Optimal Timing of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - The TAVI PCI Trial

The prevalence of coronary artery disease in patients with severe aortic stenosis is high. About 30-60% of patients undergoing TAVI exhibit coexisting coronary artery disease. Optimal timing of coronary revascularization in patients with severe aortic stenosis and concomitant coronary artery disease undergoing TAVI is uncertain.

The goal of this investigator-initiated, randomized, multicenter, two-arm, open-label, non-inferiority trial is to compare two treatment strategies that are currently performed in clinical practice: PCI before TAVI versus PCI after TAVI in patients with severe aortic stenosis and concomitant coronary artery disease.

In this trial, patients with severe aortic stenosis and concomitant coronary artery disease accepted for TAVI and PCI by the Heart Team will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the following strategies: angiography-guided complete coronary revascularization before (within 1-45 days) or after (within 1-45 days) TAVI using the Edwards SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve®.

For both treatment groups, coronary artery lesions with ≥70% diameter stenosis on coronary angiogram (by visual estimation) in a coronary artery ≥2.5 mm in diameter are considered significant.

TAVI and PCI will be performed according to current guidelines.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients ≥18 years with severe aortic stenosis and concomitant coronary artery disease accepted for transfemoral TAVI with an Edwards SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve™ and PCI by a multidisciplinary Heart Team.
• Severe aortic stenosis defined as aortic valve area (AVA) ≤1.0 cm2 and/or mean pressure gradient ≥40 mmHg (echocardiography) and at least one of the following criteria:

• Dyspnea
• Angina symptoms
• Syncope
• Decline in left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, symptoms or fall in blood pressure on exercise testing, or presence of high-risk criteria (peak transaortic velocity >5.5 m/s, severe valve calcification, peak transaortic velocity progression ≥0.3 m/s per year, or severe pulmonary hypertension with systolic pulmonary artery pressure >60 mmHg) according to current guidelines.
• At least one coronary artery lesion with ≥70% diameter stenosis on coronary angiogram (by visual estimation) in a coronary artery ≥2.5 mm in diameter and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade III, deemed amenable to PCI within 45 days before or after TAVI. Hemodynamic lesion assessment by fractional flow reserve (FFR), instantaneous wave-free ratio (iwFR), or comparable indices as well as intravascular imaging-guided PCI are left at the discretion of the operator.
• Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• TAVI by transapical, subclavian, or transaortic access
• Admission with acute myocardial infarction within 30 days before randomization
• Elective coronary revascularization within 3 months before randomization
• Previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
• Syntax Score I ≥33
• Any contraindications for dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel, ticagrelor or prasugrel), except for patients on oral anticoagulation
• Planned open heart surgery
• Known pregnancy at the time of inclusion
• Life expectancy <1 year due to other severe non-cardiac disease
• Participation in another clinical study with an investigational product
• Acute COVID-19 infection
• Patient with previously treated aortic stenosis