The implantation of bioprosthetic heart valves have increased dramatically due to the aging population and the widespread application of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). TAVR is increasingly being used in younger, lower-risk patients with a longer life expectancy, so it is important to overcome structural valve degeneration and ensure long-term TAVR durability. Although the mid-term durability results of the TAVR valve are encouraging, its long-term durability needs to be further explored. This article will mainly introduce the influencing factors of TAVR valve durability, evaluation criteria for structural valve degeneration, clinical research results related to TAVR valve durability, and problems to be solved.
Objective To study and test novel hybrid valves in vitro and in vivo, and provide basis for clinical use in future. Methods The hybrid valves were fabricated from decellularized porcine aortic valves coated with poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3hydroxyhexanoate, PHBHHx).（1）In the mechanical test in vitro, the uniaxial tensile biomechanics test of the fresh (n=12), uncoated (n=12) and hybrid valve leaflets (n=12) were investigated. (2）In study in vivo, hybrid valves(n=5) implanted in pulmonary position in sheep without cardiopulmonary bypass. Uncoated grafts (n=5) used as control. The specimens of the hybrid or uncoated valve in sheep were explanted and examined by scanning electron microscopy, histology, calcium content and immunofluorescence staining 18 weeks after surgery. Results The mechanical test in vitro revealed that coating with PHBHHx increased maximal tensile strength of hybrid valves compared with the fresh and uncoated state (P＜0.05). The results in vivo indicated the hybrid valves maintained original shape and softness. Immunofluorescence staining for CD31 confirmed that the surface of hybrid valve was covered by confluent CD31+ cells.The interstitium of hybrid valve indicated that smooth muscle actin (SMA)+ cells population were similar to native valvular tissue. The calcium content of hybrid valve was significantly lower than that of uncoated valve leaflets (P＜0.05). Conclusion Decellularized porcine aortic valves coated with PHBHHx have good biological and biomechanical characteristics. The hybrid valve may provide superior valve replacement with current techniques.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is an effective treatment for aortic stenosis currently, especially in elderly, surgical high-risk, and surgical procedures-intolerant patients with severe aortic stenosis. After several generations of updates in design and function, the self-expandable valves have shown significant efficacy in treating aortic stenosis patients with bicuspid aortic valve, bioprosthetic valve failure or small annulus, and superiority in terms of valve durability, and the favorable hemodynamic outcomes could translate into clinical endpoint benefit. This literature review summarizes the advantages and recent advances of the self-expandable valves in transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at different stages on prognosis of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).MethodsDatabases including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were searched by computer to collect cohort studies on impact of different stages of CKD on prognosis of TAVR from inception to July 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, and then, meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 15.0 software. Risk of study bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).ResultsA total of 17 cohort studies were included with NOS score≥6 points. The results of meta-analysis indicated that: compared with the patients without CKD, all-cause mortality of CKD stage 3 patients at 30 day (RR=1.29, 95%CI 1.22-1.37, P<0.001) and 1 year (RR=1.24, 95%CI 1.19-1.28, P<0.001), all-cause mortality of CKD stage 4 patients at 30 day (RR=2.10, 95%CI 1.90-2.31, P<0.001) and 1 year (RR=1.89, 95%CI 1.62-2.19, P<0.001), and all-cause mortality of CKD stage 5 patients at 30 day (RR=2.22, 95%CI 1.62-2.19, P<0.001) and 1 year (RR=2.24, 95%CI 1.75-2.87, P<0.001) were significantly increased and were associated with the severity of CKD. The occurrence rates of 1-year cardiovascular mortality, postoperative acute kidney injury and bleeding events were all higher in patients with CKD.ConclusionCKD at stages 3, 4 and 5 is associated with increased all-cause mortality after TAVR, and the higher the stage of CKD is, the higher the risk of all-cause mortality at 30-day and 1-year follow-up is. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.
The technique of transcatheter aortic valve implantation has become increasingly mature. Although the transapical approach has a certain degree of minimally invasive trauma, it still has the characteristics such as heart beating without cardiopulmonary bypass, and the low technical requirements of catheter guide wire. In particular, the valve path is short and coaxial, which is easy to manipulate, and pure regurgitation and stenosis can be easily operated and are not subject to the limit of peripheral artery stenosis. It is still one of China's main approaches for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Its perioperative management still has specific features and differs from the femoral artery approach. In addition, there is little relevant literature abroad. Therefore, domestic experts in this field were organized to discuss the development of perioperative management specifications to provide reference and techniques support for developing this field in China and further improve the quality of clinical operation and perioperative management. It will provide more safe and more effective medical services to these patients.
