Simple 2-dimensional anatomic model to predict the risk of coronary obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve...

In this study, a 2-dimensional (2D) index relying on preprocedural computed tomography (CT) data was developed to evaluate the risk of coronary obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures.

Anatomic measurements from pre-TAVR CT scans were collected in 28 patients among 600 who were flagged as high risk (defined as meeting coronary artery height, h, <14 mm and/or sinus of Valsalva diameter, SOVd, <30 mm) for coronary obstruction. A geometric model derived from these anatomic measurements was used to predict the post-TAVR native cusp apposition relative to the coronary ostium. The distance from the cusp to the coronary ostium, DLC_2D, was measured from the geometric model and indexed with the coronary artery diameter, d, to yield a fractional obstruction measure, DLC_2D/d.

Twenty-three of 28 high-risk patients successfully underwent TAVR without coronary obstruction, of whom 1 had coronary obstruction and 4 were deemed non-TAVR candidates. DLC_2D/d differed significantly between the 2 groups (P < .0018), but neither h nor SOVd did (P > .32). The optimal sensitivity and specificity for DLC_2D/d were 85% and occurred at a cutoff of 0.45. The optimal sensitivity and specificity of h and SOVd in this high-risk group were only 60% and 40%, respectively, for cutoffs of h = 10 mm and SOVd = 30.5 mm.

The 2D geometric model derived in this study shows promise for identifying patients with low-lying coronary ostium and/or small SOVd that may be safely treated with TAVR. DLC_2D/d is more predictive of obstruction or poor TAVR candidacy compared with h and SOVd.