Abstract 13454: The Impact of Prior Stroke on the Outcome of Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Introduction: Prior stroke has been identified as an independent correlate for post-procedure cerebrovascular events (CVE) in aortic stenosis (AS) patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of prior cerebrovascular events on outcome in AS patients undergoing TAVR. Methods: Patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR between May 2007-March 2015 were included and categorized to patients with and without prior CVE defined as stroke and transit ischemic attack. Baseline, procedural characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, 1-month and 1-year mortality were compared, in accordance with the VARC-2 consensus. Results: A cohort of 662 consecutive patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR was included in the analysis. Of these, 120 patients had prior CVE, and 542 without. Balloon expandable valve was used in 70.7% and self-expandable valve in 29.3% of the patients. Trans-femoral access was used in 78% (571), and pre-TAVR balloon aortic valvuloplasty was performed in 87% (574). Patients with prior CVE had a higher mean STS score compared to those without prior CVE (10.1% versus 8.8%, respectively; p=0,006) and demonstrated higher rates of atherosclerotic disease involving the coronary, peripheral and carotid arteries. In-hospital minor stroke occurred more often in patients with prior CVE vs. those without CVE (3.3% vs. 0.7%; p=0.04). However, similar mortality rates were recorded at 1, 6, and 12 months (figure 1), and there were no significant differences in major stroke, bleeding, or post-procedure hospital stay between both groups. Conclusions: Prior history of CVE infers a higher risk for in-hospital minor stroke, yet no impact on other outcomes post TAVR. Patients with and without a history of prior CVE with severe aortic stenosis will similarly benefit from TAVR. Therefore, a history of CVE should not be considered an exclusion criterion.