Long-term survival and valve-related complications in young women with cardiac valve replacements

Age Differences in Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a significant and growing concern, with a prevalence of 2-3% in individuals aged over 65 years. Moreover, with an aging global population, the prevalence is anticipated to double by 2050. Indeed, AS can arise from various etiologies, including calcific trileaflets, congenital valve abnormalities (e.g., bicuspid and unicuspid valves), and post-rheumatic, whereby each has a distinct influence that shapes the onset and progression of the disease. The normal aortic valve has a trilaminar structure comprising the fibrosa, spongiosa, and ventricularis, which work together to maintain its function. In calcific AS, the disease begins with early calcification starting in high mechanical stress areas of the valve and progresses slowly over decades, eventually leading to extensive calcification resulting in impaired valve function. This process involves mechanisms similar to atherosclerosis, including lipid deposition, chronic inflammation, and mineralization. The progression of calcific AS is strongly associated with aging, with additional risk factors including male gender, smoking, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome exacerbating the condition. Conversely, congenital forms of AS, such as bicuspid and unicuspid aortic valves, result in an earlier disease onset, typically 10-20 years earlier than that observed in patients with a normal tricuspid aortic valve. Rheumatic AS, although less common in developed countries due to effective antibiotic treatments, also exhibits age-related characteristics, with an earlier onset in individuals who experienced rheumatic fever in their youth. The only curative therapies currently available are surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, these options are sometimes too invasive for older patients; thus, management of AS, particularly in older patients, requires a comprehensive approach that considers age, disease severity, comorbidities, frailty, and each patient's individual needs. Although the valves used in TAVR demonstrate promising midterm durability, long-term data are still required, especially when used in younger individuals, usually with low surgical risk. Moreover, understanding the causes and mechanisms of structural valve deterioration is crucial for appropriate treatment selections, including valve selection and pharmacological therapy, since this knowledge is essential for optimizing the lifelong management of AS.

Effect of pregnancy on bioprosthetic structural valve degeneration

Background

Despite increasing frequency of pregnancies among patients with cardiac conditions, including the presence of prosthetic heart valves, data on the effects of physiological changes during pregnancy on the function of bioprosthetic valves remains scarce and shows conflicting results.

Objectives

This study was aimed to determine the effect of pregnancy on the rate of bioprosthetic structural valve degeneration.

Methods

We designed a retrospective matched cohort study of patients seen between June 2018 and February 2023. All pregnant patients with bioprosthetic valves were matched to non-pregnant controls with prior valve replacement based on bioprosthetic valve location, time since valve implantation, age of the patient at valve implantation and time between baseline and follow up echocardiograms. Echocardiograms of pregnant patients were evaluated for bioprosthetic structural valve degeneration grade based on a dedicated scale before and after pregnancy. Non-pregnant controls had echocardiogram scoring of structural valve degeneration over a similar time period.

Results

Thirty four pregnant patients with bioprosthetic valves in the pulmonary, aortic and mitral positions were matched with 71 non-pregnant controls with identical bioprosthetic valves locations. Over a median follow up period of 13.5 months that included the gestational period, 18 (53 %) pregnant patients had an increase in structural valve degeneration score as compared to 17 (26 %) of the non-pregnant patients in median follow up of 13.7 months (OR 3.87, p = 0.004). On multivariable analysis, pregnancy was the only variable associated with increased structural valve degeneration score.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that pregnancy is associated with increased bioprosthetic structural valve degeneration.

Mechanical valve replacement for patients with rheumatic heart disease: the reality of INR control in Africa and beyond

The majority of patients requiring heart valve replacement in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) need it for rheumatic heart disease (RHD). While the young age of such patients largely prescribes replacement with mechanical prostheses, reliable anticoagulation management is often unattainable under the prevailing socioeconomic circumstances. Cases of patients with clotted valves presenting for emergency surgery as a consequence of poor adherence to anticoagulation control are frequent. The operative mortality rates of reoperations for thrombosed mechanical valves are several times higher than those for tissue valves, and long-term results are also disappointing. Under-anticoagulation prevails in these regions that has clearly been linked to poor international normalised ratio (INR) monitoring. In industrialised countries, safe anticoagulation is defined as >60%-70% of the time in the therapeutic range (TTR). In LMICs, the TTR has been found to be in the range of twenty to forty percent. In this study, we analysed >20,000 INR test results of 552 consecutive patients receiving a mechanical valve for RHD. Only 27% of these test results were in the therapeutic range, with the vast majority (61%) being sub-therapeutic. Interestingly, the post-operative frequency of INR tests of one every 3-4 weeks in year 1 had dropped to less than 1 per year by year 7. LMICs need to use clinical judgement and assess the probability of insufficient INR monitoring prior to uncritically applying Western guidelines predominantly based on chronological age. The process of identification of high-risk subgroups in terms of non-adherence to anticoagulation control should take into account both the adherence history of >50% of patients with RHD who were in chronic atrial fibrillation prior to surgery as well as geographic and socioeconomic circumstances.

