Initial Results of Intra-Annular Self-Expandable Valves: Insights From the OCEAN-TAVI Registry

Navitor, an intra-annular self-expanding heart valve (IA-SEV), is the third transcatheter heart valve introduced in Japan (in April 2022) as the next generation of the Portico valve ahead of other Asian countries.

The purpose of this study was to assess the patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) after IA-SEV implantation in Asian patients.

All clinical data were collected from the database of an ongoing prospective Japanese multicenter registry (OCEAN-TAVI [Optimised Catheter Valvular Intervention transcatheter aortic valve implantation]). The primary endpoint was the rate of no PPM; the secondary endpoint included the rate of in-hospital mortality and hemodynamics after IA-SEV implantation.

A total of 463 patients (median age 86; 69.7% female) were enrolled in the registry. The percentages of implanted valves sized 23 mm, 25 mm, 27 mm, and 29 mm were 26.1% (n = 121), 41.7% (n = 193), 22.9% (n = 106), and 9.3% (n = 43), respectively. The primary endpoint of no PPM was achieved in 91.7% of the entire cohort and in 87.3%, 94.2%, 91.4%, and 93.0% of each valve size. The rate of in-hospital mortality was 1.9%. Postprocedural mean pressure gradient was 8.3 ± 4.3 mm Hg. The overall rate of pacemaker implantation was 9.7%; the incidence of pacemaker rate tended to be reduced when dividing the first and second half of operator experiences (13.0% vs. 8.0%; P = 0.08).

The initial results for the IA-SEV were excellent regarding hemodynamics and reduction of paravalvular leakage regardless of valve size. The IA-SEV is a useful transcatheter heart valve, especially for Asian patients with a high prevalence of small annulus.