Medium-Term Survival and Functional Status of Patients with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a treatment option for patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) and high or prohibitive surgical risk. We report our experience using the Medtronic CoreValve™ self-expending system. Methods From 2009 to 2013, 51 consecutive patients with severe symptomatic AS and high or prohibitive surgical risk were submitted to TAVI. Results were analyzed according to the criteria of the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC) –2. Results Mean age was 82 ± 6 years, 49% were female, 19% were diabetic, 21% had renal failure and the logistic EuroScore was 17.4 ± 11.4%. The success rate of the device was 84.3%. All of the patients had a significant decrease of transaortic gradients, which was maintained over time. Hospitalization time was 6 days (interquartile range: 5-8.8). In-hospital mortality at 30 days as 7.8% and 9.8%, respectively. Permanent pacemaker implantation was required in 32.6% of the cases; ischemic stroke was observed in 3.9% and major vascular complications in 6% of the patients. Survival at 6 months and 1 year was 86.3% and 84.4%, respectively. NYHA functional class improved significantly after TAVI and remained low in the medium-term follow-up. Conclusions In this preliminary experience, the treatment of patients with AS and high or prohibitive surgical risk with TAVI, using the CoreValve™ self-expanding system was feasible and safe and led to sustained improvement of cardiac symptoms. After overcoming the initial risks of death and stroke, the procedure guaranteed good long-term clinical outcomes.