Fractional flow reserve evaluation in patients considered for transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case series

Abstract

Objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an established therapy for severe aortic stenosis (AS) in high-risk elderly individuals. Concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently encountered in this patient population and may have an impact on outcomes. Hence, in patients with both severe AS and CAD, a bespoke therapy of both AS and/or CAD appears mandatory.

Methods: We report a series of 5 patients with severe AS and concomitant CAD considered for TAVI who underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR) for hemodynamic assessment of coronary lesions.

Results: In 3 patients, a 2-staged procedure was undertaken with FFR measurements at the time of invasive assessment and TAVI thereafter. In the remaining 2 patients, FFR measurements were performed immediately prior to the TAVI procedure with deferral of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in one and ad hoc PCI in the other patient. All 5 patients had uneventful FFR measurements and procedural TAVI outcomes. One patient with a staged approach noted a significant improvement in symptoms already after PCI.

Conclusions: FFR provides an effective and safe strategy to assess hemodynamic significance of coronary lesions in patients with severe AS and concomitant CAD considered for TAVI.