Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Outcomes: Implications for Practice

Patients' Decision Making About Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Severe Aortic Stenosis

BACKGROUND

Aortic stenosis is the most common valve disease in Western countries, and its prevalence is increasing because of the aging population. Some patients, denied surgery because of high risk, can be offered transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). These patients are old and have comorbidities, and it is not always easy for them to make the decision about accepting TAVI.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the decision-making process about undergoing TAVI treatment among people with severe aortic stenosis who are denied surgery.

METHODS

The Swedish participants (n = 24) with a mean age of 80 years who had been offered TAVI all agreed to participate in a presurgical interview. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Three patterns in the decision-making process about TAVI treatment-ambivalent, obedient, and reconciled-were identified. The ambivalent patient is unsure of the value of treatment and aware of the risks; the obedient patient is unsure of the value of one's own decision and wants to leave the decision to others; the reconciled patient has reached a point where there is no choice anymore and is always sure that the decision to undergo TAVI is right.

CONCLUSIONS

People with aortic stenosis who are offered TAVI need to discuss the risks and benefits in order to participate in decision making about the treatment. They have different patterns in decision making and would benefit from healthcare professionals being observant of them to support them in this process in a manner consistent with their values.

Patients' experiences of the transcatheter aortic valve implantation trajectory: A grounded theory study

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore how patients experienced the recovery process from transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Design

A qualitative approach where in-depth interviews were used.

Method

Eleven men and eight women undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation were individually interviewed 6 months after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Grounded theory was used for the analysis.

Results

The analysis generated the core concept "A journey of balancing between life-struggle and hope" connected to descriptive, bipolar categories. Before transcatheter aortic valve implantation patients not only felt threatened but also experienced hope. The rehabilitation phase was described as demanding or surprisingly simple. At the 6 months follow-up patients were pleased to return to life, however, still struggling with limitations. To feel hope is essential for transcatheter aortic valve implantation patients' well-being, both before and during the recovery process. It is important that healthcare professionals not only support hopeful thinking but also take time to discuss and prepare patients, talk about concerns and build confidence. Individual plans for rehabilitation should be designed.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation options for treating severe aortic stenosis in the elderly: the nurse's role in postoperative monitoring and treatment

Severe calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is a progressive cardiac disease that predominantly affects elderly adults. The hallmark symptoms of AS include exertional dyspnea, angina, and syncope. Adults of advanced age do not usually seek treatment for symptoms until their quality of life is greatly diminished. The 2 standard treatments for severe AS are open aortic valve replacement and percutaneous valvuloplasty. As adults age, their comorbid medical conditions often make them too high of a surgical risk for traditional aortic valve replacement, and percutaneous valvuloplasty, although less invasive, often produces only temporary relief of AS symptoms. To provide severe AS patients with alternative less risky treatment options in their later years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) devices were developed. Through this overview of the disease progression of AS and the different TAVI devices and the insertion procedures, a better understanding of the initial postoperative nursing care associated with postoperative TAVI patient management will be achieved.

Immediate post-operative responses to transcatheter aortic valve implantation: An observational study

BACKGROUND

Conventional treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), but transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a reliable alternative in high-risk patients.

AIMS

The aim of our study was to describe the post-operative patient response to TAVI on the evening of the procedure and the following day before discharge from the coronary care unit. A secondary aim was to compare responses of patients younger and older than 80 years of age.

METHODS

A prospective, comparative observational study triangulating nurse assessment and structured interviews on a cohort of 54 Danish patients: 28/26 male/female, 26/28 younger/older than 80. Mean age in the younger/older group was 73/85 years.

RESULTS

After TAVI pain was experienced by 47 (87%) patients; 29 (62%) were restricted by pain, and 24 (44%) had discomfort at the femoral insertion site. Disturbed sleep/rest were reported by 34 (63%)/29 (55%) patients; nausea/vomiting by 14 (26%)/5 (9%) patients, restricting eating/drinking in 11 (21%)/8 (15%) patients. Sinus rhythm/atrial fibrillation/paced rhythm were observed in 35 (65%)/8 (15%)/21 (39%) patients; bleeding/haematoma/oozing from femoral insertion site in 23 (45%)/10 (19%)/23 (43%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients older than 80 years did as well as the younger patients in our study; the main complaints were post-operative pain and disrupted sleep. Our numbers are small, but most patients experienced considerable pain, predominantly continuous and at rest. We recommend the development of an evidence-based pathway to address the immediate post-operative issues in TAVI patients. Non-pharmacological interventions to prevent pain and promote sleep need to be explored.