title: Trans-apical aortic valve implantation: univariate and multivariate analyses of the early results from the SOURCE registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation is an alternative treatment option for patients facing high risk for aortic valve replacement. Currently, the results of trans-apical trans-catheter procedures performed outside controlled trials are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Edwards SAPIEN Aortic Bioprosthesis European Outcome (SOURCE) Registry collects data of patients treated at European centres during the first year following commercialisation of the Edwards SAPIEN bioprosthesis. Only data from centres that could provide 100% of their consecutively treated patients (n=32) were included in the study population. This article provides the 30-day outcome data involving the trans-apical patients, including univariate and multivariate risk analyses for postoperative 30-day mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The interim results are based on a total number of 575 procedures performed between January 2008 and 31 January 2009. Mean age at implant was 80.7 years, and patients had a mean logistic EuroSCORE of 29.1%. Baseline characteristics included coronary artery disease 56%, prior coronary intervention 27.1%, prior coronary bypass grafting 26.9%, concomitant mitral valve disease 32.8%, porcelain aorta 11.5%, peripheral vascular disease 27.5%, prior stroke 6.3% and pulmonary disease 29.4%. Successful valve deployment was observed in 92.7% with a 3.5% conversion rate to open surgery, incidence of coronary obstruction of 0.7% and valve embolisation of 0.5%. The incidence of aortic regurgitation in excess of 2+ was 2.3% immediately following the procedure. The incidence of major postoperative complications included bleeding requiring re-operation 2.1%, dialysis 7.1%, pacemaker implantation 7.3%, stroke 2.6%, major vascular complications 2.4% and myocardial infarction 0.7%. The total 30-day mortality was 10.3%. Logistic EuroSCORE > or =30% and missing ejection fraction were found to be the only independent predictors for 30-day mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that although trans-apical trans-catheter aortic valve implantation is a complex surgical technique, the learning curve can be minimised by appropriate training programmes. Very high logistic EuroSCOREs predict inferior survival and make it likely that in this subgroup of patients there may be some who, despite having had a successful trans-catheter aortic valve implantation procedure, do not benefit in the midterm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, King's Health Partners, London, UK. olaf.wendler@nhs.net
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wendler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nataf
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rubino
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schroefel
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thielmann
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Treede
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing / Q000379:methods; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome