Determinants of significant paravalvular regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve: implantation impact of device and annulus discongruence.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess prosthesis/annulus discongruence and its impact on the occurrence of significant aortic regurgitation (AR) immediately after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).


BACKGROUND
Paravalvular AR might occur after TAVI, but its determinants remain unclear.


METHODS
Comprehensive echocardiographic examinations were performed in 74 patients who underwent TAVI with a balloon expandable device. Congruence between annulus and device was appraised with the cover index: 100 x (prosthesis diameter - transesophageal echocardiography annulus diameter)/prosthesis diameter.


RESULTS
At baseline aortic valve area was 0.67 +/- 0.2 cm(2), and mean gradient was 50 +/- 15 mm Hg. The TAVI used transfemoral approach in 46 patients (62%) and transapical access in 28 (38%). Prosthesis size was 23 mm in 24 patients (34%) and 26 mm in 50 patients (66%). After TAVI, paravalvular AR was absent in 5 patients (7%), graded 1/4 in 53 (72%), 2/4 in 12 (16%), and 3/4 in 4 (5%). Occurrence of AR >or=2/4 was related to greater patient height, larger annulus, and smaller cover index (all p < 0.002) but not to ejection fraction, severity of stenosis, or prosthesis size. AR >or=2/4 was never observed in patients with aortic annulus <22 mm or with a cover index >8%. Significant improvements were observed from the first 20 cases (AR >or=2/4, 40%) to the last 54 (AR >or=2/4, 15%) (p = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of AR >/=2/4 were low cover index (odds ratio: 1.22; per confidence interval: 1.03 to 1.51 per 1% decrease, p = 0.02) and first versus last procedures (odds ratio: 2.24; 95% confidence interval: 1.07 to 5.22, p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that the occurrence of AR >or=2/4 is related to prosthesis/annulus discongruence even after adjustment for experience. Hence, to minimize paravalvular AR, appropriate annular measurements and prosthesis sizing are critical.
Cardiology Department, Hopital Bichat, Paris, France. delphine.detaint@bch.aphp.fr
Delphine
D
Détaint
Laurent
L
Lepage
Dominique
D
Himbert
Eric
E
Brochet
David
D
Messika-Zeitoun
Bernard
B
Iung
Alec
A
Vahanian
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome