Computed Tomographic Angiography-Derived Risk Factors for Vascular Complications in Percutaneous Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Computed tomography derived anatomical predictors of vascular access complications following transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Vascular complications after percutaneous transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are associated with adverse clinical outcomes and remain a significant challenge.

AIMS

The purpose of this review is to synthesize the existing evidence regarding the iliofemoral artery features predictive of vascular complications after TAVI on pre-procedural contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in Embase and Medline (Pubmed) databases. Studies of patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI with MDCT were included. Studies with only valve-in-valve TAVI, planned surgical intervention and those using fluoroscopic assessment were excluded. Data on study cohort, procedural characteristics and significant predictors of vascular complications were extracted.

RESULTS

We identified 23 original studies involving 8697 patients who underwent TAVI between 2006 and 2020. Of all patients, 8514 (97.9%) underwent percutaneous transfemoral-TAVI, of which 8068 (94.8%) had contrast-enhanced MDCT. The incidence of major vascular complications was 6.7 ± 4.1% and minor vascular complications 26.1 ± 7.8%. Significant independent predictors of major and minor complications related to vessel dimensions were common femoral artery depth (>54 mm), sheath-to-iliofemoral artery diameter ratio (>0.91-1.19), sheath-to-femoral artery diameter ratio (>1.03-1.45) and sheath-to-femoral artery area ratio (>1.35). Substantial iliofemoral vessel tortuosity predicted 2-5-fold higher vascular risk. Significant iliofemoral calcification predicted 2-5-fold higher risk. The iliac morphology score was the only hybrid scoring system with predictive value.

CONCLUSIONS

Independent iliofemoral predictors of access-site complications in TAVI were related to vessel size, depth, calcification and tortuosity. These should be considered when planning transfemoral TAVI and in the design of future risk prediction models.

Computed tomography defined femoral artery plaque composition predicts vascular complications during transcatheter aortic valve implantation

OBJECTIVE

Vascular and bleeding complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are common and lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Analysis of plaque at the arterial access site may improve prediction of complications.

METHODS

We investigated the association between demographic and procedural risk factors for Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC-3) vascular complications in patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI with use of a vascular closure device (ProGlide® or MANTA®) in this retrospective cohort study. The ability of pre-procedure femoral CT angiography to predict complications was investigated including a novel method of quantifying plaque composition of the common femoral artery using plaque maps created with patient specific X-ray attenuation cut-offs.

RESULTS

23 vascular complications occurred in the 299 patients in the study group (7.7%). There were no demographic risk factors associated with vascular complications and no statistical difference between use of closure device (ProGlide® vs MANTA®) and vascular complications. Vascular complications after TAVI were associated with sheath size (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08-1.76, P 0.01) and strongly associated with CT-derived necrotic core volume in the common femoral artery of the procedural side (OR 17.49, 95% CI 1.21-226.60, P 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Plaque map analysis of the common femoral artery by CT angiography reveals patients with greater necrotic core are at increased risk of VARC-3 vascular complications.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

The novel measurement of necrotic core volume in the common femoral artery on the procedural side by CT analysis was associated with post-TAVI vascular complications, which can be used to highlight increased risk.

Ultrasound-Guided Versus Conventional MANTA Vascular Closure Device Deployment After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Despite the development of device technology and operators' experience, access site vascular complications (VCs) remain one of the major concerns after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). MANTA (Teleflex, Wayne, Pennsylvania) is a large-bore vascular closure device (VCD) with promising incidence of VC. Previously, we demonstrated that the ultrasound-guided MANTA (US-MANTA) technique further improved the outcomes compared with conventional MANTA (C-MANTA) without ultrasound guidance. The present study was established to prove the effectiveness of the technique in a larger population. In this study, we included 1,150 patients (335 patients with C-MANTA and 815 with US-MANTA) who received MANTA after TAVI from April 2017 to September 2021. The primary endpoint was MANTA-related VC. Overall VC, VCD failure, and bleeding complications were also assessed based on the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 criteria. MANTA-related VC occurred in 12.5% in the C-MANTA group and 6.8% in the US-MANTA group (p = 0.001). VCD failure rate were 7.5% and 3.9%, respectively (p = 0.012). Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 major and minor VC were more frequent in C-MANTA group (major: 7.8% vs 4.4%, p = 0.023; minor: 8.1% vs 4.4%, p = 0.022). Multivariate analysis revealed US-MANTA as the negative predictor of MANTA-related VC (odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.89, p = 0.013). However, subgroup analysis showed the efficacy of the US-MANTA technique was limited to the patients without severely calcified puncture site (P_interaction = 0.048). In conclusion, the US-MANTA technique was an effective strategy to reduce VC after transfemoral TAVI compared with C-MANTA.

