Is postdilatation useful after implantation of the Edwards valve?

Background: Few data are available about postdilatation (PD) for the treatment of significant paravalvular aortic regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation of the Edwards valve. Methods and Results: A total of 470 patients, aged 83.4 ± 6.4 yrs, with logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation 21.9 ± 12.3, undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the Edwards valve were evaluated. PD was performed using the balloon delivery system when significant paravalvular AR was identified. The diameter of the valve was measured from cine acquisition at three different levels. PD was performed in 49 (10.4%) patients with grade 2, 3, or 4 AR as 42.1%, 55.3%, and 2.6%, respectively. After PD, a reduction of at least 1 degree of AR was achieved in 81.5% of cases. Residual AR grades 2, 3, and 4 were observed in 36.8%, 10.5%, and 0%, respectively. A significant increase in the prosthesis diameter was observed at the three valve levels (absolute Δ 3.5%–5.4%, P.< 0.01). For the 23 mm valve, mid level of valve increased from 23.0 ± 0.4 to 24.1 ± 0.5 mm (P