Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a proven treatment for severe aortic stenosis (AS); however, the effects of TAVI on central blood pressure (CBP) and clinical outcomes remain unclear. We assessed CBP indices before and after TAVI and their prognostic value. Seventy-six patients with severe AS who underwent TAVI were retrospectively evaluated, and CBP was estimated noninvasively 1 day before and after TAVI. The following indices were measured: augmentation index corrected for heart rate (HR) (AIx@HR75), peak pressure of the forward wave (Pf) and backward wave (Pb), time to peak pressure of the forward wave corrected for HR (Tfc) and the backward wave corrected for HR (Tbc), and ejection duration (ED). The primary endpoint was the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and hospitalized heart failure. The median follow-up period was 1135 (844-1404) days. Tfc, Tbc, ED, Pb, and AIx@HR75 decreased despite no significant changes in Pf after TAVI. The univariable Cox proportional hazards model showed that ED 1 day after TAVI was associated with composite outcomes (hazard ratio: 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.04; P = 0.002). When the patients were divided into two groups by the cutoff value determining composite outcomes by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a long ED 1 day after TAVI was significantly associated with composite outcomes by Kaplan-Meier curve analysis (log-rank test, P < 0.001). The multivariable Cox proportional hazards model showed that a long ED 1 day after TAVI was associated with composite outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio: 12.12; 95% CI 2.41-60.81; P = 0.002). In conclusion, a long ED 1 day after TAVI was associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) via the femoral approach in patients with pure aortic regurgitation (AR), with a focus on mortality, adverse event rates, cardiac function, and clinical symptom improvement. The study utilised a single-centre experience to provide insights and offer guidance for the management of TAVR in AR patients. Patients with aortic valve pathology who underwent TAVR at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, from January 2018 to March 2023 were enrolled. They were classified into two groups: pure AR and aortic stenosis (AS) based on preoperative transthoracic echocardiography. We compared baseline characteristics, imaging data, surgical outcomes, and follow-up conditions between them. We focused on the safety and efficacy of TAVR in patients with AR and evaluated these results using regression analysis. The study cohort comprised 87 patients, with 21 in the AR group and 63 in the AS group. We revealed that AR patients exhibited low mortality and adverse event rates following transfemoral TAVR, with notable improvements in postoperative cardiac function and substantial symptom relief. However, the rates of paravalvular leak (PVL), permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation, and valve-in-valve procedures were relatively elevated. While these findings suggest that TAVR may represent a viable therapeutic option for patients with AR, the elevated rates of PVL, PPM implantation, and readmission underscore the need for further investigation, with larger cohorts and extended follow-up, to more robustly evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of this approach.

ACURATE neo2 is an open-cell, supra-annular, self-expanding transcatheter heart valve that is commercially available in over 50 countries but has not previously been evaluated in a randomised trial. ACURATE-IDE aimed to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the ACURATE neo2 valve compared with commercially available valves for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.

In this multicentre, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial, patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and any level of surgical risk were recruited from 71 medical centres in the USA and Canada. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to TAVR with ACURATE neo2 or one of the control valves, SAPIEN 3 (SAPIEN 3 or SAPIEN 3 Ultra) or Evolut, using permuted block randomisation with a pseudo-random number generator, and stratified by the clinical investigation site and type of control valve. All devices were implanted according to the manufacturer's instructions. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, all stroke, and rehospitalisation at 1 year, tested for non-inferiority using a Bayesian approach. The primary analysis was performed in the intention-to-treat population and sensitivity analyses were done in the implanted population. The non-inferiority margin was 8·0%. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03735667, and is ongoing.

Between June 10, 2019, and April 19, 2023, 1500 patients were recruited, of whom 752 were randomly assigned to the ACURATE neo2 group and 748 to the control group. The median age of participants was 79 years (IQR 74-83). 778 (51·9%) of 1500 patients were female and 721 (48·1%) were male. At 1 year, the posterior median probability of the primary composite endpoint was higher in the ACURATE neo2 group (16·2% [95% Bayesian credible interval 13·4-19·1) than in the control group (9·5% [7·5-11·9]; between-group difference 6·6% [3·0-10·2]). The upper bound of treatment difference exceeded the prespecified non-inferiority margin of 8%, with a posterior probability of treatment difference of >0·999. At 1 year, the ACURATE neo2 group, had significantly higher Kaplan-Meier rates of the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, all stroke, and rehospitalisation (14·8% [95% CI 12·5-17·6] vs 9·1% [7·2-11·4]; hazard ratio [HR] 1·71 [95% CI 1·26-2·33]; p=0·0005). At 1 year, all-cause mortality occurred in 36 of 752 patients in the ACURATE neo2 group versus 28 of 748 patients in the control group (HR 1·30 [95% CI 0·80-2·14]), stroke in 41 patients versus 25 patients (1·68 [1·02-2·75]), and rehospitalisation in 38 patients versus 25 patients (1·57 [0·95-2·61]). Cardiovascular mortality (3·7% vs 1·8%, p=0·024) and spontaneous myocardial infarction at 1 year (2·4% vs 0·7%, p=0·0092) were more frequent in the ACURATE neo2 group than in the control group. Prosthetic valve aortic regurgitation (central plus paravalvular) at 1 year was significantly more frequent in the ACURATE neo2 group than in the control group (mild aortic regurgitation 42·5% vs 24·8%, p<0·0001; moderate 4·4% vs 1·8%, p=0·0070; severe 0·5% vs 0%; p=0·12).

In patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, TAVR with ACURATE neo2 did not meet non-inferiority and resulted in significantly worse outcomes with respect to the primary endpoint of composite of all-cause mortality, all stroke, and rehospitalisation at 1 year when compared with commercial valves.

Boston Scientific.

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is common in patients with aortic stenosis due to the combination of acquired type 2A von Willebrand disease and aspirin-based antiplatelet therapy. We aimed to investigate the incidence, predictors and clinical outcomes of late upper GI bleeding in patients undergoing TAVR.

In a prospective TAVR registry, patients were stratified according to upper GI bleeding within 1 year of discharge.

Among the 3144 eligible patients, 54 (1.7%) experienced upper GI bleeding after discharge. Of these, 40 patients had major or life-threatening bleeding, while 14 had minor bleeding events. The presence of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (HRadjusted 2.98; 95% CI 1.65 to 5.38) and previous upper GI bleeding (HRadjusted 3.51; 95% CI 1.51 to 8.19) were independent predictors of upper GI bleeding, while the use of proton pump inhibitors at discharge (HRadjusted 0.49; 95% CI 0.27 to 0.89) and higher haemoglobin levels (1 g/dL increase) (HRadjusted 0.73; 95% CI 0.62 to 0.87) were protective. Patients who experienced major or life-threatening upper GI bleeding had a higher all-cause (73.7% vs 11.4%, HR 5.84; 95% CI 3.41 to 10.02) and cardiovascular mortality (31.6% vs 7.3%, HR 3.87; 95% CI 1.72 to 8.70) compared with those without upper GI bleeding.

Among patients who underwent TAVR, 1.7% of patients experienced upper GI bleeding within 1 year of discharge. Major or life-threatening upper GI bleeding was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

NCT01368250.

This retrospective, multi-center study evaluates the relationships between novel liver function scoring systems - Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) score, EZ-ALBI, PALBI, and MELD-XI - and outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Feature importance was assessed with SHAP-values via the XGBoost-algorithm.

The ALBI score exhibited the strongest association with 30-day mortality after TAVI (AUC = 0.723, p < 0.001), outperforming other scores in this regard and consistently demonstrating predictive power across various subgroup populations. Higher 30-day mortality rates were observed in the higher tertiles of the ALBI score compared to the lower tertiles (log-rank p-value = 0.004). The ALBI-based nomogram (C-index = 0.81, 95% CI:0.73-0.86, p = 0 < 001) demonstrated superior predictive power for 30-day mortality post-TAVI compared to the STS (C-index = 0.71, 95% CI :0.64-0.77, p = 0 < 001). In addition, the nomogram showed a significant improvement in reclassification (69.3%, p < 0.001) and a stronger discrimination 15.2%, p < 0.001) compared to the STS. It integrates nine variables, first ALBI score (SHAP:1.165), including NYHA class (0.594), body mass index (0.510), glomerular filtration rate, creatinine, hemoglobin, gender, predilatation requirement, presence of chronic kidney disease, and providing a comprehensive risk assessment tool.

This study exhibits the significance of liver dysfunction with AS patients and suggests incorporating liver function parameters in pre-operative risk assessments for better clinical outcomes in TAVI procedures.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) progression following left-sided valvular heart disease (VHD) correction is a critical clinical concern. This study aimed to determine the incidence, predictors and outcomes of TR progression in a contemporary cohort.

We analysed 1644 patients (mean age 73 years, 62% men) without severe TR who underwent surgical or transcatheter treatment for aortic or mitral disease between 2014 and 2018. TR progression was defined as an increase in TR grade to moderate or severe on follow-up echocardiography.

At 5 years, TR progression incidence was 12.0% (95% CI 10.5% to 13.7%). Baseline factors associated with TR progression included older age, female sex, atrial fibrillation, prior pacemaker implantation and larger tricuspid annular diameter (TAD). The relationship between TAD and TR progression was linear (HR 1.08; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.11; p<0.001), with sex differences mitigated by indexing TAD to body surface area. TR progression was associated with increased all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 2.77; 95% CI 2.16 to 3.56; p<0.001) and a combined endpoint of death or heart failure hospitalisation (adjusted HR 2.91; 95% CI 2.21 to 3.82; p<0.001).

TR progression is common after left-sided VHD correction and is associated with adverse outcomes. Indexing TAD to body surface area mitigates sex differences in risk assessment. These findings suggest that lower thresholds for prophylactic tricuspid intervention may be warranted in high-risk patients.

The impact of changing patient demographics and risk profiles on cause-specific mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unclear.

The aim of this study was to examine causes of death (CoDs) and temporal trends and predictors of cause-specific mortality after TAVR.

Data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT (Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry were analyzed to identify patients who underwent isolated TAVR between January 2012 and October 2022 who had available information on 1-year CoD. The primary outcome was cause-specific (cardiac and noncardiac) mortality at 1 year. Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard models were used to account for the competing risk for cause-specific death.

Of 36,877 patients who died within 1 year after TAVR and had available information on CoD, 11,560 (31.3%) had cardiac death and 25,317 (68.7%) had noncardiac death. There was an initial decline in the risk-adjusted hazards of 1-year cardiac and noncardiac death after TAVR from 2012 to 2017 (adjusted HR per year: 0.95 [95% CI: 0.92-0.97] and 0.92 [95% CI: 0.90-0.93], respectively), followed by an increase from 2018 to 2022 (adjusted HR per year: 1.07 [95% CI: 1.05-1.09] and 1.22 [95% CI: 1.20-1.24], respectively). Age >80 years, comorbidities, poor functional status, nonelective procedure, nonfemoral access, and in-hospital complications were identified as independent predictors of both cardiac and noncardiac death after TAVR.

Noncardiac causes account for two-thirds of deaths within 1 year after TAVR. Further studies are needed to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid expansion in the number of TAVR sites, or other patient and hospital characteristics contributed to the increased risk for cardiac and noncardiac death after TAVR in recent years.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) technology and techniques have continuously improved, but data on their impact in low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (LFLG-AS) remain limited. In particular, scarce data exist comparing the results of TAVR with new-generation devices vs early-generation devices in these patients. This study evaluated the temporal trends in TAVR practices among LFLG-AS patients.

This multicentre registry included 424 LFLG-AS patients undergoing TAVR from 2007 to 2023, stratified by device generation: new-generation devices (n = 193) and early-generation devices (n = 231). All-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization (HFH) at 1-year follow-up was the primary end point.

The median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was lower in the new-generation group (5.3% [interquartile range [IQR] 3.4%-8.2%] vs 7.4% [IQR 5.0%-12.1%]; P < 0.001), whereas left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEFs) were similar (new: 31.2 ± 8.3%; early: 30.0 ± 8.8%; P = 0.16). New-generation devices were associated with a significant reduction in moderate-to-severe paravalvular leak after TAVR (2.6% vs 9.1%; P = 0.005), although 30-day mortality was similar (new: 1.6%; early: 3.9%; P = 0.15). At 1 year, new-generation devices were associated with a greater LVEF improvement (43.8 ± 12.5% vs 39.8 ± 11.5%; P = 0.003), but without a significant reduction in all-cause mortality or HFH (new: 23.8%; early: 28.1%; P = 0.32). Chronic kidney disease and low hemoglobin independently predicted worse outcomes (P < 0.05).

Despite procedural improvements with new-generation TAVR devices, clinical outcomes in LFLG-AS patients remain suboptimal. LVEF significantly improved after TAVR with new-generation devices but failed to translate into improved clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that TAVR alone may not suffice in this population and underscore the need for a comprehensive therapeutic approach that integrates TAVR with optimized medical management and cardiac rehabilitation.

Current guidelines and expert consensus recommend lifelong single antiplatelet therapy for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement who have no indication for anticoagulation or dual antiplatelet therapy. However, there is no direct evidence from randomized controlled trials supporting this practice. Furthermore, the optimal duration of antiplatelet therapy in this population has not been adequately investigated.

CREATE (A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Study to Evaluate Cessation of Antithrombotic Therapy at 1 Year in TAVR Patients-The CREATE Study) is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial for patients who have undergone successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement and have no indication for long-term oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. Eligible patients are free from major bleeding and ischemic events for 1 year postprocedure before being randomized 1:1 to single antiplatelet therapy (control group) or no antiplatelet therapy (experimental group). The primary efficacy end point is the incidence of bleeding events, defined by the VARC-3 (Valve Academic Research Consortium-3) criteria, at 1-year postrandomization. The primary safety end point is a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke at 1 year. The trial is powered for both superiority in efficiency and noninferiority in safety. Accordingly, a total of 3380 patients will be enrolled.

The CREATE trial aims to assess if stopping antiplatelet therapy at 1-year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement reduces bleeding risk without increasing ischemic events in patients not requiring chronic antithrombotic therapy.

URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifier: ChiCTR2400087454.

Effective orifice area (EOA) is flow dependent. However, established methods for the assessment of predicted prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) do not consider flow status and therefore may underestimate the rate and impact of PPM in patients with abnormal flow status. This study aimed to investigate the clinical impact of flow status-based predicted PPM in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Patients undergoing TAVR in a prospective TAVR registry were stratified by the presence of moderate or severe PPM (EOA index to body surface area [EOAi]: 0.65-0.85 or ≤0.65 and 0.55-0.70 or ≤0.55 cm2/m2 if obese). PPM was defined according to echocardiographically measured EOAi (measured PPM) or predicted or flow status-based predicted EOAi. Predicted EOAs were based on reference values of EOA for each valve generation and size (predicted PPMTHV) or native aortic annulus dimension (predicted PPMCT).

Among 1510 patients included (August 2007-June 2022), rates of moderate or severe PPM differed according to method of assessment: 27.0 and 8.7% according to measured PPM, 11.3 and 1.2% according to predicted PPMTHV, 12.0 and 0.1% according to PPMCT, 21.6 and 0.2% according to flow status-based predicted PPMTHV, and 25.1 and 0.4% according to flow status-based predicted PPMCT. Five-year mortality was comparable in patients with and without flow status-based predicted PPM defined by either method. These results were consistent when patients were stratified by flow status.

Rates of PPM differ considerably when flow status is considered. There was no consistent signal of increased risk of adverse events up to 5 years in patients with flow status-based predicted PPM.

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. NCT01368250.

Arrhythmic burden after discharge in patients with new-onset persistent left bundle branch block (NOP-LBBB) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with Evolut devices remains largely unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence and type of arrhythmias at 2-year follow-up in patients with NOP-LBBB post-TAVR.

This is a prospective multicentre study including 88 patients with LBBB persisting for ≥3 days post-implantation. Before discharge, an implantable loop recorder (REVEAL XT/LINQ) was implanted; patients had continuous monitoring for 2 years. Arrhythmic events were adjudicated in a central core lab. Of the arrhythmic events, 411 were detected in 58 patients [65.9%; 2 (1-4) events per patient]. Symptoms were reported in 12/58 (20.7%), and therapy was changed in 25/58 (43.1%). There were 101 bradyarrhythmic events in 33 patients [35 high-grade atrioventricular block (HAVB) and 66 severe bradycardia]. The HAVB incidence was higher in the early (4-week) phase and remained stable over time, whereas severe bradycardia increased after 1 year. Permanent pacemaker was required in 11 (12.5%) patients (6.8% and 5.7% in the first and second year, respectively). There were 310 tachyarrhythmic events in 29 patients (120 AF/AFL, 111 AT, 72 SVT, 6 NSVT, and 1 VT); its incidence decreased throughout the 2 years. New AF/AFL episodes occurred in 20/69 patients [29%; symptomatic in 2/20 (10%)].

Patients with NOP-LBBB post-TAVR with Evolut devices exhibited a high burden of late arrhythmias, with events occurring in two-thirds of patients and leading to treatment changes in about half of them. These data should inform future studies on cardiac monitoring devices for follow-up and treatment optimization in this challenging population.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a proven treatment for severe aortic stenosis. Transfemoral access is the most prevalent method, achieved either surgically or percutaneously. This study compared in-hospital outcomes and length of stay between surgical cut-down and fully percutaneous approaches.

This retrospective, propensity-matched study analyzed medical records of all patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR at our center from January 2019 to December 2023. Outcomes were assessed based on Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) consensus criteria.

A total of 251 TAVR patients (77 propensity score-matched pairs) were included (55% female) with a median (IQR) age of 80 (11) years. Surgical cut-down showed fewer vascular complications, bleeding, and transfusions. No death was reported in this group. Fewer mean hospitalization days were observed in the total cohort over the years (p < 0.001). This reduction was more pronounced after 2021 when the surgical approach was adopted. Mean hospitalization days were 6.40 ± 6.46 for percutaneous and 4.34 ± 1.61 for surgical groups (p < 0.001).

Surgical cut-down for TAVR femoral access yields superior outcomes and shorter hospital stays compared to fully percutaneous methods.

Peri-procedural myocardial injury (PPMI) has been commonly reported after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and may have a potential impact on outcomes. The recent update to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-3 criteria for PPMI warrants a comparison with the preceding VARC-2 criteria to understand its implications on patient outcomes.

To assess the prognostic significance of PPMI as defined by VARC-3 versus VARC-2 in TAVI patients and evaluate the predictive value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) for adverse outcomes within 1 year post-TAVI.

Consecutive patients undergoing TAVI in a tertiary university hospital between December 2011 and June 2023, with hs-cTnT concentrations pre- and post-procedurally, were enrolled. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 1 year. Secondary outcomes were major cardiac adverse events (MACE), defined as a composite end point including all-cause mortality, unplanned reintervention, stroke, myocardial infarction, or major bleeding at 30 days and 1 year.

Of 653 patients, 535 (82%) had elevated baseline serum hs-cTnT. It was a significant predictor of 1-year mortality and MACE, whereas post-TAVI hs-cTnT concentrations did not predict outcomes (HR: 1.5, p = 0.21 and HR: 0.943, p = 0.54). 367 (56%) of all patients met VARC-2 PPMI criteria, while only 24 (3.7%) met VARC-3 criteria. Patients meeting VARC-3 criteria had significantly more comorbidities and higher 1-year mortality (25% vs. 9%; p = 0.0047). VARC-2 criteria did not predict higher mortality (9% vs. 9%; p = 0.69).

Baseline hs-cTnT concentrations strongly predicted 1-year mortality and MACE, while post-procedure levels did not. VARC-3 criteria provided better prognostic discrimination than VARC-2.

Limited data exist on the impact of polyvascular disease (PolyVD) on clinical outcomes in female patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We therefore sought to investigate clinical outcomes in women with versus without PolyVD undergoing TAVR.

Female participants from the multicentre Women's International Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (WIN-TAVI) registry were categorized based on the presence or absence of PolyVD. The PolyVD population was defined as the presence of atherosclerotic disease affecting ≥ 2 arterial systems from coronary, cerebral, or lower limb peripheral vessels, whilst patients with either no atherosclerosis or atherosclerotic disease in one vascular system were included in the non-PolyVD population. The primary endpoint was the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 consensus (VARC-2) efficacy endpoint at 1 year, whilst secondary endpoints included VARC-2 safety events, VARC-2 major bleeding and major vascular complications. Cox regression analysis were computed adjusting for various cofounders.

Among 996 participants, 543 (54.5%) had PolyVD, while 453 (45.5%) did not. Across the subgroups no differences in age was noted, whilst patients with PolyVD were more likely to have a history of hypercholesterolemia and a previous cardiac surgery. The incidence of the primary endpoint was higher in the PolyVD group (19.4%) compared to the non-PolyVD group (13.3%, plog-rank = 0.014), though the difference was attenuated after multivariable adjustments (p = 0.093). Of note, no statistically significant differences concerning incident VARC-2 safety events, VARC-2 major bleeding and major vascular complications were noted according to PolyVD status.

PolyVD is a common comorbidity and is associated with elevated rates of adverse clinical events, but no increase in safety events, vascular complications, or bleeding among women undergoing TAVR.

TAVR is preferred over surgical aortic valve replacement in frail patients with aortic stenosis. The assessment of the treatment benefit of TAVR in this population is however equivocal.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of frailty on clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Patients in the SCOPE I (Safety and Efficacy of the ACURATE Neo/TF Compared to the SAPIEN 3 Bioprosthesis) trial were stratified according to frailty, defined as a multicomponent index that included loss of independence criteria based on activities of daily living, lean body mass, serum albumin, and cognitive impairment or dementia. The outcomes of interest included an endpoint integrating vital and patient-reported disease-specific health status, as well as clinical efficacy according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-3 definition.

Among 739 randomized patients, 122 patients (16.5%) met the definition of frailty. Mean age, comorbidities, and surgical risk were comparable between groups. Patients with and without frailty had similar improvement in patient-reported health status measures after TAVR, while patients with frailty had an increased risk of VARC-3 unfavorable outcome (risk ratio: 1.38, 95% CI: towards reduced VARC-3 clinical efficacy (risk ratio: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.65-1.03) at 3 years after TAVR.

More than 1 in 6 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR were considered frail in the SCOPE I trial. Patients with frailty had a similar improvement in patient-reported health status measures after TAVR, but a higher risk of unfavorable outcomes throughout 3 years of follow-up.

Balancing the risk of thromboembolism and bleeding after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains clinically challenging. Questions regarding the efficacy and safety of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) after TAVR still need to be definitively answered.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of NOACs after TAVR in individuals with and without indication for anticoagulation.

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP on 7 October 2023 together with reference checking and citation searching to identify additional studies.

We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared NOACs versus antiplatelet therapy or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) after TAVR in adults with or without an indication for anticoagulation.

We used standard Cochrane methods and conducted random-effects pair-wise analyses and network meta-analyses (NMAs). Our primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, stroke, and major bleeding. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence.

We included four RCTs with 4808 participants in the NMA. Of these, one compared rivaroxaban versus antiplatelet therapy in people without an indication for anticoagulation after TAVR; one compared apixaban versus antiplatelet therapy in people without an indication for anticoagulation or versus VKA in people with an indication for anticoagulation after TAVR; one compared edoxaban versus VKA in people with an indication for anticoagulation after TAVR; and one compared edoxaban with antiplatelet therapy in people without an indication for anticoagulation after TAVR. The mean age of trial participants was 81 years. Follow-up duration ranged from 6 to 18 months. Overall, we judged the risk of bias in the included trials to be low in all domains except for blinding, which was assessed as high in all four studies. No studies evaluated dabigatran. In people without an indication for anticoagulation, rivaroxaban and apixaban may increase all-cause mortality after TAVR as compared to antiplatelet therapy (rivaroxaban: risk ratio (RR) 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13 to 2.46; studies = 1, participants = 1644; moderate-certainty evidence; apixaban: RR 1.71, 95% CI 0.97 to 3.02; studies = 1, participants = 1049; low-certainty evidence), while edoxaban may result in little or no difference (RR 1.59, 95% CI 0.27 to 9.36; studies = 1, participants = 229; low-certainty evidence). Low-certainty evidence suggests little or no difference between rivaroxaban, apixaban, or edoxaban and antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular mortality (rivaroxaban: RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.78 to 2.10; studies = 1, participants = 1644; apixaban: RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.64 to 2.65; studies = 1, participants = 1049; edoxaban: RR 7.44, 95% CI 0.39 to 142.38; studies = 1, participants = 229) and between rivaroxaban or edoxaban and antiplatelets in stroke (rivaroxaban: RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.71 to 2.00; studies = 1, participants = 1644; edoxaban: RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.15 to 7.42; studies = 1, participants = 229). While rivaroxaban versus antiplatelets probably increases major bleeding after TAVR (RR 1.98, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.65; studies = 1, participants = 1644; moderate-certainty evidence), there may be little or no difference between apixaban and antiplatelet therapy (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.64; studies = 1, participants = 1049; low-certainty evidence). It is unclear if edoxaban has an effect on major bleeding, although the point estimate suggests increased bleeding (versus antiplatelets: RR 2.13, 95% CI 0.54 to 8.30; studies = 1, participants = 229; low-certainty evidence). In people with an indication for anticoagulation, low-certainty evidence suggests apixaban or edoxaban may result in little to no difference in our predefined primary efficacy outcomes after TAVR when compared to VKA (all-cause mortality: apixaban: RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.77; studies = 1, participants = 451; edoxaban: RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.20; studies = 1, participants = 1426; cardiovascular mortality: apixaban: RR 1.43, 95% CI 0.76 to 2.70; studies = 1, participants = 451; edoxaban: RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.57; studies = 1, participants = 1426; stroke: apixaban: RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.35 to 4.70; studies = 1, participants = 451; edoxaban: RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.34; studies = 1, participants = 1426). While apixaban may result in a similar rate of bleeding as VKA in this population, edoxaban probably increases major bleeding after TAVR in people with an indication for anticoagulation (apixaban: RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.54; studies = 1, participants = 451; low-certainty evidence; edoxaban: RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.93; studies = 1, participants = 1426; moderate-certainty evidence).

In people without an indication for oral anticoagulation, rivaroxaban and apixaban may increase all-cause mortality when compared to antiplatelet therapy, while edoxaban may result in little or no difference. There might be little or no difference between rivaroxaban, apixaban, or edoxaban and antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular mortality, and between rivaroxaban or edoxaban and antiplatelets in stroke. While rivaroxaban probably increases major bleeding following TAVR, there might be little or no difference between apixaban and antiplatelet therapy, and the effect of edoxaban on major bleeding remains unclear. In people with an indication for anticoagulation, apixaban and edoxaban may be as effective as VKA in preventing all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, and stroke. Apixaban may lead to a similar rate of major bleeding as VKA in this population. However, edoxaban probably increases major bleeding following TAVR when compared to VKA. Our NMA did not show superiority of one NOAC over another for any of the primary outcomes. Head-to-head trials directly comparing NOACs against each other are required to increase the certainty of the evidence.

Evidence regarding the incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) and long-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis (AS) is scarce.

This study sought to assess the incidence and prognostic impact of PPM after TAVR for bicuspid AS compared with that for tricuspid AS.

In total, 7,393 patients who underwent TAVR were prospectively enrolled in the OCEAN-TAVI (Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) registry, an ongoing Japanese, multicenter registry. We analyzed 7,051 patients (median age = 85 years, 68.4% women) and identified 503 (7.1%) with bicuspid AS. We compared the incidence of PPM and long-term mortality in 497 patients with and 497 without bicuspid AS after one-to-one propensity score matching analysis.

