Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation for aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Short-term results are presented from our first year of experience with transcatheter aortic-valve implantation [corrected] (TAVI) at the University Hospital of North Norway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: TAVI was used to treat 25 patients with aortic stenosis [corrected] from September 2008 to August 2009. 25 patients operated with conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) served as controls.

RESULTS: The TAVI group had a significantly higher EuroSCORE (p < 0.001) than the AVR group. No patients in the TAVI group were treated in the intensive care unit while those in the AVR group received 38 days of intensive care in total. The TAVI group had shorter operating times (p < 0.001), larger mean valve sizes (p < 0.001) and significantly fewer postoperative transfusions (p < 0.001) than the ACR group. Peri-operative stroke and myocardial infarction did not occur in the TAVI group while there was one incidence of stroke and one myocardial infarction in the AVR group. The postoperative transvalvular mean gradient decreased in both groups (p < 0.001) and was significantly lower in the TAVI group (p = 0.001). The NYHA class improved significantly in the TAVI group (p < 0.001). No patients needed implantation of a permanent pacemaker. 30-day mortality was four patients in the AVR group and one patient in the TAVI group. After discharge one patient died in each group.

INTERPRETATION: TAVI is safe and effective for selected patients with aortic stenosis [corrected] who are assessed as high risk for AVR. Long-term results are needed and will be decisive for use of this approach in the future.