Frailty and Bleeding: Impact on Aortic Valve Replacement

Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava.

We are well aware that both transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical valve replacement (SAVR) generate bleeding (15% to 22% for TAVR and 22% to 44% for SAVR). 

Sangrado y mortalidad en el reemplazo valvular aórtico por catéter

Frail patients constitute a particular group. These have not yet been assessed as to the real risk they run and mortality with each of these strategies. 

A sub-analysis of the FRAILTY-AVR was carried out, including 1,195 frail patients. 747 received TAVR and 448 received SAVR (238 patients were combined with CABG) presenting major or life-threatening bleeding vs. patients who did not receive either of these. 

Mean age was higher in TAVR patients (83 vs. 77 years) as was STS: 6.1 vs. 3.4.

TAVR patients presented less life-threatening bleeding (3% vs. 8%), major bleeding with clinically apparent source (6% vs. 10%) and major bleeding without clinically apparent source (9% vs. 31%). In addition, they have less need for transfusion (0.9 vs. 2.8 units). Patients undergoing concomitant CABG presented higher bleeding rate. 


Read also: Antiaggregation vs. Anticoagulation after Peripheral PCI.


Mortality at 30 days was higher in patients presenting bleeding with both strategies. 

At one year follow-up, major bleeding was associated to a three-fold increase in mortality, both for TAVR (36% vs. 14% odds ratio: 3.40; 95% confidence interval: 2.22 to 5.21) and SAVR (11% vs. 4% odds ratio: 2.79; 95% confidence interval: 1.25 to 6.21).

Conclusion

Frailty is associated to post-procedural major bleeding in elderly adults undergoing TAVR or SAVR, ad with higher mid-term mortality. 

Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava.

Original Title: Frailty and Bleeding in Older Adults Undergoing TAVR or SAVR Insights From the FRAILTY-AVR Study.

Reference: Melissa Bendayan, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2020;13:1058–68.


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

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...