Cohort profile: methodology and cohort characteristics of the Aotearoa New Zealand Rheumatic Heart Disease Registry

PURPOSE

To create a cohort with high specificity for moderate and severe rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in New Zealand, not reliant on International Classification of Diseases discharge coding. To describe the demography and cardiac profile of this historical and contemporary cohort.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

Retrospective identification of moderate or severe RHD with disease onset by 2019. Case identification from the following data sources: cardiac surgical databases, RHD case series, percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty databases, echocardiography databases, regional rheumatic fever registers and RHD clinic lists. The setting for this study was a high-income country with continued incidence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF).

FINDINGS TO DATE

A Registry cohort of 4959 patients was established. The initial presentation was RHD without recognised prior ARF in 41%, and ARF in 59%. Ethnicity breakdown: Māori 38%, Pacific 33.5%, European 21.9%, other 6.7%. Ethnic disparities have changed significantly over time. Prior to 1960, RHD cases were 64.3% European, 25.3% Māori and 6.7% Pacific. However, in contrast, from 2010 to 2019, RHD cases were 10.7% European, 37.4% Māori and 47.2% Pacific.Follow-up showed 32% had changed region of residence within New Zealand from their initial presentation. At least one cardiac intervention (cardiac surgery, transcatheter balloon valvuloplasty) was undertaken in 64% of the cohort at a mean age of 40 years. 19.8% of the cohort had multiple cardiac interventions. At latest follow-up, 26.9% of the cohort died. Of those alive, the mean follow-up is 20.5+19.4 years. Māori and Pacific led governance groups have been established to provide data governance and oversight for the registry.

FUTURE PLANS

Detailed mortality and morbidity of the registry cases will be defined by linkage to New Zealand national health data collections. The contemporary cohort of the registry will be available for future studies to improve clinical management and outcomes for the 3450 individuals living with chronic RHD.

The cost-of-illness due to rheumatic heart disease: national estimates for Fiji

BACKGROUND

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a chronic valvular heart disease that is responsible for a heavy burden of premature mortality in low- and middle-income countries. The total costs of RHD are important to health policy and research investment decisions. We estimate for the first time the total cost of RHD for Fiji (2008-2012) using a cost-of-illness approach and novel primary data on RHD disease burden and costs.

METHODS

RHD cases were identified using probabilistic record linkage across four routine data sources: (1) the Fiji RHD Control Program, (2) national hospital admissions records, (3) the Ministry of Health database of cause-specific deaths and (4) hospital ECG clinic registers. For each individual with RHD, we obtained information on RHD hospital admissions, treatment and death. We conducted a prevalence-based cost-of-illness analysis, including bottom-up assessment of indirect and direct (healthcare) costs.

RESULTS

The estimated cost of RHD in Fiji for 2008-2012 was year-2010 $FJ91.6 million (approximately US$47.7 million). Productivity losses from premature mortality constituted the majority of costs (71.4%). Indirect costs were 27-fold larger than the direct costs.

CONCLUSIONS

RHD leads to a heavy economic burden in Fiji. Improved prevention strategies for RHD will likely confer substantial economic benefits to the country.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Can We Compare Direct Oral Anticoagulants to Warfarin in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Bio-Prosthetic Valves?

Background There are no clear consensus guidelines on the indications and types of anticoagulation therapies in patients with bio-prosthetic valves either with concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm. In our meta-analysis, we assessed the safety and efficacy of DOACs as compared to the standard treatment with warfarin in patients with AF and bioprosthetic valves. Methods We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies in the English language, and studies reporting patients with valvular heart disease that included bioprosthetic valvular disease. A systematic literature review using Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science was performed using the terms "Direct Acting Oral Anticoagulant," "Oral Anticoagulants," "Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant," "Atrial Fibrillation," "Bioprosthetic Valve" for literature published prior to January 2021. Extraction of data from included studies was carried out independently by three reviewers from Covidence. We assessed the methodical rigor of the included studies using the modified Downs and Black checklist. Results Four RCTs and one observational study (n=1776) were included in our study. A random-effect model using RevMan (version 5.4; The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen) was used for data analysis. The pooled data showed that there was a non-significant reduction in the incidence of stroke and systemic embolism in the patients taking DOACs as compared to warfarin (HR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.29, 1.67; I2 = 50%). The incidence of major bleeding was lower in the DOACs group; the difference was statistically significant (HR 0.42; 95% CI, 0.26, 0.67; I2 = 7%). The difference was not statistically significant for all-cause mortality in both groups (HR 1.24; 95% CI, 0.91, 1.67; I2 = 0%). Conclusion Our results showed that there was no difference in the outcomes of stroke and systemic embolism between DOACs and warfarin but there were statistically significantly lower major bleeding events. We conclude that larger clinical trials are needed to assess the true safety and efficacy of DOACs in patients with AF and bioprosthetic valves.

Reconstruction of aortic valve by autologous pericardium (Ozaki's procedure): Single center experience in Vietnam

AIM

We aimed to report the experience of aortic valve reconstruction with autologous pericardium using Ozaki's procedure in Vietnam.

