Outcomes Following Urgent/Emergent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From the STS/ACC TVT Registry.

OBJECTIVES

The authors sought to examine outcomes and identify independent predictors of mortality among patients undergoing urgent/emergent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

BACKGROUND

Data on urgent/emergent TAVR as a rescue therapy for decompensated severe aortic stenosis (AS) are limited.

METHODS

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy (STS/ACC TVT) Registry linked with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services claims was used to identify patients who underwent urgent/emergent versus elective TAVR between November 2011 and June 2016. Outcomes assessed were device success rate, in-hospital major adverse events, and 30-day and 1-year mortality. Independent predictors of mortality after urgent/emergent TAVR were examined.

RESULTS

Of 40,042 patients who underwent TAVR, 3,952 (9.9%) were urgent/emergent (median STS PROM score 11.8 [interquartile range: 7.6 to 17.9]). Device success rate was statistically lower, but not clinically different after urgent/emergent versus elective TAVR (92.6% vs. 93.7%; p = 0.007). Rates of major and/or life-threatening bleeding, major vascular complications, myocardial infarction, stroke, new permanent pacemaker placement, conversion to SAVR, and paravalvular regurgitation were similar between the 2 groups. Compared with elective TAVR, patients undergoing urgent/emergent TAVR had higher rates of acute kidney injury and/or new dialysis (8.2% vs. 4.2%; p < 0.001), 30-day mortality (8.7% vs. 4.3%, adjusted hazard ratio: 1.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.10 to 1.48), and 1-year mortality (29.1% vs. 17.5%, adjusted hazard ratio: 1.20, 95% confidence interval: 1.10 to 1.31). In patients undergoing urgent/emergent TAVR, non-femoral access and cardiopulmonary bypass were associated with increased risk, whereas use of balloon-expandable valve was associated with decreased risk of 30-day and 1-year mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Urgent/emergent TAVR is feasible with acceptable outcomes and may be a reasonable option in a selected group of patients with severe AS.