Insights From Modern Imaging and Catheter Wire Measurements in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Prior studies have neither described methods for crossing a severely stenotic aortic valve (AV) in light of modern imaging modalities (echocardiography, computed tomography, fluoroscopy) nor characterized a successful crossing. This study aimed to fill that gap.

Methods: Time to cross the valve (TTCV) was measured prospectively in 35 consecutive patients undergoing transcatheter AV replacement and used to define two groups (≤60 seconds or >60 seconds).