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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Upper-extremity Approach for Secondary Access in Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Published on: August 8, 2025
Early conduction disorders following percutaneous aortic valve replacement
Valeria Calvi1, Euglena Puzzangara, Giusi Paola Pruiti
1Cardiology Department, Ferrarotto Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. valcalvi@unict.it
Insights
Percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR) leads to a high incidence of early conduction disorders. A significant percentage of patients required permanent pacemaker implantation following the procedure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Severe aortic stenosis often necessitates alternative treatments for elderly or comorbid patients.
- Percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR) is emerging as a viable option.
- Limited data exists on early conduction disorders (CD) post-PAVR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and characteristics of early conduction disorders (CD) after PAVR.
- To determine the rate of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation following PAVR.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 30 patients undergoing PAVR between June 2007 and June 2008.
- Diagnosis of CD using 12-lead or 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram.
- Assessment of the need for PPM implantation.
Main Results:
- A high incidence of new postoperative CD (68.0%) was observed.
- Left bundle branch block was the most frequent CD (45.8%).
- Complete atrioventricular block requiring PPM implantation occurred in 20% of patients.
Conclusions:
- PAVR is associated with a higher incidence of early CD and PPM implantation than typically reported for surgical valve replacement.
- Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm clinical significance and long-term outcomes.
Background:
Percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR) may be an alternative therapy for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are denied valve surgery because of age and comorbidity. Data are few regarding the incidence of early conduction disorders (CD) after PAVR. We examined the incidence and characteristics of CD in the immediate postoperative period after PAVR, and the need for permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation.
Methods And Results:
Between June 2007 and June 2008 30 patients (mean age = 82.1 +/- 8.5 years) underwent PAVR in our institution. The incidence of new, postoperative CD, diagnosed by 12-lead or 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram, was 68.0%. Left bundle branch block was the most common conduction abnormality, with an incidence of 45.8%. The incidence of complete atrioventricular block requiring PPM implantation was 20%.
Conclusions:
We observed a higher incidence of early conduction disorders and need for PPM implantation after PAVR than generally reported after surgery. Whether this observation is clinically important requires larger prospective studies and follow up.
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