Results of percutaneous and transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation performed by a surgical team

Objective: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation has been performed by several groups, most of them either specializing on the transapical (surgeons) or the percutaneous femoral transarterial approach (cardiologists). We achieved both transapical and percutaneous transcatheter valve implantation by a surgical team in a hybrid suite. Methods: Since June 2007, 137 patients (n = 78 female, mean age 81 ± 7 years) underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (n = 109 transfemoral, n = 3 via subclavian artery, n = 2 directly through ascending aorta, n = 23 transapical) with the CoreValve (n = 114) or the Edwards Sapien (n = 23) prosthesis. Results: Thirty-day mortality was 12.4% in this patient cohort. One hundred and eight patients (78.8%) are alive at a mean follow-up of 97 ± 82 days. Pacemaker implantation due to postoperative AV block was performed in 27 patients (19.7%), and 7 patients (5.1%) sustained neurological events. Patients improved in NYHA class (from 3.1 ± 0.3 to 1.9 ± 0.5, p