Initial Experience With Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Before and After Lung Transplant

The role of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for the treatment of aortic stenosis in the pre- and post-lung transplant population is limited. This specific patient population is considered high risk for general anesthesia and for surgical aortic valve replacement. The authors report a series of 10 patients, which is the largest series to date. Of these patients, five underwent TAVR before and five underwent TAVR after a lung transplant. All transplants were performed via a transfemoral approach, with the majority (9/10) performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC). The only TAVR-related complication in each group was a heart block requiring a pacemaker (2/10), while morbidity was related to transplant medical issues or end-stage lung disease itself. The authors’ initial experience suggests that TAVR is a safe and feasible option for treatment of aortic stenosis both in patients awaiting lung transplant and patients who have already undergone lung transplant.