Left atrial appendage closure in patients with left atrial appendage thrombus guided by intracardiac echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Data regarding left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in patients with left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus are limited. Recently published cases have mostly been guided by transesophageal echocardiography. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is now widely used during LAAC procedures.

OBJECTIVE

This is the first study to report the feasibility of LAAC in patients with LAA thrombus guided by ICE.

METHODS

Patients with persistent LAA thrombus despite anticoagulation or contraindications to anticoagulation who underwent a modified ICE-guided LAAC procedure between June 2021 and April 2023 were included. Periprocedural events and clinical outcomes during follow-up were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 12 patients (mean age 65 ± 7 years; 92% male) were included: 10 with persistent LAA thrombus and 2 with contraindications to anticoagulation. Most of the thrombus was at the apex (n = 6), followed by the body (n = 3) and the ostium (n = 3). A LAmbre device was used and successfully implanted in all patients with the guidance of ICE. No thrombotic material was retrieved from patients with the protection of cerebral protection device (n = 11). No patient experienced severe periprocedural complications. All patients completed transesophageal echocardiography follow-up, and no device-related thrombus or peridevice leak > 3 mm was detected. None of the patients experienced stroke/transient ischemic attack, systemic embolism, or major bleeding events during a median follow-up of 147 days (interquartile range 80-306 days).

CONCLUSION

LAAC using the LAmbre device guided by ICE may be feasible in patients with LAA thrombus when performed by experienced operators.

Calcium Load in the Aortic Valve, Aortic Root, and Left Ventricular Outflow Tract and the Risk for a Periprocedural Stroke

Background

Periprocedural stroke during transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a rare but devastating complication. The calcified aortic valve is the most likely source of the emboli in a periprocedural stroke. The total load and distribution of calcium in the leaflets, aortic root, and left ventricular outflow tract varies from patient to patient. Consequently, there could be patterns of calcification that are associated with a higher risk of stroke. This study aimed to explore whether the pattern of calcification in the left ventricular outflow tract, annulus, aortic valve, and ascending aorta can be used to predict a periprocedural stroke.

Methods

Among the 3282 consecutive patients who received a transcatheter aortic valve implantation in the native valve in Sweden from 2014 to 2018, we identified 52 who had a periprocedural stroke. From the same cohort, a control group of 52 patients was constructed by propensity score matching. Both groups had one missing cardiac computed tomography, and 51 stroke and 51 control patients were blindly reviewed by an experienced radiologist.

Results

The groups were well balanced in terms of demographics and procedural data. Of the 39 metrics created to describe calcium pattern, only one differed between the groups. The length of calcium protruding above the annulus was 10.6 mm (interquartile range 7-13.6) for patients without stroke and 8 mm (interquartile range 3-10) for stroke patients.

Conclusions

This study could not find any pattern of calcification that predisposes for a periprocedural stroke.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the cerebrovascular event incidence after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

OBJECTIVE

Periinterventional stroke is one of the most feared potential complication, among patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The purpose of this review was to investigate the incidence of cerebrovascular events and the influence of postinterventional neurologic check-up in patients undergoing TAVI.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. Three separate electronic searches of the public domains Medline and Clinicaltrials.gov were performed to identify the 30-day incidence of stroke within randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and registries for patients undergoing a TAVI procedure. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the 30-day incidence of stroke within RCTs. Furthermore, we pooled the RCTs in which a scheduled neurological check-up was conducted or not to investigate the effect of this intervention.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies including 399,532,491 TAVI patients were included, 6370 from RCTs, 857,833 from cerebral-embolic protection device RCTs and 392,288 were adopted from registries. The mean 30-day incidence of stroke among all reviewed studies was 2.33%. In RCTs evaluating TAVI the pooled stroke incidence was 3.86%, among RCTs focused CEP the incidence was 6.4436% and in registries the incidence was 2.29%. Ten RCTs conducted scheduled neurological check-ups, the incidence in these was 4.03% and among the remaining RCTs it was 2.47%. In the meta-analysis, the pooled 30-day stroke incidence was 3.61% (95% CI 2.57-4.79%).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review demonstrates that the stroke incidences following TAVI differ strongly according to the study design and neurological follow-up. Intense neurological testing increases the incidence of a stroke after TAVI.

A case report of transcatheter mitral valve repair in patient with severe acute mitral regurgitation, cardiogenic shock, and left atrial appendage thrombus as a rescue therapy: facing all enemies at once!

Background

Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) in patients with severe acute mitral regurgitation (MR) and high surgical risk has been described. Moreover, the use of cerebral protection device (CPD) during TMVR in patients without evidence of intracardiac thrombus has been investigated. To the best of our knowledge, TMVR as a rescue therapy in a patient with acute ischaemic MR, cardiogenic shock, and left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus with concurrent use of CPD has not been reported.

Case summary

A 59-year-old female with subacute lateral myocardial infarction caused by subacute stent thrombosis after stent implantation in the left circumflex artery 3 weeks previously presented with acute heart failure due to acute severe MR at a peripheral hospital. The patient was transferred to our tertiary centre for operative mitral valve repair. Transoesophageal echocardiogram revealed the presence of LAA thrombus. During the admission, the patient developed an electrical storm and cardiogenic shock. Because of the extremely high surgical risk and the lack of other therapeutic options, the patient was treated with TMVR (MitraClip™, Abbott Structural Heart Devices, Santa Clara, CA, USA) with the use of CPD (Sentinel™; Boston scientific) as a rescue therapy. After the procedure, the clinical and haemodynamic conditions of the patient improved significantly, and she could be discharged home without any neurological sequelae.

