A rare complication of transaxillary TAVI: Management of a bioprosthetic valve entrapment in the subclavian artery

The transaxillary (TAx) approach represents the most commonly preferred alternative access route for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) when transfemoral (TF) access is not feasible. Therefore, vascular complications and their management remain of particular importance. In this case report, we present a 75-year-old male patient with severe iliofemoral calcification who underwent TAx-TAVI and developed entrapment of the transcatheter aortic valve in the subclavian artery- a complication reported here for the first time in the literature. The entrapped valve was implanted in the subclavian artery and in the second session, the patient was successfully treated via the TF route using a low-profile in-line sheath (sheathless) system.