Does post-dilatation or supra-annular valve positioning reduce subclinical leaflet thickening in patients with self-expanding transcatheter heart valves?
Post-dilatation and supra-annular positioning of self-expanding transcatheter heart valves may reduce the risk of subclinical leaflet thickening associated with stent frame underexpansion.
Regional THV stent frame underexpansion is associated with an increased risk of leaflet thickening. Post-dilatation of self-expanding THV as well as a supra-annular valve position seem to reduce the occurrence of this phenomenon.
Fuchs et al. (Sun,) studied this question.