Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a patient with severe aortic insufficiency and minimal aortic annular calcification

Abstract

Severe aortic insufficiency with minimal aortic annular calcification has been considered a relative contraindication to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) because of a lack of calcium for fluoroscopic visualization and radial stent fixation. We report a patient with severe aortic insufficiency after previous coronary artery bypass and aortic valve repair who underwent successful TAVI. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was critical to guide valve implantation and previous surgical pledgets were used to seat an oversized TAVI prosthesis within the aortic annulus. In follow-up, the patient remained New York Heart Association class I and echocardiography demonstrated a well-functioning TAVI prosthesis with no aortic insufficiency.