Micro-dislodgement during transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a contemporary self-expandable prosthesis.

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors and the clinical outcome of micro-dislodgement (MD) with a contemporary self-expandable prosthesis during transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Methods: MD was defined as movement of the prosthesis of at least 1.5 mm upwards or downwards from its position directly before release compared to its final position. Patients were grouped according to the occurrence (+MD) or absence (-MD) of MD. Baseline characteristics, imaging data and outcome parameters were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: We identified 258 eligible patients. MD occurred in 31.8% (n = 82) of cases with a mean magnitude of 2.8 mm ± 2.2 in relation to the left coronary cusp and 3.0 mm ± 2.1 to the non-coronary cusp. Clinical and hemodynamic outcomes were similar in both groups with consistency over a follow-up period of three months. A larger aortic valve area (AVA) (-MD vs. +MD: 0.6 cm2 ± 0.3 vs. 0.7cm2 ± 0.2; p = 0.014), was the only independent risk factor for the occurrence of MD in a multivariate regression analysis (OR 5.3; 95% CI: 1.1-24.9; p = 0.036).

Conclusions: MD occurred in nearly one third of patients and did not affect clinical and hemodynamic outcome. A larger AVA seems to be a potential risk factor for MD.