Project description:BackgroundA rare, but serious, complication following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the occurrence of an iatrogenic ventricular septal defect (VSD).Case summaryWe describe a case of an 80-year-old female who was referred with severe aortic stenosis for TAVR. Following thorough evaluation, the heart team consensus was to proceed with implantation via a transapical approach of an ACURATE neo M 25 mm valve (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA). The valve was deployed harnessing transoesophageal echocardiographic (TOE) guidance under rapid pacing with post-dilation. Directly afterwards a very high VSD close to the aortic annulus was detected. As the patient was haemodynamically stable, the procedure was ended. The next day another TOE revealed a shunt volume (left-to-right ventricle) between 50% and 60%. Because the defect was partly located between the stent struts of the ACURATE valve decision was made to fix this leakage with implantation of a further valve and we chose an EVOLUT Pro 29 mm (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA). The valve-in-valve was implanted 2-3 mm below the lower edge of the first valve, more towards the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) with excellent result: VSD was reduced to a very small residual shunt without any hemodynamic relevance. Figure 3(A) Fluoroscopic image after transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (ACURATE neo M); (B) transoesophageal echocardiography following transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement showing a severe ventricular septal defect; (C) angiography after valve-in-valve implantation. The implantation depth of the second valve (EVOLUT Pro 29 mm) was slightly deeper in the left ventricular outflow tract; and (D) transoesophageal echocardiography after the valve-in-valve procedure showing a small residual shunt. (1) Stentstruts, (2) tricuspid valve, and (3) leakage (ventricular septal defect). *Pulmonary artery catheter, #Pleural drain.Figure 4Left ventricular angiogram after valve-in-valve implantation showing a very small residual contrast shunt from the left-to-right ventricle (encircled). *Pulmonary artery catheter, # Pleural drain.DiscussionWe suggest that an iatrogenic VSD located near the annulus may be treated percutaneously in a bail-out situation with implantation of a second valve that should be implanted slightly more into the LVOT to cover the VSD.
Project description:BackgroundIatrogenic right coronary artery (RCA) injury is a rare complication of tricuspid valve annuloplasty. Given that surgical intervention is increasingly favoured for tricuspid regurgitation, it is of great importance to recognize potential complications following tricuspid valve surgery.Case summaryA 72-year-old man underwent surgical mitral and tricuspid valve repair. The early post-operative course was complicated by recurrent ventricular fibrillation episodes. Due to haemodynamic instability, a re-sternotomy and another cardiopulmonary bypass run were required. The patient subsequently underwent coronary angiography study which confirmed RCA occlusion. The occluded posterior left ventricular (PLV) branch was reopened by balloon angioplasty. However, despite multiple attempts it was not possible to pass a coronary guide wire into the posterior descending artery (PDA). An intravascular ultrasound examination revealed that the ostium of the PDA was compressed by external factors leaving a narrow slit-like appearance with no accessible lumen. Subsequently, a drug-eluting stent was placed into the PLV branch. The PDA was not accessible on repeated re-canalization attempts. The patient later successfully recovered from the right ventricular myocardial infarction.DiscussionRight coronary artery occlusion should be considered as a differential diagnosis for significant rhythm disturbances and haemodynamic instability in the peri- and post-operative period following tricuspid valve annuloplasty. A low threshold for diagnostic angiography is needed to avoid potential delay in life-saving revascularization.
Project description:A 57 year old female underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis. Mild iatrogenic mitral stenosis was noted intraoperatively. Attempts to reposition the device were hampered by aortic angulation. One year later, severe mitral stenosis was confirmed on transoesophageal echocardiography. It is important to recognise that iatorgenic mitral stenosis due to TAVR may progress over time. Care should be taken to minimise the risk of this rare complication.
Project description:Ventricular septal defect (VSD) rarely occurs following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We report two patients who developed VSD following TAVI. One case was a Gerbode defect treated by percutaneous closure, and the second was a restrictive perimembranous VSD managed conservatively.
Project description:Iatrogenic type A dissection caused by percutaneous coronary intervention is a rare but life-threatening condition. Computed tomographic angiography is an excellent diagnostic tool commonly utilized if such procedural complication is clinically suspected. There are, however, potential diagnostic challenges. Herein, we present an illustrative case of iatrogenic type A dissection successfully diagnosed on computed tomography angiography along with a potential diagnostic pitfall.
