First Egyptian experience of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Immediate results and one year follow up

Background: Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) offers a less invasive modality to manage aortic stenosis (AS) especially in high risk patients. It was not available in Egypt until the end of 2011. Aim: The aim of this study is to report immediate and one year follow up results of first TAVI implantations in Egyptian patients. Patients and methods: Ten patients with severe symptomatic AS underwent TAVI implantation using Edwards SAPIEN (TM) and SAPIEN XT (TM) valves. Results The mean age was 78.6 +/- 4.6 years and 5 (50%) were males. The mean Logistic EuroSCORE and EuroSCORE II were 21.9 +/- 11.5% and 12.6 +/- 7.2%, respectively. Procedural success was achieved in all (100%) patients using SAPIEN (n = 8) and SAPIEN XT (n = 2) valves. Almost all (n = 9) patients underwent a trans-femoral approach and percutaneous closure devices were used in the last 2 patients. Post procedural NYHA grade (1.3 +/- 0.3), aortic valve area (2.0 +/- 0.1 cm(2)) and mean pressure gradient (14.1 +/- 2.7 mmHg) were nearly maintained all over the one-year-follow-up period. Conclusion: TAVI provides a safe and effective alternative to the surgical AVR in high risk patients with severe symptomatic AS. Financial issues, however, limits its application in developing countries. (C) 2013 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Egyptian Society of Cardiology.