Cerebral Protection in TAVR: Does It Improve Cognitive Function?

Cerebral Protection in TAVR sentinelNeurological complications during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be reduced with cerebral protection devices; this study was designed to explore that hypothesis.

 

The study enrolled 363 patients undergoing TAVR in 19 sites and divided them in three arms:

  • a safety arm (n = 123),
  • a device imaging arm (n = 121),
  • and a non-device imaging arm (n = 119).

 

The primary safety endpoint consisted of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 30 days The primary efficacy endpoint was reduction in new cerebral lesion volume and in brain territories protected by the device as assessed through nuclear magnetic resonance imaging scans at 2 and 7 days. All patients underwent a cognitive assessment, and all debris captured by the device was analyzed.

 

The rate of cardiac and cerebrovascular events for those who received the device was 7.3%, which was not statistically different from that of the control group, with 9.9% (p = 0.41).

 

New lesion volume on magnetic resonance scans was 179 mm3 in the control group and 102.8 mm3 in those who received the cerebral protection device, which was not statistically significant either.

 

A post hoc multivariable analysis found that the pre-existing lesion volume and the valve type were predictors of new lesions.

 

Strokes at 30 days were 9.1% in the control arm and 5.6% in the device arm (p = 0.25).

 

Neurocognitive function was similar in control subjects and subjects who received the device; when the whole population was analyzed, a correlation between lesion volume and neurocognitive decline was found (p = 0.0022).

 

Debris found within filters in 99% of patients included thrombus, calcification, native valve tissue, artery wall, and foreign material, such as gauze.

 

Conclusion

The SENTINEL cerebral protection device designed for use during transcatheter aortic valve replacements captured debris in 99% of patients. However, it did not improve cognitive function when compared to the control group. Reduction in new lesion volume as assessed through magnetic resonance scans was not statistically significant either.

 

Original title: Protection Against Cerebral Embolism During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Reference: Samir R. Kapadia et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017;69:367–77.


Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Get the latest scientific articles on interventional cardiology

We are interested in your opinion. Please, leave your comments, thoughts, questions, etc., below. They will be most welcome.

More articles by this author

Prospective Analysis of the Feasibility of the PASCAL System for Transcatheter Mitral Repair: OneForAll Registry

Courtesy of Dr. Juan Manuel Pérez. Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is an effective option for patients with severe mitral regurgitation who are at high...

Left Bundle Branch Block after TAVR: What Is Its Impact?

Courtesy of Dr. Juan Manuel Pérez. Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is a common complication following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which can be either...

Multicenter Experience with 3D Intracardiac Echocardiography for Guiding Interventional Cardiac Procedures

Courtesy of Dr. Juan Manuel Pérez. Imaging techniques play a fundamental role in interventional cardiac procedures. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) appears as an alternative to transesophageal...

Pathology of Self-Expanding Transcatheter Aortic Bioprostheses and Hypoattenuated Leaflet Thickening

Courtesy of Dr. Juan Manuel Pérez. Despite the available long term followup data on of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), bioprosthesis durability continues under debate....

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img

Recent Articles

ACC 2025 | FAME 3: FFR Guided PCI vs CABG 5 Year Outcomes.

Earlier studies comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) have shown fewer events at long term for the surgical strategy.  However,...

ACC 2025 | API-CAT: Reduced vs. Full Dose Extended Anticoagulation in Patients with Cancer Related VTE

The risk of cancer related recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) will drop over time, while bleeding risk will persist. At present, it is recommended we...

STRIDE: Semaglutide in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease and Type II Diabetes

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a severe complication in patients with type II diabetes, primarily affecting peripheral vessels, especially below-the-knee (BTK) arteries. This condition...