BACKGROUND: Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for patients with severe tricuspid aortic stenosis (AS) not suitable for aortic valve replacement. OBJECTIVES: To describe our initial single-center experience with TAVI in patients with "off-label" indications. METHODS: Between August 2008 and December 2011 we performed TAVI in 186 patients using trans-femoral, transaxillary, trans-apical and trans-aortic approaches. In 11 patients (5.9%) TAVL was undertaken due to: a) pure severe aortic regurgitation (AR) (n = 2), b) prosthetic aortic valve (AV) failure (n = 5), c) bicuspid AV stenosis (n = 2), and d) prosthetic valve severe mitral regurgitation (MR) (n = 2). RESULTS: Implantation was successful in all: six patients received a CoreValve and five patients an Edwards-Sapien valve. In-hospital mortality was 0%. Valve hemodynamics and function were excellent in all patients except for one who received an Edwards-Sapien that was inside a Mitroflow prosthetic AV and led to consistently high trans-aortic gradients. No significant residual regurgitation in AR and MR cases was observed. CONCLUSIONS: TAVI is a good alternative to surgical AV replacement in high risk or inoperable patients with severe AS. TAVI for non-classical indications such as pure AR, bicuspid AV, and failed prosthetic aortic and mitral valves is feasible and safe and may be considered in selected patients.
BACKGROUND: Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for patients with severe tricuspid aortic stenosis (AS) not suitable for aortic valve replacement. OBJECTIVES: To describe our initial single-center experience with TAVI in patients with "off-label" indications. METHODS: Between August 2008 and December 2011 we performed TAVI in 186 patients using trans-femoral, transaxillary, trans-apical and trans-aortic approaches. In 11 patients (5.9%) TAVL was undertaken due to: a) pure severe aortic regurgitation (AR) (n = 2), b) prosthetic aortic valve (AV) failure (n = 5), c) bicuspid AV stenosis (n = 2), and d) prosthetic valve severe mitral regurgitation (MR) (n = 2). RESULTS: Implantation was successful in all: six patients received a CoreValve and five patients an Edwards-Sapien valve. In-hospital mortality was 0%. Valve hemodynamics and function were excellent in all patients except for one who received an Edwards-Sapien that was inside a Mitroflow prosthetic AV and led to consistently high trans-aortic gradients. No significant residual regurgitation in AR and MR cases was observed. CONCLUSIONS: TAVI is a good alternative to surgical AV replacement in high risk or inoperable patients with severe AS. TAVI for non-classical indications such as pure AR, bicuspid AV, and failed prosthetic aortic and mitral valves is feasible and safe and may be considered in selected patients.