Aortic Angulation Does Not Impact Outcomes in Self-Expandable or Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Abstract

Objectives: The role of aortic angulation in attenuating procedural success in balloon-expandable (BE) and self-expandable (SE) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been controversial. Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients undergoing SE and BE TAVR who had an aortic angle measured on multidetector computed tomography at a single tertiary referral center. The primary outcome was device success, measured per the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria. Clinical outcomes at 30 days (including mortality) were also assessed. Results: A total of 251 patients were identified; 182 patients received a BE valve and 69 patients an SE valve. The median aortic angle was 46.8° (range 24.4–70°) in the BE group and 43.3° (range 20–71°) in the SE group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, aortic angulation did not affect device success. Mortality at 30 days and 12 months and postprocedural clinical outcomes were similarly not associated with aortic angulation. Conclusion: In this cohort of patients undergoing BE and SE TAVR over a wide range of aortic angles, we found no associations between angle and device success or any other clinical metrics. Increased aortic angulation does not adversely affect outcomes in BE or SE TAVR.