Development of a Risk Score to Predict New Pacemaker Implantation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Predicting need for pacemaker implantation early and late after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

OBJECTIVES

To identify associations with either early or late permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in order to develop an easily interpretable management algorithm.

BACKGROUND

Injury to the conduction system after TAVR occasionally requires PPM. There is limited data on how to identify which patients will require PPM, particularly after discharge from index hospitalization after TAVR.

METHODS

All patients having undergone TAVR at the University of North Carolina through August 2019 were identified and records were manually reviewed. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify associations with post-TAVR PPM due to high-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB). Comparisons were made between patients with no PPM (n = 304) and PPM required, stratified into early (during index hospitalization, n = 32) and late (during subsequent hospitalization, n = 11) PPM cohorts.

RESULTS

Of the 347 patents included for analysis, 43 (12.4%) underwent post-TAVR PPM. In multivariable regression models, early PPM was associated with baseline bifascicular block (OR: 42.16; p < .001), requiring any pacing on first post-TAVR electrocardiogram (ECG) (OR: 31.55; p < .001), and valve oversizing >15% (OR: 3.61; p < .05). Late PPM was associated with baseline right bundle branch block (RBBB) (OR 12.62; p < .001) and history of atrial fibrillation/flutter (OR 4.83; p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Bifascicular block, any pacing on first post-TAVR ECG, and >15% valve oversizing are associated with early PPM, while RBBB and history of atrial fibrillation/flutter are associated with late PPM. We suggest a management strategy for post-TAVR surveillance and management of HAVB.

Intraventricular Conduction Disturbances After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Despite significant improvements in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) outcomes, periprocedural conduction disturbances, such as new-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) and new pacemaker implantation (PMI), remain relatively frequent concerns. The development of periprocedural conduction disturbances can be explained by the proximity between the aortic valve and the conduction system. Although prior studies reported heterogeneity in PMI rates after TAVI, current evidence supports the potentially deleterious consequence of LBBB and PMI, and several predisposing factors have been reported. Therefore, new strategies to avoid conduction disturbances and to improve their management are required, particularly with the current trend to expand TAVI to a low-risk population.

Pacemaker need after TAVR: Still a conundrum

Seven percent of patients (with no history of intraventricular conduction abnormalities) experienced intraprocedural high-degree Atrioventricular (AV)/complete heart block. High-degree/complete heart block was persistent in 64% of patients who developed significant intraprocedural intraventricular conduction abnormalities. Ninety-seven percent of patients with persistent high-degree AV/complete block ultimately required pacemaker implantation.

Pacemaker Implantation After Balloon- or Self-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Aortic Stenosis

Background

The incidence of conduction abnormalities requiring permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with early and later generation prostheses remains debated.

Methods and Results

Based on the administrative hospital‐discharge database, we collected information for all patients treated with TAVR between 2010 and 2019 in France. We compared the incidence of PPI after TAVR according to the type and generation of valve implanted. A total of 49 201 patients with aortic stenosis treated with TAVR using the balloon‐expandable (BE) Edwards SAPIEN valve (early Sapien XT and latest Sapien 3) or the self‐expanding (SE) Medtronic CoreValve (early CoreValve and latest Evolut R) were found in the database. Mean (SD) follow‐up was 1.2 (1.5 years) (median [interquartile range] 0.6 [0.1–2.0] years). PPI after the procedure was reported in 13 289 patients, among whom 11 010 (22.4%) had implantation during the first 30 days. In multivariable analysis, using early BE TAVR as reference, adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) for PPI during the first 30 days was 0.88 (0.81–0.95) for latest BE TAVR, 1.40 (1.27–1.55) for early SE TAVR, and 1.17 (1.07–1.27) for latest SE TAVR. Compared with early BE TAVR, the adjusted hazard ratio for PPI during the whole follow‐up was 1.01 (0.95–1.08) for latest BE TAVR, 1.30 (1.21–1.40) for early SE TAVR, and 1.25 (1.18–1.34) for latest SE TAVR.

Conclusions

In patients with aortic stenosis treated with TAVR, our systematic analysis at a nationwide level found higher rates of PPI than previously reported. BE technology was independently associated with lower incidence rates of PPI both at the acute and chronic phases than SE technology. Recent generations of TAVR were not independently associated with different rates of PPI than early generations during the overall follow‐up.