title: Acute left main obstructions following TAVI.
abstract: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is becoming a safe and effective technique for treating symptomatic aortic valvular stenosis (AVS) as an alternative to surgery in very high-risk patients. A possible consequence of valve implantation is the obstruction of coronary ostia.
  
  
  
  Here we report five cases of angiographically confirmed left main (LM) obstruction, occurred immediately after balloon expandable aortic valve implantations at our institution. In four of these cases, LM obstruction was resolved with an emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In the remaining case, obstruction transiently occurred only at the time of balloon valvuloplasty and did not required treatment. During this type of intervention, performing an aortography at the time of balloon valvuloplasty could help to identify patients at risk for coronary obstructions.
  
  
  
  These cases illustrate that obstruction of the coronary ostia following TAVI is a possible complication. As the use of TAVI becomes widespread, the operators should be aware of this dangerous complication in their case preparation should it arise.
authors.affiliation: Invasive Cardiology Laboratory, Clinica Montevergine, Mercogliano, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sorropago
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cioppa
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agrusta
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lucchetti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rubino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001027:Aortography; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome