Incidence and mechanisms of cerebral ischemia after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with surgical aortic valve replacement.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The most likely mechanisms of neurologic injury after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and aortic valve replacement (AVR) are cerebral embolization and hypoperfusion. We set out to determine potential mechanisms of neurologic injury after TAVI compared with AVR.

METHODS:

One hundred twenty-seven consecutive high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent TAVI (n = 85) or AVR (n = 42) were studied. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), cerebral oximetry, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) (before, 6 days, and 3 months after procedure), and neurocognitive assessment before and at 3 months were performed.

RESULTS:

Neurologic injury was not significantly different between TAVI and AVR at 1 (1.1% vs 2.2%, p = 0.25) and 3 months (4.7% vs 2.2%, p = 1). At 3 months, overall cognitive score was higher in AVR compared with TAVI when adjusted for baseline score; the estimated difference between groups was 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.87% to 1.17%; p = 0.02). Cerebral embolic load was 212 (123 to 344) during AVR and 134 (76 to 244) during TAVI (p = 0.07). Cerebral oxygen desaturation during AVR (7.56 ± 2.16) was higher compared with TAVI (5.93 ± 2.47) (p < 0.01). Ischemic lesions measured by DW-MRI occurred in 76% of TAVI and 71% of AVR patients at 6 days (p = 0.69) and 63% and 39% at 3 months (p = 0.11). No significant association was found between cerebral emboli, cerebral oxygen desaturation, brain ischemic lesions, and general cognitive score.

CONCLUSIONS:

At 3 months follow-up, overall cognitive score was higher in AVR compared with TAVI, adjusted for baseline score. However, there was no difference in cerebral embolic load, ischemic lesions, and oxygen desaturation.

• Authors: Aiman Alassar, Gopal Soppa, Mark Edsell, Philip Rich, David Roy, Irina Chis Ster, Ruth Joyce, Oswaldo Valencia, Thomas Barrick, Franklyn Howe, Neil Moat, Robin Morris, Hugh S Markus, Marjan Jahangiri
• Journal: The Annals of thoracic surgery (Ann Thorac Surg) Vol. 99 Issue 3 Pg. 802-8 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 1552-6259 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 25586706 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Aortic Valve Stenosis (surgery)
• Brain Ischemia (epidemiology, etiology)
• Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation (adverse effects, methods)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Intracranial Embolism (etiology, surgery)
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (adverse effects)