Preprocedural manual multi-slice-CT-segmentation tools (MSCT-ST) define the gold standard for planning transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). They are able to predict the perpendicular line of the aortic annulus (PPL) and to indicate the corresponding C-arm angulation (CAA). Fully automated planning-tools and their clinical relevance have not been systematically evaluated in a real world setting so far.

The safety and efficacy of deep sedation (DS) in MitraClip® procedures have been shown previously. However, clinical experience demonstrates that in some patients DS is difficult to achieve. We hypothesize that some patient characteristics can predict difficult DS.

To study sex-specific differences in the amount and distribution of aortic valve calcification (AVC) and to correlate the AVC load with paravalvular leakage (PVL) post-transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI).

Current European guidelines support transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in intermediate-to-low-risk patients ≥75 years-old, but its prognostic relevance is unknown.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis has become more frequent in the last years. This may pose challenges for long-time valve durability. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction (BVD) with the newest-generation devices in BAV stenosis up to one-year follow-up (FU).

Surgical risk prediction models are routinely used to guide decision-making for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). New and updated TAVR-specific models have been developed to improve risk stratification; however, the best option remains unknown.

Therapeutic options targeting post-ischaemic cardiac remodelling are sparse. The bioactive sphingolipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) reduces ischaemia/reperfusion injury. However, its impact on post-ischaemic remodelling independently of its infarct size (IS)-reducing effect is yet unknown and was addressed in this study.

Despite major advances, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is still associated with procedure-specific complications. Although previous studies reported lower bleeding rates in patients receiving protamine for heparin reversal, the optimal protamine-to-heparin dosing ratio is unknown.

Antiplatelet medication is standard of care in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it may have obscured beneficial properties of the activated platelet secretome. We identify platelets as major source of a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) burst during AMI, and find its magnitude to favorably associate with cardiovascular mortality and infarct size in STEMI patients over 12 months. Experimentally, administration of supernatant from activated platelets reduces infarct size in murine AMI, which is blunted in platelets deficient for S1P export (Mfsd2b) or production (Sphk1) and in mice deficient for cardiomyocyte S1P receptor 1 (S1P1). Our study reveals an exploitable therapeutic window in antiplatelet therapy in AMI as the GPIIb/IIIa antagonist tirofiban preserves S1P release and cardioprotection, whereas the P2Y12 antagonist cangrelor does not. Here, we report that platelet-mediated intrinsic cardioprotection is an exciting therapeutic paradigm reaching beyond AMI, the benefits of which may need to be considered in all antiplatelet therapies.

We aimed to identify predictors of mitral regurgitation recurrence (MR) after percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Patients with FMR were enrolled who underwent PMVR using the MitraClip® device. Procedural success was defined as reduction of MR of at least one grade to MR grade ≤ 2 + assessed at discharge. Recurrence of MR was defined as MR grade 3 + or worse at one year after initially successful PMVR. A total of 306 patients with FMR underwent PMVR procedure. In 279 out of 306 patients (91.2%), PMVR was successfully performed with MR grade ≤ 2 + at discharge. In 11.4% of these patients, MR recurrence of initial successful PMVR after 1 year was observed. Recurrence of MR was associated with a higher rate of heart failure rehospitalization during the 12 months follow-up (52.0% vs. 30.3%; p = 0.029), and less improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class [68% vs. 19% of the patients presenting with NYHA functional class III or IV one year after PMVR when compared to patients without recurrence (p = 0.001)]. Patients with MR recurrence were characterized by a higher left ventricular sphericity index {0.69 [Interquartile range (IQR) 0.64, 0.74] vs. 0.65 (IQR 0.58, 0.70), p = 0.003}, a larger left atrium volume [118 (IQR 96, 143) ml vs. 102 (IQR 84, 123) ml, p = 0.019], a larger tenting height 10 (IQR 9, 13) mm vs. 8 (IQR 7, 11) mm (p = 0.047), and a larger mitral valve annulus [41 (IQR 38, 43) mm vs. 39 (IQR 36, 40) mm, p = 0.015] when compared to patients with durable optimal long-term results. In a multivariate regression model, the left ventricular sphericity index [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.120, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.039-1.413, p = 0.003)], tenting height (OR 1.207, 95% CI 1.031-1.413, p = 0.019), and left atrium enlargement (OR 1.018, 95% CI 1.000-1.038, p = 0.047) were predictors for MR recurrence after 1 year. In patients with FMR, baseline parameters of advanced heart failure such as spherical ventricle, tenting height and a large left atrium might indicate risk of recurrent MR one year after PMVR.

Data on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients are controversial. In patients without atrial fibrillation (AF), rivaroxaban showed enhanced ischemia and bleeding as compared to standard of care. ENVISAGE showed enhanced bleeding in AF patients as compared to vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Only apixaban was non-inferior but failed superiority regarding bleeding in AF patients after TAVR. One could hypothesize that this might be due to pharmacokinetics of NOACs. Therefore, we compared outcome in rivaroxaban/edoxaban (once-daily) and apixaban (twice-daily) treated patients. 568 patients with indication for permanent oral anticoagulation due to AF undergoing TAVR were analyzed via inverse probability of treatment weighting. Valve academic research consortium complications during 30-day follow-up were assessed. Bleeding complications were similar in once-daily and twice-daily NOACs (major: 22 (7.5%) vs. 14 (5.3%), p = 0.285; minor: 66 (22.4%) vs. 46 (17.4%), p = 0.133). Complications did not change when splitting the cohort in the different agents apixaban, rivaroxaban and edoxaban. These findings remained robust after multivariate analysis. In summary, twice-daily and once-daily NOACs did not differ regarding bleeding complications in a hypothesis generating real-world cohort of TAVR patients with AF.