Thirty-day VARC-2 and performance data of a new self-expanding transcatheter aortic heart valve

AIMS: Transcatheter aortic valve therapy has become an established procedure for patients at high risk for surgical valve replacement. The BIOVALVE-I study aims to assess the safety and performance of a novel self-expanding transcatheter heart valve.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In this prospective, single-centre, first-in-human study, 13 patients with severe aortic stenosis suitable for transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation were enrolled. Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 14.4±3.7% and mean STS PROM score was 4.3±1.6%. The primary endpoint, 30-day early safety composite per VARC-2, was observed in two patients (15.4%, one life-threatening bleeding and one valve-in-valve procedure). The implant was aborted in two patients due to unsuitable aortic anatomy. Overall, device success was obtained in nine patients (69.2%, two aborted implants, one valve-in-valve procedure and one patient with moderate aortic regurgitation). As determined by an independent core laboratory, all but one patient had less than moderate total aortic regurgitation at 30-day follow-up, mean aortic gradient was 6.7±2.3 mmHg and effective orifice area 1.8±0.3 cm. Pacemakers were implanted in three patients (23.1%), and no death, stroke, myocardial infarction or acute kidney failure was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: In this first-in-human study, the feasibility of implantation of the BIOVALVE system and its re-sheathing functionality was demonstrated, and short-term safety data were encouraging. Larger studies are required to confirm the performance of the device.