Transapical aortic valve implantation – a rescue procedure for patients with aortic stenosis and “porcelain aorta”

Abstract

Surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) still remains the treatment of choice in symptomatic significant aortic stenosis (AS). Due to technical problems, extensive calcification of the ascending aorta (“porcelain aorta”) is an additional risk factor for surgery and transapical aortic valve implantation (TAAVI) is likely to be the only rescue procedure for this group of patients. We describe the case of an 81-year-old woman with severe AS and “porcelain aorta”, in whom the only available life-saving intervention was TAAVI.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement will be standard of treatment for severe aortic stenosis with porcelain aorta

“…Self-expanding Core Valve™ was used in the study 28, 29, 30, 31. Conventionally, TAVR for PA has been mostly done via transfemoral route, but some authors have shown good results with transapical approach as well, bypassing the whole aortic arch 32 …”