One-year outcomes after direct transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a self-expanding bioprosthesis. A two-center international experience.

BackgroundBalloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is considered to be an essential part of the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure and is being performed routinely. At present there is insufficient long-term data as to the benefits of routine BAV prior to TAVI.AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of direct TAVI and the mortality rate at 1-year in patients undergoing TAVI with or without BAV with a self-expanding bioprosthesis.MethodsBetween January 2008 and September 2013 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI with the Medtronic CoreValve in two experienced centers in Athens, Greece and in Siegburg, Germany were studied. All data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Primary endpoint was mortality at 1 year. Procedural data and clinical data (bleeding, vascular complications and echocardiographic parameters) were analyzed.ResultsA total of 210 patients undergoing TAVI were evaluated (non-direct = 120 patients, direct = 90 patients). All-cause mortality at 30 days and at 1 year was similar in both groups (4% in non-direct versus 2% in direct, p = 0.6 and 15% in non-direct versus 11% in direct, p = 0.5, respectively). Device success rate was similar in both groups (77% in non-direct versus 83% in direct, p = 0.2). Major vascular complications were comparable for both groups (5% in non-direct versus 3% in direct, p = 0.5). The direct group had less moderate/severe paravalvular leakage than the non-direct group after the device implantation (7% versus 33%, p< 0.01).ConclusionsPerforming direct TAVI with the self-expanding bioprosthesis is safe and feasible showing similar mortality rates compared to patients undergoing non-direct TAVI at 30 days and at 1-year.