METHODS

The study included consecutive patients with isolated aortic valve disease who underwent Ozaki's procedure in our hospital between June 2017 and August 2019. Aortic valve leaflets were reconstructed with autologous pericardium using Ozaki's procedure.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients were included (mean age 55.8 years; 41 were male): 24 with aortic stenosis, 17 with aortic regurgitation, and 20 with both. Of the 61 patients, 16 had a bicuspid aortic valve, and 5 had infective endocarditis. The preoperative peak and mean gradient pressure gradients were 91.7 ± 16.1 mm Hg and 55.3 ± 10.3 mm Hg, respectively. Surgery was performed via a full or partial sternotomy. The procedure was successful in 59 cases. Two patients were converted to prosthetic valve replacement. The aortic crossclamp time was 110.9 ± 20.5 minutes. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed a mean pressure gradient of 8 ± 2 mm Hg and an aortic valve area of 3.04 ± 0.44 cm². The mean follow-up period was 18.5 ± 5.7 months. One patient died in hospital due to cardiac tamponade. One patient underwent reoperation due to infective endocarditis 6 months after surgery. Another died at 8 months after surgery due to a mediastinal abscess. The surviving patients had no aortic regurgitation or mild aortic regurgitation at the last follow-up visits.

CONCLUSIONS

Aortic valve reconstruction with autologous pericardium provided good outcomes in our study.

Bicuspid reconstruction surgery in a patient suffering from aortic valve infective endocarditis with annular abscess using Ozaki's procedure: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Aortic valve infective endocarditis with annular abscess is associated with high mortality rate and surgery is usually the choice of treatment. Plasty or reconstruction of aortic valve is being performed more widely.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case study of a 56-year-old male who was diagnosed with congenital bicuspid aortic valve, severe aortic stenosis and regurgitation, and annular abscess. This patient underwent operation in december 2019 and Ozaki's procedure was used to measure the distance between two commissures to reconstruct new leaflets and close the abscess using autologous pericardium. A bicuspid valve was reconstructed based on the anatomical feature of the patient. 6 months after surgery, aortic valve function was good with no residual insufficiency, maximum gradient was 8 mmHg.

DISCUSSION

Reconstruction of aortic valve by Ozaki's procedure has been reported with many advantages for the patient. In case of infectious endocarditis, this technique helps avoid the use of artificial materials. Bicuspid aortic valve reconstruction surgery following the novel methods of reconstructing three leaflets or maintaining the bicuspid morphology could both be performed with good results.

CONCLUSION

Reconstruction of aortic valve by Ozaki's procedure in infectious endocarditis has good results. In case of true bicuspid aortic valve, reconstruction bi-leaflets can be performed.

Morbidity in Pregnant Women with a Prosthetic Heart Valve

BACKGROUND

Women with a prosthetic heart valve are perceived to be at higher risk for adverse outcomes, but their absolute and relative risk of experiencing maternal morbidity and cardiac complications is largely unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine the risk of maternal morbidity and cardiac complications in women with a prior heart valve replacement, compared with matched counterparts without known cardiac disease.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective population-based matched cohort study was completed in the province of Ontario, Canada, where there is universal health care. Included were all women of child-bearing age who had bioprosthetic or mechanical replacement of the mitral or aortic valve, April 1994 to March 2016 (valve replacement group). Those in the valve replacement group, and who had at least 1 birth, were 1:4 matched to a community comparison group without heart disease and who also had at least 1 birth. Matching was by maternal age at cohort entry, year of cohort entry, geographic area, income level, and age at first birth. Maternal outcomes included severe maternal morbidity, all-cause mortality, and cardiac morbidity as well as a prolonged hospital length of stay >7 days. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were further adjusted for age at birth and immigration status.

RESULTS

There were 90 live births among the 64 women in the valve replacement group and 404 live births among the 253 women in the matched community comparison group. There were no stillbirths. Severe maternal morbidity occurred in 13 pregnancies (14.4%) in the valve replacement group and 6 (1.5%) in the community comparison group (adjusted relative risk, 9.73, 95% confidence interval, 3.70-25.59); there were no maternal deaths. The corresponding rates of prolonged hospital length of stay were 37.8% and 18.8% (adjusted relative risk, 2.33, 95% confidence interval, 1.48-3.67).

CONCLUSION

Pregnant women who had aortic or mitral valve replacement were more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity, as well as prolonged hospital length of stay, than matched counterparts without heart disease. This information can enhance shared decision making about the timing of valve replacement and pregnancy planning in young and middle-aged women. To determine the absolute and relative risk of maternal morbidity and cardiac complications in women with prior heart valve replacement, a retrospective population-based matched cohort study was completed in the province of Ontario, Canada, where there is universal health care. Included were all women of child-bearing age who had bioprosthetic or mechanical replacement of the mitral or aortic valve, April 1994 to March 2016 (valve replacement group). Those in the valve replacement group, and who had at least one birth, were 1:4 matched to a community comparison group without heart disease and who also had at least 1 birth. There were 90 live births among the 64 women in the valve replacement group and 404 live births among the 253 women in the matched community comparison group. Severe maternal morbidity occurred in 13 pregnancies (14.4%) in the valve replacement group and 6 (1.5%) in the community comparison group (adjusted relative risk, 9.73); there were no maternal deaths. The corresponding rates of prolonged hospital length of stay were 37.8% and 18.8% (adjusted relative risk, 2.33). In summary, pregnant women who had an aortic or mitral valve replacement were more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity, as well as prolonged hospital length of stay, than matched counterparts without heart disease.

