2016 Volume 64 Issue 6 Pages 341-347
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an effective way to treat patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis, who are deemed high risk or inoperable. TAVI was started in June 2015 at our hospital.
A total of 15 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were included by January 2016. Of them, 10 patients (67%) were more than 85 years old and 12 patients (80%) had a high degree of frailty.
Peak aortic valve velocity significantly decreased to 2.2±0.5 meters per second from 4.9±0.6 meters per second with TAVI (p＜0.001), and aortic valve area increased to 1.34±0.42cm2 from 0.47±0.14cm2 (p＜0.001).
As a complication, there was acute aortic valve insufficiency after balloon aortic valvuloplasty and cardiogenic shock in one patient. However, the use of an extracorporeal circulation assisting device was avoided by rapid transcatheter heart valve implantation.
During the perioperative period, there were no serious complications, such as death or dissection of the aortic annulus, ventricular perforation or coronary occlusion. However, one patient required permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI, and rehospitalization due to heart failure was necessary for three patients.
TAVI was useful for elderly and high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. We were able to safely perform TAVI by building up a good heart team.
