First registry results from the newly approved ACURATE TA™ TAVI system

The novel ACURATE TA (TM) transcatheter aortic valve (Symetis, Ecublens, Switzerland) is composed of a self-expanding nitinol stent covered by an anti-paravalvular leak skirt designed for transapical implantation. Since Conformite Europeenne (CE)-mark approval, the first 250 patients implanted with the newly approved device have been included in this post-market, multicentre registry. The registry was conducted at 17 sites in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Argentina to treat 250 high-risk elderly patients. This all-comers population presented preoperatively with a mean aortic gradient of 43.2 +/- 17.4 mmHg, mean age of 80.9 +/- 6.3 years, mean society of thoracic surgeons risk score of 8.0 +/- 5.9% and mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) I of 22.3 +/- 12.7%. The majority of patients (93%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV. All patients were treated within a multidisciplinary Heart Team. The procedural success rate was 98% (n = 245) with two valve-in-valve procedures and three conversions to conventional surgery. The 30-day mortality rate was 6.8%. Postimplant echocardiography revealed a relevant paravalvular leak (moderate 2+) in 2.3% of patients, with all other patients demonstrating either none/trace or a 1+ leak. The 30-day stroke rate was 2.8% and the mean transvalvular gradient was 12.4 +/- 5.8 mmHg. A new pacemaker implantation was required in 10.0% of patients and 85% of patients returning for the follow-up presented in NYHA class I/II. The short-term result of the registry shows a safety and efficacy profile comparable, if not improved in some aspects, with previously approved transcatheter aortic valve implantation devices. These 'real-world' data highlight an excellent functional outcome, especially in regard to a low rate of relevant paravalvular leak.