Permanent pacemaker implantation late after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Impairment of atrioventricular (AV) conduction may occur late after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and progression to complete AV block is a matter of concern.

The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation late after TAVI.

In a prospective TAVI registry, we retrospectively identified patients with PPM implantation after hospital discharge for TAVI and analyzed serial electrocardiograms for AV conduction impairment before PPM implantation.

Among 1059 patients discharged after TAVI without PPM between January 2012 and December 2017, 62 patients (5.9%) underwent PPM implantation at a median of 305 days after discharge for TAVI. Indications for PPM implantation late after TAVI were AV conduction impairment in 46 patients (74.2%); sick sinus syndrome in 10 (16.1%); cardiac resynchronization or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator indication in 2 (3.2%); and a pace and ablate strategy in 4 (6.5%). Clinical symptoms leading to PPM implantation late after TAVI included syncope in 19 patients (30.7%), presyncope in 7 (11.3%), and dyspnea in 8 (12.9%). First-degree AV block and new left bundle branch block (LBBB) after TAVI as well as valve-in-valve procedure during follow-up were independent predictors of PPM implantation late after TAVI due to AV conduction impairment.

PPM implantation late after TAVI is infrequent and is associated with clinical symptoms in half of patients. Impairment of AV conduction was the indication in three-quarters of patients. First-degree AV block and new LBBB after TAVI as well as valve-in-valve procedure during follow-up emerged as independent predictors.