Meta-analysis Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Transcarotid Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

We performed a systemic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating transcarotid vascular access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Published studies evaluating transcarotid vascular access for TAVI were included in this analysis. Outcomes of interest included 30-day mortality, stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), new pacemaker implantation, acute kidney injury (AKI), major vascular complication, major bleeding, and myocardial infarction. Pooled estimate for 30-day mortality was 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.0% to 6.8%; I2 = 4%), stroke/TIA was 3.4% (95% CI 2.4% to 4.6%; I2 = 0%), new pacemaker implantation was 15.3% (95% CI 10.8% to 19.7%; I2 = 72%), AKI was 3.4% (95% CI 1.3% to 6.5%; I2 = 58%), major vascular complication was 2.4% (95% CI 1.1% to 3.7%; I2 = 46%), major bleeding was 4.3% (95% CI 2.8% to 6.1%; I2 = 11%), and myocardial infarction was 1.1% (95% CI 0.4% to 2.0%; I2 = 0%). Metaregression was carried out to study the association of effect size with the continuous study-level covariates that included average age, proportion of males, and mean STS score. In this regard, mean STS score showed association with major vascular complications (coefficient: 0.008; p = 0.049). Cumulative meta-analysis carried out showed that there was temporal trend of decreasing incidence of stroke/TIA, major vascular complications, and AKI for transcarotid TAVI. In conclusion, transcarotid access for TAVI is a reasonable choice in patients requiring alternate access to transfemoral route.