Objectives To compare safety, efficacy, and hemodynamics of transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using self‐expanding and balloon‐expandable transcatheter heart valves (THVs) in patients with a small aortic annulus. Background Few studies have directly compared TAVR outcomes using third‐generation THVs, focusing on patients with small aortic annuli. Methods In a multicenter TAVR registry, we analyzed data from 576 patients with a small annulus and who underwent transfemoral TAVR using third‐generation THVs. Propensity score matching was used to adjust baseline clinical characteristics. Results The device success rate in the overall cohort was 92.0% (Evolut R: 92.1% vs. Sapien 3:92.0%, p = 0.96). One year after TAVR, patients treated with Evolut R maintained a lower mean pressure gradient (mPG) and a higher indexed effective orifice area (iEOA) in the matched cohort {mPG: 9.0 [interquartile range (IQR): 6.0–11.9] vs. 12.0 [IQR: 9.9–16.3] mmHg, p < .001; iEOA: 1.20 [IQR: 1.01–1.46] vs. 1.08 [IQR: 0.90–1.28] cm2/m2, p < .001}. However, no significant differences were reported in the incidence of severe prosthesis‐patient mismatch and aortic regurgitation at 1 year. Furthermore, both groups showed comparable outcomes with no differences in terms of all‐cause mortality (log‐lank test, p = .81). Conclusions TAVR for patients with a small annulus using third‐generation THVs was associated with high device success. Evolut R seems to be superior to Sapien 3 in hemodynamic performance for patients with a small annulus and body surface area up to 1 year after TAVR. Nevertheless, all‐cause mortality at 1 year was similar between both groups.

ObjectiveThere is paucity of data on optimal medical treatment, including use of beta blockers for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The study aimed to investigate the association of beta blockers and clinical outcomes following TAVR.MethodsWe examined data of 2563 patients who underwent TAVR between October 2013 and May 2017 obtained from a prospective multicentre cohort registry, the optimised catheter valvular intervention-TAVI registry. We compared the 2-year cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality and in-hospital outcomes between patients with and without preprocedural beta-blocker administration by propensity score matching (PSM).ResultsPreprocedural beta blockers were prescribed in 867 patients (33.8%). After PSM, the incidence of in-hospital congestive heart failure was significantly lower in patients with preprocedural beta blocker (p=0.046). No differences were found in 2-year cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality. In the subgroup analyses, beta-blocker administration was associated with a lower cardiovascular mortality within 2 years in patients with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG; log-rank p=0.017), presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD; log-rank p=0.003) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) ≥400 pg/mL (log-rank p=0.003). When stratified by postprocedural left ventricular ejection fraction (post-LVEF), beta-blocker administration was associated with a lower cardiovascular mortality among patients with post-LVEF <50% (log-rank p=0.024).ConclusionsPreprocedural beta-blocker administration was not associated with 2-year cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality in overall, but was associated with a lower 2-year cardiovascular mortality in patients with a history of CABG, presence of PAD, BNP ≥400 pg/mL and post-LVEF <50%. The findings must be validated using randomised trials.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the clinical impact of mild postprocedural aortic regurgitation (post‐AR) to that of none‐trivial post‐AR after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and to identify the vulnerability factors to mild post‐AR.BackgroundModerate–severe post‐AR, associated with increased mortality, is an important issue. However, the clinical impact of mild post‐AR remains controversial.Methods and resultsWe analyzed data from 1,572 consecutive patients (1,026 of none‐trivial post‐AR and 546 of mild post‐AR) obtained from the Optimized transCathEter vAlvular Intervention (OCEAN‐TAVI) Japanese multicenter registry. We evaluated the 1‐year cumulative cardiovascular death and re‐hospitalization rates for heart failure (HF) after TAVI according to the degree of post‐AR. Kaplan–Meier curves showed no significant difference between “none‐trivial post‐AR” and “mild post‐AR” in terms of cardiovascular death, but a significant difference was noted in the cumulative incidence of re‐hospitalization for HF between the two groups (hazard ratio 1.57, 95% confidence interval 1.02–2.41, p = .04). In the stratified analysis, only in patients with not more than 50% of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and none‐trivial pre‐procedural aortic regurgitation (pre‐AR), mild post‐AR resulted in a higher incidence of re‐hospitalization for HF.ConclusionsIn this study, the clinical impact of mild post‐AR compared to none‐trivial post‐AR tended to be augmented in the presence of reduced LVEF, concentric LVH, and none‐trivial pre‐AR. Pre‐procedure echocardiographic findings including LVEF, left ventricular geometry, and pre‐AR may help to judge the necessity of postdilatation in case of mild post‐AR just after the bioprosthesis deployment.

Objective:Percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary bifurcation lesion is very challenging, especially for true bifurcation lesions. Although the jailed semi-inflated balloon technique is one of the established methods for treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions, little is known regarding the configuration of the side branch orifice after stent implantation using this technique.Methods:We report a 73-year-old male patient with angina pectoris who was successfully treated with percutaneous coronary stent implantation for a true bifurcation lesion of the right coronary artery with an obtuse angle using the jailed semi-inflated balloon technique.Results:Three-dimensional optical frequency domain imaging clearly showed that there were no signs of plaque or carina shift into the side branch after stent implantation using this technique.Conclusions:This case report highlights that the jailed semi-inflated balloon technique is a safe and useful treatment for coronary true bifurcation lesions with an obtuse angle.

Aims Transcatheter aortic valvular replacement (TAVR) is increasingly being performed for elderly patients with aortic stenosis (AS), and current guidelines acknowledge the importance of shared decision-making in their management. This study aimed to evaluate elderly symptomatic severe AS patients' perspectives on their treatment goals and identify factors that influence their treatment choice. Methods and ResultsWe performed a pre-procedural cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire at a single university hospital. The questionnaire included three primary domains: (i) symptom burden, (ii) goals and important factors related to treatment, and (iii) preferred place of residence after treatment. We investigated 98 symptomatic severe AS patients who underwent TAVR (median age 86 years, 26% men). None of the patients died during hospitalization, and most of them (94%) were discharged home. Prior to TAVR, the three most common symptom burdens were poor mobility (52%), shortness of breath (52%), and weakness (44%). The reported preferred treatment goals were symptom burden reduction (78%), independence maintenance (68%), ability to perform a specific activity/hobby (62%), and improvement in prognosis (58%). In total, 54% of the patients rated 'in alignment with my values' as the factor that affected their decision to undergo TAVR. Nearly all patients (95%) stated that they preferred to live at home after TAVR. Conclusions Among elderly AS patients with varying symptoms who underwent TAVR, symptom burden reduction was the most cited patient-reported goal. Nearly all the patients preferred to live at home after the procedure. Encouraging patients to define their specific goals may improve the quality of shared decision-making in such settings.