Off-Label Use of Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Valves to Treat Pure Aortic Regurgitation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in native pure aortic regurgitation (AR) with off-label use of balloon-expandable valves (BEV) has been reported. However, there are scant data regarding optimal oversizing and its safety, and our study assessed BEV oversizing and outcomes of TAVI. Thirteen consecutive tricuspid aortic valve patients who underwent transfemoral TAVIs for pure AR with Sapien BEV at our center between 2019 and 2023 (69.2% males, mean age 80.8 years, Society of Thoracic Surgeons 4.0%) were divided into small annulus (SA) group (≤618 mm²) where ≥20% oversizing is achievable based on published data on BEV overexpansion, and larger annulus (LA) group (>618 mm²). Overexpansion and actual oversizing were measured on postprocedural computed tomography scan. Technical success was 92.3% with 1 valve embolization in the LA group. The postprocedural computed tomography showed a mean 28.3% oversizing, significantly higher in SA (31.2%) than in LA group (19.4%), p = 0.0092. Oversizing ≥20% was achieved in 100% SA versus 33.3% LA patients (p = 0.046). In conclusion, TAVI in pure AR with oversized Sapien BEV showed good procedural and short-term outcomes when ≥20% oversizing was predictably achievable.