Delayed prosthesis malposition after transcatheter aortic valve implantation causing coronaries obstruction

Abstract

A case of delayed malposition of a CoreValve device causing obstruction of coronary ostia is described. Nine months after the original implant, the patient developed an acute coronary syndrome and was readmitted to hospital. Angiogram demonstrated an ostial stenosis of both the left main stem and the right coronary ostia, which were filled by a paravalvular leakage of the bioprosthesis. Gated computed tomography scan with 3D reconstruction showed valve malposition with cusps situated 14mm above the ostium of the right coronary and the presence of fibrous and calcific agglomerations associated to one of the cusp causing a tight stenosis of the left ostium. Computed tomography scan is a crucial imaging technique in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement field and in this case enabled us to identify an interesting phenomenon of fibrosis/calcification originating at the level of the misplaced valve, which was actually the triggering cause of the coronary obstruction. Considering the reported need for more accurate investigations regarding the predictors of negative outcomes and the selection of transcatheter aortic valve replacement candidates, the use of cardiac-gated computed tomography should be stimulated and promoted as a valuable aid for the diagnosis and further clinical decision making in those patients.