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Stroke Complicating Infective Endocarditis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
David Del Val1, Mohamed Abdel-Wahab2, Norman Mangner3
1Quebec Heart & Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Insights
Stroke is a significant complication of infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), affecting 10% of patients. Key risk factors include prior stroke and vegetation size, with stroke increasing mortality and not benefiting from surgical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Stroke is a common complication of infective endocarditis (IE).
- Data on stroke complicating IE after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of stroke in patients with IE post-TAVR.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Infectious Endocarditis after TAVR International Registry (569 patients).
- Comparison of patients with stroke (S-IE) versus no stroke (NS-IE) during IE hospitalization.
Main Results:
- 10% of patients experienced stroke during IE hospitalization.
- Risk factors for stroke included prior stroke, moderate-to-severe residual aortic regurgitation, balloon-expandable valves, early IE post-TAVR, and large vegetations (>8 mm).
- Stroke significantly increased in-hospital (54.4% vs. 28.7%) and 1-year mortality (66.3% vs. 45.6%).
Conclusions:
- Stroke occurs in 1 in 10 IE patients post-TAVR.
- Specific risk factors predict stroke, which is associated with higher mortality.
- Surgical treatment did not improve outcomes in stroke patients.
Background:
Stroke is one of the most common and potentially disabling complications of infective endocarditis (IE). However, scarce data exist about stroke complicating IE after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with definite IE after TAVR complicated by stroke during index IE hospitalization.
Methods:
Data from the Infectious Endocarditis after TAVR International Registry (including 569 patients who developed definite IE following TAVR from 59 centers in 11 countries) was analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to stroke occurrence during IE admission (stroke [S-IE] vs. no stroke [NS-IE]).
Results:
A total of 57 (10%) patients had a stroke during IE hospitalization, with no differences in causative microorganism between groups. S-IE patients exhibited higher rates of acute renal failure, systemic embolization, and persistent bacteremia (p < 0.05 for all). Previous stroke before IE, residual aortic regurgitation ≥moderate after TAVR, balloon-expandable valves, IE within 30 days after TAVR, and vegetation size >8 mm were associated with a higher risk of stroke during the index IE hospitalization (p < 0.05 for all). Stroke rate in patients with no risk factors was 3.1% and increased up to 60% in the presence of >3 risk factors. S-IE patients had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (54.4% vs. 28.7%; p < 0.001) and overall mortality at 1 year (66.3% vs. 45.6%; p < 0.001). Surgical treatment was not associated with improved outcomes in S-IE patients (in-hospital mortality: 46.2% in surgical vs. 58.1% in no surgical treatment; p = 0.47).
Conclusions:
Stroke occurred in 1 of 10 patients with IE post-TAVR. A history of stroke, short time between TAVR and IE, vegetation size, valve prosthesis type, and residual aortic regurgitation determined an increased risk. The occurrence of stroke was associated with increased in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates, and surgical treatment failed to improve clinical outcomes.
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