Background:

Persistent bradyarrhythmias requiring permanent pacemaker implantation are a common complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), but high implantation with cusp-overlap technique could prevent conduction system disturbances.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess the rate of pacemaker use in patients who received TAVI with conventional coplanar technique compared with cusp-overlap technique.

Methods:

A total of 65 consecutive patients from two centers receiving Evolut-R or Evolut-Pro valve implantation, 50 coplanar and 15 cusp-overlap, were analyzed between 2017 and 2019.

Results:

Mean age was 80 years, and there were no differences in risk according to the EuroSCORE. The rate of pacemaker requirement was 0% in cusp-overlap procedures compared with 24.9% in those with conventional implantation; p=0.041). In addition, cusp-overlap implants presented lower rate of major complications (6.67% vs. 42%; OR=0.09; 95% CI 0.01-0.8; p=0.011).

Conclusions:

In this cohort, TAVI procedure with cusp-overlap technique was associated with null pacemaker requirement. Given the potential large-scale impact, external validation of results is needed.