[TAVI simplification: A focus]. / Simplification des procédures TAVI : mise au point.

After a first procedure carried out in 2002 by Pr Cribier's, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement or TAVR revolutionized the management of aortic stenosis with a constant increase in the number of procedures performed worldwide. Experience of operators and teams and evolution of the technique has been accompanied by a drastic reduction in complications in patients at lower surgical risk. In parallel, the procedure was considerably simplified, carried out more and more under local anesthesia, with percutaneous femoral approach, secondary radial approach, prosthesis implantation without predilatation, rapid pacing on left ventricle wire and early discharge. Thus, the "simplified" TAVR adopted in most centers nowadays is a real revolution of the technique. However, simplified TAVR must be accompanied upstream by a rigorous selection of patients who can benefit from a minimalist procedure in order to guarantee its safety.

[Initial Experience of a TAVI Program: Analysis of the Anesthetic Decision and its Evolution]. / Experiência Inicial de um Programa de TAVI: Análise da Decisão Anestésica e sua Evolução.

INTRODUCTION: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a less invasive option for aortic valve replacement. The number of transcatheter aortic valve implantations under local anesthesia with sedation has been increasing as the team's experience increases and less invasive accesses are used. The aim of this study is to describe the evolution of the anesthetic technique in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation at our center over the years, as which was compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study in 149 consecutive patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation in Hospital Santa Marta (January 2010 to December 2016). Data was collected from the periprocedural records of patients. Patients were stratified according to anesthetic technique. RESULTS: From our patients' sample, 57.0% were female, with median age 82 [58 - 95] years. Most patients underwent general anesthesia (68.5%). In the local anesthesia with sedation group there was a shorter duration of the procedure (120; [60 - 285] vs 155 [30 - 360]) and a lower number of patients requiring administration of vasopressors (61.8% vs 28.3%) - p < 0.05. There were no differences regarding length of hospital stay (9 [4 - 59] vs 10 [3 - 87]), periprocedural complications (66.0% vs 72.5%), readmission rate (4.3% vs 3.9%) or 30-days (2.1% vs 4.9%) and 1-year mortality (6.4% vs 7.8%) - p < 0.05. There was an increasing number of transcatheter aortic valve implantations performed under local anesthesia with sedation over the years. DISCUSSION: The choice of anesthetic technique depends on the patient's characteristics, experience and preference of the team. CONCLUSION: Local anesthesia with sedation seems to be associated with similar results as general anesthesia. The increase in the number of transcatheter aortic valve implantations under local anesthesia with sedation seems to follow the trend of lower invasiveness of the procedure.

Introdução: A implantação percutânea de válvula aórtica constitui uma opção menos invasiva de substituição valvular. O número de procedimentos sob anestesia local com sedação tem vindo a crescer com o aumento da experiência da equipa e os acessos cada vez menos invasivos. O trabalho tem como objetivo a descrição da evolução da técnica anestésica utilizada nos doentes submetidos a implantação percutânea de válvula aórtica no nosso centro ao longo dos anos, e sua comparação. Material e Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo em 149 doentes consecutivos submetidos a implantação percutânea de válvula aórtica no Hospital de Santa Marta (janeiro de 2010 a dezembro de 2016). Os dados foram colhidos a partir dos registos peri-procedimento e estratificados de acordo com a técnica anestésica. Resultados: Da amostra recolhida, 57,0% dos doentes eram do sexo feminino, com mediana idade 82 [58 - 95] anos. A maioria dos doentes foi submetida a anestesia geral (68,5%). Verificou-se menor duração do procedimento (120 [60 - 285] vs 155 [30 - 360]) e menor número de doentes com necessidade de administração de vasopressores na implantação percutânea de válvula aórtica (61,8% vs 28,3%) ­ p < 0,05. Não se registaram diferenças referentes à duração do internamento (9 [4 - 59] vs 10 [3 - 87]), complicações periprocedimento (66,0% vs 72,5%), reinternamento (4,3% vs 3,9%), mortalidade aos 30 dias (2,1% vs 4,9%) e 1 ano (6,4% vs 7,8%) ­ p > 0,05. O número de implantações percutâneas de válvula aórtica realizados sob anestesia local com sedação aumentou ao longo dos anos. Discussão: A escolha da técnica anestésica tende a variar consoante as características do doente, a experiência e preferência da equipa. Conclusão: Os resultados da anestesia local com sedação são similares aos da anestesia geral, tendo o aumento do número de procedimentos de implantação percutânea de válvula aórtica sob anestesia local com sedação acompanhado a tendência de menor invasibilidade do procedimento.

Outcome of patients undergoing TAVR with and without the attendance of an anesthesiologist.

BACKGROUND: During the last few years there is a shift from performing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) under general anesthesia towards conscious sedation and local anesthesia only. In the vast majority of centers, sedation is guided by a qualified anesthesiologist. In our center, all TAVR procedures are being performed under local anesthesia and mild sedation, however, since September 2014, a large portion of TAVR procedures are being performed under local anesthesia without the presence of an anesthesiologist. Here we compare 30days outcome of patients undergoing TAVR with and without the presence of anesthesiologist in the catheterization laboratory. METHODS AND RESULTS: From September 2014 through April 2016, 324 patients (mean age 82.8±6) with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis were assigned to transfemoral TAVR with (150 patients) or without (174 patients) the attendance of an anesthesiologist. Baseline clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were similar between the groups. No difference in procedural and 30-day mortality, vascular complications, and major/life threatening bleeding were observed between the groups (p>0.1, for all). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an anesthesiologist in the catheterization laboratory during transfemoral TAVR procedures did not significantly change 30-day outcome.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: current trends and future directions.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been increasingly utilized for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis in inoperable and high surgical risk patients. Recent advances in valve technology include repositionable scaffolds and smaller delivery systems, as well as improvement in periprocedural imaging. These advances have resulted in reduction of vascular complications, rates of paravalvular aortic regurgitation and periprocedural stroke and improved overall outcomes. Increasingly, TAVI is the preferred treatment for high-risk surgical patients with severe aortic stenosis. Consequently, there is growing interest for the use of TAVI in lower surgical risk patients. Furthermore, the role of TAVI has expanded to include valve-in-valve procedures for the treatment of degenerative bioprosthetic valves and bicuspid aortic valves. Questions remain in regard to the optimal management of concurrent coronary artery disease, strategies to minimize valve leaflet restriction and treatment of conduction abnormalities as well as identifying newer indications for its use.