Coronary Access After TAVR With a Self-Expanding Bioprosthesis: Insights From Computed Tomography

Abstract

Objectives: The authors sought to estimate possible interference of the Medtronic Evolut R/Pro transcatheter heart valve (THV) frame with coronary access using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) data.

Background: Lower-risk patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) endure a high cumulative risk of coronary events, but coronary access can be challenging.

Methods: In 101 patients who received an Evolut R/Pro THV, post-TAVR MSCT (performed at a median of 30 days after TAVR) was used to assess possible interference of the elements of the THV frame with coronary access.

Results: The closest cell of the THV frame vertically aligned with the coronary ostium was located opposite the ostium in 58% and 63%, below the ostium in 22% and 30%, or above the ostium in 20% and 7% of left and right coronary arteries, respectively. The free sinus of Valsalva space between the THV frame and the coronary ostium was 0.45 ± 0.17 cm and 0.44 ± 0.17 cm for the left and right coronary arteries, respectively, and showed a stepwise decrease with decreasing THV size (p < 0.001). Bioprosthetic valve commissures were antianatomic (i.e., not aligned with native commissures) in 45 patients (47%), and the commissural post was overlapping a coronary ostium in 15 patients (16%). Two patients (2.0%) had a possible interference of the paravalvular sealing skirt with coronary access.

Conclusions: Using post-TAVR MSCT data, the main mechanism of potential interference of Evolut R/Pro frame with coronary access was an antianatomic commissural post overlapping the coronary ostium.

Keywords: access; angiography; coronary; intervention; transcatheter aortic valve.