BRACKGROUND: Percutaneous aortic valve implantation (PAVI) has been developing rapidly in recent years. The manipulation of the degenerated aortic valve may lead to complications. PAVI without balloon pre-dilatation may be an alternative. The objective of this study is to report a series of 8 cases of direct PAVI with midterm follow-up, performed at the Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul. METHODS: Series of 8 cases with technical description and immediate and mid-term results of CoreValveTM device implantation without balloon pre-dilatation. RESULTS: A total of 7 male patients and 1 female patient, with mean age of 76 years and logistic EuroSCORE ranging from 6% to 62%, were submitted to the CoreValveTM device implantation. There was a significant decrease in the gradient between the left ventricle and the aorta. Three cases of implant failure, one death in the immediate post-implant period and one death at 6 months, with no relationship with the procedure, were reported. In the one-year follow-up, there were no new cases of pacemaker implantation and embolic events. CONCLUSIONS: Direct PAVI without balloon pre-dilatation proved to be a potentially effective alternative technique. When performed successfully, it improves symptoms, provides a sustainable aortic transvalvular gradient decrease and aortic valve area increase. It is not clear, however, which patients and what anatomical conditions are optimal for this approach. Additional studies and longer follow-up are still required to define the exact role and appropriate indications for this change in technique.
Aortic valve; Aortic valve stenosis; Heart valve prosthesis; Heart valve prosthesis implantation; Balloon dilatation
