Ischemic colitis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a novel therapeutic approach for high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. The success rate of this new procedure is high; however, it is associated with issues such as vascular access site complications and embolization related to the advancement of a large bore delivery catheter through the femoral and iliac arteries and aortic arch. Using the Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve, we describe a case of transfemoral catheter aortic valve implantation complicated by a mobile mass attached to the valve, probable due to atherosclerotic plaque from the aorta. Shortly thereafter, the patient presented with ischemic colitis and subsequently died. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.