Valve type and post-dilation impact on transprosthetic gradients in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve procedure

Aims Valve-in-Valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (ViV-TAVR) is an appealing treatment option for patients with degenerated aortic bioprosthetic valves. However, higher post-procedural transprosthetic gradients are more common after ViV-TAVR than after TAVR for native aortic valve stenosis. We sought to evaluate the impact of type of implanted valve and balloon post-dilation on echocardiographic results and mortality in ViV-TAVR patients. Methods and results One hundred and eleven consecutive patients were enrolled. A balloon-expandable valve, a self-expandable valve without balloon post-dilation, and a self-expandable valve with balloon post-dilation were performed in 35 (Group 1), 39 (Group 2), and 37 (Group 3) patients, respectively. All patients underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography at baseline, discharge, and 6–12 months follow-up. Successful ViV-TAVR was performed in 110 patients (99%). Baseline transprosthetic gradients, left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were similar among groups. All groups experienced a significant reduction in post-procedural gradients at discharge and during the 6–12 months follow-up compared with baseline. At discharge, the lowest mean gradient was observed in Group 3 (12 ± 7 mmHg) compared with both Group 1 (20 ± 9 mmHg) and Group 2 (17 ± 8 mmHg, P = 0.001). This result was confirmed at 6–12 months follow-up (P = 0.012). Similar 5-year all-cause mortality was observed among groups (34%, 36%, 14%, respectively, P = 0.056). Conclusion In patients with failed surgical aortic prosthesis, ViV-TAVR is an effective treatment option associated with sustained improved haemodynamics regardless of transcatheter valve type and use of balloon post-dilation. However, self-expandable valves with balloon post-dilation showed lower transprosthetic gradients.