title: Direct TAVI using a balloon-expandable system: a novel technique to eliminate pre-deployment balloon aortic valvuloplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is now the therapy of choice for those patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are considered to be at too high risk for conventional surgery. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is routinely performed to allow placement of the balloon-expandable valve during the procedure. Instrumentation of the valve has been linked to procedural stroke risk, with the associated runs of rapid pacing risking haemodynamic compromise. We outline a novel technique to eliminate BAV prior to transcatheter valve placement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We illustrate a clinical case that outlines the problems encountered in transcatheter valve placement despite a prior BAV. The solution used in this case involved the partial inflation of the distal section of the balloon allowing easy passage of the SAPIEN XT valve from the transaortic route. After bench testing, we report a series of patients who have undergone this "direct TAVI" procedure from both the transaortic and the transfemoral routes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a limited series within a single centre, "direct TAVI" has been shown to be effective in allowing accurate placement of a balloon-expandable device without the need for prior BAV.
authors: Cardiovascular Department, St ThomasÕ Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Davies
authors: Vinayak N
authors: VN
authors: Bapat
authors: Jane E
authors: JE
authors: Hancock
authors: Christopher P
authors: CP
authors: Young
authors: Simon R
authors: SR
authors: Redwood
authors: Martyn R
authors: MR
authors: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D063126:Balloon Valvuloplasty; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome