Transcatheter aortic valve replacement and cardiac conduction

Abstract

Conduction abnormalities after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) account for a high percentage of post-TAVR complications. Areas covered: The etiology of conduction abnormalities is closely tied to cardiac anatomy (length of membranous septum, degree of calcification, location of left bundle within the membranous septum), baseline conduction abnormalities (preprocedure right bundle branch block), and procedural variables (type of valve, depth of implant). Management of new high-grade AV block and new left bundle branch block varies by institution in the absence of consensus guidelines. Expert opinion: Authors describe the incidence, etiology, outcomes, and management of conduction abnormalities related to aortic stenosis and TAVR.

Keywords: TAVR; complete heart block; high-grade atrioventricular block; left bundle branch block; pacemaker; right bundle branch block.