Linear Closure of the Left Ventricular Apex Following Transcatheter-Based Aortic Valve Implantation

Transcatheter-based aortic valve implantation (TAVI) provides a reliable and attractive alternative to the established gold standard of classic aortic valve replacement in patients with severe comorbidities carrying an unacceptably high perioperative risk. Despite the minimally invasive nature of the transfemoral approach, the transapical route remains an attractive alternative allowing antegrade valve deployment. Purse-string sutures with interrupted Teflon pledgets represent the classic approach for secure closure of the transapical access site. We describe herein a simple yet effective and time-saving linear technique for apical closure following transapical TAVI.