Outcomes of emergency compared to elective TAVI: a meta-analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has proven safe and effective in low-to-high risk patients, but emergency procedures have been excluded from the landmark trials. We aimed to assess the current outcomes and main factors conditioning the prognosis during emergency TAVI. Methods: A systematic search in PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted for all studies comparing elective vs emergency TAVI. Searched terms were “emergency” and/or “urgent”, “elective”, and “transcatheter valve replacement” and/or “heart failure” and/or “cardiogenic shock”. Emergency TAVI was considered as any unscheduled TAVI performed to treat refractory heart failure or cardiogenic shock. A random-effects model was used. Results: A total of 7 studies with 84 427 TAVI patients were included (14 241 emergency procedures; 70 186 elective TAVIs). Emergency cases presented higher risk scores (logistic EuroSCORE 65.9% ± 21% vs 29.4% ± 18%, P < .001; Society of Thoracic Surgeons Risk Score 29.4% ± 27.4% vs 13.7% ± 11.6%, P < .001). More advanced heart disease was observed with deterioration of left ventricular (LV) function (39.5% ± 17.8% vs 52.5% ± 12.8%; P < .001) and larger LV end-diastolic diameters (55 ± 9 mm vs 48 ± 7 mm; P < .001) despite similar aortic valve areas and gradients. Elective TAVIs presented a greater success rate (93.6% vs 92.5%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.84; 95%CI, 0.74-0.95; P = .005), less acute kidney injury, and a lower need for dialysis and mechanical circulatory support. Overall, non-emergency cases had lower in-hospital (3.3% vs 5.7%; P < .001), 30-day (4.4% vs 8.8%; P < .001) and 1-year mortality rates (19.7% vs 34.75%; P = .0001). The main determinants of mortality were need for new dialysis (OR = 2.26; 95%CI, 1.84-2.76; P < .001) or mechanical circulatory support (OR = 2.55; 95%CI, 1.14-5.67; P < .001). Conclusions: Emergency TAVI recipients presented worse baseline risk and more advanced cardiac disease that determined greater in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality rates. The early identification of patients at risk for requiring mechanical circulatory support or dialysis may contribute to a better indication of TAVI in emergency scenarios.

Keywords

• Cardiogenic shock
• Heart failure
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement
• Aortic stenosis