Post‐dilation in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to compare the outcomes of patients undergoing TAVR with and without balloon post-dilation (PD). BACKGROUND: PD is a commonly used technique in TAVR to minimize paravalvular regurgitation (PVR), albeit supported by little evidence. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of 6 studies comparing 889 patients who had PD compared to 4118 patients without PD. RESULTS: Patients undergoing PD were more likely male (OR 1.92; 95% CI, 1.41-2.61; P < 0.001) and to have coronary artery disease (OR 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.68; P = 0.03) than those patients not requiring PD. There were no significant differences in 30-day mortality (OR 1.24; 95% CI, 0.88-1.74; P = 0.22) and myocardial infarction (OR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.46-1.90; P = 0.85). Patients undergoing TAVR did not have higher 1-year mortality rates (OR 0.98; 95% CI, 0.61-1.56; P = 0.92). The incidence of stroke was significantly greater in patients with PD (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.10-2.66). PD was able to reduce the incidence of moderate-severe PVR by 15 fold (OR 15.0; 95% CI, 4.2-54.5; P < 0.001), although rates of moderate-severe PVR were still higher after PD than patients who did not require PD (OR 3.64; 95% CI, 1.96-6.75; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PD significantly improves rates of PVR, however careful patient selection is needed to minimize increased risk of strokes.