Promising Initial Results with CoreValve Percutaneous Aortic Valve Placement

Device deployment was feasible in most high-risk patients in this small pilot study, but safety issues remain.

Percutaneous aortic valve replacement is undergoing evaluation as an alternative to surgery in patients at high operative risk because of advanced age or comorbidities. In this multicenter German and Canadian study, investigators — some of whom serve as consultants to the manufacturer — report the initial experience with the CoreValve self-expanding valve prosthesis. Among the inclusion criteria were aortic valve area <1 cm² (mean, 0.6 cm²), and age 80 or older (mean, 82) or other specified high-risk characteristics (mean logistic EuroSCORE, 22%). The device is a trileaflet, porcine, pericardial bioprosthetic valve sutured in a self-expanding nitinol stent. The investigators used the second-generation (21-French[F]) and third-generation (18…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHeart Valve Collaboratory (Scientific Committee Member, Chair of the Publications Committee)