Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Permanent Pacemaker Implantation After Aortic Valve Replacement

Damage to the cardiac conduction system requiring permanent pacemaker implantation is a complication of aortic valve replacement (AVR) that may importantly affect quality of life. We investigated the prevalence of and preprocedure risk factors for new permanent pacemakers after surgical (SAVR) and transcatheter AVR (TAVR) at a single institution.

Preoperative variables and baseline electrocardiograms were reviewed for 5807 patients undergoing elective SAVR, with or without coronary artery bypass grafting, and 1292 undergoing TAVR, with or without percutaneous coronary intervention, from 2006 to 2017 at Cleveland Clinic. Patients with previous permanent pacemakers were excluded. Risk factors for permanent pacemaker implantation were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

New permanent pacemakers were implanted in 151 (2.6%) after SAVR and in 125 (9.7%) after TAVR (whole group SAVR vs TAVR, P <.0001). Risk factors for pacemaker implantation after TAVR included preoperative conduction disturbances and type of prosthesis (SAPIEN, 9.5%; SAPIEN XT, 4.8%; SAPIEN 3, 10% [Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA]; CoreValve, 30% [Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN]; and other TAVR, 10%). There were no reliable risk factors for pacemaker implantation after SAVR. Bicuspid valves, mechanical vs bioprosthetic valves, higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score, and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting were not associated with elevated risk.

At a high-volume institution in the current era, establishing a baseline for pacemaker implantation after AVR is necessary. Preoperative conduction disturbances and transcatheter valve type affect its prevalence. These data provide a benchmark that should be taken into account when considering TAVR in low-risk patients.