Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
07:41
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Junctional Rhythms After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Incidence, Temporal Patterns, and Clinical Outcomes
Grégoire Massoullié1,2, Margot Kachkach1,2, Samuel Adelou3
1Cardiology Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
CJC Open
|July 22, 2026
Summary
Junctional rhythm (JR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is uncommon and usually temporary. While more pacemakers were implanted in JR patients, high-grade heart block was not increased, suggesting precautionary management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Conduction disturbances are frequent post-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
- The clinical significance of junctional rhythm (JR) following TAVI is not well understood.
- Characterizing JR is crucial for optimizing patient management after TAVI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and temporal characteristics of JR after TAVI.
- To evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with JR in TAVI patients.
- To compare the occurrence of high-grade atrioventricular block and pacemaker implantation in patients with and without JR.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of TAVI patients at a single center.
- Identification and characterization of patients who developed JR post-TAVI.
- Propensity score matching (1:3) of JR patients with controls without JR.
Main Results:
- JR occurred in 4.2% of 616 TAVI procedures, typically appearing 41 hours post-procedure.
- No significant baseline differences were observed between JR and non-JR groups.
- Pacemaker implantation was higher in the JR group (38.5%) versus controls (16.7%), but high-grade atrioventricular block incidence was similar.
Conclusions:
- Junctional rhythm post-TAVI is infrequent, transient, and generally asymptomatic.
- Increased pacemaker implantation in JR patients may reflect precautionary measures rather than a higher incidence of heart block.
- Further validation in larger, multicenter studies is warranted.
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