Aims An echocardiographic staging system of severe aortic stenosis (AS) based on additional extra-valvular cardiac damage has been associated with prognosis after transcatheter aortic valve... Show moreAims An echocardiographic staging system of severe aortic stenosis (AS) based on additional extra-valvular cardiac damage has been associated with prognosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) is key in the evaluation of AS patients undergoing TAVI and can potentially detect extra-valvular cardiac damage. This study aimed at evaluating the prognostic implications of an MDCT staging system of severe AS in patients undergoing TAVI. Methods and results A total of 405 patients (80 +/- 7 years, 52% men) who underwent full-beat MDCT prior to TAVI were included. The extent of cardiac damage was assessed by MDCT and classified in five categories; Stage 0 (no cardiac damage), Stage 1 (left ventricular damage), Stage 2 (left atrium and mitral valve damage), Stage 3 (right atrial damage), and Stage 4 (right ventricular damage). Twenty-seven (7%) patients were stratified as Stage 0, 96 (24%) as Stage 1, 152 (38%) as Stage 2, 78 (19%) as Stage 3, and 52 (13%) as Stage 4. During a median follow-up of 3.7 (IQR 1.7-5.5) years, 150 (37%) died. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, cardiac damage Stage 3 (HR vs. Stage 0: 4.496, P = 0.039) and Stage 4 (HR vs. Stage 0: 5.565, P = 0.020) were independently associated with all-cause mortality. Conclusion The MDCT-based staging system of cardiac damage in severe AS effectively identifies the patients who are at higher risk of death after TAVI. Show less
Introduction In transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), assessment of aortic valve calcification is not as standardized as aortic annulus measurement. Aortic valve calcification is... Show moreIntroduction In transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), assessment of aortic valve calcification is not as standardized as aortic annulus measurement. Aortic valve calcification is important for stable anchoring of the prosthesis to the aortic annulus. However, excessive aortic valve calcification is related to procedural complications. Areas covered This review covers the methods to assess aortic valve calcification and the implications of aortic valve calcium burden for TAVI outcomes. We performed a systematic review of the literature in Pubmed and secondary sources. Furthermore, future perspectives on how to integrate aortic valve calcification assessment in the management of patients with aortic stenosis is discussed. Expert opinion Thorough assessment of the aortic valve and aortic root components including aortic valve calcification is key in the planning of TAVI. Aortic valve calcification load, location and extension are important contributors to paravalvular regurgitation. Asymmetric calcification burden with greater calcification of the left-coronary cusp related to higher need of permanent pacemaker implantation. Patients with moderate and severe left ventricular outflow tract/subannular calcification are more susceptible to aortic annular rupture. Periprocedural dislodgement of calcium form cusps and commissures is one of the main reasons of coronary artery ostial occlusion during transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Show less