The Russian Conduit - Combining Bentall and Ozaki Procedures for Concomitant Ascending Aorta Replacement and Aortic Valve Neocuspidization

In aortic valve disease cases, prosthetic valves have been used for valve replacement, however, these prostheses have inherent problems, and their quality in some countries is lower comparing to new-generation models, causing shorter durability. Aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo) has emerged as an option, which can be applied to a wide spectrum of these diseases. Despite the promising results, this procedure is not widely spread among cardiac surgeons yet. We developed a surgical technique combining Bentall and Ozaki procedures to treat patients with concomitant ascending aorta replacement and AVNeo and we describe it in this paper.

Influence of pregnancy on long-term durability of allografts in right ventricular outflow tract

BACKGROUND

There is very limited published evidence about the influence of pregnancy on allograft durability in right ventricular outflow tract position. We present the first study using mixed and joint modeling.

METHODS

This retrospective study compared clinical and valve related outcomes of all consecutive female hospital survivors in their fertile life phase (18-50 years) based on pregnancy. Serial echocardiographic measurements of pulmonary gradient and regurgitation were analyzed for their association with valve replacement using joint models for longitudinal and time-to-event data. Occurrence of first pregnancy was included as a time-dependent intermediate event in both the longitudinal and survival analyses of the joint model to assess its impact on the hemodynamic and clinical outcome.

RESULTS

In total, 196 consecutive women in their fertile life-phase with an allograft were included. Complete information of 176 (90%) allografts in 165 women was available, including 1395 echocardiograms. Of these women, 51 (30.9%) women had 84 completed pregnancies at an average age of 29.1 ± 3.9 (SD) years; 8.1 ± 6.1 years since allograft implantation. Tetralogy of Fallot was the most common diagnosis in both groups. After a mean follow-up of 15.2 years (range 0.1-30), 7 (13.7%) parous women underwent valve replacement versus 20 (17.5%) nulliparous women. During this follow-up, the mean allograft gradient in parous (24.2 mm Hg) and nulliparous (21.0 mm Hg) women was comparable (P = .225). A 1-mm Hg increase in pulmonary gradient increased the instantaneous risk of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) by a ratio of 1.051 (P < .001), regardless of pregnancy. Similarly, development of moderate or severe regurgitation increased the risk of PVR (P = .038), regardless of pregnancy. Pregnancy was not associated with a change in the allograft gradient (P = .258), regurgitation grade (P = .774), or hazard of PVR (P = .796) during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy is not associated with impaired allograft durability in women with good cardiac health.

Outcomes and Long-term Effects of Pregnancy in Women With Biologic and Mechanical Valve Prostheses

The optimal choice of prosthetic heart valve for women of child-bearing age is not well established. We conducted this retrospective cohort study to compare pregnancy outcomes and maternal mortality and morbidity, including long-term valve reoperation, between women with biologic and mechanical valve replacements. Women ≤50 years of age with prosthetic heart valve implantation and subsequent pregnancy in California, New Jersey, and New York State between 1990 to 2015 were identified using mandatory state inpatient databases. Average follow-up time was 9.4 years (SD 6.7 years). Of 11,930 women who underwent 14,017 valve replacements, pregnancies in 417 women with 241 biologic valves, and 217 mechanical valves were identified. Women with mechanical prostheses experienced significantly higher rates of pregnancy loss, with almost 2/3 of pregnancies ending in either spontaneous or induced abortion, and hemorrhage and thromboembolic events during delivery. Delivery was a significant risk factor for reoperation for both biologic (hazard ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 3.8 after time-dependent propensity matching) and mechanical (hazard ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 4.1 after time-dependent propensity matching) prostheses. Half of reoperations in women with mechanical valves who experienced pregnancy occurred within 1 year after delivery, and most were associated with mitral valve thrombosis. In conclusion, pregnancy accelerates time to reoperation for both biologic and mechanical prostheses. Mechanical valves are at particular risk for near-term valve failure after delivery, and compared with bioprostheses, are associated with higher rates of adverse events during pregnancy.

Biological versus mechanical heart valve prosthesis during pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

We evaluate pregnancy outcome and anticoagulation regimes in women with mechanical and biological prosthetic heart valves (PHV) for congenital heart disease.

METHODS

Retrospective multicenter cohort studying pregnancy outcomes in an existing cohort of patients with PHV.

RESULTS

52 women had 102 pregnancies of which 78 pregnancies (46 women) ≥20 weeks duration (59 biological, 19 mechanical PHV). Miscarriages (n = 19, ≤20 weeks) occurred more frequently in women using anticoagulation (P < .05). During 42% of pregnancies of women with mechanical PHV a combined low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) vitamin-K-antagonist anticoagulation regime was used (n = 8). Overall, cardiovascular, obstetric and fetal/neonatal complications occurred in 17% (n = 13), 68% (n = 42) and 42% (n = 27) of the pregnancies. Women with mechanical PHV had significantly higher cardiovascular (12% vs 32%, P < .05), obstetric (59% vs 85%, P = .02) and fetal/neonatal (34% vs 61%, P < .05) complication rates than women with biological PHV. This was related to PHV thrombosis (n = 3, P < .02), post-partum hemorrhage (P < .02), cesarean section (P < .02), low birth weight and small for gestational age (both P < .05). PHV thrombosis occurred in 3 pregnancies, including 2/5 pregnancies with pulmonary mechanical PHV. PHV thrombosis was related to necessary cessation of anticoagulation therapy or insufficient monitoring of LMWH. Other cardiovascular complications occurred equally frequent in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Complications occur more often in pregnancies of women with a mechanical PHV than in women with a biological PHV, mainly caused by PHV thrombosis and bleeding complications. Meticulous monitoring of anticoagulation in pregnant women is necessary. Women with a pulmonary mechanical PHV are at high risk of complications.

