Transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Background : Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a rapidly evolving strategy for therapy of aortic stenosis. We describe the effect of the learning curve from the first 270 high‐risk patients in Vancouver, Canada. Methods : Patients underwent TAVI by transfemoral (63%) or transapical (37%) routes using balloon expandable valves. The experience was divided into the first half (FH, patients 1–135) and second half (SH, patients 136–270). Results : The mean age was 83.2 ± 8 years (FH 83 ± 12 vs. SH 81 ± 7 years, P = 0.12). The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons Score (STS) was 9.5% ± 5.2%‐ FH 10.5 vs. SH 8.5% (P = 0.01). The overall procedural success rate in the FH was 92.6%, improving to 97.8% in the SH (P = 0.05). The transfemoral procedural success improved—FH 89.3% to SH 98.8% (P = 0.01). The transapical procedural success remained high—FH 98.0% to SH 96.1% (P = 0.53). The overall 30‐day mortality was 9.6%, improving from FH 13.3% to SH 5.9% (P = 0.04). In the transfemoral cases, 30‐day mortality decreased by 56% [10.7–4.7%, P = 0.14], and similarly in transapical cases [17.6–7.8%, P = 0.14]. In‐hospital stroke occurred in 3.3% (FH 3.7% vs. SH 2.9%, P = 0.74). The overall need for a new permanent pacemaker was 5.9% (FH 5.9% vs. SH 5.9%, P = 1). The overall major vascular injury rate was 6.7% (FH 8.1% vs. SH 5.2%, P = 0.33). The overall incidence of coronary vessel occlusion was 1.1% (FH 1.5 % vs. SH 0.7%, P = 0.56). Device embolization or failure to cross the valve was rare and largely seen in the FH only. Procedural experience (>135 procedures) was an independent predictor of 30‐day survival (HR: 6.7, 95% CI: 1.2–18.1, P = 0.03). Conclusion : TAVI outcomes improve with experience and device development. While overall complication rates are low, scope remains to further reduce procedural adverse events.© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Aortic stenosis is the most important valvular heart disease affecting the elderly population. Surgical aortic valve replacement is the mainstay of treatment, although a substantial number of patients are considered high risk for surgery. Many of these patients do not undergo surgery and have poor outcomes from medically treated symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) provides a promising treatment option for some of these patients. Several devices are under investigation. The Edwards Sapien valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) and the CoreValve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) have the largest human experience to date. Initial data suggest that these devices have an acceptable safety profile and provide excellent hemodynamic relief of aortic stenosis. The Edwards Sapien valve is currently under investigation in the United States in the PARTNER (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve) trial in high-risk surgical or inoperable patients; TAVI is available for clinical use in both Canada and Europe. TAVI is not used in low- or intermediate-risk surgical patients; however, future studies may prove its applicability in these subsets. The major complications of TAVI include access site-related problems and device malpositioning/migration. There are several new-generation prosthetic valves and delivery systems designed to be low profile and repositionable. Technical advances and refinement of the implantation methods may make TAVI even safer and ultimately a better treatment option, not only for patients with high surgical risk but also for those with moderate or low risk.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation when classical access routes are unavailable

A 90‐year‐old woman with symptomatic degenerative aortic stenosis had a logistic Euroscore greater than 53.29%, indicating a high surgical risk. She was therefore advised to undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Both iliac arteries showed subocclusive calcifications, and the left subclavian artery was narrow and calcified. The left common carotid (LCC) artery was chosen as the access route. After surgical exposure of the LCC artery, the Corevalve Revalving 29‐mm bioprosthesis was implanted successfully. No access‐site complications occurred. In our experience, a substantial proportion of elderly patients have vascular lesions precluding use of the femoral route. Brachiocephalic access routes may be valuable when no other options are available. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in 2015

Aortic valve; Echocardiography; Risk factor; Surgery     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for bicuspid aortic valve stenosis

• In Preprocedural CT, patients with BAV have larger aortic annulus perimeters, and more calcified valves compared with TAV.
• In patients with BAV, self‐expandable valves were under‐expand and balloon‐expandable valves have a trend toward increased rates of postimplantation AR grade.
• Self‐expandable valves have higher postprocedural gradient in BAV compared with TAV.

     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation of the direct flow medical aortic valve with minimal or no contrast

The 18F Direct Flow Medical (DFM) THV has conformable sealing rings, which minimizes aortic regurgitation and permits full hemodynamic assessment of valve performance prior to permanent implantation. During the DISCOVER trial, three patients who were at risk for receiving contrast media, two due to severe CKD and one due to a recent hyperthyroid reaction to contrast, underwent DFM implantation under fluoroscopic and transesophageal guidance without aortography during either positioning or to confirm the final position. Valve positioning was based on the optimal angiographic projection as calculated by the pre-procedural multislice CT scan. Precise optimization of valve position was performed to minimize transvalve gradient and aortic regurgitation. Prior to final implantation, transvalve hemodynamics were assessed invasively and by TEE. The post-procedure mean gradients were 7, 10, 11 mm Hg. The final AVA by echo was 1.70, 1.40 and 1.68 cm². Total aortic regurgitation post-procedure was none or trace in all three patients. Total positioning and assessment of valve performance time was 4, 6, and 12 minutes. Contrast was only used to confirm successful percutaneous closure of the femoral access site. The total contrast dose was 5, 8, 12 cc. Baseline eGFR and creatinine was 28, 22, 74 mL/min/1.73 m² and 2.35, 2.98, and 1.03 mg/dL, respectively. Renal function was unchanged post-procedure: eGFR = 25, 35, and 96 mL/min/1.73 m² and creatinine = 2.58, 1.99, and 1.03 mg/dL, respectively. In conclusion, the DFM THV provides the ability to perform TAVI with minimal or no contrast. The precise and predictable implantation technique can be performed with fluoro and echo guidance.     

