Browsing by Subject "Aortic Valve Stenosis"

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    Discordance in Grading Methods of Aortic Stenosis by Pre-Cardiopulmonary Bypass Transesophageal Echocardiography.
    (Anesth Analg, 2016-04) Whitener, George; McKenzie, Jeff; Akushevich, Igor; White, William D; Dhakal, Ishwori B; Nicoara, Alina; Swaminathan, Madhav
    BACKGROUND: Current guidelines define severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) as an aortic valve area (AVA) ≤1.0 cm by the continuity equation and mean gradient (ΔPm) ≥ 40 mm Hg. However, these measurements can be discordant when classifying AS severity. Approximately one-third of patients with normal ejection fraction and severe AS by AVA have nonsevere AS by ΔPm when measured by preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Given the use of positive pressure ventilation and general anesthesia in the pre-cardiopulmonary bypass (pre-CPB) period, we hypothesized that discordance between ΔPm and AVA during pre-CPB transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) would be higher than previously reported by TTE. METHODS: We retrospectively examined pre-CPB TEE data for patients who had aortic valve replacement, with or without coronary artery bypass grafting, from 2000 to 2012. Patients were excluded if they had ejection fraction <55%, emergency surgery, repeat sternotomy, moderate or severe mitral regurgitation, or severe aortic regurgitation. Only patients with both pre-CPB AVA and ΔPm measurements were included. Patients were grouped according to severity (mild, moderate, and severe) by AVA or ΔPm. Discordance was defined as disagreement between severities based on either parameter. RESULTS: A total of 277 patients met inclusion criteria. There were 227 patients with AVA ≤ 1.0 cm. The proportion of these patients with a ΔPm < 40 mm Hg was 54% (95% confidence interval, 47%-61%). The rate of discordance was significantly higher than the rate (37%; P < 0.001) found in previously reported analyses using TTE. Of the patients with a ΔPm ≥ 40 mm Hg, only 8% (n = 9/113) had a discordant AVA. In contrast, of the patients with ΔPm < 40 mm Hg, 80% (n = 131/164) had a discordant AVA. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed our hypothesis that grading AS by ΔPm and AVA during pre-CPB TEE exhibits higher discordance than reported for TTE by others. It remains unclear whether these discrepancies reflect the effect of general anesthesia, imaging modality (TTE versus TEE) differences, inaccuracies in AS grading cutoffs when applied to pre-CPB TEE, or selection bias of the surgical population.
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    Implementing a Continuous Quality Improvement Program in a High-Volume Clinical Echocardiography Laboratory: Improving Care for Patients With Aortic Stenosis.
    (Circ Cardiovasc Imaging, 2016-03) Samad, Zainab; Minter, Stephanie; Armour, Alicia; Tinnemore, Amanda; Sivak, Joseph A; Sedberry, Brenda; Strub, Karen; Horan, Seanna M; Harrison, J Kevin; Kisslo, Joseph; Douglas, Pamela S; Velazquez, Eric J
    BACKGROUND: The management of aortic stenosis rests on accurate echocardiographic diagnosis. Hence, it was chosen as a test case to examine the utility of continuous quality improvement (CQI) approaches to increase echocardiographic data accuracy and reliability. A novel, multistep CQI program was designed and prospectively used to investigate whether it could minimize the difference in aortic valve mean gradients reported by echocardiography when compared with cardiac catheterization. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Duke Echo Laboratory compiled a multidisciplinary CQI team including 4 senior sonographers and MD faculty to develop a mapped CQI process that incorporated Intersocietal Accreditation Commission standards. Quarterly, the CQI team reviewed all moderate- or greater-severity aortic stenosis echocardiography studies with concomitant catheterization data, and deidentified individual and group results were shared at meetings attended by cardiologists and sonographers. After review of 2011 data, the CQI team proposed specific amendments implemented over 2012: the use of nontraditional imaging and Doppler windows as well as evaluation of aortic gradients by a second sonographer. The primary outcome measure was agreement between catheterization- and echocardiography-derived mean gradients calculated by using the coverage probability index with a prespecified acceptable echocardiography-catheterization difference of <10 mm Hg in mean gradient. Between January 2011 and January 2014, 2093 echocardiograms reported moderate or greater aortic stenosis. Among cases with available catheterization data pre- and post-CQI, the coverage probability index increased from 54% to 70% (P=0.03; 98 cases, year 2011; 70 cases, year 2013). The proportion of patients referred for invasive valve hemodynamics decreased from 47% pre-CQI to 19% post-CQI (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A laboratory practice pattern that was amenable to reform was identified, and a multistep modification was designed and implemented that produced clinically valuable performance improvements. The new protocol improved aortic stenosis mean gradient agreement between echocardiography and catheterization and was associated with a measurable decrease in referrals of patients for invasive studies.
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    Transapical versus transfemoral approach and risk of acute kidney injury following transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a propensity-adjusted analysis.
    (Renal failure, 2017-11) Thongprayoon, Charat; Cheungpasitporn, Wisit; Srivali, Narat; Harrison, Andrew M; Kittanamongkolchai, Wonngarm; Greason, Kevin L; Kashani, Kianoush B

    Background

    The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of post-procedural acute kidney injury (AKI) and other renal outcomes in patients undergoing transapical (TA) and transfemoral (TF) approaches for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

    Methods

    All consecutive adult patients undergoing TAVR for aortic stenosis from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2014 at a tertiary referral hospital were included. AKI was defined based on Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Logistic regression adjustment, propensity score stratification, and propensity matching were performed to assess the independent association between procedural approach and AKI.

    Results

    Of 366 included patients, 171 (47%) underwent TAVR via a TA approach. AKI occurrence in this group was significantly higher compared to the TF group (38% vs. 18%, p < .01). The TA approach remained significantly associated with increased risk of AKI after logistic regression (OR 3.20; CI 1.68-4.36) and propensity score adjustment: OR 2.83 (CI 1.66-4.80) for stratification and 3.82 (CI 2.04-7.44) for matching. Nonetheless, there was no statistically significant difference among the TA and TF groups with respect to major adverse kidney events (MAKE) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at six months post-procedure.

    Conclusion

    In a cohort of patients undergoing TAVR for aortic stenosis, a TA approach significantly increases the AKI risk compared with a TF approach. However, the TAVR approach did not affect severe renal outcomes or long-term renal function.