Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for treatment of patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses--valve-in-valve technique.
BACKGROUND
The management of patients with degeneration of surgical bioprosthetic valve replacement remains a challenge because of the higher risk of re-do aortic valve replacement. We present a case series of five patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses treated with transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).


METHODS
From December 2009 to May 2010, five patients with degenerated aortic valve bioprostheses (aortic valve area < 1 cm(2) or severe aortic regurgitation), an excessive operative risk (EuroSCORE ≥ 30%), symptoms of heart failure (NYHA ≥ III) and an internal diameter of bioprosthetic aortic valve 20.5 ± 0.5 mm were included. Procedures were performed without hemodynamic support using femoral arteries. Balloon valvuloplasty with a 20-mm balloon under rapid pacing was carried out before valve implantation. The 26-mm CoreValve prosthesis, 18-F-generation (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) was inserted retrograde under fluoroscopic guidance. Invasive and echocardiographic measurements were done immediately before and after TAVI. Clinical followup and echocardiography were performed after procedure (mean followup 72 days ± 60, range: 176-30 days).


RESULTS
In all patients TAVI was successful with immediate decrease of transaortic peak-to-peak pressure (P = 0.002). Mild aortic regurgitation occurred in two patients and one patient received a new permanent pacemaker. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events did not arise. NYHA functional class improved in all patients and left ventricular ejection fraction increased (P = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
Our experiences with the valve-in-valve technique using the CoreValve prosthesis suggest that transfemoral TAVI is feasible in high risk patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses.
Gotzmann
Michael
M
BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Medical Clinic II Cardiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. michael_gotzmann@web.de
Mügge
Andreas
A
Bojara
Waldemar
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002404:Catheterization; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005858:Germany; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome