One-Year Results of the Portico Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve Using the Next-Generation FlexNav Delivery System

The FlexNav delivery system (DS) features a hydrophilic coating, stability layer, and integrated sheath to facilitate valve deployment in vessel diameters ≥5.0 mm.

Data were pooled from 2 concurrent prospective, multicenter, premarket studies (PORTICO IDE [n = 147] and FlexNav EU CE Mark [n = 46]) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the FlexNav DS to deliver the Portico valve in the Global FlexNav study. The primary end point was Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-2 major vascular complication rate at 30 days. These outcomes were compared with those of the commercially available valve arm from the PORTICO IDE study.

The Global FlexNav study enrolled 193 high- or extreme-risk subjects for sugery. The mean age was 84.8 years, and 59.6% were women, with a mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score of 5.2%. At 1 year, the rate of all-cause mortality was 5.2%, disabling stroke 2.1%, and mild or less paravalvular leak 99.4%. The mean aortic gradient was maintained at 7.4 ± 4.3 mm Hg through 1 year. At 1 year, 96.8% of subjects were classified as New York Heart Association class I or II. A pacemaker was implanted in 15.4% of subjects at 30 days and 18.4% at 1 year. The results of the Portico valve in the Global FlexNav study are comparable with the results from the commercially available valve arm in the PORTICO IDE study.

The FlexNav DS was shown to be safe for the delivery of the Portico valve, which demonstrated sustained treatment benefits at 1 year with low rates of all-cause mortality or disabling stroke, improved heart failure symptoms, and excellent valve performance.