Coronary artery disease is frequently diagnosed in patients with aortic valve stenosis. Treatment options include surgical and interventional approaches. We therefore analyzed short-term outcomes of patients undergoing either coronary artery bypass grafting with simultaneous aortic valve replacement (CABG+AVR) or staged percutaneous coronary intervention and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (PCI+TAVI).
Methods: From all patients treated since 2017 we retrospectively identified 237 patients undergoing TAVI within 6 months after PCI and 241 patients undergoing combined CABG+AVR surgery. Propensity score matching was performed resulting in 101 matched pairs.
Results: patients in the CABG+AVR group were younger compared to patients in the PCI+TAVI group (71.9±4.9 vs. 81.4±3.6 years; p<0.001). The overall mortality at 30 days before matching was higher after CABG+AVR than after PCI+TAVI (7.8% vs. 2.1%; p=0.012). The paired cohort was balanced for both groups regarding demographic variables and the risk profile (age: 77.2±3.7 vs.78.5±2.7 years; p=0.141) and Euro Score II (6.2% vs. 7.6%; p=0.297). At 30 days, mortality was 4.9% in the CABG+AVR group and 1,0% in the PCI+TAVI group and (p=0.099). Re-thoracotomy was necessary in 7.9% in the CABG+AVR, while conversion to open heart surgery was necessary in 2 % in the PCI+TAVI group. The need for new pacemaker was lower after CABG+AVR than after PCI+TAVI (4.1% vs.6.9%; p=0.010). No paravalvular leak was noted in the CABG+AVR group, while the incidence of moderate to severe PVL after PCI+TAVI was 4.9 %; (p=0.027).
Conclusion: A staged PCI+TAVI comprises a short-term survival advantage for management of CAD and AS. Long-term Trials are warranted.