Two-year mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus medical therapy for high-surgical risk or inoperable aortic stenosis patients.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a therapeutic option for the treatment of high-risk or inoperable patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. The study aim was to compare the two-year mortality of high-risk or inoperable patients treated by TAVI compared to medical therapy, in a single-center setting.

Methods: A total of 135 consecutive patients (58 males, 77 females; mean age 80 +/- 6 years; logistic EuroSCORE 21 +/- 13%) who had undergone TAVI was compared to 135 patients (60 males, 75 females; mean age 79 +/- 3 years; logistic EuroSCORE 21 +/- 19%) who had undergone medical treatment before TAVI became available.

Impact of a new conduction defect after transcatheter aortic valve implantation on left ventricular function.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the impact of new conduction defects after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on the evolution of left ventricular (LV) function during 1-year follow-up.

Background: New left bundle branch block (LBBB) or need for permanent pacing due to atrioventricular (AV) block are frequent after TAVI.

Methods: A total of 90 consecutive patients treated with TAVI and who had 12-month echocardiographic follow-up were included in the study.

Thirty-day outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with surgical valve replacement in patients with high-risk aortic stenosis: a matched comparison.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a therapeutic alternative to surgery for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in high-surgical risk patients. The aim of this study was to compare 30-day mortality of high-risk patients treated by TAVI versus surgical aortic valve replacement.

Methods: A total of 175 patients (60 men; mean age, 80±6 years; Euroscore 21±13%) having undergone TAVI were compared with 175 matched patients (76 men; mean age, 79±3 years; Euroscore 17±9%), which have undergone conventional aortic valve replacement and were deemed to be high-risk patients by the cardiothoracic surgeons.

Incidence and predictors of left bundle branch block after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and predictors of left bundle branch block (LBBB) after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) using CoreValve and Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis.

Methods: 154 consecutive patients (53 male, mean age 81 ± 7 years) with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis underwent TAVI. Transfemoral AVI (CoreValve) was performed in 72 patients (47%).

Electrocardiographic and imaging predictors for permanent pacemaker requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Pacemaker (PM) implantation is a possible requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The study aim was to evaluate the electrocardiographic and imaging predictors of the need for PM implantation after TAVI.

Methods: A total of 80 consecutive patients (mean age 82 +/- 6 years) who had been referred for TAVI were included in the study.

Debulking prior to stenting--a worthwhile effort?

The rationale of debulking prior to stenting is to improve acute and long-term results of complex lesion angioplasty by reduction of plaque burden and/or reduction of calcified material prior to stenting, thus, allowing subsequent optimized stent-implantation and expansion. There are several registries analyzing the effect of various debulking-strategies prior to stenting in groups of selected patients and in high-risk subgroups. The majority of these studies performed DCA prior to stenting.