Paravalvular regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: incidence, quantification, and prognostic impact

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is standard of care in aortic stenosis (AS) with results comparable to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). However, paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) is more common after TAVR. With the alteration of devices and implantation techniques, the incidence of moderate or more PVR has declined. Mild PVR is still common in around 30% of TAVR patients in low risk trials. Progression of AS causes myocardial hypertrophy and varying degrees of diastolic dysfunction which may cause heart failure even in combination with small volumes of PVR. Any degree of PVR is associated with increased risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality. Predictors of PVR are annular eccentricity, severe calcification of the aortic valve, bicuspid aortic valves, and type of prosthesis where balloon-expandable devices are associated with less PVR. PVR is diagnosed using echocardiography, aortic angiogram with or without videodensitometry, hemodynamic parameters, or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). PVR can be treated using post-dilation, interventional treatment using a vascular plug, or implantation of a second device. Successful post-dilation depends on balloon size which should at least be equal to or more than 95% of the mean annulus diameter. Implantation of a second device to reduce PVR is successful in approximately 90% of cases, either through lengthening of the sealing skirt in case of inadequate position or through further expansion of the index device. Implantation of a vascular plug can successfully reduce PVR and reduce mortality.