Rationale and design of the Project to look for early discharge in patients undergoing TAVR with ACURATE (POLESTAR Trial)

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is now an established treatment strategy for elderly patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) across the entire operative risk spectrum. Streamlined TAVR protocols along with reduced procedure time and expedited ambulation promote early hospital discharge. Selection of patients suitable for safe early discharge after TAVR might improve healthcare efficiency.

STUDY DESIGN

The POLESTAR trial is an international, multi-center, prospective, observational study which aims to evaluate the safety of early discharge in selected patients who undergo TAVR with the supra-annular functioning self-expanding ACURATE Neo transcatheter heart valve (THV). A total of 250 patients will be included based on a set of baseline criteria indicating potential early discharge (within 48 h post-TAVR). Primary study endpoints include Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-3 defined safety at 30 days and VARC-3 defined efficacy at 30 days and 1 year. Endpoints will be compared between early discharge and non-early discharge cohorts with a distinct landmark analysis at 48 h post-TAVR. Secondary endpoints include quality of life assessed using EQ5D-5L and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) questionnaires and resource costs compared between discharge groups.

SUMMARY

The POLESTAR trial prospectively evaluates safety and feasibility of an early discharge protocol for TAVR using the ACURATE Neo THV.

Strategies for Facilitating Totally Percutaneous Transfemoral TAVR Procedures

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has transformed the treatment of aortic stenosis and should ideally be performed as a totally percutaneous procedure via the transfemoral (TF) approach. Peripheral vascular disease may impede valve delivery, and vascular access site complications are associated with adverse clinical outcome and increased mortality. We review strategies aimed to facilitate TF valve delivery in patients with hostile vascular anatomy and achieve percutaneous management of vascular complications.

Standardized Measurement of Femoral Artery Depth by Computed Tomography to Predict Vascular Complications After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Vascular complications (VCs) are difficult to predict and remain an important issue after transfemoral (TF) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) although their incidence has decreased with size reduction of introducers. We aimed to evaluate a standardized measurement of femoral artery depth (FAD) using computed tomography (CT) to predict VCs after TAVI. We performed a retrospective study of 679 TF TAVI patients. We evaluated a standardized CT method to measure FAD immediately above the bifurcation. Sheath-to-femoral-artery ratio (SFAR), calcification, and tortuosity were also evaluated. VCs were defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-2. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to predict major VCs and the need for a stent-graft. The median values of FAD and SFAR were 49.0 (36.2 to 66.7) mm and 0.95 (0.81 to 1.18), respectively. Major VCs occurred in 37 (5.4%) patients and a stent-graft was required in 49 (7.1%) patients. FAD predicted the need for a stent-graft [0.61 (0.51 to 0.70), p = 0.04] but not major VCs [0.52 (0.40 to 0.63), p = 0.76]. In contrast, SFAR did not predict the need for a stent-graft [0.53 (0.43 to 0.62), p = 0.61] but predicted major VCs [0.70 (0.58 to 0.81), p = 0.001]. Calcification and tortuosity predicted neither major VCs nor the need for a stent-graft. In conclusion, the results of our study suggest that CT measurements of FAD and SFAR provide additional information to predict major VCs and the need for a femoral stent-graft after TF TAVI.