TAVR and Pacemakers, New Strategies

Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava.

TAVR has been shown beneficial and is constantly being advanced onto lower risk populations, but at present, it is limited (perhaps most importantly in aortic tricuspid valves) by the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI), especially when it comes to self-expandable valves, as the latest study on low risk populations has shown. 

Pacing with a 0.035” GuidewireThe study looked at 248 severe aortic stenosis patients receiving self-expandable valves EVOLUTE, EVOLUTE PRO and EVOLUTE XL 34. They analyzed looked at implant depth at non-coronary cusp level (SNC).

The procedure was done via femoral access with conscious sedation and local anesthesia. 

Mean age was 83, most patients were men, 5.7% had left bundle branch block, 14.9% had right bundle branch block. Mortality STS score was 6%.


Read also: Latin American Session at TCT 2019.


Post procedural stroke was 2.4% and in-hospital death, and at 30 days was 0.4% and 1.2% respectively.

The need for PPMI was 9.7%, mostly within the first 72 hours (22 of 24 patients). There were no clinical differences between patients requiring PPMI and those who did not.

PPMI predictors were: right bundle branch block, large aortic annulus and aortic root, length of septum: when <5 mm, the need for PPMI was 95% (23-24 patients) but when >5 mm, it was 1.4%.

At multivariable analysis, implant depth >membranous septum (odds ratio: 8.04; 95% confidence interval: 2.58 to 25.04; p < 0.001) and the Evolut 34 XL (odds ratio: 4.96; 95% confidence interval: 1.68 to 14.63; p= 0.004) were independent predictors of PPMI.


Read also: Should Interventional Cardiologists Be Involved in Acute Stroke?


The MIDAS approach (minimum depth in reference to septum), was done in 1200 patients aiming at positioning the device at a depth of < MS length whenever possible, reduced the need for PPMI (9% vs. 3% p=0.003) and the rate of new left bundle branch block (25.8% vs. 9% p>0.001).

Conclusion

The use of MIDAS for self-expandable valve implantation achieved a low and predictable rate of need for PPMI that was significantly inferior to the one previously reported. 

Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava.

Original Title: Minimizing Permanent Pacemaker Following Repositionable Self-Expanding Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Reference: Hasan Jilaihawi, et al. Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2019;12:1796–807.


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.

Previous article
Next article

More articles by this author

Measuring Post-TAVI Gradients and Their Implications: Are Invasive and Echocardiographic Assessments Comparable?

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is considered the treatment of choice for a significant proportion of patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis. Outcomes have improved...

Percutaneous Tricuspid Valve Replacement with Lux-Valve

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a condition associated with poor quality of life, frequent hospitalizations due to heart failure, and increased mortality, even under optimal...

TAVR in Small Annuli: What Valve Should We Use?

One of the major challenges of severe aortic stenosis are patients with small aortic annuli, defined as ≤430 mm² aortic valve area. This condition...

ACC 2025 | TAVI in Low-Risk Patients: 5-Year Outcomes of EVOLUTE LOW RISK

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a valid alternative to surgery in low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, one of its main limitations...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img

Recent Articles

Pretreatment with DAPT in Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Ongoing Debate?

In acute coronary syndrome (ACS) dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has become a fundamental pillar after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), preventing stent thrombosis and acute...

Measuring Post-TAVI Gradients and Their Implications: Are Invasive and Echocardiographic Assessments Comparable?

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is considered the treatment of choice for a significant proportion of patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis. Outcomes have improved...

Another Blow for Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumo Counterpulsation? Randomized Study on Its Use in Chronic Heart Failure Progressing to Cardiogenic Shock

Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains a condition with extremely high mortality (around 50%). While most therapies for this pathology have been studied in CS secondary...