Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) are increasingly being used as therapeutic options for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are ineligible for surgery and who have aortic aneurysm with suitable anatomical features. These procedures can be associated with severe complications, especially related to vascular access and the use of a large introducer sheath (from 18 to 24 French [Fr]). In this article we describe possible vascular complications emerging during TAVI and EVAR and their appropriate management, beginning with patient selection, the correct way to perform vessel puncture and the use of a vascular closure device, up to the recently proposed cross-over technique, which is thought to minimise the risk of dangerous consequences of vascular damage.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation improves carotid and vertebral arterial blood flow in patients with severe aortic stenosis: practical role of orthostatic stress test