Valvular Heart Disease and Pregnancy

With improving reproductive assistive technologies, advancing maternal age, and improved survival of patients with congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease has become an important cause of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women. In general, stenotic lesions, even those in the moderate range, are poorly tolerated in the face of hemodynamic changes of pregnancy. Regurgitant lesions, however, fare better due to the physiologic afterload reduction that occurs. Intervention on regurgitant valve preconception follows the same principles as a non-pregnant population. Prosthetic valves in pregnancy are increasingly commonplace, presenting new management challenges including valve deterioration and valve thrombosis. In particular, anticoagulation during pregnancy is challenging. Pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state and the risks of maternal bleeding and fetal anticoagulant risks need to be balanced. Maternal mortality and complications are lowest with warfarin use throughout pregnancy; however, fetal outcomes are best with low molecular weight heparin use. ACC/AHA guidelines recommend warfarin use, even in the first trimester, if doses are less than 5 mg/day; however, adverse fetal events are not zero at this dose. In addition, it is unclear if better monitoring of low molecular weight heparin with peak and trough anti-Xa levels would lower maternal risks as this has been inconsistently monitored in reported studies. Fortunately, with the emergence of newer data, our understanding of anticoagulant strategies in pregnancy is improving over time which should translate to better pregnancy outcomes in this higher risk population.

Congenital and Acquired Valvular Heart Disease in Pregnancy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The number of pregnancies complicated by valvular heart disease is increasing. This review describes the hemodynamic effects of clinically important valvular abnormalities during pregnancy and reviews current guideline-driven management strategies.

RECENT FINDINGS

Valvular heart disease in women of childbearing age is most commonly caused by congenital abnormalities and rheumatic heart disease. Regurgitant lesions are well tolerated, while stenotic lesions are associated with a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications. Management of symptomatic disease during pregnancy is primarily medical, with percutaneous interventions considered for refractory symptoms. Most guidelines addressing the management of valvular heart disease during pregnancy are based on case reports and observational studies. Additional investigation is required to further advance the care of this growing patient population.

Rheumatic Heart Disease: The Unfinished Global Agenda

Primarily affecting the young, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a neglected chronic disease commonly causing premature morbidity and mortality among the global poor. Standard clinical prevention and treatment is based on studies from the early antimicrobial era, as research investment halted soon after the virtual eradication of the disease from developed countries. The emergence of new global data on disease burden, new technologies, and a global health equity platform have revitalized interest and investment in RHD. This review surveys past and current evidence for standard RHD diagnosis and treatment, highlighting gaps in knowledge.

Cardiac Lesions in the Critical Care Setting

The long-held belief that pregnancy is absolutely contraindicated in maternal cardiovascular disease is no longer justifiable using evidence-base medicine. There are some conditions in which pregnancy is contraindicated, and high maternal risk and poor fetal outcome can be predicted. However, in many women with heart disease, a more favorable maternal and fetal outcome is expected. This article focusses on the cardiac conditions that require more attention and have the potential to require observation in the intensive care unit setting.

Anticoagulation in Pregnancy with Mechanical Heart Valves: 10-Year Experience

Anticoagulation in pregnancy was evaluated in 33 women with a mechanical heart valve prosthesis who had 53 pregnancies between 1994 and 2006. Their mean age at valve operation was 24.4 ± 5.4 years, and 22 (67%) had isolated mitral valve disease. Of these patients, 22 had a single pregnancy, 5 had 2 pregnancies, 3 had 3, and 3 had 4. In 43 pregnancies, the patients took warfarin throughout; in the other 10, heparin was used in the first trimester followed by warfarin until the last 15 days. Mean international normalized ratio and warfarin levels before, during, and after pregnancy were similar. Complications occurred in 3 (6%) women who had thrombosed valves: 2 (20%) in the heparin group and 1 (2%) who had warfarin only. Live births resulted from 37 (70%) pregnancies. There were significantly more abortions in the heparin group (6; 60%) than the warfarin group (8; 19%). Hemorrhage requiring transfusion occurred in 2 (5%) patients in the warfarin group. All live births resulted in healthy babies. It was concluded that anticoagulation with warfarin is safe during pregnancy in women with mechanical heart valves.

Newly diagnosed rheumatic heart disease among indigenous populations in the Pacific

OBJECTIVES

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains the leading acquired heart disease in the young worldwide. We aimed at assessing outcomes and influencing factors in the contemporary era.

METHODS

Hospital-based cohort in a high-income island nation where RHD remains endemic and the population is captive. All patients admitted with newly diagnosed RHD according to World Heart Federation echocardiographic criteria were enrolled (2005-2013). The incidence of major cardiovascular events (MACEs) including heart failure, peripheral embolism, stroke, heart valve intervention and cardiovascular death was calculated, and their determinants identified.

