Paravalvular Regurgitation after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Comparing Transthoracic versus Transesophageal Echocardiographic Guidance

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2017 Jun;30(6):533-540. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2017.02.002. Epub 2017 Apr 6.

Abstract

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly being performed in cardiac catheterization laboratories using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to guide valve deployment. The risk of paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) remains a concern.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 454 consecutive patients (mean age, 82 ± 8; 58% male) who underwent transfemoral TAVR at Emory Healthcare from 2007 to 2014. Two hundred thirty-four patients underwent TAVR in the cardiac catheterization laboratory with TTE guidance (TTE-TAVR; mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, 10%), while 220 patients underwent the procedure in the hybrid operating room with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance (TEE-TAVR; mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, 11%). All patients received an Edwards valve (SAPIEN 55%, SAPIEN-XT 45%). Clinical and procedural characteristics, echocardiographic parameters, and incidence of PVR were compared.

Results: The incidence of at least mild PVR at discharge was comparable between TTE-TAVR and TEE-TAVR (33% vs 38%, respectively; P = .326) and did not differ when stratified by valve type. However, in the TTE-TAVR group, there was a higher incidence of second valve implantation (7% vs 2%; P = .026) and postdilation (38% vs 17%; P < .001) during the procedure. Although not independently associated with PVR at discharge (odds ratio = 1.12; 95% CI, 0.69-1.79), TTE-TAVR was associated with PVR-related events: the combined outcome of mild PVR at discharge, intraprocedural postdilation, and second valve insertion (odds ratio = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.01-2.46). There were no significant differences in PVR at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year between the two groups.

Conclusions: TTE-TAVR in a high-risk group of patients was associated with increased incidence of intraprocedure PVR-related events, although it was not associated with higher rates of PVR at follow-up. Multicenter randomized trials are required to confirm the cost-effectiveness and safety of TTE-TAVR.

Keywords: Minimalist; Paravalvular regurgitation; Transcatheter aortic valve replacement; Transesophageal echocardiography.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / mortality*
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / prevention & control
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / epidemiology
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / surgery*
  • Causality
  • Comorbidity
  • Echocardiography / statistics & numerical data
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Georgia / epidemiology
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / methods
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / mortality
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / mortality
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Reoperation / methods
  • Reoperation / mortality
  • Reoperation / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted / statistics & numerical data
  • Survival Rate
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement / methods
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement / mortality
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement / statistics & numerical data*
  • Treatment Outcome