Does pre-existing aortic regurgitation protect from death in patients who develop paravalvular leak after TAVI?

The aim of this study, – based on data prospectively collected in the Italian Transcatheter balloon-Expandable Registry (ITER) on aortic stenosis (AS) patients, – was to investigate interactions among pre-procedural aortic regurgitation (AR), post-procedural paravalvular leak (PVL) and long-term clinical outcomes.

The Authors conclude that, in patients with severe AS treated with balloon-expandable TAVI, the presence of paravalvular leak (PVL), but not pre-procedural aortic regurgitation, was a major predictor of adverse outcome. Preoperative LV dilatation seemed to offer some clinical advantages.

Reference

1. Colli A, Besola L, Salizzoni S, Gregori D, Tarantini G, Agrifoglio M, Chieffo A, Regesta T, Gabbieri D, Saia F, Tamburino C, Ribichini F, Valsecchi O, Loi B, Iadanza A, Stolcova M, Minati A, Martinelli G, Bedogni F, Petronio A, Dallago M, Cappai A, D'Onofrio A, Gerosa G, Rinaldi M. Does pre-existing aortic regurgitation protect from death in patients who develop paravalvular leak after TAVI? Int J Cardiol 2017 Feb 4 [Epub ahead of print] Go to PubMed