Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with a sutureless valve through a right anterior mini-thoracotomy versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation in high-risk patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare early outcomes and mid-term survival of high-risk patients undergoing minimally invasive aortic valve replacement through right anterior mini-thoracotomy (RT) with sutureless valves versus patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis. METHODS: From October 2008 to March 2013, 269 patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent either RT with perceval S sutureless valves (n = 178 patients, 66.2%) or TAVI (n = 91, 33.8%: 44 transapical and 47 trans-femoral). Of these, 37 patients undergoing RT with the perceval S valve were matched to a TAVI group by the propensity score. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups (mean age 79 ± 6 years) and the median logistic EuroSCORE was 14% (range 9-20%). In the matched group, the in-hospital mortality rate was 8.1% (n = 3) in the TAVI group and 0% in the RT group (P = 0.25). The incidence rate of stroke was 5.4% (n = 2) versus 0% in the TAVI and RT groups (P = 0.3). In the TAVI group, 37.8% (n = 14) had mild paravalvular leakage (PVL) and 27% (n = 10) had moderate PVL, whereas 2.7% (n = 1) had mild PVL in the RT group (P < 0.001). One- and 2-year survival rates were 91.6 vs 78.6% and 91.6 vs 66.2% in patients undergoing RT with the perceval S sutureless valve compared with those undergoing TAVI, respectively (P = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with perceval S sutureless valves through an RT is associated with a trend of better early outcomes and mid-term survival compared with TAVI.