[Transcatheter aortic valve implantation : what do anesthetists need to know?]

Anaesthesia-related complications and side-effects in TAVI: a retrospective study in Germany

OBJECTIVES

This study was performed to analyse anaesthesia-related complications and side effects in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) under general anaesthesia.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

The study was performed as a single-centre study in a hospital of tertiary care in Germany.

PARTICIPANTS

All 853 patients, who underwent TAVI at the Universitätsklinikum Regensburg between January 2009 and July 2015, were included. 52.5% were female patients.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

We gathered information, such as recent illness, vital parameters and medication administered during the intervention and postoperatively for 12 hours. We analysed all anaesthesia-related complications and anaesthesia-related side effects that occurred during the intervention and entire hospital stay.

RESULTS

We analysed all 853 TAVI procedures. The mean patient age was 79 ± 6 years. In 99.5% of cases, we used volatile-based anaesthesia. 2.8% (n=24; transfemoral (TF): n=19 [3.8%]; transapical (TA): n=5 [1.4%]) of all cases suffered from anaesthesia-related complications. 819 (TF: n=447; TA: n=372) anaesthesia-related side effects occurred in 586 (68.7%, TF: n=325 [64.2%], TA: n=261 [75.2%]) patients. Neither the complications nor the side effects had any serious consequences. Intraoperative hypothermia in 44% of cases (TF: n=202 [39.9%]; TA: n=173 [49.9%]) and postoperative nausea and vomiting in 27% (n=232; TF: n=131 [25.9%], TA: n=101 [29.1%]) of cases were the most common anaesthesia-related side effects.

CONCLUSION

In this study, serious anaesthesia-related complications were rarely seen, and non-critical anaesthesia-related side effects could have been avoided through consistent prophylaxis and management. Therefore, despite their high anaesthetic risk, general anaesthesia is justifiable in patients who underwent TAVI.

Complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation using transfemoral and transapical approach in general anaesthesia

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat degenerative heart valve disease. The implantation requires a highly specific and interdisciplinary management approach. Currently, TAVI is performed with the patient under local or general anaesthesia.

Methods

This study was a retrospective analysis of all TAVI procedures performed at the University Hospital of Regensburg between January 2009 and July 2015. All pre-, intra and postoperative data focusing on perioperative complications were recorded.

Results

A total of 853 transfemoral- and transapical-TAVI patients were included in the study. All patients underwent general anaesthesia. The ASA classifications were primarily 3–4. The average logistic EuroScores for the transfemoral- and transapical-TAVI patients were 18 ± 12% and 21 ± 15% (p = 0.002), respectively. The anaesthesia coverage time was 170 ± 49 min., including 37 ± 12 minutes for anaesthetic management. Overall, 458 complications were recorded; with pneumonia, acute renal failure, indication for a permanent pacemaker and non-extubation in the operating theatre the most frequently recorded complications.

Conclusion

In the present study, we showed that our patients’ outcomes are comparable to those reported in the available literature. Compared to TF, TA patients show an overall worse physical condition as well as a higher perioperative morbidity and mortality. Consequently TA patients need additional care and should only be operated in appropriately experienced medical centres.