The impact of calcium volume and distribution in aortic root injury related to balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr. 2015 Sep-Oct;9(5):382-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jcct.2015.04.002. Epub 2015 Apr 18.

Abstract

Background: A detailed assessment of calcium within the aortic root may provide important additional information regarding the risk of aortic root injury during transcatheter heart valve replacement (TAVR).

Objective: We sought to delineate the effect of calcium volume and distribution on aortic root injury during TAVR.

Methods: Thirty-three patients experiencing aortic root injury during TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve were compared with a control group of 153 consecutive TAVR patients without aortic root injury (as assessed by post-TAVR multidetector CT). Using commercial software to analyze contrast-enhanced pre-TAVR CT scans, calcium volume was determined in 3 regions: (1) the overall left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), extending 10 mm down from the aortic annulus plane; (2) the upper LVOT, extending 2 mm down from the annulus plane; and (3) the aortic valve region.

Results: Calcium volumes in the upper LVOT (median, 29 vs 0 mm(3); P < .0001) and overall LVOT (median, 74 vs 3 mm(3); P = .0001) were higher in patients who experienced aortic root injury compared with the control group. Calcium in the aortic valve region did not differ between groups. Upper LVOT calcium volume was more predictive of aortic root injury than overall LVOT calcium volume (area under receiver operating curve [AUC], 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.86 vs AUC, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.82; P = .010). Upper LVOT calcium below the noncoronary cusp was significantly more predictive of aortic root injury compared to calcium underneath the right coronary cusp or the left coronary cusp (AUC, 0.81 vs 0.68 vs 0.64). Prosthesis oversizing >20% (likelihood ratio test, P = .028) and redilatation (likelihood ratio test, P = .015) improved prediction of aortic root injury by upper LVOT calcium volume.

Conclusion: Calcification of the LVOT, especially in the upper LVOT, located below the noncoronary cusp and extending from the annular region, is predictive of aortic root injury during TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve.

Keywords: Aortic root calcification; Aortic root injury; Multidetector computed tomography; Transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aortic Diseases / complications*
  • Aortic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve / injuries
  • Aortic Valve / pathology*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / complications
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / diagnosis
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / therapy*
  • Aortography / methods
  • Calcinosis / complications
  • Calcinosis / diagnosis
  • Calcinosis / therapy*
  • Cardiac Catheterization / adverse effects*
  • Cardiac Catheterization / methods
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Heart Injuries / diagnosis
  • Heart Injuries / etiology*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / methods
  • Humans
  • Kyphoplasty / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Calcification / complications*
  • Vascular Calcification / diagnosis
  • Vascular System Injuries / diagnosis
  • Vascular System Injuries / etiology*

Supplementary concepts

  • Aortic Valve, Calcification of