Conclusion

TMVR with concurrent use of CPD as a rescue therapy may be considered in non-operable patients with cardiogenic shock caused by acute severe MR and evidence of LAA thrombus when no other therapy options are possible.

Repeated transcatheter aortic valve implantation for the treatment of a degenerated transcatheter aortic valve implantation valve (valve-in-valve technique): a case report

Background

Valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a competent alternative for the treatment of degenerated bioprosthetic valves after surgical aortic valve replacement, or during TAVI procedure as a bailout option. Herein, we report a rare case of a self-expandable Medtronic Evolut R valve into a failing Medtronic CoreValve, with the use of modern pre-TAVI imaging screening, suggesting the proper procedural design steps for so complicated implantations.

Case summary

A frail 78-year-old woman with a degenerated Medtronic Core Valve 26 mm bioprosthesis, implanted in 2011 due to severe aortic stenosis, was referred to our hospital due to worsening dyspnoea New York Heart Association III. The screening echocardiography documented severe aortic stenosis, while the classical risk scores were in favour of repeated TAVI (EuroSCORE II 5.67%). Computed tomography measurements and three-dimensional (3D) printing model were of great help for the proper valve selection (Medtronic Evolut R 26 mm), while the use of cerebral protection device (Claret Sentinel) was considered as a necessary part of the procedure. The simultaneous use of fluoroscopy and transoesophageal echocardiogram led to optimal haemodynamic result, confirmed by the discharge echocardiogram, with a significant clinical improvement during the first month follow-up.

Discussion

The main periprocedural concerns remain valve malpositioning, coronary artery obstruction, and high remaining transvalvular gradients. The multimodality pre-TAVI imaging screening may be helpful for precise procedural design. Despite the limited use of 3D models, it is necessary to adopt such tissue-mimicking phantoms to increase the possibility of optimal procedural result.

Comparison of Embolic Protection with Proximal and Distal Protection Devices: Periprocedural Complications, Clinical Outcomes, and Cerebral Embolic Lesions on Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE

Two main types of embolic protection devices have been used during carotid artery stenting (CAS): distal protection devices (DPDs) and proximal protection devices (PPDs). We compared the complications, clinical outcomes, and new ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) studies between patients who had undergone CAS using a DPD or PPD.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of the data from patients who had undergone CAS from March 2010 to January 2016. The periprocedural and 30-day adverse events and new ischemic lesions on DWI studies after CAS were evaluated.

RESULTS

CAS was performed in 103 patients (DPD, n = 60; PPD, n = 43). The number of patients with new ischemic lesions was greater in the DPD than in the PPD group (78% vs. 56%; P = 0.014). Most lesions (>90%) were tiny (≤3 mm), and the average number of new tiny lesions per patient was significantly greater in the DPD than in the PPD group (mean, 9.6 vs. 4.0; P = 0.008). No significant differences in the periprocedural or 30-day adverse rates were noted between the 2 groups. Intolerance during the procedure occurred in 5 patients (12%) in the PPD group, 4 of whom had poor collateral circulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of new ischemic lesions per patient and the incidence of ischemic lesions found on DWI were significantly greater in the DPD than in the PPD group. The lack of differences in the periprocedural and 30-day adverse rates between the 2 groups suggests that cerebral microemboli might not be associated with the clinical outcomes. For patients with poor collateral status, DPDs should be used preferentially to avoid the neurologic compromise associated with PPDs.

A sentinel in Mitraclip intervention: Catch the enemy!

Cerebral ischemic lesions occurring during transcatheter valve interventions are common feared complications and the use of filter device seems to reduce their incidence. We report the case of an 84-year old female patient with severe mitral regurgitation undergoing MitraClip. During the trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided procedure was detected the presence of a little fibrin strand adherent to the steerable guide catheter for which we decided to implant the Claret CE Pro (Claret Medical, Inc. Santa Rosa, CA, USA) cerebral protection device and to continue the procedure during which the thrombus disappeared. At the end of the procedure a big thrombus was detected in the distal filter. The histologic analysis of the debris captured by the filters showed the presence of a thrombus, compatible with the image identified by TEE.

Dislocation of a cerebral protection device component during carotid stenting: A case report of favorable outcome from conservative management after failure of retrieval

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Though effective, CPDs may cause complications resulting in serious outcomes.

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No unique solution (conservative/surgical) for risk-free management of entrapment.

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Improving standard of care and patient safety is a top priority.

Introduction

Cerebral-protection devices (CPDs) are a well-established system for reduction of embolic risk in carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS). Although rare, adverse events with CPDs are unpredictable and can be associated with serious outcomes and iatrogenic sequelae.

Presentation of case

We describe the unique case of dislocation of a FilterWire EX™ filter loop during right CAS. On trying to recapture the CPD filter at the end of the procedure, the filter loop suddenly detached from the guidewire and dislocated to the proximal middle cerebral artery. Attempted retrieval of the loop failed and the patient developed a transient neurological deficit caused by an acute ischemic infarction in the lenticular nucleus. No further retrieval attempt was pursued. No further dislocation of the loop or clinical event have been reported during the 16-year follow up.

Discussion

This case reported a favorable outcome of conservative management for entrapped material from a CPD after iatrogenic damage from failed retrieval. No similar reports are available in the literature, and conservative management is generally not a recommended approach because of the potential complications. However, rescue retrieval attempts are as well a potential source of serious events, and no clear guidelines exist on the management of mechanical complications from CPD.

Conclusion

Entrapment of CPD components constitutes an adverse event with no unique solution for risk-free management. The potential risks associated with the use of protection devices are still to be fully explored, and improving the standard of care and patient safety needs to be a top priority.