Simultaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation and drive-by endovascular aortic aneurysm repair: a case of lotus valve retrieved and replaced due to an undersized valve after an endovascular aneurysm repair

Simultaneous Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Endovascular Aneurysm Repair for Severe Aortic Stenosis and Symptomatic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Mini Review

Background: The treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS) who concomitantly present with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is not defined. Aortic valve replacement surgery, performed alone, increases the risk of AAA rupture. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) in the same intervention, especially in high-risk patients, is a safe alternative. Purpose: We report a case of simultaneous endovascular treatment of SAS and AAA and a mini literature review of nineteen cases with similar characteristics. Research design: Case report and literature review. Data Collection: An electronic search of PubMed and Scopus was performed from inception to December 2023. Results: Nineteen case reports of simultaneous transcatheter aortic valve repair and endovascular aneurysm repair for SAS and symptomatic AAA were identified published in the literature. Conclusions: We regard the simultaneous endovascular approach to both pathologies as a promising treatment alternative for selected patients with severe aortic stenosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm. We highlight the need to conduct randomized clinical trials in this patient population.

Strategy for Totally Percutaneous Management of Vascular Injury in Combined Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair Procedures

Minimally invasive treatment of severe aortic stenosis by transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm by endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) requires large-bore vascular access. These percutaneous transfemoral interventions may be performed as a combined procedure, however, vascular injury may necessitate surgical vascular repair. We implemented a strategy designed to enable percutaneous vascular repair, with stent-graft implantation, if necessary, after these combined procedures. We identified all combined percutaneous TAVR and EVAR procedures which were performed at our institution. Patient and procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Six consecutive patients underwent total percutaneous combined TAVR and EVAR procedures. In all cases, TAVR was performed first and was followed by EVAR. Both common femoral arteries served as primary access sites for delivery of the implanted devices and hemostasis was achieved by deployment of vascular closure devices. Secondary access sites included the right brachial artery in all patients and superficial femoral arteries in 50% of the patients. In all cases an "0.014" 300-cm length "safety" wire was delivered to the common femoral artery or descending aorta by way of a secondary access site to facilitate stent graft delivery. Successful device implantation was achieved in all cases. Vascular closure device failure occurred in 2 patients and was treated by stent graft implantation by way of the brachial and superficial femoral arteries, without need for surgical vascular repair. A strategy designed to facilitate percutaneous vascular repair after combined EVAR and TAVR procedures may enable a truly minimally invasive procedure.

Transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with aortic diseases

OBJECTIVES

Patients scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) treatment frequently present with concomitant aortic diseases, in which case they are usually considered to be at high interventional risk and, in particular, unable to undergo the transfemoral TAVI approach. Since the establishment of the 'transfemoral first' strategy for TAVI, there has been an evidence gap with regard to the outcomes of such patients. We aimed to evaluate the mid-term outcomes after transapical TAVI in patients with diverse aortic diseases.

METHODS

Fifty-five consecutive elderly patients (78.4 years; standard deviation: 8.6 years) at intermediate surgical risk with severe aortic stenosis and aortic diseases (porcelain aorta 36%, ascending aneurysm 15%, descending aneurysm 26%, type-B dissection 4%, aortic thrombus 7%, Leriche syndrome 4%, aortic kinking 11%, aortic ulcer 2%, previous aortic operation 20%, aortic elongation/tortuosity 4%) underwent transapical TAVI treatment between January 2011 and November 2019 at our institution. We used the second-and third-generation self- and balloon-expanding valves. The follow-up time was 92.6 patient-years.

RESULTS

The Society of Thoracic Surgery-Predicted Risk of Mortality score was 7% (standard deviation: 4%). The 30-day mortality and all-stroke rates were 6% and 4%, respectively. The median survival time was 24.9 months (95% confidence interval 17.6-32.3). The median time of freedom from a composite of death and cardio-cerebral adverse events was 24.3 months (95% confidence interval 11.9-36.8). The rate of moderate/severe paravalvular leakage was 2%. The pacemaker rate was 10%. No early or late aortic syndrome occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Transapical TAVI is a safe method and shows very promising early and mid-term outcomes, without early/late aortic syndrome, in patients with aortic diseases for whom transfemoral TAVI as the first-line transcatheter method might be contraindicated or not feasible.

Current issues on simultaneous TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) and EVAR (Endovascular Aneurysm Repair)

Simultaneous EVAR and TAVR is technically feasible and is a reliable option in high-risk patients.

Simultaneous thoracic aortic endovascular graft and transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a patient with a descending aortic thrombus

Severe descending thoracic and abdominal aortic pathology can deter consideration of transfemoral (TF) access for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in adults with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) and may lead to utilization of alternative access sites. We report a case of an 88-year-old frail woman with severe symptomatic AS referred for TAVR with demonstration of a large thrombus in the descending thoracic aorta immediately distal to the left subclavian artery. Given concerns of thrombus embolization with femoral advancement of the transcatheter valve, coverage with a thoracic aortic endograft was planned immediately prior to the TAVR.

Impact of aortic aneurysms in trans-catheter aortic valve replacement: A single center experience

Background

Patients who undergo trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may have concomitant aortic aneurysms. We sought to clarify the incidence of aortic aneurysms and its impact on clinical outcomes among patients undergoing TAVR.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR from January 2012 to June 2016. Multi-detector computer tomography (MDCT) was performed on all patients and images were reviewed to identify thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms (TAA and AAA). The incidence of vascular complications (VARC-2 definition), and in-hospital and 6-month major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, and stroke were recorded.

Results

Among 232 patients included in the analysis, 22 patients (9.5%) had aortic aneurysms (11 had AAA, 8 had TAA, and 3 had both). Patients with aortic aneurysms had a higher, albeit statistically insignificant, rate of smoking history (63.6% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.062). Both groups of patient predominantly underwent TAVR via trans-femoral access (72.7% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.90). The incidence of vascular complications was similar between the two groups (9.1% vs. 10.5%, p = 1.0). Patients with aortic aneurysms had a similar in-hospital MACE (4.5% vs. 6.2%, p = 1.0) and 6-month MACE (9.1% vs. 9.0%, p = 1.0) compared to those without aneurysms.

Conclusions

In our patient cohort, 9.5% of patients who underwent TAVR had concomitant aortic aneurysms. Patients with aortic aneurysms had similar incidence of vascular complications as well as in-hospital and 6-month MACE compared to those without.