Complete percutaneous approach versus surgical access in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: results from a multicentre registry.

BACKGROUND Although the femoral approach is the most common route utilised in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), it still carries a substantial risk of severe bleeding and vascular complications. AIM The aim of our study was to compare the safety and efficacy of the complete percutaneous (CPC) approach with surgical cut-down and closure (SCC) in TAVI patients. METHODS The study population comprised 683 patients with severe aortic stenosis, who underwent transfemoral TAVI. Bleeding and vascular complications were defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC-2) criteria. Propensity-matched cohorts were created to reduce the potential bias of non-random assignment to the type of vascular access technique (SSC, n = 203 vs. CPC, n = 203). RESULTS The rate of minor vascular complications was higher in the CPC cohort (18.2% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.02). There were no differences in major vascular complications or in any type of bleedings between the two groups. Age (odds ratio [OR] 1.044; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.003-1.09, p = 0.046), preprocedural haemoglobin (OR 0.849; 95% CI 0.760-0.944, p = 0.03), and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min (OR 3.216; 95% CI 1.176-8.741, p = 0.021) were independent predictors of life-threatening/disabling and major bleedings. Diabetes remained the only independent predictor of major vascular complications (OR 1.695; 95% CI 1.014-3.156, p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective analysis both vascular access and closure techniques were associated with a similar risk of severe bleeding and major vascular events. However, these findings should be further confirmed in a multicentre, randomised study.