Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement With the Sapien Prosthesis

There are limited published data focused on outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) with either a Sapien XT or Sapien 3 (S3) valve.

This study sought to report short-term outcomes in a large cohort of patients who underwent TPVR with either a Sapien XT or S3 valve.

Data were entered retrospectively into a multicenter registry for patients who underwent attempted TPVR with a Sapien XT or S3 valve. Patient-related, procedural, and short-term outcomes data were characterized overall and according to type of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) anatomy.

Twenty-three centers enrolled a total of 774 patients: 397 (51%) with a native/patched RVOT; 183 (24%) with a conduit; and 194 (25%) with a bioprosthetic valve. The S3 was used in 78% of patients, and the XT was used in 22%, with most patients receiving a 29-mm (39%) or 26-mm (34%) valve. The implant was technically successful in 754 (97.4%) patients. Serious adverse events were reported in 67 patients (10%), with no difference between RVOT anatomy groups. Fourteen patients underwent urgent surgery. Nine patients had a second valve implanted. Among patients with available data, tricuspid valve injury was documented in 11 (1.7%), and 9 others (1.3%) had new moderate or severe regurgitation 2 grades higher than pre-implantation, for 20 (3.0%) total patients with tricuspid valve complications. Valve function at discharge was excellent in most patients, but 58 (8.5%) had moderate or greater pulmonary regurgitation or maximum Doppler gradients >40 mm Hg. During limited follow-up (n = 349; median: 12 months), 9 patients were diagnosed with endocarditis, and 17 additional patients underwent surgical valve replacement or valve-in-valve TPVR.

Acute outcomes after TPVR with balloon-expandable valves were generally excellent in all types of RVOT. Additional data and longer follow-up will be necessary to gain insight into these issues.