The effect of transcatheter aortic valve implantation approaches on mortality

Successful Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Approached Via a Simultaneously Implanted Y-graft Vascular Prosthesis

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is mainly performed using the transfemoral (TF) approach. If the TF approach is difficult, the transapical (TA) or transaortic (TAo) approach is used; however, the complication rate is higher in such cases. In this case, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) replacement and TAVR via artificial vessels were performed simultaneously because of anatomical difficulties in stent graft implantation and TF-TAVR for severe aortic stenosis (AS) associated with AAA. Performing TAVR simultaneously with AAA replacement avoids TA- or TAo-TAVR and allows for postoperative management in the absence of AS. Additionally, there is no need to create a new access for TAVR using artificial vessels. Since the long-term results of AAA are better with open surgery than with endovascular aneurysm repair and the age of indication for TAVR is expected to decrease due to valve-in-valve and other factors, simultaneous surgical AAA replacement and TAVR using a Y-graft vascular prosthesis is an effective treatment option when TF-TAVR is difficult to perform.

Vascular Access in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease Undergoing TAVR: The Hostile Registry

BACKGROUND

The optimal access route in patients with severe peripheral artery disease (PAD) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains undetermined.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to compare clinical outcomes with transfemoral access (TFA), transthoracic access (TTA), and nonthoracic transalternative access (TAA) in TAVR patients with severe PAD.

METHODS

Patients with PAD and hostile femoral access (TFA impossible, or possible only after percutaneous treatment) undergoing TAVR at 28 international centers were included in this registry. The primary endpoint was the propensity-adjusted risk of 30-day major adverse events (MAE) defined as the composite of all-cause mortality, stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), or main access site-related Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 major vascular complications. Outcomes were also stratified according to the severity of PAD using a novel risk score (Hostile score).

RESULTS

Among the 1,707 patients included in the registry, 518 (30.3%) underwent TAVR with TFA after percutaneous treatment, 642 (37.6%) with TTA, and 547 (32.0%) with TAA (mostly transaxillary). Compared with TTA, both TFA (adjusted HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.45-0.75) and TAA (adjusted HR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.47-0.78) were associated with lower 30-day rates of MAE, driven by fewer access site-related complications. Composite risks at 1 year were also lower with TFA and TAA compared with TTA. TFA compared with TAA was associated with lower 1-year risk of stroke/TIA (adjusted HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.24-0.98), a finding confined to patients with low Hostile scores (P_interaction = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with PAD undergoing TAVR, both TFA and TAA were associated with lower 30-day and 1-year rates of MAE compared with TTA, but 1-year stroke/TIA rates were higher with TAA compared with TFA.