Surgical Approach for TAVI Replacement in Endocarditis: A Descriptive Technique

Background/Objectives: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has significantly improved the management of aortic valve disease, but post-TAVI infective endocarditis, occurring in 0.5-3.1% of cases, remains a serious complication. Due to a high mortality rate and technical challenges, surgical replacement of infected TAVI prosthetic valves is performed in only 11.4% of cases. Methods: This case describes a standardized surgical technique for the removal and replacement of self-expanding TAVI prosthetic valves in the case of infective endocarditis. Results: The proposed approach aims to facilitate valve explantation while minimizing surgical risks. Conclusions: We believe that this technique could be particularly beneficial for surgeons managing these complex cases, by reducing surgical complications and improving patient outcomes. Further studies are necessary to validate its long-term efficacy and applicability in broader clinical settings.