RESULTS

Of the 396 patients, 43.9% were male with median age 18 years (IQR 10-40)). 127 (32.1%) patients presented with mild, 131 (33.1%) with moderate and 138 (34.8%) with severe heart valve disease. 205 (51.8%) had features of acute rheumatic fever. 106 (26.8%) presented with at least one MACE. Among the remaining 290 patients, after a median follow-up period of 4.08 (95% CI 1.84 to 6.84) years, 7 patients (2.4%) died and 62 (21.4%) had a first MACE. The annual incidence of first MACE and of heart failure were 59.05‰ (95% CI 44.35 to 73.75) and 29.06‰ (95% CI 19.29 to 38.82), respectively. The severity of RHD at diagnosis (moderate vs mild HR 3.39 (0.95 to 12.12); severe vs mild RHD HR 10.81 (3.11 to 37.62), p<0.001) and ongoing secondary prophylaxis at follow-up (HR 0.27 (0.12 to 0.63), p=0.01) were the two most influential factors associated with MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

Newly diagnosed RHD is associated with poor outcomes, mainly in patients with moderate or severe valve disease and no secondary prophylaxis.

Valve disease in pregnancy

Maternal cardiac disease is a major cause of non-obstetric morbidity and accounts for 10-25% of maternal mortality. Valvular heart disease may result from congenital abnormalities or acquired lesions, some of which may involve more than one valve. Maternal and fetal risks in pregnant patients with valve disease vary according to the type and severity of the valve lesion along with resulting abnormalities of functional capacity, left ventricular function, and pulmonary artery pressure. Certain high-risk conditions are considered contraindications to pregnancy, while others may be successfully managed with observation, medications, and, in refractory cases, surgical intervention. Communication between the patient׳s obstetrician, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, obstetrical anesthesiologist, and cardiologist is critical in managing a pregnancy with underlying maternal cardiac disease. The management of the various types of valve diseases in pregnancy will be reviewed here, along with a discussion of related complications including mechanical prosthetic valves and infective endocarditis.

Estimating rheumatic fever incidence in New Zealand using multiple data sources

Rheumatic fever (RF) is an important public health problem in New Zealand (NZ). There are three sources of RF surveillance data, all with major limitations that prevent NZ generating accurate epidemiological information. We aimed to estimate the likely RF incidence using multiple surveillance data sources. National RF hospitalization and notification data were obtained, covering the periods 1988-2011 and 1997-2011, respectively. Data were also obtained from four regional registers: Wellington, Waikato, Hawke's Bay and Rotorua. Coded patient identifiers were used to calculate the proportion of individuals who could be matched between datasets. Capture-recapture analyses were used to calculate the likely number of true RF cases for the period 1997-2011. A range of scenarios were used to correct for likely dataset incompleteness. The estimated sensitivity of each data source was calculated. Patients who were male, Māori or Pacific, aged 5-15 years and met the Jones criteria, were most likely to be matched between national datasets. All registers appeared incomplete. An average of 113 new initial cases occurred annually. Sensitivity was estimated at 80% for the hospitalization dataset and 60% for the notification dataset. There is a clear need to develop a high-quality RF surveillance system, such as a national register. Such a system could link important data sources to provide effective, comprehensive national surveillance to support both strategy-focused and control-focused activities, helping reduce the incidence and impact of this disease. It is important to remind clinicians that RF cases do occur outside the well-characterized high-risk group.

Prosthetic heart valves in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

BACKGROUND

Advances in surgical technique, prosthetic heart valve design, and anticoagulation have contributed to an overall improvement in morbidity and mortality in women with heart valve prostheses as well as increased feasibility of pregnancy. Previous work investigating the pregnancies of women with prosthetic valves has been directed largely toward understanding the influence of anticoagulation regimen. There has been little investigation on maternal and infant outcomes. The objective of this systematic review will be to assess the outcomes of pregnancy in women with heart valve prostheses in contemporary populations.

METHODS/DESIGN

A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and the Cochrane Library will be undertaken. Article titles and abstracts will be evaluated by two reviewers for potential relevance. Studies that include pregnancies occurring from 1995 onwards and where there are six or more pregnancies in women with heart valve prostheses included in the study population will be reviewed for potential inclusion. Primary outcomes of interest will be mortality (maternal and perinatal). Secondary outcomes will include other pregnancy outcomes. No language restrictions will be applied. Methodological quality and heterogeneity of studies will be assessed. Data extraction from identified articles will be undertaken by two independent reviewers using a uniform template. Meta-analyses will be performed to ascertain risk of adverse events and, where numbers are sufficient, by type of prosthesis and location as well as other subgroup analyses.

DISCUSSION

Estimates of the risk of adverse events in recent pregnancies of women with heart valve prosthesis will provide better information for counselling and decision making. Given the improvements in prognosis of heart valve prosthesis recipients and the paucity of definitive data regarding optimal pregnancy management for these women, review of this topic is pertinent.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

This protocol has been registered with the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) as number CRD42013006187, accessible online at http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp?ID=CRD42013006187#.Utk7qNJ9Lf8.

Pregnancy outcome and follow-up cardiac outcome in women with aortic valve replacement

OBJECTIVES

To compare the maternal, fetal and cardiac outcomes in women who have undergone aortic valve replacement.

