Procedural and long-term outcome among patients undergoing expedited trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.

Objective: Patients with rapidly deteriorating clinical status due to severe aortic stenosis are often referred for expedited transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Data regarding the outcome of such interventions is limited. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of patients undergoing expedited TAVR.

Outcomes of Redo Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement According to the Initial and Subsequent Valve Type.

Background: As transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) replacement is increasingly used in patients with longer life expectancy, a sizable proportion will require redo TAV replacement (TAVR). The unique configuration of balloon-expandable TAV (bTAV) vs a self-expanding TAV (sTAV) potentially affects TAV-in-TAV outcome.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to better inform prosthesis selection, TAV-in-TAV outcomes were assessed according to the type of initial and subsequent TAV.

Impact of Valve Size on Paravalvular Leak and Valve Hemodynamics in Patients With Borderline Size Aortic Valve Annulus.

Background: Transcatheter heart valve (THV) selection for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is crucial to achieve procedural success. Borderline aortic annulus size (BAAS), which allows a choice between two consecutive valve sizes, is a common challenge during device selection. In the present study, we evaluated TAVI outcomes in patients with BAAS according to THV size selection.

Mass to voltage ratio index predicts mortality following TAVI.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is commonly performed in elderly patients with aortic stenosis. Better methods of risk stratification are needed in this population with high morbidity. There is a relatively high incidence of cardiac amyloidosis in this population and high LV mass index (LVMI) to QRS voltage may help identify patients with worse prognosis following TAVI.

Increased Rate of New-onset Left Bundle Branch Block in Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (From a National Registry).

There is a growing interest in transcutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI) therapy among patients with bicuspid severe aortic stenosis (BAV). Conduction disturbances remain a frequent complication of TAVI, and new-onset permanent LBBB (NOP-LBBB) post-TAVI may be a marker of worse outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the rate of NOP-LBBB following TAVI among patients with BAV as compared to tricuspid severe aortic stenosis (TAV).

Prognostic implication of right ventricular dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are associated with adverse outcomes in severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients. Our aim was to evaluate the association between ≥moderate TR and RV dysfunction on long-term mortality following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Israeli multicenter TAVR registry among 4,344 consecutive patients, with all-cause mortality as the main outcome measure.

Limited flexibility in departure timing of migratory passerines at the East-Mediterranean flyway.

The rapid pace of current global warming lead to the advancement of spring migration in the majority of long-distance migratory bird species. While data on arrival timing to breeding grounds in Europe is plentiful, information from the African departure sites are scarce. Here we analysed changes in arrival timing at a stopover site in Israel and any links to Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) on the species-specific African non-breeding range in three migratory passerines between 2000-2017.

Incidence and Predictors of Target Lesion Failure in Patients With Lesions in Small Vessels Undergoing PCI With Contemporary Drug-Eluting Stents: Insights From the BIONICS Study.

Treatment of lesions in small coronary vessels is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients undergoing small-vessel PCI in the BIONICS trial and to identify predictors of stent failure. 1910 patients were randomized to treatment with the EluNIR™ ridaforolimus-eluting stent (RES) or Resolute™ zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES).

Short membranous septum length in bicuspid aortic valve stenosis increases the risk of conduction disturbances.

Background: Distinct anatomical features predispose bicuspid AS patients to conduction disturbances after TAVR. This study sought to evaluate whether the incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) and left bundle branch block (LBBB) in patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is related to an anatomical association between bicuspid AS and short membranous septal (MS) length.

Methods: Sixty-seven consecutive patients with bicuspid AS from a Bicuspid AS TAVR multicenter registry and 67 propensity-matched patients with tricuspid AS underwent computed tomography before TAVR.

Predictors for permanent pacemaker implantation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: trends over the past decade.

Purpose: This study sought to identify risk factors for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) after Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and explain their trends over the last decade. TAVI is performed nowadays for severe aortic stenosis in more patients with lower surgical risk. While most TAVI complications have been reduced, PPMI remains common.

Pulmonary artery pressures and outcomes after MitraClip.

Aims: We evaluated the impact of MitraClip on systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and the effects of baseline sPAP on outcomes.

Methods And Results: In a cohort of patients who underwent MitraClip implantation, three groups were defined according to pre-procedure sPAP levels. Clinical and echocardiographic data were compared.

Acute kidney injury after MitraClip implantation in patients with severe mitral regurgitation.

Introduction: Percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR), such as MitraClip, is performed on high-risk patients and involves hemodynamic alternations that may cause acute kidney injury (AKI). We aimed to evaluate the incidence of AKI, predictors for developing AKI and the correlation with mortality after MitraClip.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of collected data from patients who underwent PMVR in two tertiary medical centers in Israel to identify factors associated with AKI.

Ridaforolimus eluting stent for the treatment of Japanese patients with coronary disease: 1 year outcomes of the JNIR study.

Background: Japanese patients have shown improved outcomes after treatment with drug eluting stents compared with Western patients. Outcomes with the ridaforolimus-eluting EluNIR stent in Japanese patients are unknown.

Methods And Results: This was a multi-center trial in Japanese patients undergoing PCI with the ridaforolimus eluting EluNIR stent.

