Importance of Imaging Assessment Criteria in Predicting the Need for Post-Dilatation in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation with a Self-Expanding Bioprosthesis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has revolutionized the treatment of severe aortic valve stenosis (AS). Balloon post-dilatation (PD) remains an important procedural step to optimize valve function by resolving incomplete valve expansion, which may lead to paravalvular regurgitation and other potentially adverse effects. There are only limited data on the predictors, incidence, and clinical impact of PD during TAVI.

Methods: This retrospective, single-center study analyzed 585 patients who underwent TAVI (2016-2022). Pre-procedural evaluations included transthoracic echocardiography and CT angiography to assess key parameters, including the aortic valve calcium score (AVCS); aortic valve calcium density (AVCd); aortic valve maximal systolic transvalvular flow velocity (AV Vmax); and aortic valve mean systolic pressure gradient (AV MPG). We identified imaging predictors of PD and evaluated associated clinical outcomes by analyzing procedural endpoints (according to VARC-3 criteria) and long-term survival.

Results: PD was performed on 67 out of 585 patients, with elevated AV Vmax (OR: 1.424, 95% CI: 1.039-1.950; p = 0.028) and AVCd (OR: 1.618, 95% CI: 1.227-2.132; p = 0.001) emerging as a significant independent predictor for PD in TAVI. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed no significant differences in short- and mid-term survival between patients who underwent PD and those who did not. Interestingly, patients requiring PD exhibited a lower incidence of adverse events regarding major vascular complications, permanent pacemaker implantations and stroke.

Conclusions: The study highlights AV Vmax and AVCd as key predictors of PD. Importantly, PD was not associated with increased procedural adverse events and did not predict adverse events in this contemporary cohort.