Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: First results from a multi-centre real-world registry

Abstract

AimsTreatment of elderly symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and co-morbidities is challenging. Transcatheter aortic valve interventions [balloon valvuloplasty and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)] are evolving as alternative treatment options to surgical valve replacement. We report the first results of the prospective multi-centre German Transcatheter Aortic Valve InterventionsRegistry.Methods and resultsBetween January 2009 and December 2009, a total of 697 patients (81.4 ± 6.3 years, 44.2 males, and logistic EuroScore 20.5 ± 13.2) underwent TAVI. Pre-operative aortic valve area was 0.6 ± 0.2 cm with a mean transvalvular gradient of 48.7 ± 17.2 mmHg. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation was performed percutaneously in the majority of patients [666 (95.6)]. Only 31 (4.4) procedures were done surgically: 26 (3.7) transapically and 5 (0.7) transaortically. The Medtronic CoreValve TM prosthesis was used in 84.4, whereas the Sapien Edwards TM prosthesis was used in the remaining cases. Technical success was achieved in 98.4 with a post-operative mean transaortic pressure gradient of 5.4 ± 6.2 mmHg. Any residual aortic regurgitation was observed in 72.4 of patients, with a significant aortic insufficiency (