Project description:Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the most common congenital cardiac anomaly, predisposes individuals to aortic stenosis and regurgitation due to valve degeneration. Abnormal hemodynamics, arterial wall characteristics, and genetic factors contribute to ascending aorta dilatation, potentially leading to severe complications like aortic dissection. Presently, the most recent guidelines propose that individuals with BAV requiring valve replacement due to valve dysfunction should undergo simultaneous replacement of the ascending aorta when the diameter of aortic dilatation exceeds 4.5 cm. A 60-year-old female patient previously underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement and ascending aortoplasty at our center due to aortic stenosis and a 4.3 cm diameter ascending aorta. In the sixth postoperative year, she was readmitted due to ascending aorta rupture, resulting in blood entering the right atrium and causing acute right heart failure. We performed repair of the rupture and concomitant ascending aorta replacement to prevent further exacerbation of the patient's condition.
Project description:Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVR) continues to develop as a valuable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in an increasingly wide spectrum of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). AS frequently coexists with coronary artery disease, and performing technically challenging percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following TAVR will become more frequent with increased use of TAVR. Case Summary: We herein report the case of a 53-years-old man with complex medical history including type 1 diabetes and dialysis-dependent renal failure and prior Evolut-R TAVR for critical bicuspid aortic valve stenosis who underwent intravascular ultrasound study (IVUS)-guided PCI to a critical distal left main stem (LMS) and proximal left anterior descending (LAD) lesion after presenting with ventricular fibrillation (VF) secondary to an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Discussion: Selective engagement of coronary ostia through the side cells of TAVR prosthesis can be challenging, especially in an emergency setting. The particular challenges associated with this case are described, as well as an up-to-date literature search on strategies and equipment that can help in this situation.
Project description:BackgroundAcute papillary muscle (PM) rupture due to infective involvement has been recognized as a complication of infective endocarditis. However, there is very limited literature describing the rupture of the posteromedial PM in primary aortic valve endocarditis without aortic root abscess. This report highlights the aetiology of the PM rupture in the setting of primary aortic valve endocarditis and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.Case summaryAn 81-year-old man without any heart failure symptoms presented with fever and loss of vision in his left eye. Initial echocardiography revealed moderate aortic valve regurgitation due to a perforated right coronary cusp without aortic root abscess, and his blood cultures were positive for Group G Streptococci. During adequate antibiotic therapy, he developed acute severe mitral regurgitation secondary to posteromedial PM rupture. Following emergent aortic and mitral valve replacement using bioprosthetic valves, he made excellent progress on a 6-week course of intravenous antibiotics.DiscussionThe echocardiography and the histological findings suggested that the main cause of PM rupture was most likely a metastatic focus of infection from the aortic valve via a regurgitant jet. Successful treatment of this fatal complication includes early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention by a multidisciplinary approach.
Project description:BackgroundAortic root rupture is a severe complication of balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Although previous studies have revealed several risk factors for this complication, predicting this complication is occasionally difficult.Case summaryA 78-year-old male patient underwent TAVR via a transfemoral approach using a 29-mm balloon-expandable valve. No recognized risk factors for aortic root rupture existed in pre-procedural multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) analysis. However, after the valve deployment, sudden haemodynamic collapse occurred. Transoesophageal echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion, which led to an immediate diagnosis of cardiac tamponade following aortic root rupture. Following pericardial drainage via a subxiphoid approach, the haemodynamics were immediately stabilized. After 10 days of close observation, the patient was discharged on Day 39 without additional problems. He was still alive at the 6-month follow-up without sequelae.DiscussionEstablished risk factors for aortic root rupture include >20% area oversizing, bicuspid aortic valve, small annulus (<20 mm), shallow sinus of Valsalva (SOV) compared with the aortic annulus, and massive annular or subannular calcification. Our patient did not have any of the recognized risk factors for aortic root rupture, suggesting the existence of other factors. Pre-procedural MDCT showed a flat calcification orthogonal to the aortic root wall, and post-procedural MDCT revealed that this calcification penetrated the SOV with extravasation. Thus, we suggest that a flat calcification orthogonal to the aortic root wall might be an additional risk factor for aortic root rupture.
Project description:BackgroundIatrogenic acute ascending aortic dissection during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an exceptionally rare and life-threatening sequel that requires early and accurate diagnosis along with rapid management. No guidelines have yet been established to direct decisions on the different treatment options that can be employed in the setting of acute aortic dissections caused by PCI. However, similar cases have been treated either by intracoronary stenting and conservative management as in localized aortocoronary dissections or by surgical intervention in cases of extensive aortic dissections.Case summaryHereby, we present a rare case of a female patient who developed "full-blown" acute ascending aortic dissection (Stanford type A-DeBakey type II dissection) with intramural hematoma during an elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of the right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex artery (LCA). Accordingly, emergent surgical repair of the dissected aorta was performed including grafting of supracoronary ascending aortic tube, along with coronary artery bypass graft placement and septal myomectomy for severely hypertrophied cardiac septum. The patient recovered successfully without any documented postoperative complications.ConclusionIt is pivotal to avoid aggressive use of instrumentation during PTCA in order to prevent the potential development of catheter-induced aortic dissection.