Enhanced Hemodynamic Performance of a New-Generation 23-mm Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Heart Valve

Glimpse Into the Hemodynamic Performance of Myval Series vs Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia

•The Myval series are novel balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves.•The postprocedural effective orifice area and mean pressure gradient of the Myval series were compared with those of the Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia using published data.•The Myval series seems to have effective orifice areas and mean pressure gradients comparable to those of Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia.

1-Year Real-World Outcomes of TAVR With the Fifth-Generation Balloon-Expandable Valve in the United States

BACKGROUND

Longer term outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA (S3UR) valve over its predecessors have not been reported in a national registry.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the 1-year clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of the S3UR with those of the SAPIEN 3 (S3) and SAPIEN 3 Ultra (S3U) in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT (Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry.

METHODS

From September 2022 to March 2023, patients who underwent native TAVR with the S3UR or the S3 or S3U valve were propensity matched and compared. Predictors of 1-year outcomes were identified. The median follow-up time was 358 days (Q1-Q3: 47-365 days) for the S3UR and 364 days (Q1-Q3: 80-365 days) for the S3 and S3U.

RESULTS

A total of 4,598 S3UR patients were propensity matched with 4,598 and 32,536 S3 and S3U patients. At discharge, effective orifice areas were larger in the S3UR group (P < 0.0001). The lower discharge mean gradient in the S3UR group was maintained at 30 days and 1 year (P < 0.0001 for all). At 1 year, all-cause mortality (7.6% vs 9.7%; HR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.67-0.93; P = 0.004), mild or greater paravalvular leak (PVL) (15.6% vs 18.5%; HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69-0.97; P = 0.02), and life-threatening bleeding (2.0% vs 2.7%; HR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.54-0.94; P = 0.03) were lower in the S3UR group. S3UR and mild or greater PVL were predictive of 1-year mortality in the overall cohort and in low-risk patients. Valve reintervention remained rare at 1 year (0.6% vs 0.4%; HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 0.77-2.78; P = 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

TAVR with the S3UR is associated with superior 1-year clinical outcomes and lower gradients than its predecessors, with less PVL and low valve reintervention. Longer follow-up will determine the durability of the RESILIA technology in the SAPIEN valve platform.

Routine postdilation after 23 mm Sapien 3 Ultra implantation in the aortic position

BACKGROUND

Residual transprosthetic gradient (TG) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with balloon-expandable valves (BEV) may be due to suboptimal valve expansion.

AIMS

To compare hemodynamics after TAVR with small BEV according to postdilation strategy.

METHODS

This observational, retrospective cohort study included 184 consecutive patients from a single center treated with 23 mm Sapien 3 Ultra (Edwards Lifesciences) BEV implantation in the aortic position and enrolled between January 2020 and April 2023. Patients treated with routine postdilation (RP, n = 73) were compared to patients treated according to local standard practice (SP, n = 111). Primary endpoint was 30-day mean TG. Secondary endpoints were incidence of 30-day prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM), technical success and device success.

RESULTS

Thirty-day mean TG was lower in RP versus SP (12.3 ± 4.6 mmHg vs. 14.1 ± 5.7 mmHg, p = 0.031), and incidence of PPM was less common with RP versus SP (47.3% vs. 71.0%, p = 0.006). Technical success (98.6% vs. 99.1%, p = 0.637) and device success (93.1% vs. 90.1%, p = 0.330) did not differ between groups. Differences in 30-day mean TG were driven by patients at normal flow (12.1 ± 4.0 mmHg vs. 15.0 ± 5.5 mmHg, p = 0.014), while no differences were evident among patients at low flow (12.5 ± 5.5 mmHg vs. 11.7 ± 5.5 mmHg, p = 0.644). RP decreased height and increased width of BEV, and a linear regression established that final BEV width could predict 30-day mean TG (r = -0.6654, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

RP after TAVR with small BEV was associated with more favorable forward-flow hemodynamics than SP.

Delayed migration of a Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia following transcatheter aortic valve implantation after selection of a smaller-sized valve

This report discusses a rare case of delayed migration of a Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia (S3UR) valve following transcatheter aortic valve implantation. An 81-year-old Japanese woman had a borderline aortic annular size of 20-23 mm according to the manufacturer's size chart. We chose to implant a smaller S3UR of 20 mm with an 80/20 depth ratio to allow for a second intervention, ensuring good hemodynamics and minimizing paravalvular leak. The patient initially had a favorable outcome despite an accidental 50/50 depth ratio during implantation. On postoperative day 3, the S3UR migrated into the left ventricular outflow tract. Emergency surgical aortic valve replacement was performed to retrieve the migrated valve. Use of the S3UR has led to a growing preference for smaller valve sizes. However, the risk of migration should be recognized. When an accidental 50/50 depth ratio implantation is encountered, post-dilation or second valve implantation should be performed immediately.

Real-World Outcomes for the Fifth-Generation Balloon Expandable Transcatheter Heart Valve in the United States

BACKGROUND

The fifth-generation SAPIEN 3 Ultra Resilia valve (S3UR) incorporates several design changes as compared with its predecessors, the SAPIEN 3 (S3) and SAPIEN 3 Ultra (S3U) valves, including bovine leaflets treated with a novel process intended to reduce structural valve deterioration via calcification, as well as a taller external skirt on the 29-mm valve size to reduce paravalvular leak (PVL). The clinical performance of S3UR compared with S3 and S3U in a large patient population has not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare S3UR to S3/S3U for procedural, in-hospital, and 30-day clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

METHODS

Patients enrolled in the STS/ACC TVT (Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023, who underwent TAVR with S3UR or S3U/S3 valve platforms were propensity-matched and evaluated for procedural, in-hospital, and 30-day clinical and echocardiographic outcomes.

RESULTS

10,314 S3UR patients were propensity matched with 10,314 patients among 150,539 S3U/S3 patients. At 30 days, there were no statistically significant differences in death, stroke, or bleeding, but a numerically higher hospital readmission rate in the S3UR cohort (8.5% vs 7.7%; P = 0.04). At discharge, S3UR patients exhibited significantly lower mean gradients (9.2 ± 4.6 mm Hg vs 12.0 ± 5.7 mm Hg; P < 0.0001) and larger aortic valve area (2.1 ± 0.7 cm2 vs 1.9 ± 0.6 cm2; P < 0.0001) than patients treated with S3/S3U. The 29-mm valve size exhibited significant reduction in mild PVL (5.3% vs 9.4%; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

S3UR TAVR is associated with lower mean gradients and lower rates of PVL than earlier generations of balloon expandable transcatheter heart valve platforms.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Current Status and Future Indications

In the past two decades, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has transformed the management of aortic stenosis and has become the standard of care regardless of surgical risk levels. Advances in transcatheter valve design across newer generations, improved imaging, greater operator expertise, and technical enhancements have collectively contributed to increased safety and a decline in procedural complications over this timeframe. The application of TAVR has progressively expanded to include younger patients with lower risks, who have longer life expectancies. This article offers an up-to-date review of the latest innovations in transcatheter delivery systems, devices, and its possible future indications.