BACKGROUND: Aortic stenosis is a prevalent disease with high morbidity and mortality, whose classical approach is surgical valve replacement. Elderly patients and those with other comorbidities present high surgical risk. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an effective alternative to standard surgery. The objective of this study is to report the 2-year follow-up of the first cases performed in Southern Brazil. METHODS: Series of cases describing the technique, immediate and medium term results of the CoreValveTM (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, USA) device implantation, a porcine pericardial bioprosthesis mounted on a self expanding nitinol stent, delivered via transarterial access. RESULTS: Four female patients, with ages ranging from 81 to 90 years and a logistic EuroSCORE ranging from 20% to 36% were successfully submitted to the implantation of this device. A significant reduction in the left ventricle-aortic gradient, and no major cardiovascular complications were observed, although 2 patients required the implantation of a permanent pacemaker due to complete atrioventricular block. Improvement of functional class and maintenance of gradients and aortic valve areas obtained at the end of the procedure, as well as a progressive decrease of left ventricular mass were observed in the 2 year follow-up CONCLUSIONS: This early experience with the CoreValveTM transcatheter aortic valve implantation has proved to be safe and effective in the medium term outcome. Long-term follow-up studies are required to define the exact role and adequate indications for this new and promising technology.
Aortic valve stenosis; Heart valve prosthesis; Heart valve prosthesis implantation
