Short-Term Outcome and Hemodynamic Performance of Next-Generation Self-Expanding Versus Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valves in Patients With Small Aortic Annulus: A Multicenter Propensity-Matched Comparison

Background: Surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with small annular dimensions is challenging because they are at increased risk for prosthesis-patient mismatch and impaired outcomes. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement might be a good alternative; however, comparative data on different transcatheter heart valves are missing.

Methods and results: This multicenter, propensity score-matched study compared hemodynamics and early clinical outcomes in 246 patients with an aortic annulus area <400 mm² undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement with either a self-expanding transcatheter heart valve (Symetis ACURATE neo, n=129) or a balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve (Edwards SAPIEN 3, n=117). The 1:1 propensity score matching resulted in 92 matched pairs. For ACURATE neo versus SAPIEN 3-treated patients, 30-day mortality (0.0% versus 1.0%), 1-year mortality (8.3% versus 13.3%), incidence of stroke (3.3% versus 2.2%), life-threatening bleeding (1.1% versus 1.1%), and major vascular complications (2.2% versus 6.5%), as well as pacemaker implantation rate (12.0% versus 15.2%), were similar. Paravalvular regurgitation ≥moderate was rare in both groups (4.5% versus 3.6%). The ACURATE neo presented lower mean transvalvular gradients (9.3 versus 14.5 mm Hg; P<0.001), larger indexed effective orifice areas (0.96 versus 0.80 cm²/m²; P=0.003), and lower rates of severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (3% versus 22%; P=0.004). Hemodynamics were sustained at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions: Albeit a similar safety profile with low clinical event rates, transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the ACURATE neo valve resulted in lower transvalvular gradients and consequently less prosthesis-patient mismatch compared with the SAPIEN 3 in patients with small annulus. These results emphasize the need of careful prosthesis selection in each individual patient.