Among the 7,051 patients, moderate and severe PPM were observed in 756 (10.7%) and 92 (1.3%) patients, respectively. Upon Kaplan-Meier curve analysis of the overall cohort, severe PPM appeared to be associated with long-term mortality (log-rank test, P = 0.065). After propensity score matching analysis, moderate and severe PPM were more frequently observed among patients with tricuspid AS than patients with bicuspid AS (moderate PPM, 11.7% vs 4.4%; severe PPM, 1.4% vs 1.0%; P = 0.0001).

Severe PPM appeared to be associated with all-cause mortality. Moderate and severe PPM were more frequently observed in patients with tricuspid AS than patients with bicuspid AS.

Few centers routinely report aortic arch calcification (AAC) due to the lack of an easy and effective evaluation method. The association between AAC and the clinical prognosis of patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is unclear. We aimed to develop a rapid method to evaluate AAC in patients who underwent TAVR and to further assess their prognosis. We enrolled 464 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR. Patients with severe (11.2%), moderate (18.5%), mild (58.2%), and no (12.1%) AAC had an estimated 3-year all-cause mortality incidence of 39.6%, 20.8%, 13.4%, and 6.7% (log rank p < 0.001), respectively. Patients with severe AAC had a significantly higher incidence of both cardiovascular (log rank p = 0.002) and non-cardiovascular mortality (log rank p = 0.009), whereas patients with moderate AAC had a higher incidence of only non-cardiovascular mortality (p = 0.003) compared with patients with no/mild AAC. Moderate/severe AAC was an independent predictor of 3-year all-cause mortality in univariate (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-4.03; p = 0.001) and multivariate COX regression analyses (HR: 1.78, 95%CI: 1.04-3.06; p = 0.037). Our rapid semi-quantitative method to evaluate AAC is highly reproducible and can be used to assess AAC in patients who undergo TAVR.

Background: Early safety outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis are critical for patient prognosis. Accurate prediction of adverse events can enhance patient management and improve outcomes. Aim: This study aimed to develop a machine learning model to predict early safety outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-centre study involving 224 patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI. Seventy-seven clinical and biochemical variables were collected for analysis. To handle unbalanced classification problems, an adaptive synthetic (ADASYN) sampling approach was used. A fined-tuned random forest (RF) machine learning model was developed to predict early safety outcomes, defined as all-cause mortality, stroke, life-threatening bleeding, acute kidney injury (stage 2 or 3), coronary artery obstruction requiring intervention, major vascular complications, and valve-related dysfunction requiring repeat procedures. Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAPs) were used to explain the output of the machine learning model by attributing each variable's contribution to the final prediction of early safety outcomes. Results: The random forest model identified left femoral artery diameter and aortic valve calcification volume as the most influential predictors of early safety outcomes. SHAPs analysis demonstrated that smaller left femoral artery diameter and higher aortic valve calcification volume were associated with poorer early safety prognoses. Conclusions: The machine learning model highlights of early safety outcomes after TAVI. These findings suggest that incorporating these variables into pre-procedural assessments may improve risk stratification and inform clinical decision-making to enhance patient care.

The impact of periprocedural myocardial injury (PPMI) according to VARC-3 criteria in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of PPMI in patients with severe aortic who underwent TAVR in China.

Between September 2012 and November 2021, 516 patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR at the Fuwai Hospital were consecutively enrolled. PPMI was defined according to the VARC-3 criteria as a 70-fold increase of upper reference limit in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels. We compared the baseline characteristics, perioperative conditions, and in-hospital and long-term endpoints between the PPMI and non-PPMI groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of PPMI. Survival probabilities for outcomes between the PPMI and non-PPMI groups were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Of the enrolled patients (mean age: 75.5±7.2 years, 57.5% male), the incidence of PPMI was 20.5%. The median cTnI was 24.9 (interquartile range: 11.4-60.2) times the upper reference limit. After multivariable adjustment, female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 3.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.88-4.82, P < 0.001), anticoagulant use (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.08-0.96, P = 0.043), balloon-expandable valve (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09-0.79, P = 0.017), and secondary valve implantation (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.40-5.03, P = 0.003) were significantly associated with PPMI. Patients with PPMI had short- and long-term outcomes similar to those without PPMI.

Female sex and secondary valve implantation are predictors of an increased risk of PPMI, whereas baseline anticoagulant use and the use of balloon-expandable valves are protective factors. The presence of PPMI does not seem to indicate poor short- or long-term prognosis in patients undergoing TAVR.

The self-expanding, supra-annular Evolut valve is an established platform for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). Evolut PRO introduced an outer sealing wrap to mitigate paravalvular leakage. We evaluated the 3-year clinical outcomes and valve performance of the Evolut PRO in standard clinical practice for severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients at intermediate or higher risk for surgery.

The FORWARD PRO prospective, single-arm, multicentre, post-market clinical study enrolled 638 patients with native aortic valve stenosis or failed surgical bioprosthetic aortic valve undergoing TAVI, at intermediate or high risk, with the Evolut PRO valve. Clinical and serial echocardiographic outcomes were followed-up for 3 years.

TAVI using Evolut PRO was attempted in 629 AS patients (implanted in 97%) (mean age 81.7 years; STS PROM score, 4.7%). At 3 years all-cause mortality was 25.0%, disabling stroke 6.5% (all-cause mortality or disabling stroke, 28.5%) and rate of new permanent pacemaker implantation 24.7%. Excellent valve haemodynamics were maintained (mean gradient 8.8 ± 4.7 mm Hg; mean effective orifice area 2.0 ± 0.5 cm2) at 3 years. In a paired analysis of patients with ≥ mild paravalvular leakage (PVL) at discharge, more than two-thirds demonstrated improved PVL at 3 years. Patients with ≥ mild PVL at discharge had higher median total calcium volume than those with no/trace PVL (p < 0.001).

