Alternative approaches for trans-catheter self-expanding aortic bioprosthetic valves implantation: single-center experience

Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation has emerged and rapidly gained credibility as a valuable alternative to treat patients with severe aortic stenosis and no surgical option; however, these patients are often affected also by severe iliac-femoral arteriopathy, rendering the transfemoral approach unemployable. From May 2008, 92 patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis and no reasonable surgical option because of excessive risk underwent trans-catheter aortic valve implantation at our center. Eighty patients (34 male) with mean age 82 ± 8 years were eligible for CoreValve percutaneous femoral implantation. Twelve patients, mean age 81 ± 8 years, were excluded from percutaneous femoral CoreValve implantation because of iliac-femoral arteriopathy.