Impact of coronary artery disease and percutaneous coronary intervention on outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation

AIMS: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently present in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). While revascularisation affects peri-operative outcome in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement, the impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients undergoing TAVI is not well established. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI were prospectively included into the Bern TAVI registry. In patients with CAD, myocardium at risk was assessed using the DUKE myocardial jeopardy score. Revascularisation was performed by means of PCI either staged or concomitant at the time of TAVI. Among 256 patients undergoing TAVI, 167 patients had CAD and 59 patients underwent either staged (n=23) or concomitant (n=36) PCI. Clinical outcome at 30 days was similar for patients undergoing isolated TAVI as compared with TAVI combined with PCI in terms of death (5.6% versus 10.2%, p=0.24), major stroke (4.1% versus 3.4%, p=1.00), and the VARC combined safety endpoint (31.0% versus 23.7%, p=0.33). A stratified analysis of outcomes according to presence of CAD or revascularisation showed no difference during long-term follow-up (log rank p=0.16). CONCLUSIONS: CAD is frequent among patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI. Among carefully selected patients, revascularisation by means of PCI can be safely performed in addition to TAVI either as a staged or a concomitant intervention.