New Insights on Potential Permanent Pacemaker Predictors in TAVR Using the Largest Self-expandable Device

Background: Post-procedural conduction disorders following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) still remain frequent, especially using the largest self-expandable device (Medtronic Corevalve Evolut R, 34 mm, STHV-34). We, therefore, assessed previously described, predictive factors of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation in the context of the STHV-34, including calcification distribution, implantation depth and membranous septum length (MSL).

Methods: We performed a dual centre analysis of 130 of 182 consecutive patients treated with STHV-34, further stratified into subjects without post-procedural PPM (-PPM n=100, 76.9%) and those requiring post-procedural PPM (+PPM n=30, 23.1%). These events were further analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis according to several underlying conditions.

Results: Multivariate analysis only depicted previous right bundle branch block [RBBB; OR: 11.52 (2.63-50.44), P=0.001] and eccentricity index of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT-EI) >0.3 [OR: 3.07 (1.22-7.77), P=0.018] as highly predictive for PPM-need, being also confirmed by c-statistics [area under the curve (AUC) =0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57-0.80; P=0.0025]. There was only moderate correlation of implantation depth over the MSL in terms of PPM prediction (r=0.23; P<0.0001).

Conclusions: This study offers new insights into potential PPM predictors using the STHV-34: previous RBBB and a pronounced LVOT-EI were independent predictors of PPM, while most of the previously reported determinants failed to predict PPM-need including MSL and implantation depth.