The Coronary Access After TAVI (CAvEAT) Study: A Prospective Registry of CA After TAVR

Background: As transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is now performed in patients with longer life expectancy, the need for coronary access (CA) after TAVR is expected to rise. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of CA after TAVR with 4 different types of transcatheter heart valves (THVs). Methods: In the multicenter, prospective CAvEAT (Coronary Access After TAVI; NCT04647864) registry, coronary angiography was performed immediately following transfemoral TAVR using short-frame SAPIEN 3 or SAPIEN 3 Ultra (SAPIEN 3/Ultra) and tall-frame ACURATE neo or ACURATE neo2 (ACURATE neo/neo2), Portico or Navitor, and Evolut Pro or Evolut Pro+ (Evolut Pro/Pro+) THVs. The primary endpoint was defined as selective CA of both coronary arteries. Results: In total, 632 patients were enrolled (mean age 82 years, 59% women). Selective CA of both coronary arteries was achieved in 89% of SAPIEN 3/Ultra, 63% of ACURATE neo/neo2, 62% of Portico or Navitor, and 45% of Evolut Pro/Pro+ THVs (P < 0.001). Unfeasible CA of at least 1 coronary artery occurred in 2%, 6%, 6%, and 9% of cases, respectively (P = 0.06). In pairwise comparisons, the incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher for the SAPIEN 3/Ultra compared with all tall-frame THVs (P < 0.001). Among tall-frame devices, no significant difference was observed between the ACURATE neo/neo2 and the Portico or Navitor (P = 0.9), but both devices demonstrated higher rates of the primary endpoint than the Evolut Pro/Pro+ (P = 0.005 and P = 0.002, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified implantation depth, moderate or severe commissural misalignment, and use of a tall-frame THV as independent predictors of unfeasible or nonselective CA. Conclusions: The short-frame SAPIEN 3/Ultra THV demonstrated the highest rate of selective CA following TAVR. Among tall-frame THVs, the large-cell designs of the Portico or Navitor and ACURATE neo/neo2 outperformed the closed-cell Evolut Pro/Pro+ in terms of selective CA.