Surgical explantation of a failed transcatheter aortic valve

With transcatheter aortic valve replacement being increasingly utilized in a younger and lower risk population, we can expect to see larger numbers of patients presenting with structural deterioration of aortic valves replaced by the transcatheter route that now require explantation and surgical replacement. Surgical aortic valve replacement after transcatheter aortic valve replacement is associated with operative morbidity and mortality rates significantly higher than those seen in the setting of surgical replacement of the native valve, which had a 30-day mortality of 12–20% in recent series. Centers performing transcatheter aortic valve replacement in lower risk patients with longer expected lifespans and a higher probability of late structural deterioration of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement should carefully consider their choice of valve type (balloon-expandable versus self-expanding) and patient anatomy, including annulus and root diameter, at the time of the initial valve intervention. Further, one should not forget the mechanical surgical aortic valve replacement option in younger patients with risk factors for early structural valve deterioration such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease. The objectives of this tutorial are to describe the preoperative workup for a patient with late structural valve deterioration after transcatheter aortic valve replacement, detail the explantation approach specific to self-expanding valves, and illustrate the key decisions and techniques needed for subsequent surgical aortic valve replacement.