Long-Term Clinical Outcomes and Carotid Ultrasound Follow-Up of Transcarotid TAVI. Prospective Single-Center Registry

This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the safety and long-term clinical outcomes of cerebral-oximetry-guided transcarotid transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TC-TAVI) with systematic follow-up with carotid ultrasound. Thirty-three TCTAVI procedures were performed in our center from 2017 to 2019. Our analysis includes in-hospital outcomes and long-term follow-up data on mortality, echocardiographic parameters, carotid Doppler ultrasound, and VARC-2 defined clinical events. Intraoperatively, one patient died, and one had a transient ischemic attack (TIA). The following events occurred in-hospital postoperatively: myocardial infarction (3.0%), cardiac tamponade (3.0%), new-onset atrial fibrillation (6.3%), need for temporary pacing (27.3%) and need for pacemaker implantation (15%). The mean follow-up was 19.5 ± 9.52 months. In the long-term follow-up, the two-year survival rate was 83% ± 14. The echocardiographic parameters did not differ significantly from the postprocedural values, and the ultrasound did not show any cases of significant vessel narrowing. The mean peak systolic velocity (PSV) was 71.6 cm/s in the left common carotid artery and 70.6 cm/s in the right common carotid artery. In conclusion, cerebral oximetry-guided TC access is safe, has a favorable long-term outcome, and does not increase the risk of plaque formation in the carotid artery. In a carefully selected group of patients, it might be considered as a first-choice alternative to TF access.