Feasibility of Repeat TAVR After SAPIEN 3 TAVR: A Novel Classification Scheme and Pilot Angiographic Study

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is expanding to younger patients, but the feasibility of TAVR in failing transcatheter aortic valves (TAV) remains unknown. Dr Tang and colleagues demonstrate in a retrospective review of 551 TAVR procedures by evaluating the postdeployment aortogram using a novel aortic root anatomic classification that TAV-in-TAV after Edwards SAPIEN 3 (S3) (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) TAVR may not be feasible in >20% of S3 TAVR procedures and in >50% among patients with type 3 roots.

Unique challenges for TAV-in-TAV compared to surgical aortic valve replacement: (1) the native aortic valve leaflets remain in situ after the initial TAVR, acting as a barrier facing the LM orifice; (2) there is currently no predictable way to align the TAV neocommissures with native commissures; (3) often the only way to engage the left main coronary artery is from the TAV stent frame.

This is particularly important given the potential expansion of TAVR to low-risk and/or younger patients who may need redo TAVR. The ascertainment of aortic root type, STJ and SH relative to TVH is essential to guide valve selection and positioning for TAV-in-TAV feasibility on the basis of left main coronary artery obstruction risk.