Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has found widespread acceptance as alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) over the last decade. Through introduction of transcatheter heart valves (THV) into clinical daily routine, mortality of inoperable or high-risk patients was significantly reduced compared to medical therapy [1, 2]. In 2012, the PARTNER trial presented data which showed comparable results of the first generation Edwards Sapien THV (Edwards Lifesciences Co., Irvine, CA, USA) and SAVR for severe aortic stenosis in high-risk patients regarding mortality, reduction in symptoms and valve hemodynamics [3]. Despite introduction of a wide variety of THVs into the medical sector, with largely favorable results [4, 5] and improved delivery systems, imaging or access site techniques [6–8], one major problem of THVs remains paravalvular leakage (PVL). PVL has a significantly higher incidence following TAVI compared to SAVR and leads to increased mortality if grade of PVL is ≥ moderate (2-year mortality of 30 % in mild aortic regurgitation, 40 % in moderate, 3-year mortality of 60 % in severe aortic regurgitation) [9, 10]. For failing THVs, different strategies had to be developed to control these complications, avoid acute hemodynamic compromise and preserve therapeutic benefits of the TAVI procedure. Besides balloon-post-dilatation, valve-in-valve (ViV) procedures can be taken into consideration [11, 12]. It was shown for the Edwards Sapien XT THV, that it is suitable for ViV procedures in cases of failing CoreValve THV (Medtronic Ltd., Dublin, IRL) with relevant PVL [13]. To date only one case report exists regarding suitability of the Edwards Sapien 3 (S3) THV for ViV treatment of a failing CoreValve THV [14]. In this case series, we report initial experience with the S3 for ViV therapy of different failing THVs in cases of relevant residual PVL.

Methods

Preprocedural diagnostics

Routine preprocedural diagnostic work-up included transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), coronary angiogram, as well as contrast-enhanced, electrocardiogram-gated multislice computed tomography (CT) scans. Decision for ViV procedure was made after mutual agreement of the local interdisciplinary heart team. All described procedures were performed in a hybrid operating room by an interdisciplinary team consisting of cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists.

Patients

Three procedures were performed using the S3 THV for failing THV between 01/2014 and 12/2014. All patients presented with prohibitive operative risk for SAVR with a mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation I (log EuroSCORE) of 11.89 – 32.63 and log EuroSCORE II of 2.33–19.14. Two of them were male and rang of age was 71–80 years. In one patient scheduled ViV procedure was the third interventional cardiac procedure with a status post CoreValve and Mitraclip implantation. All patients suffered from atrial fibrillation. Detailed clinical data are summarized in Table 1. All procedures which were carried out are in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration.

Table 1 Clinical baseline data and initial TAVI procedure information
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Initial TAVI procedure

Initial TAVI procedures were performed via transfemoral (tf) access in two cases (Edwards Sapien XT, CoreValve) and via transapical (ta) access in one case (JenaValve). Implantation was performed due to severe aortic stenosis in all cases. TTE prior to discharge after index procedure presented mild PVL in all cases with sufficient EOA and pressure gradients and patients were discharged with improved NYHA functional class of ≤ II. Index procedural data are summarized in Table 1.

At an interval of 533–1119 days, patients were readmitted with acute exacerbation of dyspnea or status post syncope. In patient 1 serial TTE examination due to recurrent cardiac decompensation presented severe PVL from one year after the index procedure, which was reluctantly observed and re-intervention was refused due to the high-risk profile. In the other two patients first detection of moderate or severe PVL of the THV led to immediate reinterventions. Severe PVL was demonstrated in all patients on TTE at time of admission. Detailed echocardiography data before ViV procedure are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Preprocedural and postprocedural echocardiography data, Intraprocedural information
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Valve-in-Valve implantation procedure

Due to echocardiographic findings and reduced clinical status in all three cases, repeat TAVI was indicated following heart team consensus. Sizing was conducted by reference to CT of the index procedures to reduce radiation exposure with effective annulus sizes (based on CTeff = 2 × √(circumferential area/π) of 23 mm for the Sapien XT patient, 29 mm for the JenaValve patient and 24 mm for the CoreValve patient.

Due to adequate peripheral vasculature as assessed by reconstruction of the planning CT, all procedures were performed via percutaneous tf access following standard procedural protocol. After insertion of a vascular closure system (ProStar XL Percutaneous Vascular Surgical System®, Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA) in the right femoral artery and placement of a pacemaker lead in the RV via the right jugular vein, a guide wire was advanced retrogradely across the THV into the LV. Subsequently the S3 THV was deployed into the THV in a phase of rapid ventricular pacing, with prior positioning of the radio-opaque marker at the height of native the aortic annulus. Intraprocedurally, TEE and aortic root angiography as well as invasive pressure measurements were performed to document adequate THV function.

In two cases a cerebral protection system (Claret Medical, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA, USA) was placed via the right brachial artery into the brachiocephalic trunk and left common carotid artery to protect against possible distal embolization. Intraprocedural data are summarized in Table 2.

Events were recorded according to Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 (VARC-2) standard criteria.

