Trans-subclavian versus transapical access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A multicenter study

To compare the outcomes of trans-subclavian (TS) and transapical (TA) access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

A considerable proportion of patients undergoing TAVI are not eligible for transfemoral approach. To date, there are few data to guide the choice between alternative vascular access routes.

Among 874 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI, 202 procedures were performed through TA (n = 142, 70.3%) or TS (n = 60, 29.7%) access. Medtronic Corevalve (CV, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) was implanted in 17.3% of the patients, the Edwards-Sapien (ES, Edwards Lifesciences Inc., Irvine, CA) in 81.2% and other prostheses in 0.1%. In-hospital and long-term outcome were assessed using the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-2 definitions.

Mean age was 82 ± 6 years, STS score 9.3 ± 7.9%. The 2 groups showed a relevant imbalance in baseline characteristics. In hospital mortality was 6.4% (1.7% TS vs. 8.4% TA, P = 0.06), stroke 2.0%, acute myocardial infarction 1.0%, acute kidney injury 39.4%, sepsis 4.0% with no significant differences between groups, while bleeding was more frequent in TA patients (53.5% vs. 11.7% TS, P < 0.001). One- and 2-year survival was 85.2% and 73.2% in TS patients, and 83.9% and 74.9% in TA patients (P = ns for both). Access site was not an independent predictor of mortality at multivariable analysis.

Transapical compared with trans-subclavian access for TAVI was associated with a nonsignificant trend to increased periprocedural events. However, 1- and 2-year survival appears similar.