Reducing Pacemaker Implantation After TAVR With Modified Implantation Technique

Project objectives or hypothesis Hypothesis of the study is that a modified and improved implantation protocol (regarding membranous septum length and implantation depth) will decrease the need for permanent pacemaker stimulation following TAVR-procedures.

Patient profile and sample size The study cohort will comprise of patients referred to transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Patients will be prospectively and consecutively screened and enrolled at a tertiary high-volume center in Germany. TAVR will be performed according to a modified implantation technique regarding membranous septum length. Pacemaker rates will be analyzed and compared to a historical control. Taking into account a contemporary pacemaker rate of 15%, a reduction to 7% will require a sample size of 239 patients per group to achieve statistically significance (Chi-squared test, alpha 0.05, beta 0.80).

Regarding the prospective cohort, interims analysis will be performed after each 10 TAVR procedures. In case a signal towards worse outcomes with the modified implantation technique will be observed, the institutional safety and endpoint adjudication committee will stop further execution of the study.

Inclusion criteria

• All patients referred to TAVR procedure due to severe aortic stenosis

Exclusion criteria

• PM-implantation before TAVR
• Valve-in-valve procedures