Repeat Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Transcatheter Prosthesis Dysfunction.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) use is increasing in patients with longer life expectancy, yet robust data on the durability of transcatheter heart valves (THVs) are limited. Redo-TAVR may play a key strategy in treating patients in whom THVs fail.

Objectives: The authors sought to examine outcomes following redo-TAVR.

Outcomes of Patients With Coronary Arterial Bifurcation Narrowings Undergoing Provisional 1-Stent Treatment (from the BIONICS Trial).

Treatment of bifurcation lesions is technically challenging and has been associated with an increased risk of adverse events. We sought to evaluate the clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients who underwent bifurcation lesion provisional treatment in the BioNIR Ridaforolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System in Coronary Stenosis trial. A prospective, multicenter, 1:1 randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ridaforolimus-eluting stents (RES) versus zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES).

Annular versus supra-annular sizing for transcatheter aortic valve replacement in bicuspid aortic valve disease.

Background: CT measurement of supra-annular area (SA) has been proposed as an alternative to annular area (AA) for sizing of trancatheter valves in biscuspid aortic valves (BAV). This study examines the reproducibility of SA and AA measurements and their potential impact on downstream transcatheter heart valve sizing and clinical outcomes.

Methods: 44 consecutive patients (mean age: 73 ± 15 years, 57% male) undergoing CTA with subsequent SAPIEN 3 valve insertion for severe bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS) were included.

Randomized Comparison of Ridaforolimus-Eluting and Zotarolimus-Eluting Coronary Stents: 2-Year Clinical Outcomes From the BIONICS and NIREUS Trials.

Objectives: This study sought to determine clinical outcomes between treatment groups over long-term follow-up.

Background: The safety and efficacy of a ridaforolimus-eluting stent (RES) was evaluated in the BIONICS (BioNIR Ridaforolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System in Coronary Stenosis) and NIREUS (BioNIR Ridaforolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System [BioNIR] European Angiography Study) trials, demonstrating noninferiority of RES in comparison with a zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) regarding 1-year target lesion failure (TLF) and 6-month angiographic late lumen loss, respectively.

Methods: Patient-level data from the BIONICS (N = 1,919) and NIREUS (N = 302) randomized trials were pooled, and outcomes in patients implanted with RES and ZES compared.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Does Not Lower Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, most studies used bare-metal stents or first-generation drug-eluting stents, and less guideline-directed therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk was reported in CKD patients. This study investigates the impact of moderate-CKD on patients undergoing PCI in the current era.

Mid-term outcome in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement with a current generation device: A multicenter study.

Objectives: To perform clinical and echocardiographic follow-up beyond 1 year in consecutive patients with severe bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with a current generation balloon-expandable valve.

Background: Treatment of bicuspid aortic valve disease with TAVR remains controversial and late follow-up data is still scarce.

Methods: We collected baseline characteristics, procedural data, 30-day and mid-term clinical follow-up findings from six centers in Europe and Canada from patients with bicuspid AS treated with TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 valve.

Long-Term Outcomes of the FORMA Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair System for the Treatment of Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation: Insights From the First-in-Human Experience.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term (≥2 years) outcomes following transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVr) with the FORMA Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair System (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California).

Background: Scarce data exist on long-term outcomes following TTVr.

Methods: This multicenter experience included patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) who underwent TTVr with the FORMA system at 4 centers under a compassionate clinical use program.

Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation for failed surgical bioprosthetic valves. A minimalist approach without contrast aortography or echocardiographic guidance.

Objectives: To demonstrate safety, feasibility and short-term clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve (ViV) implantation under local anesthesia without contrast aortography or echocardiographic guidance.

Background: Transcatheter ViV implantation is an emerging treatment modality for patients with degenerative surgical bioprostheses. Given the radiopaque properties of the surgical aortic valve (SAV) frame, ViV procedures can often be performed with fluoroscopic guidance alone.

Outcomes Among Diabetic Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Contemporary Drug-Eluting Stents: Analysis From the BIONICS Randomized Trial.

Objectives: The authors sought to investigate the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on outcomes following contemporary drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in the BIONICS (BioNIR Ridaforolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System in Coronary Stenosis) trial.

Background: Patients with DM are at increased risk for adverse events following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, 1:1 randomized trial was conducted to evaluate in a noninferiority design the safety and efficacy of ridaforolimus-eluting stents versus zotarolimus-eluting stents among 1,919 patients undergoing PCI.

The EluNIR Ridaforolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System.

First-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) were developed and indeed proved their superiority compared to bare-metal stent in minimizing neo-intimal hyperplasia and in-stent restenosis (ISR), overall, reducing target vessel revascularization (TVR). Newer-generation DES are characterized by thinner struts, more biocompatible and either durable, biodegradable or polymer-free surfaces, better device profile and refined drug elution. Area covered: The EluNIR (Medinol, Tel Aviv, Israel) Ridaforolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System is a new DES with unique properties.

Treatment of Tricuspid Regurgitation With the FORMA Repair System.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common and undertreated as the risk of surgery is high in this patient population. Transcatheter devices offer treatment with a lower procedural risk. The FORMA Tricuspid Valve Therapy system (Edwards Lifesciences) will be reviewed here.