Abstract
Background/Introduction
Long-term continuous flow left ventricular assist device (cf-LVAD) can result in the development of relevant aortic regurgitation (AR). Although its impact on survival is still controversial, it causes heart failure related symptoms. Current evidence for less invasive strategies to treat AR in cf-LVAD patients is limited.
Purpose
This study sought to investigate the value of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) to treat severe de novo AR in patients on long-term cf-LVAD support. Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of 13 patients with severe AR following cf-LVAD implantation treated with TAVI between 2010 and 2019. TAVI's were performed via transfemoral (n=11), transapical (n=1) and transaxillary (n=1) access route. CoreValve (n=2), LotusValve (n=1), SapienXT (n=1) and Sapien3 (n=9) were used as transcatheter heart valves. In 4 patients, a new off-label strategy using landing-zone pre-stenting with a Sinus-XL stent was used (Figure 1).
Results
The median time interval from LVAD-implantation to TAVI was 1.7 years [interquartile range (IQR): 1.0 - 3.1]. Median age was 62 years [IQR: 57 - 67]. No procedural mortality or stroke was observed. Overall, device success according to VARC-II criteria was low due to a high rate of second valve necessity (54%). In contrast to the standard implantation technique, device success was 100% when the newly developed pre-stenting technique was applied (Table 1). Aortic regurgitation at discharge was none/trace in all patients. Valve function remained stable in all patients during a median echocardiographic follow-up time of 105 days [IQR: 11 - 298].
Table 1 Overall Sinus-XL prestenting (n=4) NO prestenting (n=9) Device success 7 (54) 4 (100) 3 (33) Procedural mortality 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) Correct positioning of a single valve 7 (54) 4 (100) 3 (33) Intended valve performance 13 (100) 4 (100) 9 (100) Moderate or severe aortic regurgitation 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Figure 1
Conclusions
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an efficient tool to treat cf-LVAD induced severe AR. The challenging anatomy of the non-calcified device landing zone causes a relatively high rate of primary device failure, which could be overcome with a pre-stenting technique.
Acknowledgement/Funding
None
Inter-Technique Consistency and Prognostic Value of Intra-Procedural Angiographic and Echocardiographic Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation