Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation of a CoreValve in a degenerated aortic bioprosthesis

Valve-in-Valve Implantation of Medtronic CoreValve Prosthesis in Patients with Failing Bioprosthetic Aortic Valves

Background—

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the Medtronic CoreValve (MCV) system might represent an alternative to conventional redo surgery in older high-risk patients with a failing aortic valve bioprosthesis.

Methods and Results—

Symptomatic patients with failing aortic valve bioprosthesis, aged ≥65 years with a logistic EuroSCORE ≥10 % were considered for treatment. Local anesthesia was used to retrogradely implant the MCV system into the failing bioprosthetic valve. Clinical events were recorded and a transthoracic echocardiography was performed to evaluate the impact of MCV on hemodynamics after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. A total of 27 patients (aged 74.8±8 years, logistic EuroSCORE of 31±17%) were treated. In those with AS and AS and AR (n=25), the mean gradient declined from 42±16 mm Hg before to 18±8 mm Hg after MCV implantation ( P <0.001), in those with AR the level declined by 2. There was no intraprocedural death and no procedural myocardial infarction. On the basis of the definitions of the Valvular Academic Research Consortium, the rate of major stroke was 7.4 %, of life-threatening bleeding 7.4%, of kidney failure stage III 7.4%, and of major access site complication 11.1 %, respectively. Within 30 days after the procedure, 2 patients died; 1 from stroke and 1 from cardiac failure (30-day mortality: 7.4%).

Conclusions—

These results suggest that transfemoral MCV implantation into a wide range of degenerated aortic bioprosthetic valves—irrespective of the failure mode—is feasible, safe, and improves hemodynamics in older patients with higher risk for conventional aortic valve redo surgery.

[Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation for failed aortic bioprosthesis]

Percutaneous valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis has been shown to be an alternative treatment option for high surgical risk patients. We describe our first valve-in-valve procedure in a patient with a degenerated aortic bioprosthesis and severe regurgitation.

Transarterial Medtronic CoreValve System Implantation for Degenerated Surgically Implanted Aortic Prostheses

Background—

To assess the results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the Medtronic CoreValve System (MCS), through the transarterial approach, in high-risk patients with degenerated surgically implanted aortic bioprostheses (SP).

Methods and Results—

Of 241 patients who underwent TAVI, 10 (4%) had a degenerated SP. The approach was percutaneous transfemoral in 9 cases and surgical transaxillary in 1. Patients were age 75±10 years of age. All were in New York Heart Association classes III or IV and at high risk for repeated surgery. Seven patients had stented, 2 stentless, and 1 homograft SP. The failure mode was predominant regurgitation in 7 cases and stenosis (aortic valve area, 0.7±0.2 cm 2 ; mean gradient, 58±16 mm Hg) in 3. Based on the echographic measurements, 8 patients received a 26-mm, and 2 a 29-mm-diameter MCS. Procedural success rate was 100%. There was 1 in-hospital death, 1 stroke with moderate sequelae, and 1 pacemaker implantation. There were no other adverse events at 30 days. The mean postimplantation transprosthetic gradient was 13±7 mm Hg; periprosthetic regurgitation was absent or trivial in 9 cases and grade 2 in 1. After a median follow-up of 5 months, there were no additional adverse events. All but 1 of the hospital survivors were in New York Heart Association classes I or II.

Conclusions—

These results suggest that transarterial MCS implantation in degenerated SP is feasible and may lead to hemodynamic and clinical improvement in patients who are poor candidates for repeated surgery, pending confirmation in larger series with longer follow-up.

Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation for failing bioprosthetic valves

Transcatheter valve implantation is becoming an alternative to conventional surgical valve replacement in patients at high surgical risk. While experience and acceptance with transcatheter techniques increased rapidly, transcatheter valve implantation within failing bioprostheses has emerged as a new concept (valve-in-valve implantation). Currently, the majority of prostheses implanted in patients are bioprosthetic valves that are expected to degenerate over time. Valve-in-valve implantation provides great utility in high-operative-risk patients since the mortality risk for reoperation can be significantly higher than for first-time isolated valve replacement. Although two current devices are CE Mark approved in Europe for implantation within native valves, off-label clinical implementation of valve-in-valve have been described in numerous case reports. In this article, we provide an overview of transcatheter valve implantation in failing bioprostheses with an emphasis on the aortic position.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for treatment of patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses--valve-in-valve technique

BACKGROUND

The management of patients with degeneration of surgical bioprosthetic valve replacement remains a challenge because of the higher risk of re-do aortic valve replacement. We present a case series of five patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses treated with transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

METHODS

From December 2009 to May 2010, five patients with degenerated aortic valve bioprostheses (aortic valve area < 1 cm(2) or severe aortic regurgitation), an excessive operative risk (EuroSCORE ≥ 30%), symptoms of heart failure (NYHA ≥ III) and an internal diameter of bioprosthetic aortic valve 20.5 ± 0.5 mm were included. Procedures were performed without hemodynamic support using femoral arteries. Balloon valvuloplasty with a 20-mm balloon under rapid pacing was carried out before valve implantation. The 26-mm CoreValve prosthesis, 18-F-generation (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) was inserted retrograde under fluoroscopic guidance. Invasive and echocardiographic measurements were done immediately before and after TAVI. Clinical followup and echocardiography were performed after procedure (mean followup 72 days ± 60, range: 176-30 days).

RESULTS

In all patients TAVI was successful with immediate decrease of transaortic peak-to-peak pressure (P = 0.002). Mild aortic regurgitation occurred in two patients and one patient received a new permanent pacemaker. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events did not arise. NYHA functional class improved in all patients and left ventricular ejection fraction increased (P = 0.019).

CONCLUSION

Our experiences with the valve-in-valve technique using the CoreValve prosthesis suggest that transfemoral TAVI is feasible in high risk patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses.