Implications of Transcatheter Heart Valve Selection on Early and Late Pacemaker Rate and on Length of Stay

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) can cause injury to the atrioventricular conduction system. We evaluated the effect of transcatheter heart valve (THV) type on the rate of new pacemaker implantation and length of hospital stay.

Patients across all hospitals performing transfemoral TAVR in the province of British Columbia between 2012 and 2016 participated in a mandated registry with linkages to provincial health databases. We evaluated 1141 patients undergoing successful transfemoral TAVR for native aortic valve stenosis with 5 commonly used valves.

Valves implanted were balloon-expandable (BEV) (n = 728), self-expandable (SEV) (n = 341), and mechanically-expandable (MEV) (n = 72). Baseline clinical characteristics were similar between groups: mean age 82.5 years with multiple comorbidities. The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality was 6.0%. Indwelling temporary pacemakers after TAVR varied by THV type: (BEV) 4.0%, (SEV) 69.3%, and (MEV) 63.0% (P < 0.002). The need for a new permanent pacemaker varied by THV type: (BEV) 6.6%, (SEV) 24.0%, and (MEV) 32.8% at 30 days (P < 0.001). At 1 year, permanent pacemaker rates continued to rise, and remained divergent: (BEV) 8.9%, (SEV) 26.9%, and (MEV) 35.9% (P < 0.001). Median length of stay varied according to THV type: (BEV) 1, (SEV) 3, and (MEV) 4 days (P < 0.001 across groups). Crude mortality rates were not statistically different by THV type, either at 30 days (BEV 3.0%, SEV 2.9%, and MEV 0.0%; P = 0.33), or at 1 year (BEV 10.3%, SEV 15.0%, and MEV 8.3%; P = 0.11).

The choice of a THV device was associated with significant differences in the need for post-TAVR temporary pacemakers, hospital length of stay, and both early and late pacemaker implantation rates. These differences may have an impact on patient morbidity and resource utilization.