Results

All patients were successfully implanted with a S3 THV for PVL of previous implanted THV without major complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction due to coronary obstruction or significant aortic regurgitation. Immediate intraprocedural invasive mean pressure measurements showed decline of 10 mmHg to 5 mmHg for S3 in Sapien XT, 10 mmHg to 4 mmHg for S3 in Jenavalve and 21 mmHg to 12 mmHg for S3 in CoreValve. In all patients severity of PVL was reduced to none/trace as documented by intraprocedural TEE, angiography and invasive measurements of hemodynamics. Findings were confirmed by TTE at the time of discharge. Echocardiography results are summarized in Table 2.

Figure 1 shows development of EOA, PVL grade and max/mean pressure gradient over time from initial evaluation until discharge after second procedure. One patient showed slightly decrease of EOA without resulting in clinical symptoms such as dyspnea after the procedure. In all other patients increase in EOA was achieved. Accordingly in TTE prior to discharge mean pressure gradients were lowered in two patients but peak pressure gradients increased in two patients.

Fig. 1
figure 1

EOA, PVL and max/mean pressure gradients. Graphical overview of development of EOA (a), grade of regurgitation (b) and max/mean pressure gradients (c; d) from initial echocardiography before index procedure to discharge after valve-in-valve procedure with the Edwards Sapien 3®. (EOA- effective orifice area; TAVI- transcatheter aortic valve implantation)

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Intraprocedural angiographies are depicted in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Angiographies of valve-in-valve procedures with the Sapien 3® into Sapien XT®, JenaValve® and CoreValve®. Column (a) with angiography of severely regurgitant Sapien XT valve without (1) and with contrast agent (2), deployment of Sapien 3 (3) and final angiography without paravalvular or transvalvular leakage (4) Column (b) presents angiography of regurgitant JenaValve without (1) and with contrast agent (2), deployment of Sapien 3 (3) and final angiography with trace paravalvular leakage and no transvalvular leakage (4) Column (c) with angiography of regurgitant CoreValve without (1) and with contrast agent (2), deployment of Sapien 3 (3) and final angiography with trace para- and no transvalvular leakage (4)

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Three patients presented PVL two to three years after the index procedure and were implanted with an S3 electively with a hospital stay of 8–20 d and an intensive care unit stay of 1–2 d.

According to VARC-2 criteria one major bleeding (access site hematoma requiring transfusion of two units of red blood cells) and one transient ischemic attack (TIA) was observed. TIA became apparent in sensory loss of the right hand of a patient with pre-existing severe stenosis of the left internal carotid artery. Symptoms subsided after 12 h. None of the patients had acute kidney injury or need of renal replacement therapy. All patients were alive at 30 days of follow-up and at the time of 90–530 days after the procedure, respectively.

Discussion

Reasons for failing THV differ. Eccentric annulus calcification with incomplete stent expansion, aortic or ventricular malpositioning, or malsizing of THV are among the most common causes for PVL [15–17]. Regardless of cause, PVL is responsible for inferior acute and long-term clinical outcomes.

In this work, we presented initial experience with the S3 for ViV therapy of different failing THVs in cases of relevant recurring PVL. ViV procedures were performed safely and reliably for severe PVL in the Sapien XT, the JenaValve and the CoreValve. In self-expandable THV, such as the CoreValve and the JenaValve, radial forces might be too weak in particular cases for full expansion of the stent. When suboptimal expansion occurs ballon-post-dilatation is usually performed. In our cases balloon-post-dilatation was performed at the time of the index procedure but severe PVL still recurred. PVL was increasing over a period of two to three years in these THV to an unacceptable level. As illustrated in Fig. 2, ViV procedures using the S3 led to further expansion of the stent of the initially implanted self-expandable THV and therefore to reduction of PVL to none/trace. Implantation of the S3 at the level of the aortic annulus was suitable and led to satisfying hemodynamic outcome.

The hemodynamic performance of the S3 in Sapien XT showed inferiority resulting in EOA of 1.5 cm2 and max/mean pressure gradient of 36/16 mmHg without leading to clinical inferiority. This might be due to implantation of both valves at the height of the aortic annulus and/or the stout stent profile. It might be beneficial, in terms of hemodynamics, to implant THV with supraannular anchoring in those patients to avoid elevated pressure gradients and reduced EOA.

Reasons for failing of initially implanted THV, in terms of PVL, remained unclear. All patients presented only mild PVL in TTE prior to discharge after index procedure without elevated pressure gradients or inadequate EOA. Moreover all initial implanted THV covered the native aortic annulus area and diameter measured prior to the first procedure. Nevertheless, THV used for ViV procedures covered larger aortic annulus diameter and areas.

For detailed diameter and area values see Table 3.

Table 3 Overview of native aortic annulus, initial and second THV diameter and area
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Thus, reasons for failing are only speculative. Possibly, intra- and postprocedural underestimation of PVL in TTE and TEE examinations, stent-recoiling or measuring errors in MSCT prior to the first TAVI might have been responsible for development of severe regurgitation.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the S3 was well suitable for ViV therapy in failing THV. Adequate hemodynamic results were obtained. For further assertions concerning functional outcomes long-term results have to be awaited.