Transcatheter aortic valve in valve implantation with bioprosthetic valve fracture

Valve‐in‐valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (VIV TAVR) has emerged as a preferable option for high surgical risk patients requiring redo aortic valve replacement. However, VIV TAVR may restrict flow, especially in small native aortic valves. To remedy this, bioprosthetic valve fracture has been utilized to increase the effective orifice area and improve hemodynamics. We present three cases in which bioprosthetic valve fracture was used to increase hemodynamic flow in VIV TAVR procedures.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: complications and management

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an emerging and promising modality to treat severe aortic stenosis in a select group of patients who are poor surgical candidates. Despite the lesser degree of invasiveness of TAVI compared to open aortic valve replacement (AVR), TAVI is associated with a significant potential for serious life-threatening complications, both intraoperatively and postoperatively. These include vascular injuries, stroke, structural injury to the aorta and the heart and its valves, aortic root or annulus injury, conduction tissue injury, paravalvular leak, valve malposition, coronary complications such as obstruction or ischemia, pericardial effusion and tamponade, and procedural cardiac depression requiring immediate cardiopulmonary bypass for resuscitation. The prevention, detection, and treatment of these complications demands a skill set requiring the services of a cardiovascular surgeon with endovascular skills, an interventional cardiologist, a cardiac perfusion team, and cardiac anesthesia. Therefore, the optimal care of TAVI patients requires a multidisciplinary approach involving these services. The range of serious complications associated with TAVI, and the management strategies utilized in their treatment, are discussed.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation without balloon predilatation

Balloon predilatation has been regarded as an essential step before implanting the self‐expandable prosthesis during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Recent evidence showed that without balloon predilatation, an implantation success rate of >95% could be achieved. We report two cases in which balloon predilatation was not performed initially during TAVI but eventually required it to facilitate device crossing and implantation. They illustrated the importance of case selection and alerted us the potential limitation in performing TAVI without balloon predilatation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in degenerative sutureless perceval aortic bioprosthesis

Sutureless aortic bioprostheses (SAB) are increasingly being used to provide shorter cross‐clamp time. Valve‐in‐valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (VIV‐A) is shown to be effective and safe in the vast majority of patients with degenerated bioprosthetics, yet its' use in SAB failure is infrequent. We present a case of balloon‐expandable VIV‐A in an 80‐year‐old woman who suffered severe symptomatic aortic regurgitation in a failed Perceval S 21‐mm valve. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a deformed valve. Our heart team favored a percutaneous VIV‐A over reoperation due to the patients' high surgical risk. An Edwards‐Sapien XT 23 mm was successfully deployed with excellent results. The patient remained asymptomatic following 6 months. As other bioprosthesis, some sutureless valves are condemned to structural valve degeneration. Because VIV‐A is being established for managing degenerative bioprosthesis in high risk patients, it is cardinal to identify its role in novel degenerative sutureless valves. SAB were introduced to the clinical market only 5–7 years ago. The absence of sutures may theoretically impose risk for valve instability when adding a transcatheter sutureless valve inside the first one. Our successful experience was very reassuring. We report its feasibility because we believe it should provide support for further investigation on VIV‐A within novel SAV. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in nonagenarians: Effective and safe

BackgroundThe number of nonagenarians is rising dramatically. These patients often develop severe aortic stenosis for which transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an attractive option. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of TAVI performed in a cohort of nonagenarian patients.MethodsBetween August 2008 and November 2012, 23 consecutive patients in their 90th year of age or older underwent TAVI in our institution after having been assessed by the local heart team. Data concerning baseline characteristics, procedural details and outcome were prospectively entered into a dedicated database. Transthoracic echocardiography and clinical follow-up were performed pre-procedure, at discharge, at 6 and 12 months and then annually post TAVI.ResultsPatients were male in 52% with a mean age of 90.3 ± 2.3 years. Mean logistic EuroSCORE and STS score were 26.6 ± 14.5% and 8.7 ± 2.9%, respectively. Transcatheter heart valve (THV) could be implanted in all but one patient. Mortality at 30 days was 8.7% overall and 4.8% for transfemoral approach. At 30 days the rate of stroke was 4.3%, paravalvular leak grade ≥ 2 was 8.7%, life-threatening bleeding was 13.0% and pacemaker implantation was 13%. Device success was 73.9%. The rate of all-cause mortality increased to 27.3% at one-year follow-up and 42.8% at a median follow-up of 417 days.ConclusionsTAVI is safe and effective even in a selected population of nonagenarians. Consequently, these patients should not be refused such a procedure based only on their age. Multi-disciplinary assessment is essential in order to properly select candidates.     

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with a mechanical mitral valve

Many patients with severe aortic stenosis never undergo surgical treatment for various reasons. Apart from the standard risks, some patients face an additional problem: their carrying of a mechanical mitral valve. In these patients, transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a therapeutic option. The literature contains only few reports of this procedure being performed (usually transapically) in such patients. This paper reports the cases of 3 patients with severe aortic stenosis, all carrying a mechanical mitral valve and at high surgical risk, all of whom were implanted by transcatheter aortic valve implantation with an Edwards aortic valve prosthesis. All procedures were successful with no complications encountered.Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol.org