BACKGROUND: Severe aortic stenosis is a prevalent disease with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The classic approach to its treatment is through heart valve replacement surgery. However, elderly patients and others with different comorbidities present high surgical risk. The percutaneous aortic valve implantation through a retrograde approach has emerged as a feasible and effective alternative treatment for this issue. We describe the first series of cases treated with this new approach in the South of Brazil. METHODS: Series of three cases describing the procedure and immediate results of CoreValve device implantation. This device consists in a bioprosthesis with three porcine leafs mounted and sutured in a self-expandable nitinol stent introduced through the femoral or iliac artery. RESULTS: Three female patients aged 81, 85 and 90 years with a logistic EuroSCORE varying from 20% to 36% were successfully submitted to the implantation of this device. A significant reduction in all gradients between the left ventricle and the aorta was observed. There were no reports of major cardiovascular complications, although in two patients the implantation of a permanent pacemaker was needed due to an atrioventricular conduction disorder. All patients were discharged asymptomatic and were kept in a long-term clinical follow-up evaluation program. CONCLUSION: The initial short-term experience with the percutaneous retrograde aortic valve implantation in the south of Brazil was feasible and safe. Additional studies and long-term follow-up are still necessary in order to define the precise role and adequate indications for this new and very promising technique.
Aortic valve stenosis; Heart valves; Heart valve prosthesis implantation; Heart valve prosthesis
