Comparison of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with prior chest radiation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11,572 patients.

BACKGROUND

Cardiac complications from prior oncologic therapies and radiation are being increasingly recognized and patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve disease and a history of prior chest radiation represent a high-risk group in which the best management approach has not yet been established.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane identified studies comparing outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) vs surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with a history of prior chest radiation.

RESULTS

Nine studies comprising 11,572 patients were included in this meta-analysis. There were no significant differences between TAVR and SAVR in postoperative mortality (OR: 0.70; 95% CI 0.44-1.13, p = 0.147) or 1-year mortality (OR: 1.04; 95% CI 0.71-1.53, p = 0.84). TAVR was associated with significantly lower rate of postoperative major bleeding (OR: 0.38; 95%CI: 0.25-0.57, p < 0.01), acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR: 0.51; 95%CI: 0.27-0.97, p: 0.04), postoperative atrial fibrillation (OR: 0.20 95%CI: 0.16-0.24, p: <0.01) and respiratory complications (OR: 0.39; 95%CI: 0.24-0.63, p < 0.01) compared to SAVR. The incidence of postoperative permanent pacemaker insertion (OR: 2.27; 95%CI: 1.79-2.87, p < 0.01) and at least moderate aortic regurgitation (OR: 4.44 (95%CI: 2.93-6.73), p < 0.01) were higher among the patients undergoing TAVR.

CONCLUSIONS

TAVR in patients with a history of prior radiation was associated with a lower risk for postoperative complications albeit at an increased risk for pacemaker insertion in the postoperative period compared to SAVR.