TAVI Performance at a Single Center over Several Years: Procedural and Clinical Outcomes

Background and Objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the mainstay of treatment for symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) in patients over 70 years of age. It is also indicated for younger patients with significant comorbidities, for valve-in-valve interventions, and in selected patients with severe aortic insufficiency. We aimed to evaluate procedural and clinical outcomes of transfemoral TAVI performed over the course of 12 years by the same operators using different bioprosthetic valves. Materials and Methods: Between 2012 and 2023, 375 patients underwent TAVI in our clinic, with six types of bioprosthetic valves (Edwards Sapien XT, Medtronic Valves [CoreValve and Evolut R], Portico, Myval, Acurate Neo, and Direct Flow Medical). A transfemoral approach was used in all patients. The procedural and clinical outcomes were defined according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 (VARC-3) criteria. Results: The mean age of the patients was 78.4 ± 7.3, and their median STS score was 4.2 (2.9-5.9). Of the 375 patients, 361 had severe AS, 4 had severe aortic insufficiency, 5 were valve-in-valve, and 5 were valve-in-TAVI. Seven patients required a second valve implantation: four due to embolization of the prosthetic valve and three due to deep implantation of the prosthetic valve. Based on the VARC-3 criteria, the rates of technical success and device success were 90.4% and 85.3%, respectively. Major vascular complications were observed in 18 (4.8%) patients. Also, 42 (11.2%) patients required permanent pacemaker implantation. The incidence of moderate or worse paravalvular leak was 2.9%. The peri-procedural, 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortality rates were 5.1%, 4.3%, 15.2%, and 45.6%, respectively. STS scores (HR:1.129, 95%CI: 1.068-1.192, p < 0.001) and post-TAVI acute kidney injury (HR:3.993, 95%CI:1.629-9.785, p = 0.002) were detected as independent predictors of mortality in Cox regression analysis. Conclusions: This registry demonstrated the evolution of TAVI procedures at a single center over 12 years. A high level of collaboration between experienced operators and innovations in devices seem to be the key features for achieving high procedural success and low complication rates.