Technical Aspects and Development of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2022 Aug 22;9(8):282. doi: 10.3390/jcdd9080282.

ABSTRACT

Aortic stenosis is the most common valve disease requiring surgery or percutaneous treatment. Since the first-in-man implantation in 2002 we have witnessed incredible progress in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In this article, we review the technical aspects of TAVI development with a look at the future. Durability, low thrombogenicity, good hydrodynamics, biocompatibility, low catheter profile, and deployment stability are the attributes of an ideal TAVI device. Two main design types exist-balloon-expandable and self-expanding prostheses. Balloon-expandable prostheses use a cobalt-chromium alloy frame providing high radial strength and radiopacity, while the self-expanding prostheses use a nickel-titanium (Nitinol) alloy frame, which expands to its original shape once unsheathed and heated to the body temperature. The valve is sewn onto the frame and consists of the porcine or bovine pericardium, which is specially treated to prevent calcinations and prolong durability. The lower part of the frame can be covered by polyethylene terephthalate fabric or a pericardial skirt, providing better sealing between the frame and aortic annulus. The main future challenges lie in achieving lower rates of paravalvular leaks and new pacemaker implantations following the procedure, lower delivery system profiles, more precise positioning, longer durability, and a good hemodynamic profile. Patient-specific design and the use of autologous tissue might solve these issues.

PMID:36005446 | PMC:PMC9409777 | DOI:10.3390/jcdd9080282

Localization of small peripheral pulmonary nodules for surgical resection: a new intraoperative technique in hybrid operating room

The purpose of this study was to introduce a new feasible and effective intraoperative localization technique for small peripheral pulmonary nodules in hybrid operating room.

Aneurysmal degeneration of the hood of a cryopreserved vein allograft two years after thrombosis

J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2022 May 3;8(2):300-304. doi: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2022.04.002. eCollection 2022 Jun.

ABSTRACT

Cryopreserved vein allografts are used as alternative conduits for infrainguinal bypass but are prone to aneurysmal degeneration. A 60-year-old man presented with a pulsatile, tender right groin mass 2 years after thrombosis of a cryopreserved vein jump graft emanating from a prosthetic axillary to profunda bypass. Intraoperatively, the aneurysm was consistent with isolated dilatation of the hood of the thrombosed cryopreserved vein graft. This was excised and repaired with bovine pericardial patch angioplasty. The patient recovered with no recurrence for 2 years. Aneurysmal degeneration of the cryopreserved vein allograft can occur even after graft thrombosis.

PMID:35669278 | PMC:PMC9166410 | DOI:10.1016/j.jvscit.2022.04.002

Successful treatment with femoro-femoral venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in traumatic tracheal injury: a case report

Traumatic tracheal injury is a rare type of trauma. In this type of injury, catastrophes may occur owing to a failure to secure the patient’s airway. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is rescue therap…  Read More

Aortic valve neocuspidization using autologous versus bovine pericardium: Ozaki versus Batista

J Card Surg. 2022 Sep 23. doi: 10.1111/jocs.16847. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The average living age of the population is constantly increasing and so is the incidence and prevalence of aortic valve disease. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the current gold standard treatment. Nevertheless, the use of prosthetic valves in SAVR is associated with issues that impact patients’ quality of life. Aortic valve neocuspidization (AV Neo) offers a means to solve this dilemma by minimizing foreign valve tissue. AV Neo can either be performed using glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium (Ozaki procedure) or bovine pericardium (Batista procedure).

AIMS: This commentary aims to discuss the recent study by Chan and colleagues which highlighted the surgical approach, clinical outcomes, and limitations of the Ozaki procedure, and compare this to the Batista procedure.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed using multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and Scopus to collate the relevant research evidence.

RESULTS: Although the Ozaki procedure can achieve favorable results whilst mainly avoiding the need for life-long oral anticoagulation with mechanical valves, it still has several limitations that may hinder results. AV Neo using glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium, developed by pioneer cardiac surgeon Dr. Randas J. Vilela Batista, yields superior clinical outcomes to Ozaki’s, including excellent survival, lower complications, and minimal need for reoperation as well as shorter operative times.

CONCLUSION: AV Neo offers a means to perform SAVR whilst escaping the prosthetic valve issues. However, the Batista procedure has shown beyond doubt that it can be considered the superior approach for AV Neo over the Ozaki procedure.

PMID:36150150 | DOI:10.1111/jocs.16847

Mitral Valve Replacement: A Review of Current Practices and Considerations in Low and High-Risk Patients

Curr Probl Cardiol. 2022 Sep 22:101413. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101413. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mitral Regurgitation (MR) is the most common form of severe valvular disease occurring in developed countries, being caused either primarily on its own or secondary to cardiac disease. Surgical intervention is required for the correction of MR, which could include the replacement or repair of the affected valve. Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) in selected patients is of increasing importance, especially after the success of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). TMVR can be divided into three types i.e., valve-in-valve (ViV) for severe mitral valve disease, valve-in-ring (ViR) for failed surgical repairs, and valve-in-mitral annular calcifications (ViMAC) for mitral valvular disease with severe mitral annular calcifications and poor surgical criteria. The FDA approved Mitral ViV for patients with a high surgical risk in 2017, while ViR and ViMAC are still currently under consideration. The SAPIEN M3 valve is relatively new with a trans-septal system, with a success rate of 86%, and no mortality in a 30-day outcome. The Cardiovalve is a bovine pericardium device that has a dual nitinol frame with a custom surgical design to facilitate TMVR. The AHEAD trial will evaluate whether the device is safe to use in a clinical setting and how effective it is for reducing MR in these patients. The trial consists of 30 patients in which the first 5 patients showed 100% technical success and a reduction of MR. This evolution of modern medicine has assisted in many different countries, including Pakistan where there is a higher prevalence of MR and hence, a greater need to apply TMVR in clinical practice.

PMID:36155202 | DOI:10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101413

The hybrid crosslinking method improved the stability and anti-calcification properties of the bioprosthetic heart valves

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022 Sep 9;10:1008664. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1008664. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

The bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) are the best option for the treatment of valvular heart disease. Glutaraldehyde (Glut) is commonly used as the golden standard reagent for the crosslinking of BHVs. However, the obvious defects of Glut, including residual aldehyde toxicity, degradation and calcification, increase the probability of valve failure in vivo and motivated the exploration of alternatives. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop a non-glutaraldehyde hybrid cross-linking method composed of Neomycin Trisulfate, Polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether and Tannic acid as a substitute for Glut, which was proven to reduce calcification, degradation, inflammation of the biomaterial. Evaluations of the crosslinked bovine pericardial included histological and ultrastructural characterization, biomechanical performance, biocompatibility and structural stability test, and in vivo anti-inflammation and anti-calcification assay by subcutaneous implantation in juvenile Sprague Dawley rats. The results revealed that the hybrid crosslinked bovine pericardial were superior to Glut crosslinked biomaterial in terms of better hydrophilicity, thermodynamics stability, hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, higher Young’s Modulus, better stability and resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, and lower inflammation, degradation and calcification levels in subcutaneous implants. Considering all above performances, it indicates that the hybrid cross-linking method is appropriate to replace Glut as the method for BHV preparation, and particularly this hybrid crosslinked biomaterials may be a promising candidate for next-generation BHVs.

PMID:36159659 | PMC:PMC9500414 | DOI:10.3389/fbioe.2022.1008664