Measuring integrated backscatter in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Calibrated integrated backscatter (cIB) derived by 2D echocardiography quantifies myocardial ultrasound reflectivity, and it has been used in previous studies as a surrogate for fibrosis. Before the advent other cardiac imaging techniques, was major focus tissue characterization research. Purpose We examined whether cIB may help identify patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) at risk procedure-related complications. Methods Consecutive submitted to transfemoral TAVI between January December 2021 were routinely imaged five days peri-procedure. obtained from parasternal long-axis view (PLAX) subtracting pericardial intensity septal posterior wall average cIB. Patients with poor PLAX views excluded study. Measurements cIB, expressed decibels, performed end-diastole. The primary endpoint occurrence TAVI-related Results Of 149 that underwent during study period, 131 had reasonable acoustic window measurement included Patient mean age 82.1±6.9 years, 62% female. At baseline, 84% preserved left ventricle function, gradient 47.3±14.8 mmHg, Euroscore II 5.34±3.24. global measured 19.74±7.56 dB. No significant differences found reflectivity complications (20.63±10.8 vs 19.6±6.9 dB, p = 0.587), which defined according Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 consensus. However, significantly higher who post-TAVI conduction disturbances (21.09±7.72 18.11±7.06 0.026), including bundle branch block atrioventricular block. There also negative correlation annulus area computed tomography (r(129)= −0.19, 0.032), pre-TAVI estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min/1.73m2 (22.42±7.17 19.56±6.88 0.043). Conclusion Our data disfavors use predictor complications, but suggests assessment could add value identifying procedures.