In clinical practice TAVI with the Evolut PRO valve is associated with favorable clinical outcomes and excellent haemodynamic performance out to 3 years. The observation of improvements in PVL over time warrants further research.

Current guidelines recommend transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for patients with aortic stenosis and porcelain aorta (PA). Neurological outcomes of patients with PA undergoing TAVI with modern valves require clarification as most trials examined balloon-expandable valves (BEV) and self-expandable valves in intermediate or high-risk patients, but not specifically in patients with PA. Our aim was to compare outcomes, including stroke and mortality, in well-matched patients with and without PA who received BEV during transfemoral TAVI procedures.

Consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were entered into a registry. For this single-centre (Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Germany), retrospective analysis, we only selected patients who received BEV. PA diagnosis was made when non-contrast axial CT images fulfilled Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria for PA. There was 2:1 nearest neighbour matching of patients without and with PA. The primary outcome measure was 30-day mortality or stroke within 72 hours. Secondary outcome measures were 30-day mortality, stroke within 72 hours, technical success and 30-day device success.

After matching patients with (n=141) and without PA (n=282), the primary outcome of mortality at <30 days or stroke within 72 hours was higher in PA versus non-PA (7.8% vs 2.5%; OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.25 to 8.85); p=0.019). With regard to secondary outcomes, PA was not associated with mortality at 30 days (4.3% vs 2.1%; OR 2.04 (95% CI 0.65 to 6.48); p=0.23); however, stroke within 72 hours was significantly higher in PA versus non-PA (3.5% vs 0.4%; OR 10.33 (95% CI 1.17 to 91.12); p=0.017). Technical and device success were uninfluenced by PA.

Transfemoral TAVI with BEV in patients with PA was associated with a higher risk of the primary combined endpoint of mortality at 30 days or stroke within 72 hours, which was primarily driven by stroke within 72 hours. These findings might influence cerebral embolic protection device use in patients with PA.

Background: Paravalvular leak (PVL) was initially recognized as one of the most common complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and has been linked to adverse clinical outcomes, including mortality. This study aims to assess the long-term clinical effects of PVL in patients undergoing TAVI with the latest generation of transcatheter aortic valves, as part of the national observational prospective multicenter study OBSERVANT II. Methods: OBSERVANT II included all consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI across 28 Italian centers from December 2016 to September 2018. A total of 2125 patients were included in this analysis and stratified according to the presence of moderate-to-severe PVL (significant PVL, n = 155) versus no/trace-to-mild PVL (no significant PVL, n = 1970). The primary endpoint was 5-year major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization. Five-year all cause death and re-hospitalization for heart failure (HF) were the secondary endpoints. Results: In our cohort, the incidence of moderate-to-severe PVL was 7%. Age, aortic anulus perimeter, and self-expandable valves were determinants of PVL. The risk of MACCE, all-cause death, and re-hospitalization for HF at the 5-year follow-up were not different between the study groups [HR = 1.07 (95% CI: 0.85-1.34) p = 0.571; HR = 1.10 (95% CI: 0.87-1.39) p = 0.435; HR = 1.20 (95% CI: 0.88-1.62) p = 0.245, respectively]. Conclusions: In this analysis of the OBSERVANT II study, moderate/severe PVL was not associated with a higher incidence of MACCE and re-hospitalization for heart failure at the 5-year follow-up.

 We evaluated and compared early postprocedural and midterm incidence and evolution of atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction disorders following rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (RDAVR) and conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR).

 One hundred and forty-seven patients who underwent isolated rapid deployment AVR between 2017 and 2021 as well as 128 patients after conventional biological AVR in the same period were included in this study. ECGs recorded at baseline, discharge, and 12 months were retrospectively analyzed. Intrinsic rhythm, PQ interval, QRS duration, and atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction were evaluated and compared between both groups.

 Patients in both groups had comparable Society of Thoracic surgeons risc (STS) scores (2.9 ± 1.6 vs. 3.1 ± 2.2, p = 0.32) and comparable baseline characteristics. The mean age was 73.4 ± 5.7 years in the RDAVR group and 74.2 ± 5.9 years in the AVR group, respectively. At baseline, the mean QRS width was 95.7 ± 25.5 ms in the RDAVR group, and 97.3 ± 23.5 ms in the AVR group, respectively (p = 0.590). At discharge, the mean QRS width in the RDAVR group was significantly increased with 117.4 ± 28.6 ms and a mean ΔQRS width of 21.7 ± 26.3 ms (p < 0.001) compared with baseline. No significant changes in QRS width were found in the AVR group with a mean value of 101.2 ± 24.1 ms and a mean ΔQRS width of 3.9 ± 23.9 ms at discharge (p = 0.193). The left bundle branch block (LBBB) was increased in the RDAVR group after 12 months (19.3% vs. 5.1%, p < 0.001). Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) rates were significantly higher in the RDAVR group after 12 months (hazard ratio (HR): 4.68; 95% CI: 2.23-7.43, p < 0.001). Mortality did not differ between both groups after 12 months (HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.46-1.83, p = 0.835) CONCLUSION:  Patients after RDAVR showed significantly higher rates of LBBB and PPI after 12 months. However, higher mortality was not observed in the RDAVR group.

