TURKISH THORACIC JOURNAL, cilt.19, sa.4, ss.495-502, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
Background: This study aims to evaluate early- and mid-term
results of our patients who underwent transluminal aortic valve
implantation (TAVI).
Methods: The early- and mid-term results of 10 patients
(7 females, 3 males; mean age 80.4±6.7 years; range 64 to
88 years) with high surgical risk who underwent the TAVI
procedure in our clinic between January 2010 and April 2011
were evaluated. All of our patients were implanted with Edwards
Sapien bioprosthetic valves through the transfemoral approach
and followed-up for 6.1±5.2 months.
Results: Before the procedure, the mean functional class was NYHA
3.8±0.4, the mean aortic valve area (AVA) was 0.6±0.1cm2
, the left
ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was %55.4±9.8 and the mean
peak (PAG) and mean valvular gradients (MAG) were 94.3±24.2
and 54.5±17.7 mmHg, respectively. No additional interventional
procedure was required during this stage. The technical success rate
was 100%, and a single valve was implanted in all patients. Neither
mortality nor major strokes were observed during the follow-up
period. Following the TAVI procedure, the NYHA decreased to
1.9±0.6 (p<0.01), AVA increased to 1.6±0.2 cm2
(p<0.01), LVEF
increased to 58.8±8.0% (p>0.05), and PAG and MAG decreased
to 25.6±5.1 and 14.1±3.3 mmHg, respectively (p<0.01). One patient
developed acute occlusion of the left main coronary ostium which was
treated with a successful stenting procedure. In one patient, vascular
repair was performed during the procedure due to a laceration in the
femoral access site. In two patients, transient bundle branch blocks
occurred, but no permanent AV blocks were observed and none of
the patients required permanent pacemaker implantation.
Conclusion: In aortic stenosis patients with high open surgery
risk, TAVI is a rather safe method in terms of procedural success.
The early- and mid-term cardiovascular results following TAVI
can be considered to be successful. Long-term follow-up studies
with large series are needed to determine the safety and
durability of the TAVI procedure.