Objective To investigate the left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in patients with aortic valve insufficiency with reduced ejection fraction (AIrEF) and aortic valve insufficiency with preserved ejection fraction (AIpEF) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). MethodsThe clinical and follow-up data of patients who underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from 2018 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the guideline, the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction<55% were allocated to an AIrEF group, and the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction≥55% were allocated to an AIpEF group. ResultsA total of 50 patients were enrolled. There were 19 patients in the AIrEF group, including 15 males and 4 females with a mean age of 74.5±7.1 years. There were 31 patients in the AIpEF group, including 19 males and 12 females with a mean age of 72.0±4.8 years. All patients underwent TAVR successfully. Echocardiographic results showed that TAVR significantly promoted LVRR in the patients. Significant LVRR occurred in the early postoperative period (the first day after the surgery) in both groups. It remained relatively stable after the LVRR in the early postoperative period (the first day after surgery) in the AIpEF patients, while it continued to occur in the early postoperative period (the first day after surgery) to three months after the surgery in the AIrEF patients, and then remained relatively stable. Compared to preoperative values, AIrEF patients had a reduction in the average left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and left ventricular end-systolic volume index by 16.8 mL/m2 (P=0.003) and 8.6 mL/m2 (P=0.005), respectively, and the average left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index and end-systolic diameter index decreased by 2.5 mm/m2 (P=0.003) and 1.9 mm/m2 (P=0.003), respectively on the first day after the surgery. In comparison to the first day after the surgery, AIrEF patients experienced an average increase of 12.1% in the left ventricular ejection fraction three months after the surgery (P＜0.001). ConclusionTAVR has achieved good therapeutic effects in patients with aortic valve insufficiency, significantly promoting the LVRR in patients, and has better curative effects in AIrEF patients.
Patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) are characterized by asymmetric anatomy, severe calcification and combined aortic dilatation. Compared with tricuspid aortic valve stenosis patients, patients with BAV stenosis confront with greater surgical risks in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), including paravalvular leak, aortic valve rupture, coronary artery obstruction, atrioventricular block and so on. However, with the advent of new generation of prosthetic valves and optimization of surgical strategies, several studies have shown that TAVR is safe and effective in the treatment of BAV stenosis. Therefore, we aim to provide an overview of the use of TAVR in patients with BAV stenosis.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using the SAPIEN 3 system. MethodsThis was a prospective, multicenter, single arm study in 4 centers in China. The clinical data of 50 patients with high-risk symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 system from June 2017 to June 2019 were analyzed, including 27 males and 23 females aged 76.8±6.1 years. ResultsThe Society of Thoracic Surgeon score was 6.0%±2.8%. Totally, 20.0% of patients had severe bicuspid aortic stenosis. The operation time was 41.8±16.5 min and the hospital stay time was 8.5±5.0 d. At the postoperative 30-day follow-up, no all-cause mortality occurred and the device success rate was 89.5%. Major vascular complications occurred in one (2.0%) patient, stroke in one (2.0%) patient, new pacemaker implantation in one (2.0%) patient, as well as coronary artery obstruction in one (2.0%) patient. There was no moderate or moderate/severe paravalvular leak. The aortic pressure gradient was decreased from 49.2±16.2 mm Hg before the operation to 12.4±4.6 mm Hg at the postoperative 30-day follow-up, and the valvular area was increased from 0.6±0.3 cm2 to 1.3±0.3 cm2 (P<0.01). Moreover, the New York Heart Association classification in 83.7% of the patients was improved during the follow-up. ConclusionThis pre-marketing multicenter study has demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of transfemoral TAVR with the SAPIEN 3 transcatheter valve system in Chinese aortic stenosis patients at high risk for surgery.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experience and efficacy of "one-stop" left atrial appendage clipping (LAAC) combined with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and aortic valve disease. Methods From April 2018 to March 2021, 16 patients with AF and severe aortic valve disease underwent "one-stop" LAAC and TAVR in our department. All patients had long-standing persistent AF. There were 10 males and 6 females with an average age of 77.2±6.2 years. CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.4±0.8 points, and HAS-BLED score was 3.5±0.7 points. ResultsAll patients successfully underwent "one-stop" LAAC combined with TAVR. There was no death during perioperative and follow-up periods. The length of the left atrial appendage base measured during the operation was 37.8±3.5 mm. The types of atrial appendage clip were 35 mm (n=3), 40 mm (n=8) and 45 mm (n=5). The time required for clipping the left atrial appendage (from skin cutting to skin suturing) was 25.7±3.8 min. There was no stroke or bleeding of important organs during the perioperative period. The average hospital stay was 6.8±2.0 d. The follow-up time was 19.6±10.1 months, during which there was no patient of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. During the administration of warfarin, 2 patients had subcutaneous ecchymosis and 1 patient had gingival bleeding. Conclusion"One-stop" LAAC combined with TAVR can be safely and effectively used to treat AF and aortic valve disease patients with high risk of thromboembolism and anticoagulant bleeding. The early and middle-term curative effect is satisfactory.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been confirmed to be safety and efficacy for high-risk elderly aortic stenosis, and the clinical effect of TAVR for medium and low-risk aortic stenosis is not worse than that of surgery. The development of surgical techniques and instruments has made cardiologists attempt to broaden the surgical indications. Many elderly and high-risk patients with pure native aortic regurgitation have been treated “off label” with similar techniques, completing artificial valve replacement, restoring valve function and improving the prognosis. However, due to the high requirements of surgical techniques and surgical complications, there is a lack of randomized controlled studies to confirm its safety and effectiveness. Unlike aortic stenosis, native aortic regurgitation presents unique challenges for transcatheter valves. In this article, the authors review current advances in the treatment of aortic valve regurgitation with TAVR.