Data concerning the clinical effect of the latest-generation self-expandable transcatheter heart valve (Evolut FX) remain limited. We aimed to assess the in-hospital outcomes of 3 bioprosthetic valves (Evolut EPO, PRO+, and FX). We analyzed data from a Japanese multicenter registry involving 634 consecutive patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement with Evolut FX up until October 2023. Patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement with Evolut EPO between 2018 and 2020 (n = 1,128), and those with Evolut EPO+ between 2020 and 2023 (n = 1,696) served as the control groups. The exclusion criteria comprised patients on dialysis with a history of infective endocarditis or with insufficient data. Unmatched comparisons among the 3 valves were conducted, followed by a propensity score-matched comparison between Evolut EPO+ and FX. In the unmatched cohort, among the Evolut EPO, PRO+, and FX groups, all vascular complications (7.8% vs 5.2% vs 4.5%, respectively, p <0.01) and new pacemaker implantation rates (11.2% vs 6.1% vs 7.7%, respectively, p <0.01) differed significantly. In the propensity score-matched analysis, the rate of all bleeding events was significantly higher in the Evolut EPO+ group (11.0%) than in the FX group (7.0%) (p = 0.02), whereas all vascular complications (4.6% vs 4.6%, respectively, p = 1.00) and new pacemaker implantation (5.9% vs 7.6%, respectively, p = 0.28) rates were comparable. The incidence of stroke in the FX group was approximately half that of the EP+ group (3.7% vs 1.9%, p = 0.095), without statistical significance. In conclusion, compared with the Evolut EPO+, Evolut FX was associated with a lower incidence of in-hospital bleeding complications and may reduce the incidence of in-hospital stroke.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a pivotal intervention for managing severe aortic stenosis in high-risk surgical patients. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of procedural factors and patient characteristics on TAVI outcomes, with a focus on survival rates, cardiac mortality, and associated complications. Methods: A retrospective, single-center study involving 224 patients who underwent TAVI at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences from September 2021 to April 2023 was conducted. Data encompassing demographic characteristics, medical history, procedural specifics, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed. Survival and adverse events were assessed at 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months post-TAVI. Results: The study included 224 patients. The mean age in the non-death group was 80 ± 6.17 years (range, 49-91), while that in the cardiac death group was 81.5 ± 6.14 years (range, 70-94; p = 0.079). Males accounted for 37.7% of the non-death group and 50% of the cardiac death group (p = 0.304). Statistical analyses identified factors significantly associated with mortality and complications. The overall survival rate was 88.8%, with cardiac-related mortality observed in 8% of patients. Increased fluoroscopy time (p < 0.001), a higher contrast volume (p = 0.005), and less improvement in aortic valve velocity post-TAVI (p = 0.031) were significantly associated with cardiac mortality. Advanced age and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (<50%) were prominent predictors of adverse outcomes. Patients with non-coronary cusp calcification exhibited lower cardiac mortality (p = 0.005), while mitral valve regurgitation was linked to poorer outcomes (p = 0.015). Logistic regression analysis underscored the incremental risks posed by procedural complexities and comorbidities. Conclusions: Procedural factors such as fluoroscopy duration and contrast volume, along with patient-specific attributes including age, left ventricular function, and valve calcification patterns, critically influence TAVI outcomes. These findings emphasize the need for tailored procedural strategies and patient management protocols to mitigate risks and enhance the efficacy of TAVI interventions.

Background: Bifemoral arterial access is common in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), with a primary treatment access (TAVI access) and a secondary non-TAVI access. Pseudoaneurysm (PSA) is an important complication of femoral arterial puncture. Major vascular complications after TAVI are well described, but little is known about PSA. Patients and methods: A total of 2063 patients underwent transfemoral TAVI between January 2014 and January 2020. Vascular ultrasound of the common femoral artery was assessed before and after TAVI. We compared patient characteristics, periprocedural risk scores, procedural characteristics, and access site bleeding events according to Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC-3) criteria, length of stay (LOS), and all-cause mortality at one year between patients with (46) and without (2017) PSA. Results: The incidence of PSA after TAVI was 2.2% (46/2063). All PSA were successfully treated with ultrasound-guided manual compression (UGMC) or thrombin injection (UGTI) without complications. Patients with PSA had lower platelet counts (210×1000/μl vs. 234×1000/μl; p<0.05), more heart failure symptoms on admission (91% vs. 25%; p<0.05), were more often treated with (N)OACs for atrial fibrillation (AF; 54% vs. 38%; p <0.05), and were less often treated with aspirin (35% vs. 51%; p<0.03). Multivariate analysis identified secondary access site (odds ratio [OR] 8.11; p<0.001) and (N)OAC therapy (OR 1.31; p = 0.037) as risk factors for PSA development. PSA is associated with VARC-3 type 1-3 access site bleeding and longer LOS (15.2 ± 11.3 d vs. 11.6 ± 8.9 d; p<0.01), but this did not affect one year mortality (17% vs. 14%; p = 0.53). Conclusions: Pseudoaneurysms are an important complication after TAVI and are associated with access site bleeding and prolonged hospital stay. (N)OAC therapy and secondary access are important risk factors. Pseudoaneurysms can be safely and effectively treated with thrombin injection and do not affect one-year mortality.

With the aging of the general population and the rise in surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement, there will be an increase in the prevalence of prosthetic aortic valves. Patients with prosthetic aortic valves can develop a wide range of unique pathologies compared to the general population. Accurate diagnosis is necessary in this population to generate a comprehensive treatment plan. Transthoracic echocardiography is often insufficient alone to diagnose many prosthetic valve pathologies. The integration of many imaging modalities, including transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear imaging, is necessary to care for patients with prosthetic valves. The purpose of this review is to describe the strengths, limitations, and contemporary use of the different imaging modalities necessary to diagnose prosthetic valve dysfunction.