Abstract 4113301: A Rare Cause of Recurrent Heart Failure Exacerbations After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Ventricular Septal Defect and Significant Paravalvular Leak

Introduction: Ventricular septal defects (VSD) have been reported in <1% of cases following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). A retrospective record review of VSD cases occurring after all TAVRs performed between January 2012 and September 2020 at one urban US tertiary hospital showed 0.37% incidence of these complications, mostly with small and restrictive VSD. Case Description: An 80-year-old woman with history of hypertension, HFpEF, and TAVR 8 months prior for severe aortic stenosis (AS) at an outside hospital presented with worsening dyspnea and peripheral edema over the past month. Blood pressure was 148/53mmHg, heartrate 83bpm, oxygen saturation 98% and auscultation revealed a harsh holosystolic murmur 4/6 loudest at left sternal border and bibasilar rales. Chest X-ray showed pulmonary edema and bilateral pleural effusions. NT-proBNP was 17,000pg/ml and troponin-I was negative. Echocardiogram showed EF55-60%, a membranous VSD, severe pulmonary hypertension, and moderate paravalvular leak (PVL). Coronary angiogram showed non-obstructive disease. Right heart catheterization confirmed significant left to right shunting. Treatment/Outcomes: Cardiothoracic surgery was consulted for multidisciplinary evaluation, and joint recommendation was for surgical aortic valve replacement and VSD closure which was successfully performed. One month follow-up echocardiogram showed normal aortic valve gradient without PVL and normal right ventricular pressure. Discussion/Conclusion: Numerous potential risks such as severe and uneven calcification of the native valve, an elliptic aortic annulus, excessive valve sizing, or elevated valve placement can lead to VSD. A recurrent element in many of these instances involves direct trauma to the septum caused by the implanted valve, exacerbated by subsequent annulus dilation. The presence of PVL is common post-TAVR and is an established independent prognostic factor, while VSD post-TAVR is uncommon, but may be associated with low implantation position relative to the aortic annulus or post-implantation balloon dilatation. Rarely, worsening VSD may require operative management. In this case, the improvement of heart failure symptoms and echocardiogram parameters after transthoracic surgery confirmed successful repair.