Patient eligibility for application of a two-filter cerebral embolic protection device during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: does one size fit all?

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Transradial Access Puncture in the Application of Complications and Comfort after Cerebral Angiography

Objective

To investigate the analysis of the effectiveness of transradial access puncture in the application of complications and comfort after cerebral angiography.

Methods

Retrospectively analyzed 80 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomly divided into the control group (femoral artery group n = 40) and test group (radial artery group n = 40) using a random number table from January 2021 to January 2022 admitted to the department of neurology and department of vascular interventions in our hospital and compared the incidence of postoperative puncture site bleeding, time to first postoperative urination, and incidence of postoperative urinary retention and postoperative changes in comfort level.

Results

There was 1 case of postoperative puncture site bleeding in the test group and 6 cases of postoperative puncture site bleeding in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05); the time to first urination in the test group (62.47) was significantly better than that in the control group (85.97), with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05); there were 0 cases of urinary retention in the test group and 6 cases in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The GCQ scores of patients in the test group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Transradial access puncture has a good clinical effect and can effectively reduce the complication rate of patients, which is worth promoting.

Anatomical reasons for failure of dual-filter cerebral embolic protection application in TAVR: A CT-based analysis

BACKGROUND

The dual-filter Sentinel™ Cerebral Protection System (Sentinel-CPS) is increasingly used during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, complex vascular anatomy may challenge Sentinel-CPS deployment.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We sought to investigate the impact of anatomic features of the aortic arch and the supra-aortic arteries on technical device failure of Sentinel-CPS application.

METHODS

Analysis of the multislice computed tomography pre-TAVR aortograms of all patients undergoing TAVR with Sentinel-CPS between 2016 and 2020 (n = 92) was performed. We investigated the impact of aortic arch anatomy, configuration, and the angles of the supra-aortic arteries, including the determination of vascular tortuosity index on device failure of Sentinel-CPS application.

RESULTS

The Sentinel-CPS was applied successfully in 83 patients (90.2%). Device failure in nine patients (9.8%) was due to the infeasibility to perform correct deployment of both filters (n = 7) and to obtain peripheral radial access (n = 2). Patients with a failure of Sentinel-CPS application had a higher right subclavian tortuosity index (217 [92-324] vs. 150 [42-252], p = .046), a higher brachiocephalic tortuosity index (27 [5-51] vs. 10 [0-102], p = 0.033) and a larger angulation of the brachiocephalic artery (59° [22-80] vs. 39° [7-104], p = .014) compared with patients with successful application. A brachiocephalic angle more than 59° was predictive for device failure. No differences in aortic arch anatomy or common carotid artery tortuosity were detected between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Brachiocephalic tortuosity was found to be associated with failure of Sentinel-CPS application. Filter-based usage should be avoided in TAVR patients with a brachiocephalic angle more than 59°.

Feasibility and Safety of Cerebral Embolic Protection Device Insertion in Bovine Aortic Arch Anatomy

Background: Cerebral embolic protection devices (CEPDs) have emerged as a mechanical barrier to prevent debris from reaching the cerebral vasculature, potentially reducing stroke incidence. Bovine aortic arch (BAA) is the most common arch variant and represents challenge anatomy for CEPD insertion during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods: Cohort study reporting the Sentinel^TM Cerebral Protection System insertion’s feasibility and safety in 165 adult patients submitted to a transfemoral TAVR procedure from April 2019 to April 2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) BAA; (2) non-BAA. Results: Median age, EuroScore II, and STS score were 79 years (74–84), 2.9% (1.7–6.2), and 2.2% (1.6–3.2), respectively. BAA was present in 12% of cases. Successful two-filter insertion was 86.6% (89% non-BAA vs. 65% BAA; p = 0.002), and debris was captured in 95% (94% non-BAA vs. 95% BAA; p = 0.594). No procedural or vascular complications associated with Sentinel insertion and no intraprocedural strokes were reported. There were two postprocedural non-disabling strokes, both in non-BAA. Conclusion: This study demonstrated Sentinel insertion feasibility and safety in BAA. No procedural and access complications related to Sentinel deployment were reported. Being aware of the bovine arch prevalence and having the techniques to navigate through it allows operators to successfully use CEPDs in this anatomy.