METHOD

Retrospective observational study of all women with aortic valve replacement, who underwent a pregnancy (1998-2012). Maternal-, fetal- and valve-related cardiac outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

Thirty-two pregnancies in 16 women with aortic valve replacement (nine bioprosthetic, six Ross and 17 mechanical) were evaluated. There were no adverse maternal events in the bioprosthetic and Ross groups but three in the mechanical group. Fetal loss rate was highest in the mechanical valve pregnancies (53%). One woman in the bioprosthetic group needed valve re-operation, and one woman in the mechanical valve group died. There was no difference in the change of Vmax over the follow-up between the valves (p = 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no difference in deterioration between aortic valve replacements during and after pregnancy. The highest risk of maternal and fetal complications occurred in the mechanical valve group.

Improved Long-Term Survival for Rheumatic Mitral Valve Repair Compared to Replacement in the Young

Background:

Mitral valve (MV) repair offers potential advantages over replacement in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We present the first long-term study that compares MV repair with replacement in children with RHD.

Methods and Results:

Single institute retrospective review of patients with RHD under 20 years of age, who underwent their first isolated MV surgery between 1990 and 2006. Of the 81 patients, 98% were Māori or Pacific Islander. The median age was 12.7 (3-19) years. The MV was repaired in 59%, a mechanical valve replacement (MVR) took place in 35% and bioprosthetic valve replacement in 6% of the patients. Follow-up data were available for 91.4% of the patients with mean follow-up of 7.6 years (range 0-19.4 years), a total of 620 patient years. Actuarial survival at 10 and 14 years for patients with MVR was 79% and 44%, compared to 90% and 90% for patients who underwent repair ( P = .06). Actuarial freedom from late reoperation at 10 and 14 years for patients with MVR was 88% and 73%, compared to 76% and 76% for patients with repair ( P = .52). Actuarial freedom from thrombotic, embolic, and hemorrhagic events at 10 and 14 years for patients with MVR was 63% and 45%, compared to 100% and 100% for patients with repair P < .01).

Conclusion:

This study shows that MV repair is superior to replacement for RHD in the young with follow-up to 19 years. Repair offers a survival advantage, greater freedom from valve-related morbidity, and long-term durability that equals that of MVR.

Rheumatic fever in New Zealand

Acute rheumatic fever and its sequel rheumatic heart disease remain major unsolved problems in New Zealand, causing significant morbidity and premature death. The disease burden affects predominantly indigenous Māori and Pacific Island children and young adults. In the past decade these ethnic disparities are even widening. Secondary prophylaxis using 28-day intramuscular penicillin has been the mainstay of disease control. In the greater Auckland region, audit shows community nurse-led penicillin delivery rates of 95% and recurrence rates of less than 5%. The true penicillin failure rate of 0.07 per 100 patient years supports 4 weekly penicillin rather than more frequent dose regimens. Landmark primary prevention research has been undertaken supporting sore throat primary prevention programmes in regions with very high rheumatic fever rates. Echocardiographic screening found 2.4% previously undiagnosed rheumatic heart disease in socially disadvantaged children. Combined with secondary prevention, echocardiography screening has the potential to reduce the prevalence of severe rheumatic heart disease.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with aortic valve substitutes

Young women who require aortic valve replacement need information on the potential cardiac and obstetric complications of pregnancy for the different valve substitutes available. We, therefore, assessed the pregnancy outcomes in women who had received an autograft, homograft, or mechanical valve in the aortic position. Women who were pregnant after surviving aortic valve replacement at our institution from 1987 to 2011 were included. Information on cardiac status and pregnancy outcome was obtained through the hospital medical records and by an extensive patient questionnaire. A total of 40 women experienced 67 pregnancies, of which 55 (82%) were completed pregnancies, 6 (9%) were miscarriages, and 6 (9%) were terminated. Of the 40 women, 18 (45%) had a pulmonary autograft, 13 (32%) a homograft, and 9 (23%) a mechanical valve. The mean age at the first pregnancy was 30.0 ± 5.7 years. No maternal mortality but 1 fetal death (1.8%) and 1 neonatal death (1.8%) occurred. Maternal cardiac complications developed in 13% and obstetric complications in 38% of the completed pregnancies. Heart failure (9%), arrhythmias (7%), hypertension-related disorders (7%), preterm delivery (24%), and small-for-gestational-age infants (15%) were most often encountered. Mechanical valve recipients had the greatest incidence of both cardiac and obstetric complications. In conclusion, pregnancy-associated complications after aortic valve replacement were common, and human tissue valves should be considered in the discussion for the optimal aortic valve substitute in a young woman. However, careful obstetric monitoring is mandatory.

Screening for rheumatic heart disease: current approaches and controversies

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a leading cause of cardiac disease among children in developing nations, and in indigenous populations of some industrialized countries. In endemic areas, RHD has long been a target of screening programmes that, historically, have relied on cardiac auscultation. The evolution of portable echocardiographic equipment has changed the face of screening for RHD over the past 5 years, with greatly improved sensitivity. However, concerns have been raised about the specificity of echocardiography, and the interpretation of minor abnormalities poses new challenges. The natural history of RHD in children with subclinical abnormalities detected by echocardiographic screening remains unknown, and long-term follow-up studies are needed to evaluate the significance of detecting these changes at an early stage. For a disease to be deemed suitable for screening from a public health perspective, it needs to fulfil a number of criteria. RHD meets some, but not all, of these criteria. If screening programmes are to identify additional cases of RHD, parallel improvements in the systems that deliver secondary prophylaxis are essential.

