Learning Curve for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Under a Controlled Introduction System ― Initial Analysis of a Japanese Nationwide Registry ―

BACKGROUND: The introduction of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) into Japan was strictly controlled to optimize patient outcomes. The goal of this study was to assess if increasing experience during the introduction of this procedure was associated with outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The initial 1,752 patients registered in the Japanese national TAVI registry were included in the study. The association between operator procedure number and incidence of the early safety endpoint at 30 days (ESE30) as defined in the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 consensus document was evaluated. Patients were divided into 4 groups by quartiles of procedure count (Groups I-IV in order of increasing number of procedures). Median patient age was 85 years, and 30.5% were male. The 30-day mortality rate was 1.4% (n=24), and 78 patients (7.9%) experienced 95 ESE30. Among the variables included in the model, ESE30 was associated with non-transfemoral approach (P=0.004), renal dysfunction (Cr >2.0 mg/dL) (P=0.01) and NYHA class III/IV (P=0.04). ESE30 incidence was not significantly different between Groups I-III and Group IV. Spline plots demonstrated that experience of 15-20 cases in total was needed to achieve a consistent low risk of ESE30. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing experience was associated with better outcomes, but to a lesser degree than in previous reports. Our findings suggested that the risks associated with the learning curve process were appropriately mitigated.