Predictive Factors, Efficacy, and Safety of Balloon Post-Dilation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With a Balloon-Expandable Valve

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcin.2012.02.010
• Publication Date: 2012-05-22T18:42:00Z
• Authors: Luis Nombela-Franco; Josep Rodés-Cabau; Robert DeLarochel...; Eric Larose; Daniel Doyle; Jacques Villeneuve; Sébastien Bergeron; Mathieu Bernier; Ignacio J. Amat-S...; Michael Mok; Marina Urena; Michel Rheault; Jean Dumesnil; Mélanie Côté; Philippe Pibarot; Eric Dumont
• Keywords: Male; Cardiac Catheterization; Aortic Valve Insufficiency; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Catheterization; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Predictive Value of Tests; Humans; Prospective Studies; transcatheter aortic valve implantation; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Chi-Square Distribution; transfemoral; Calcinosis; Aortic Valve Stenosis; stroke; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; 3. Good health; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Logistic Models; Heart Valve Prosthesis; transcatheter aortic valve replacement; Female; balloon post-dilation; transapical; Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine; Echocardiography, Transesophageal

This study sought to evaluate the predictive factors, effects, and safety of balloon post-dilation (BPD) for the treatment of significant paravalvular aortic regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).Very few data exist on BPD after TAVI with a balloon-expandable valve.A total of 211 patients who underwent TAVI with a balloon-expandable valve were included. BPD was performed after TAVI if paravalvular AR ≥ 2 was identified by transesophageal echocardiography. Clinical events and echocardiographic data were prospectively recorded, and median follow-up was 12 (6 to 24) months.BPD was performed in 59 patients (28%), leading to a reduction in at least 1 degree of AR in 71% of patients, with residual AR <2 in 54% of the patients. The predictors of the need for BPD were the degree of valve calcification and transfemoral approach, with valve calcification volume >2,200 and >3,800 mm(3) best determining the need for and a poor response to BPD, respectively. Patients who underwent BPD had a higher incidence of cerebrovascular events at 30 days (11.9% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.006), with most (83%) events within the 24 h after the procedure occurring in patients who had BPD. No significant changes in valve area or AR degree were observed at follow-up in BPD and no-BPD groups.BPD was needed in about one-fourth of the patients undergoing TAVI with a balloon-expandable valve and was successful in about one-half of them. A higher degree of valve calcification and transfemoral approach predicted the need for BPD. BPD was not associated with any deleterious effect on valve function at mid-term follow-up, but a higher rate of cerebrovascular events was observed in patients who had BPD.