Clinical Outcomes With a Repositionable Self-Expanding Transcatheter Aortic Valve Prosthesis: The International FORWARD Study

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Aug 15;70(7):845-853. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.06.045.

Abstract

Background: Clinical outcomes in large patient populations from real-world clinical practice with a next-generation self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve are lacking.

Objectives: This study sought to document the clinical and device performance outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with a next-generation, self-expanding transcatheter heart valve (THV) system in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) in routine clinical practice.

Methods: The FORWARD (CoreValve Evolut R FORWARD) study is a prospective, single-arm, multinational, multicenter, observational study. An independent clinical events committee adjudicated safety endpoints based on Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 definitions. An independent echocardiographic core laboratory evaluated all echocardiograms. From January 2016 to December 2016, TAVR with the next-generation self-expanding THV was attempted in 1,038 patients with symptomatic, severe AS at 53 centers on 4 continents.

Results: Mean age was 81.8 ± 6.2 years, 64.9% were women, the mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality was 5.5 ± 4.5%, and 33.9% of patients were deemed frail. The repositioning feature of the THV was applied in 25.8% of patients. A single valve was implanted in the proper anatomic location in 98.9% of patients. The mean aortic valve gradient was 8.5 ± 5.6 mm Hg, and moderate or severe aortic regurgitation was 1.9% at discharge. All-cause mortality was 1.9%, and disabling stroke occurred in 1.8% at 30 days. The expected-to-observed early surgical mortality ratio was 0.35. A pacemaker was implanted in 17.5% of patients.

Conclusions: TAVR using the next-generation THV is clinically safe and effective for treating older patients with severe AS at increased operative risk. (CoreValve Evolut R FORWARD Study [FORWARD]; NCT02592369).

Keywords: aortic stenosis; degenerative valve; transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / diagnosis
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / mortality
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / surgery*
  • Cause of Death / trends
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Global Health
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Rate / trends
  • Time Factors
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02592369