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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Upper-extremity Approach for Secondary Access in Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Published on: August 8, 2025
Supraclavicular Subclavian access for Sapien Transcatheter aortic valve replacement- a novel approach
Thom G Dahle1, Nathaniel J Castro2, Brian M Stegman2
1CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center, St Cloud Hospital, 1200 Sixth Ave N, St Cloud, MN, 56303-1901, USA. tdahlemd@gmail.com.
Background:
Within the trans-subclavian approach, procedural techniques can vary widely, and reported access generally refers to an infraclavicular axillary approach. We describe and report the use of a novel supraclavicular true subclavian approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) exclusively for implantation of Sapien 3 valves.
Case Presentation:
We report our first five consecutive patients undergoing TAVR with a Sapien 3 valve using a standardized subclavian approach at a single center. In-hospital and 30-day complications were reported. The use of this approach resulted in successful implantation in 100% of patients in a safe manner with 0% mortality, stroke, and vascular injury during hospitalization and at 30 day follow-up. The in-hospital pacemaker implantation rate was 20%. The average length of stay was 3 days.
Conclusions:
TAVR with Sapien implant can be safely performed with a standardized supraclavicular subclavian approach in patients with unfavorable femoral access.
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