Eccentric calcified plaques (r=0.37, P=0.002), LVOT calcium (r=0.28, P=0.009), and commissural gap (r=0.41-0.63) were significantly associated with paravalvular leaks after TAAVI.
Observational (n=111)
Does the degree and distribution of aortic valve calcification on contrast-enhanced CT predict paravalvular leaks in patients undergoing transapical aortic valve implantation?
Asymmetry of leaflet calcium, LVOT calcium, and commissural gap, rather than total aortic valve calcium score on contrast-enhanced CT, are significant predictors of paravalvular leaks after transapical aortic valve implantation.
p-value: p=.002
BACKGROUND: Transapical aortic valve implantation (TAAVI) has evolved into a routine procedure for select high-risk patients. The aim was to study the impact of native aortic valve calcification on paravalvular leaks in cardiac contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). METHODS: The degree and distribution of valve calcification were quantified using an Aortic Valve Calcium Score (AVCS) for each cusp separately (3mensio Valves). To reduce an artificial increase of the AVCS due to the presence of contrast material, we used thresholds for density mean aortic density + 2*SD and volume 0, 3, 5, 25, and 50 mm3 of calcification. RESULTS: 111 consecutive patients prior to TAAVI with preoperative CT aged 79.8 ± 5.8 years were included using the Edwards Sapien prosthesis. Paravalvular leaks were significantly associated with eccentric calcified plaques (r Spearman = 0.37; χ2-statistic = 15.4; P = .002), presence of LVOT calcium (r Spearman = 0.28; χ2-statistic = 11.3; P = .009), and the commissural gap at the anatomic ventriculo-arterial junction (r Spearman = 0.41-0.63; χ2-statistic = 50.8-53.0; P = .002-≤.001). There was no significant association between the total AVCS and PV leaks (r Spearman = 0.076; χ2-statistic = 1.471; P = .240, 120 kV, 850 hounsfield units) with no additional use of a volume-based threshold. CONCLUSION: Asymmetry of leaflet calcium distribution, LVOT calcium, and the commissural gap between leaflets were significantly associated with paravalvular leaks. Moreover, quantification of aortic valve calcification in contrast enhanced CTs shows only a weak correlation with paravalvular leakage and is therefore not reliable as a predictor, respectively.
Haensig et al. (2016) conducted an observational in Paravalvular aortic insufficiency (n=111). Aortic valve calcification features (eccentric plaques, LVOT calcium, commissural gap) was evaluated on Paravalvular leaks (p=.002). Eccentric calcified plaques (r=0.37, P=0.002), LVOT calcium (r=0.28, P=0.009), and commissural gap (r=0.41-0.63) were significantly associated with paravalvular leaks after TAAVI.