A Longitudinal Echocardiographic Analysis of Patients Treated Using the Repositionable and Fully Retrievable Lotus Valve: A Sub-Analysis of the RESPOND Study

Abstract

Background: The Lotus aortic valve system is a transcatheter heart valve (THV) designed with a seal to minimize paravalvular leak (PVL). We evaluated hemodynamic performance, PVL and ventricular function up to 1-year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using the Lotus THV in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Methods: RESPOND was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter registry evaluating outcomes after Lotus TAVR in routine clinical practice. Core Laboratory adjudicated echocardiograms at baseline, discharge and 1-year were analyzed in a subgroup (N = 550) of patients with paired transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at the 3 time points. Results: Mean effective aortic valve orifice area (EOA) in cm(2) increased from 0.74 +/- 0.25 at baseline to 1.83 +/- 0.46 at discharge and to 1.78 +/- 0.45 at 1-year. Mean transvalvular gradient in mmHg was reduced from 38.7 +/- 15.2 at baseline to 10.9 +/- 4.2 at discharge and to 10.8 +/- 5.1 at 1-year. VARC-2 hemodynamic success was achieved in 92% and 95% of patients at discharge and 1-year, respectively. Mild or more PVL was seen in 7.3% and 5.5% and moderate or more PVL was seen in 0.6% and 0.4% of the patients at discharge and 1-year, respectively. Stroke volume index (mL/m2) increased from 35 +/- 10 at baseline to 40 +/- 11 at discharge and to 41 +/- 11 at 1-year (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This RESPOND sub-study demonstrates persistently favorable hemodynamic performance and a low rate of PVL in unselected patients through 1-year in the largest Lotus-treated population to date.