Cusp-overlap view reduces conduction disturbances and permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement even with balloon-expandable and mechanically-expandable heart valves

[The role of implant projection in optimizing transcatheter aortic valve implantation]

Severe aortic stenosis is the most frequent valve condition requiring surgery, and its incidence is increasing yearly. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the first-line treatment for patients at all levels of surgical risk. Nevertheless, modifications to the procedure often appear to improve clinical outcomes. A major concern after TAVI is the higher rate of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) compared with surgical valve replacement. Optimal implantation depth is crucial to reduce the burden of PPMI without causing serious complications such as valve embolization. The classic implantation technique, where the 3 cusps are aligned in the same plane, has been modified to a cusp overlap projection by isolating the noncoronary cusp and superimposing the left and right cusps. This simple modification provides optimal visualization during deployment and helps to achieve the desired implant depth to reduce conduction disturbances and PPMI. Another limitation after TAVI is coronary reaccess due to the frame of the transcatheter valve obstructing the coronary ostia. Commissural alignment of the prostheses with the native valve may facilitate selective cannulation of the coronary arteries after this procedure. This review will discuss the techniques and supporting evidence for these modifications to the deployment and implant projection methods, and how they can improve TAVI outcomes.

Predictors, clinical impact, and management strategies for conduction abnormalities after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: an updated review

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has increasingly become a safe, feasible, and widely accepted alternative surgical treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. However, the incidence of conduction abnormalities associated with TAVR, including left bundle branch block (LBBB) and high-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB), remains high and is often correlated with risk factors such as the severity of valvular calcification, preexisting conditions in patients, and procedural factors. The existing research results on the impact of post-TAVR conduction abnormalities and permanent pacemaker (PPM) requirements on prognosis, including all-cause mortality and rehospitalization, remain contradictory, with varied management strategies for post-TAVR conduction system diseases across different institutions. This review integrates the latest research in the field, offering a comprehensive discussion of the mechanisms, risk factors, consequences, and management of post-TAVR conduction abnormalities. This study provides insights into optimizing patient prognosis and explores the potential of novel strategies, such as conduction system pacing, to minimize the risk of adverse clinical outcomes.