Optimising the Haemodynamics of Aortic Valve-in-valve Procedures

Bioprosthetic surgical valves are increasingly implanted during cardiac surgery, instead of mechanical valves. These tissue valves are associated with limited durability and as a result transcatheter valve-in-valve procedures are performed to treat failed bioprostheses. A relatively common adverse event of aortic valve-in-valve procedures is residual stenosis. Larger surgical valve size, supra-annular transcatheter heart valve type, as well as higher transcatheter heart valve implantation depth, have all been shown to reduce the incidence of elevated post-procedural gradients. With greater understanding of technical considerations and surgical planning, valve-in-valve procedures could be more effective and eventually may become the standard of care for our increasingly ageing and comorbid population with failed surgical bioprostheses.