TAVI for low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved or reduced ejection fraction: a subgroup analysis from the German Aortic Valve Registry (GARY).

Objective: The study analyses the outcome of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for different subtypes of severe aortic stenosis (AS) based on data from the GARY registry.

Results: Low-EF, low-gradient (LEF-LGAS: EF ≤40%, MPG <40 mmHg), paradoxical low-gradient (PLF-LGAS: EF ≥50%, MPG <40 mmHg) and high-gradient AS (HGAS: MPG ≥40 mmHg) were observed in 11.7% (n=359), 20.8% (n=640) and 60.6% (n=1,864) of the study population, respectively. EuroSCORE I (36.7±20.9 vs. 22.6±15.7 vs. 24.3±17.4; p<0.001) differed significantly among subgroups. In-hospital and one-year mortality were higher in patients with LEF-LGAS compared to HGAS (in-hospital: 7.8% vs. 4.9%; p=0.029; one-year: 32.3% vs. 19.8%; p=0.001). In contrast, mortality in patients with PLF-LGAS was comparable to patients with HGAS (in-hospital: PLF-LGAS: 5.3%; p=0.67; one-year: 22.3%; p=0.192). The rate of TAVI-associated complications was not significantly different among groups. However, postoperative low cardiac output occurred significantly more frequently in patients with LEF-LGAS

Conclusions: Severe AS with a reduced transaortic flow and gradient is a common finding and is present in >30% of patients undergoing TAVI. Patients with low flow and impaired LV function have a significantly higher mortality within the first year after TAVI. In contrast, the outcome of patients with low flow and preserved EF is comparable to those with a high transvalvular aortic gradient.