Use of the SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve in High-Risk Scenarios

Tex Heart Inst J. 2022 Sep 1;49(5):e217579. doi: 10.14503/THIJ-21-7579.

Abstract

The transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure is used in patients with aortic stenosis. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement devices are quite versatile; thus, they are increasingly being used for nonaortic applications, such as tricuspid valve-in-valve implantation. This case series describes a transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure in 4 patients with anatomic challenges (eg, aortic tortuosity, high valvular calcium burden, highly calcified bicuspid valve, low coronary artery takeoff, left main coronary artery occlusion, and large aortic annulus) and a fifth patient who had a failed tricuspid bioprosthesis and underwent a tricuspid valve-in-valve implantation with the Edwards SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve (Edwards Lifesciences). All procedures required adjustments to the standard protocol, and each procedure was successful. The critical, technical adjustments in the deployment technique and preprocedural planning of the procedures are detailed to provide a road map for other cardiologists who encounter similar challenges.

Keywords: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement; aortic stenosis; heart failure; transthoracic echocardiogram; tricuspid bioprosthesis.

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve / surgery
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / surgery
  • Bioprosthesis*
  • Calcium
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement* / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tricuspid Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Tricuspid Valve / surgery

Substances

  • Calcium

Grants and funding

Funding/Support: Funding for this research was received through a grant from Edwards Lifesciences (HCP-4846254).