Transcutaneous aortic valve implantation using the carotid artery access: Feasibility and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Transcarotid access is an alternative route for transcutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with impossible transfemoral access.

AIMS: We evaluated the safety, effectiveness and early and late clinical outcomes of CoreValve® implantation via the common carotid artery.

METHODS: Eighteen patients (10 men, 8 women; mean age 84±5 years) at high surgical risk (mean EuroSCORE II 16±13%) with significant peripheral artery disease underwent TAVI via common carotid artery access under general anaesthesia. Mean aortic valve area was 0.64±0.13cm2 (0.36±0.07cm2 /m2 ).

RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 605±352 days, two patients (11%) had died in hospital, on days 6 and 20, as a result of sepsis with multiorgan failure (n=1) or pneumonia (n=1). There were no perioperative deaths, myocardial infarctions or strokes. Perioperative prosthesis embolization occurred in one patient (6%), requiring implantation of a second valve. In-hospital complications occurred in four patients (23%): blood transfusion for transient significant bleeding at the access site in one patient (6%); permanent pacemaker implantation in two patients (11%); and pericardial drainage in one patient (6%). The rate of event-free in-hospital stay was 66%. Post-procedural echocardiography showed very good haemodynamic performance, with a mean gradient of 8±3mmHg. Moderate paravalvular leak was present in one patient (6%). Mean intensive care unit stay was 48±31h; mean in-hospital stay was 7±3 days.

CONCLUSION: TAVI performed by transcarotid access in this small series of severely ill patients was associated with a low incidence of complications, which were associated with the procedure itself rather than the access route.