Table 1.
Baseline Patient Characteristics
| Characteristics | Study population (n = 31) |
|---|---|
| Demographics | |
| Age, y | 78.3 ± 4.6 |
| Female sex | 19 (61) |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 30.6 ± 7.6 |
| Medical history | |
| Previous myocardial infarction | 6 (19) |
| Previous PCI | 10 (32) |
| Previous CABG | 3 (10) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 9 (29) |
| Hypertension | 19 (61) |
| History of coronary artery disease | 14 (45) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 12 (39) |
| GFR <30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 | 3 (10) |
| NT‐proBNP, ng/L | 586 (360–2,273) |
| NYHA class | I: 1 (3) a ; II: 10 (32); III: 20 (65) |
| Angina pectoris (CCS) b | I: 21 (68); II: 4 (13); III: 6 (19) |
| Medication | |
| Beta‐blockers | 21 (68) |
| ACE inhibitors/ARBs | 13 (42) |
| Diuretics | 17 (55) |
| Calcium channel blockers | 5 (16) |
| Risk scores | |
| EuroSCORE II, % | 2.0 (1.5–3.4) |
| STS‐PROM, % | 2.7 (1.9–3.7) |
| Echocardiographic characteristics | |
| Aortic maximum gradient, mmHg | 69 ± 24 |
| Aortic mean gradient, mmHg | 44 ± 17 |
| Aortic valve area, cm2 | 0.7 ± 0.2 |
| Normal or mildly impaired ventricular function c | 25 (81) |
| LVEF, % | 43 ± 8 |
| Tricuspid regurgitation | No/trace: 8 (33); mild: 9 (38); moderate/severe: 7 (29) |
| Mitral regurgitation | No/trace: 8 (26); mild: 19 (61); moderate/severe: 4 (13) |
| Aortic regurgitation | No/trace: 10 (42); mild: 12 (50); moderate/severe: 2 (8) |
| Stages of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis b | |
| D1: high gradient | 16 (52) |
| D2: low flow/low gradient, reduced LVEF | 4 (13) |
| D3: low gradient, normal LVEF | 11 (36) |
| Procedural details/valve type | |
| Transfemoral access d | 29 (94) |
| Transaortic access d | 2 (7) |
| Edwards SAPIEN 3 | 30 (97) |
| Direct flow | 1 (3) |
Note: Values are mean ± SD, number (percentage), or median (25th–75th percentile).
Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin‐converting‐enzyme; ARB, angiotensin II receptor blocker; CABG, coronary artery bypass grafting; CCS, Canadian Cardiovascular Society; EuroSCORE, European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NT‐proBNP, N‐terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide; NYHA, New York Heart Association; PCI, percutaneous coronary intervention; STS‐PROM, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality.
One patient was NYHA class one but experienced symptomatic aortic stenosis due to angina (CCS III) and syncope.
According to American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines.
Left ventricular function was visually graded as either “normal or mildly impaired” or “moderately impaired.”
Transfemoral access is the preferred route for transcatheter aortic valve implantation as this has the lowest rate of complications. However, in a selection of patients, this may be precluded due to small‐vessel diameter, the presence of atherosclerotic disease, or tortuosity; in these patients, transaortic access is one of the alternative access routes.