Multicenter, propensity-weighted comparison of stented, rapid-deployment and new-generation aortic valves.

Background: Conventional stented, rapid deployment and new-generation stented valves are now available for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). New-generation devices feature advanced tissue treatment for theoretical prolonged durability and a new stent design able to expand in case of future transcatheter Valve-in-Valve. Aim of this retrospective, multicenter, propensity-weighted study was to compare early clinical and hemodynamic outcomes of these three different bioprostheses.

Methods: We analyzed data of 2589 patients from two national multicenter registries and one Institutional database. Study devices were Magna Ease, Intuity/Intuity Elite and Inspiris Resilia (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) and were implanted in 296 (11.4 %), 1688 (65.2 %) and 605 (23.4 %) patients, respectively. A propensity score weighting approach was employed.

Results: In isolated SAVR, aortic cross clamp (ACC) time was shorter for Intuity (Magna Ease: 87, Intuity: 55, Inspiris: 70 min; Magna Ease vs. Intuity: p < 0.001; Inspiris vs. Intuity: p < 0.001). Overall mortality was 2 %, 1.7 % and 0.5 % in Magna Ease, Intuity and Inspiris groups, respectively (Magna Ease vs. Intuity: p = 0.476; Inspiris vs. Intuity: p = 0.395); permanent pace-maker implantation rate was lower for Inspiris (Magna Ease: 6 %, Intuity: 6 %, Inspiris: 2 %; Magna Ease vs. Intuity: p = 0.679; Inspiris vs. Intuity: p < 0.001). Median mean gradients were 13, 10 and 10 mmHg for Magna Ease, Intuity and Inspiris, respectively (Magna Ease vs. Intuity: p < 0.001; Inspiris vs. Intuity: p = 0.13).

Conclusions: All study devices provide excellent early clinical and hemodynamic outcomes. Inspiris shows low rates of permanent pace-maker implantation and its transaortic gradients are similar to rapid-deployment valves and lower than Magna Ease.