A Novel Risk Score Facilitates Femoral Artery Access in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Passage-Puncture Score.

Background: Vascular complications remain high in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Careful evaluation of the femoral arteries is important to select the optimal access site.

Objectives: This study sought to describe a novel risk score (the passage-puncture score) for transfemoral access using a single suture-based closure system.

Methods: The passage-puncture score consists of the evaluation of 1) passage feasibility of the ilio-femoral arteries (passage score) and 2) puncture site feasibility (puncture score) based on pre-TAVI computed tomography. All patients underwent fluoroscopy-guided arterial puncture and closure with a suture-based closure system. The primary endpoint was the rate of vascular complications in discharge, including minor and major vascular complications according to the definitions of the Third Valve Academic Research Consortium.

Results: From September 2020 to June 2021, transfemoral TAVI was performed in 98 of 99 patients. Passage score (right) was significantly higher in patients treated by left compared to those treated by right femoral access (3 vs. 1; <0.001). Puncture score was significantly different between patients undergoing mid-femoral as compared to nonmid-femoral puncture (0 vs. 3, <0.001). Minor vascular complications occurred in six (6%) patients.

Conclusions: The passage-puncture score is effective in defining the optimal access site for transfemoral TAVI. The systematic evaluation has the potential to further reduce access-site complications.