The use of surgical bioprostheses has significantly increased, and while they last 15 years or more, in cases where they fail (usually due to stenosis), the decision-making process is challenging. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a good alternative for this situation, although information on the subject matter is still scarce. Currently, the only available…
Left Atrial Appendage Closure Is Safe with the New Devices
Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation with high risk of bleeding has shown promising results with first generation devices (with the Watchman) in the different studies. At present, we have a more modern device, the Watchman FLX, but we do not have much information about it. To gather more data, researchers looked…
MitraClip in Patients with COPD: a Valid Option
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease are associated to hospitalization and mortality. When associated to severe mitral regurgitation, not only do these two conditions have poor evolution, but they also limit the possibility of surgical valve replacement, given its high risk. Edge-to-edge repair with MitraClip has been shown beneficial in a group of…
Combination of Percutaneous Suture Devices after TAVR to Reduce Vascular Complications
Current use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has increased in intermediate-risk patients and has even been used in low-risk patients. Vascular access-related complications and bleeding are still frequent after transfemoral TAVR, being associated with poor short- and long-term outcomes. Using percutaneous closure devices has allowed operators to close the access site without surgery. The…
Non-Cardiac Surgery After TAVR Is Safe
There are increasingly more patients who have undergone transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and require a non-cardiac intervention, or patients with other diseases who need surgery and are diagnosed with aortic stenosis. In addition, on many occasions, surgery must be performed as soon as possible (as in cases of cancer) or is an emergency procedure.…
The Best of the SOLACI-SOCIME 2022 Main Arena: Structural—Selected Topics of TAVR
On the last session from day 1 of SOLACI-SOCIME 2022 on structural pathology, Dr. Raj Makkar, an international expert on the subject, talked about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in pure aortic regurgitation (AR), which presents several implantation challenges, such as insufficient anchoring, embolization, residual regurgitation, ring rupture, etc. As opposed to patients with aortic…
The Best of the Main Arena at SOLACI-SOCIME 2022: TAVR Complex Anatomy
In the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) session we had a presentation by Dr. John P. Vavalle (USA), head of the Structural Heart Disease Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In his presentation, he showed how far the limits of percutaneous aortic valve implantation can be stretched by briefly showing successful…
SOLACI-SOCIME 2022 | TAVI Edited Case, by Dra. Carla Agatiello
Enjoy this edited case performed by Dr. Carla Agatiello during the SOLACI-SOCIME 2022 Congress held at Expo Santa Fé, CDMX on August 4, 5 and 6, 2022. Topic: TAVI Edited Case, by Dra. Carla Agatiello
TRICVALVE in Patients with Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation: Promising Results at 6 months
Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. For patients with high surgical risk that cannot get surgery, the endovascular option has become an attractive solution this past decade. Transcatheter intervention has focused on edge-to-edge repair and valve replacement. However, their success depends on anatomical characteristics and imaging guidance effectiveness. The bicaval…
Antithrombotic Therapy Post Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure
Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAO) with Watchman has FDA approval since March 2015, having shown, in the PROTECT-AF and PREVAIL studies, reduced risk of atrial fibrillation driven stroke, by excluding the left atrial appendage form systemic circulation. Both studies used post procedure standardized protocols involving followup at 45 days and 6 months, imaging, and…
TAVR, More Information Supports Its Use
TAVR has been reported beneficial in the treatment of high and intermediate risk patients but, initially, randomized clinical trials have shown vascular complication and pacemaker implantation rates higher than SAVR in low-risk patients. This will most certainly improve as operator experience and device development advance. This is a randomized 1:1 study including 458 patients receiving…