Large bore access for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, endovascular aortic repair, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair. A review of anatomic challenges and operative considerations

INTRODUCTION: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are standard and prolific procedures in the modern cardiovascular world, and appropriate delivery of these endoprostheses requires adequate understanding of the requisite large bore access. Percutaneous large bore access is the preferred route but may be accompanied by complications like thrombosis, hemorrhage, or inability to deliver the device. Anatomic limitations such as vessel tortuosity, small size, and heavy calcification may require alternative approaches for successful large bore access. This study aimed to better define large bore access, as well as to elucidate optimal adjuncts and alternatives to enable successful delivery of large bore endoprostheses. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic review for "large bore access" in the cardiovascular literature was conducted on PubMed and the Cochrane Library Central according to PRISMA guidelines. Identified articles were filtered and sub-selected for TAVR, EVAR, and TEVAR; studies related to other large bore interventions were excluded. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A representative selection of 39 full-text studies included both cardiac and vascular studies and was critically interpreted to identify a consensus definition for large bore access, challenging anatomy, and adjuncts or alternative approaches to the standard transfemoral approach. CONCLUSIONS: Transfemoral access remains the first-line approach but in the setting of unfavorable anatomy, adjunct maneuvers (e.g. intravascular lithotripsy, endoconduits) or alternative approaches (supra-aortic, transcaval) help decrease morbidity, mortality, length of procedure, and overall health care cost in large bore access.