Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
Upper-extremity Approach for Secondary Access in Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Published on: August 8, 2025
Predictors and outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation using different approaches according to the
Moritz Seiffert1, Renate Schnabel, Lenard Conradi
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Heart Center, Hamburg, Germany.
Objectives:
We report the results of a large single-center study evaluating predictors and outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with different devices and access routes according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC).
Background:
The widespread adoption of TAVI warrants a systematic analysis of outcomes. Only few comprehensive data exist comparing different approaches as selected by a heart team.
Methods:
TAVI was performed in 326 consecutive patients (mean age 80.6 ± 7.1 years, 55.5% female) at high risk for surgery with balloon-expandable and self-expanding devices through transfemoral or transapical access. Data were analyzed according to VARC endpoints; predictors of mortality were identified.
Results:
All-cause mortality was 10.1% (30 days) and 29.9% (1 year) overall and comparable with regard to valve or access choice (P = 0.295) despite different risk profiles at baseline. Device success and 30-day safety endpoints were achieved in 87.1 and 21.2%. Myocardial infarction [hazard ratio (HR) 6.52], stage-2 and -3 acute kidney injury (HR 2.52 and 6.80) and major access site complications (HR 1.96) were independent predictors of 1-year all-cause mortality. Device success had a protective effect (HR 0.58). Baseline predictors included body mass index <20 kg/m(2) (HR 3.20), NYHA class IV (HR 1.87), left ventricular ejection-fraction <30% (HR 2.30), higher STS-PROM scores (HR 1.05 per percent), and age (group 75-85 years, HR 0.47).
Conclusions:
Comparable results were achieved with different devices and access routes in a heart team approach. Baseline and perioperative predictors of all-cause mortality were identified, contributing to the refinement of patient and device selection criteria for TAVI.
