ABSTRACT
Background: Aortic regurgitation (AR) is common and detrimental in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Off-label use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a potential treatment option. Further data are required regarding the feasibility and outcomes of TAVR to treat AR in LVAD recipients. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with LVADs who underwent TAVR for the treatment of AR at a single center was performed. All echocardiograms were independently reviewed to ensure accuracy. Results: Eleven patients with continuous-flow LVADs underwent TAVR for AR. All patients had moderate or severe AR with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV symptoms. Implantation of more than 1 valve was required in 4 (36.3%) patients; 1 patient died during the procedure because of valve migration into the left ventricle and 1 patient died in-hospital after TAVR. Of 9 (81.8%) patients discharged alive, 8 (72.7%) were alive at 12 months and all survivors had improvement in AR severity, natriuretic peptide levels, left ventricle end-diastolic diameter, and NYHA class. Five (62.5%) survivors had a large improvement (>20 points) in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score at 1 year. One survivor experienced heart failure, requiring hospitalization, within 1 year. Conclusions: In this single-center series, TAVR for the treatment of AR in patients with LVADs is technically challenging but feasible in select patients and may produce durable improvements in AR severity, functional status, and quality of life.