Cited 67 times since 2012 (5.7 per year) source: EuropePMC Heart (British Cardiac Society), Volume 98, Issue 16, 1 1 2012, Pages 1229-1236 Intraoperative 2D and 3D transoesophageal echocardiographic predictors of aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Gripari P, Ewe SH, Fusini L, Muratori M, Ng AC, Cefalù C, Delgado V, Schalij MJ, Bax JJ, Marsan NA, Tamborini G, Pepi M
Background
Post-procedural aortic regurgitation (AR) has been described in a large number of patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
Objective
The aim of this study was to examine the intraoperative 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic features of the aortic valve associated with significant post-procedural paravalvular AR.
Methods
A total of 135 patients (81±7 years) with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, who underwent TAVI, were imaged with comprehensive 2D and 3D transoesophageal echocardiography before the procedure and peri-procedure. Various baseline and peri-procedural echocardiographic characteristics were tested to predict paravalvular AR post-TAVI: calcifications at the aortic valve commissures and leaflets, 'aortic annulus eccentricity index', 'area cover index', overlap between aortic prosthesis and anterior mitral leaflet. Post-procedural paravalvular AR≥2 was considered significant.
Results
Successful TAVI was achieved in all patients. The incidence of paravalvular AR≥2 immediately after the procedure was 21% (28 patients). Commissural calcifications and, particularly, the calcification of the commissure between the right coronary and non-coronary cusps was significantly more frequent in presence of paravalvular AR; the area cover index pre-TAVI was significantly lower among patients with AR (11.1±11.8% vs 20.8±12.5%, p=0.0004). Multivariate analysis revealed that calcification of the commissure between the right coronary and non-coronary cusps (OR=2.66, 95% CI 1.39 to 5.12, p=0.001), and the area cover index pre-TAVI (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.99, p=0.006) were the only independent predictors of significant paravalvular AR after TAVI.
Conclusions
Intraoperative 2D and 3D transoesophageal echocardiography identified calcification of the commissure between the right coronary and non-coronary cusps and the area cover index as independent predictors of significant paravalvular AR following TAVI.
