Abstract
Background Bioprosthetic stentless aortic valves may degenerate over time and will require replacement.
This study aimed to evaluate early- and mid-term outcomes after isolated surgical
redo aortic valve replacement (redo-SAVR) and transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation
(TAVI-VIV) for degenerated stentless Freestyle bioprostheses.
Methods We reviewed records of 56 patients at a single center. Overall, 37 patients (66.1%)
received TAVI-VIV and 19 (33.9%) received redo-SAVR.
Results Thirty-day survival was similar in both groups (100%). One-year survival was comparable
between groups (97.3% in TAVI-VIV and 100% in redo-SAVR, p = 1.0). The difference in mid-term survival after adjusting for age and EuroScore
II was not significant (p = 0.41). The incidence of pacemaker implantation after TAVI-VIV was higher than after
redo-SAVR (19.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.08).
Conclusion The 30-day and 1-year survival rates after both procedures were outstanding, irrespective
of baseline characteristics. Isolated redo-SAVR should be favored in young patients,
as the pacemaker implantation rate is lower. TAVI-VIV for degenerated Freestyle prosthesis
can be a method of choice in elderly patients and those with high operative risk.
Keywords
xenograft - reoperation - heart valve - percutaneous (TAVI) - heart valve surgery
- aortic valve and root