Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Outcomes in Patients with Dialysis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Dialysis is associated with higher rate of aortic valve calcification and higher cardiovascular mortality. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established alternative for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with higher and intermediate co-morbidities including dialysis.

Methods: Two independent investigators systematically searched Medline, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The ROBINS-I tool was used to analyze and assess the bias from the selected studies.

Results: The search resulted in 4 observational studies with a total of 966 patients. TAVR in dialysis patients was associated with no significant difference in in-hospital mortality [8.1% vs 10.3%; OR (95% CI) 0.74 (0.35, 1.60), I2 = 50%, P = 0.45], risk-of-strokes at 30 days [2% vs 4.4%; OR (95% CI) 0.49 (0.22, 1.09), I2 = 0%, P = 0.08], vascular complications [12.7% vs 13.2%; OR (95% CI) 0.96 (0.55, 1.67), I2 = 0%, P = 0.89], need of blood transfusion [43.1% vs 66.4%; OR (95% CI) 0.27 (0.05, 1.39), I2 = 89%, P = 0.12], or bleeding risk [5.6% vs 6.8%; OR (95% CI) 0.91 (0.18, 4.64), I2 = 5%, P = 0.91] when compared to SAVR. TAVR was associated with significantly shorter length of stay [8.5 days vs 14.2 days; mean difference (95% CI) -5.89 (-9.13, -2.64), I2 = 76%, P < 0.0001] and higher pacemaker implantation [11.4% vs 6.8%; OR (95% CI) 1.74 (1.07, 2.81), I2 = 5%, P = 0.02].

Conclusion: TAVR outcomes were comparable to SAVR but had a significantly shorter length of stay and a higher pacemaker implantation rate in dialysis patients.