Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis in High-Risk Patients Using the Second- and Current Third-Generation Self-Expanding CoreValve Prosthesis: Device Success and 30-Day Clinical Outcome Original Research Article

Objectives We sought to determine both the procedural performance and safety of percutaneous implantation of the second (21-French [F])- and third (18-F)-generation CoreValve aortic valve prosthesis (CoreValve Inc., Irvine, California). Background Percutaneous aortic valve replacement represents an emerging alternative therapy for high-risk and inoperable patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. Methods Patients with: 1) symptomatic, severe aortic valve stenosis (area <1 cm2); 2) age ≥80 years with a logistic EuroSCORE ≥20% (21-F group) or age ≥75 years with a logistic EuroSCORE ≥15% (18-F group); or 3) age ≥65 years plus additional prespecified risk factors were included. Introduction of the 18-F device enabled the transition from a multidisciplinary approach involving general anesthesia, surgical cut-down, and cardiopulmonary bypass to a truly percutaneous approach under local anesthesia without hemodynamic support. Results A total of 86 patients (21-F, n = 50; 18-F, n = 36) with a mean valve area of 0.66 ± 0.19 cm2 (21-F) and 0.54 ± 0.15 cm2 (18-F), a mean age of 81.3 ± 5.2 years (21-F) and 83.4 ± 6.7 years (18-F), and a mean logistic EuroSCORE of 23.4 ± 13.5% (21-F) and 19.1 ± 11.1% (18-F) were recruited. Acute device success was 88%. Successful device implantation resulted in a marked reduction of aortic transvalvular gradients (mean pre 43.7 mm Hg vs. post 9.0 mm Hg, p < 0.001) with aortic regurgitation grade remaining unchanged. Acute procedural success rate was 74% (21-F: 78%; 18-F: 69%). Procedural mortality was 6%. Overall 30-day mortality rate was 12%; the combined rate of death, stroke, and myocardial infarction was 22%. Conclusions Treatment of severe aortic valve stenosis in high-risk patients with percutaneous implantation of the CoreValve prosthesis is feasible and associated with a lower mortality rate than predicted by risk algorithms.