Impact of implantation depth and calcium burden on infranodal conduction delay after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Infranodal conduction disorders are common after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Risk factors are incompletely understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of valve implantation depth and calcium burden of the device landing zone on infranodal conduction intraprocedure pre- and post-TAVR.

Methods: In all patients undergoing TAVR between June 2020 and June 2021, the His-ventricle (HV) interval was measured pre- and post-valve deployment. The difference between the 2 measurements defined delta HV, whereas infranodal conduction delay was defined as HV interval >55 ms. Valve implantation depth was measured as the distance between the aortic annular plane and the ventricular prosthesis end. Calcium burden was quantified as the volume of calcium in 6 regions of interest: the non-, right, and left coronary cusps (NCC, RCC, and LCC, respectively) and the corresponding regions of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) underlying each cusp (LVOT, LVOT, LVOT, respectively).

Results: Of 101 patients (mean age 81 ± 5.7 years; 47% women), 37 demonstrated infranodal conduction delay intraprocedure post-TAVR. Overall, mean implantation depth was 5 ± 3.1 mm, median calcium volume was 2080 mm [interquartile range 632-2400]. Delta HV showed no correlation with implantation depth or calcium burden (r = -0.08 and r = 0.12, respectively). However, LVOT calcification was a significant predictor for infranodal conduction delay post-valve deployment in a multivariable logistic regression model (odds ratio 1.62 per 100-mm increase (95% confidence interval 1.06-2.69; = .04).

Conclusion: Assessment of LVOT calcification may identify patients at risk for infranodal conduction delay after TAVR, whereas implantation depth did not predict infranodal conduction delay.