical comorbidities, CKD remained independently associated with mortality (hazard ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.50-2.57, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Concomitant CKD in patients with moderate to severe AS was associated with increased mortality, more frequent admissions for cardiac failure and a lower incidence of aortic valve replacement.
Humans ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications* ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Echocardiography ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Retrospective Studies ; Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Echocardiography, Doppler

Humans ; Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis/adverse effects* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Treatment Outcome ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/adverse effects* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/surgery*

Considering the surgical risk stratification for patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis (AS), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a reliable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) (Fan et al., 2020, 2021; Lee et al., 2021). Despite the favorable clinical benefits of TAVR, stroke remains a dreaded perioperative complication (Auffret et al., 2016; Kapadia et al., 2016; Kleiman et al., 2016; Huded et al., 2019). Ischemic overt stroke, identified in 1.4% to 4.3% of patients in TAVR clinical practice, has been associated with prolonged disability and increased mortality (Auffret et al., 2016; Kapadia et al., 2016; Levi et al., 2022). The prevalence of hyperintensity cerebral ischemic lesions detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) was reported to be about 80%, which is associated with impaired neurocognitive function and vascular dementia (Vermeer et al., 2003; Barber et al., 2008; Kahlert et al., 2010).
Humans ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Stroke

OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a common comorbidity in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis (AS).As a key item of the American Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score, it has a vital impact on the clinical prognosis of traditional thoracic surgery. T2DM has an adverse effect on the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases. At the same time, studies have shown that T2DM are associated with myocardial hypertrophy and remodeling, decreased left ventricular function, and worsening heart failure symptoms in the AS patients. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as an interventional method to replace the aortic valve has better safety for middle and high risk patients in surgery, but the impact of T2DM on the clinical outcome of TAVR in AS patients is not clear.By analyzing the clinical and image characteristics of patients with AS and T2DM who received TAVR treatment, so as to explore the effect of T2DM on the perioperative complications and prognosis of TAVR. METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive patients with severe AS, who underwent TAVR treatment and were followed up for more than 1 month, were selectedin the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2016 to December 2020.Among them, 5 patients who were treated with TAVR due to simple severe aortic regurgitation were not included, therefore a total of 95 patients with severe aortic stenosis were enrolled in this study.The age of the patients was (72.7±4.8) years old, and there were 58 males (61.1%), and the patients with moderate or above aortic regurgitation had 30 cases (31.6%). The patients were divided into a diabetic group and a non-diabetic group according to whether they were combined with T2DM.There was no statistical difference in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), STS score, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function classification between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). The primary end point was defined as a composite event consisting of all-cause death and stroke one month after surgery, and the secondary end point was defined as TAVR-related complications immediately after surgery and one month after surgery.The preoperative clinical data, cardiac ultrasound data, CT data, postoperative medication and the incidence of each endpoint event were compared between the 2 groups.The predictive model of adverse events was constructed by single factor and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Compared with the non-diabetic group, the diabetic group had high blood pressure and chronic renal insufficiency.There was no significant difference in preoperative ultrasound echocardiography between the 2 groups. Preoperative CT evaluation found that the anatomical structure of the aortic root in the diabetic group was smaller than that in the non-diabetic group, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of bicuspid aortic valve between the 2 groups (all P<0.05). In terms of postoperative medication, the use of statins in the diabetes group was significantly higher than that in the non-diabetic group. In the diabetes group, 6 patients (37.5%) received insulin therapy, and 9 patients (56.3%) received oral medication alone.Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the all-cause death and stroke compound events was increased in the diabetes group in 30 days after TAVR (OR=6.86; 95% CI: 2.14 to 21.79; P<0.01). Heart disease (OR=2.80; 95% CI: 0.99 to 7.88; P<0.05) and chronic renal insufficiency (OR=3.75; 95% CI: 1.24 to 11.34; P<0.05) were also risk factors for all-cause death and stroke compound events.In a multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, comorbidities, N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), total calcification score, ejection fraction, and degree of aortic regurgitation, T2DM was still a risk factor for all-cause death and stroke compound events in 30 days after TAVR (OR=12.68; 95% CI: 1.76 to 91.41; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS T2DM is a risk factor for short-term poor prognosis in patients with symptomatic severe AS after TAVR treatment. T2DM should play an important role in the future construction of the TAVR surgical risk assessment system, but the conclusions still need to be further verified by long-term follow-up of large-scale clinical studies.
Aged ; Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications* ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Stroke ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; United States

Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Humans ; Perioperative Period ; Severity of Illness Index ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ; Treatment Outcome

Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Humans ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ; Treatment Outcome

aortic regurgitation (AR) in patients who underwent aortic valve repair with the re-implantation technique (David operation) due to AR.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 117 patients (age, 49.4 ± 15.6 years; 83 males) who underwent the David operation for AR were included in this retrospective study. Aortic root profiles including the aortic regurgitant orifice area (ARO) and the aortic cusp asymmetry ratio of the areas (ASR(area)), which is defined as the maximum/minimum areas among the three cusp areas at the level of the commissures, were measured on preoperative cardiac CT scans. Clinical and CT findings were compared between a group with recurrent AR grade < 3 (no, trivial, or mild AR) and recurrent ≥ 3 + AR. To determine the optimal cut-off values of ASR and ARO, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used. Cox regression analysis was used for the analysis of the factors affecting recurrent 3 + AR.RESULTS: Postoperatively, recurrent 3 + AR developed in 17 (14.5%) patients and occurred within a median of 268 days (interquartile range: 78–582 days). The cut-off ARO value for discriminating the patients with recurrent 3 + AR was > 24 mm² (sensitivity, 76.5%; specificity 64.8%), and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.72. For ASR(area), the cut-off value was > 1.58 (sensitivity, 76.5%; specificity, 58.0%) and the AUC was 0.64. Multivariable Cox regression showed that ARO > 24 mm² (hazard ratio = 3.79, p = 0.020) was a potential independent parameter for recurrent 3 + AR. ROC for the linear regression model showed that the AUC for both ARO and ASR(area) was 0.73 (95% confidence interval, 0.64–0.81, p < 0.001).CONCLUSION: ARO and ASR(area) detected on preoperative cardiac CT would be potentially helpful for identifying AR patients who may benefit from the David operation.]]>
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Aortic Valve ; Area Under Curve ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular/surgery* ; Humans