Aortic valve replacement with autologous pericardium: long-term follow-up of 15 patients and in vivo histopathological changes of autologous pericardium

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to assess the long-term follow-up of patients with an autologous pericardial aortic valve (APAV) replacement and to analyse in vivo histopathological changes in implanted APAVs.

METHODS

From 1996 to 1997, 15 patients (mean age, 34 years) underwent aortic valve replacement with the glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium. All patients were followed up after discharge. The excised APAVs were processed for haematoxylin-eosin, Victoria blue-van Gieson and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

The mean clinical follow-up was 11.43 ± 4.50 years. APAV-related in-hospital and late mortalities were both 0%. Five (33%) patients required reoperation because of a prolapse of the right coronary cusp (n = 1), infective endocarditis (n = 1) or fibrocalcific degeneration (n = 3). Freedom from endocarditis, fibrocalcific degeneration and reoperation at the end of follow-up was 93, 80 and 67%, respectively. The remaining 10 patients were alive and well with a mean New York Heart Association class of 1.10 ± 0.32 and normally functioning aortic valves (peak pressure gradient: 7.70 ± 3.41 mmHg; mean pressure gradient: 1.79 ± 0.64 mmHg). Histopathology revealed that (i) a thin factor VIII-positive layer (endothelialization) was found on all non-endocarditis APAVs; (ii) pericardial cells in all APAVs were positive for α-smooth muscle actin (myofibroblast phenotype) and some cells in the fibrocalcific APAVs were positive for alkaline phosphatase (osteoblast phenotype) and (iii) an elastic band was found in 3 cases (in vivo >9 years).

CONCLUSIONS

APAV replacement is a procedure with a low mortality. APAVs adapt to new environmental demands by producing an elastic band and by endothelialization, whereas myofibroblast/osteoblast transdifferentiation seems to be responsible for the fibrocalcification of APAVs.

Pregnancy in young women with congenital heart disease: Lesion-specific considerations

Young women with heart disease are increasingly being seen in obstetrical referral centres owing, in large part, to the dramatic improvements in survival of young adults with congenital heart disease in recent years. Although pregnancies in most women with heart disease result in favourable outcomes, there are important exceptions that must be recognized. These exceptions pose a significant mortality risk to the mother and/or the fetus. The present article provides a general framework for the classification of congenital heart lesions in pregnant women as well as a detailed lesion-specific review.

An audit of pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves at a tertiary hospital in South Africa: a five-year experience

BACKGROUND

Cardiac disease in pregnancy is a common problem in under-resourced countries and a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. A large proportion of patients with cardiac disease have prosthetic mechanical heart valve replacements, warranting prophylactic anticoagulation.

AIM

To evaluate obstetric outcomes in women with prosthetic heart valves in an under-resourced country.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed of 61 pregnant patients with prosthetic valve prostheses referred to our tertiary hospital over a five-year period.

RESULTS

Sixty-one (6%) of 1 021 pregnant women with A diagnosis of cardiac disease had prosthetic heart valves. Fifty-nine had mechanical valves and were on prophylactic anticoagulation therapy, three had stopped their medication prior to pregnancy and two had bioprosthetic valves. There were forty-one (67%) live births, two (3%) early neonatal deaths, 12 (20%) miscarriages and six (10%) stillbirths. Maternal complications included mitral valve thrombosis (n = 4), atrial fibrillation (n = 8), infective endocarditis (n = 6), caesarean section wound haematomas (n = 7), broad ligament haematoma (n = 1) and warfarin embryopathy (n = 4). Haemorrhagic complications occurred in five patients and all five required blood transfusions.

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic anticoagulation with warfarin in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses was associated with high rates of maternal and neonatal complications, including significant foetal wastage in the first and early second trimesters of pregnancy. Health professionals providing care for pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves must consistently advise on family planning matters, adherence to anticoagulation regimes and consider the use of prophylactic anticoagulant regimens other than warfarin, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Maternal valvular heart disease in pregnancy

Valvular heart disease is common in pregnancy. Maternal physiology changes significantly during gestation with substantial increases in cardiac output and blood volume; this can cause unmasking or worsening of cardiac disease. Acquired valvular lesions most frequently arise from rheumatic fever, especially in patients who have emigrated from developing nations. Congenital lesions are also encountered. The most common conditions seen, mitral stenosis and regurgitation and aortic stenosis and regurgitation, each require a specific evaluation and management and are associated with their own set of possible complications. Patients with prosthetic valves require anticoagulation, and maternal and fetal risks and benefits must be carefully weighed. Patients with heart disease should be meticulously managed preconceptionally up to the postpartum period by maternal-fetal medicine specialists, obstetricians, cardiologists, and anesthesiologists using a multi-disciplinary approach to their cardiac conditions.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Obstetricians & Gynecologists and Family Physicians.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After the completing the CME activity, physicians should be better able to examine the epidemiology of valvular heart disease in pregnancy, categorize key physiologic parameters that change in the cardiovascular system during pregnancy, classify the pathophysiology of valvular lesions, and evaluate the general principles of maternal and fetal management for cardiac disease.