Characteristics of aortic root and vascular anatomy in bicuspid versus tricuspid aortic valve stenosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is being increasingly performed in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis (AS).

This study sought to compare aortic root and ilio-femoral artery characteristics and clinical outcomes in patients with bicuspid versus tricuspid AS from the Bicuspid AS TAVI multicenter registry.

88 patients with bicuspid AS and 213 matched patients with tricuspid AS were referred for pre-procedural computed tomography (CT) evaluation before TAVI. We performed a detailed assessment of aortic root anatomy: size of the annulus, sinus of Valsalva (SoV), sino-tubular junction (STJ); we also determined the dimensions of aorta, left subclavian, and ilio-femoral arteries.

Patients with bicuspid AS had significantly larger aortic root dimensions, (annulus mean diameter: 25.5±2.9 mm vs. 23.7±2.4 mm, SoV mean diameter: 35.3±4.7 mm vs. 32±4.4mm, STJ mean diameter: 31.5±4.9 mm vs. 27.6±3.5 mm; respectively) than patients with tricuspid AS (P value for all <0.001), even after adjustment for their larger BSA and height. Dimensions of ascending aorta, left subclavian artery, and ilio-femoral arteries were also consistently larger in bicuspid than in tricuspid AS morphology.

Patients with bicuspid AS had significantly larger aortic root dimensions, larger ascending aorta, subclavian artery and ilio-femoral arteries even after adjustment for their BSA and height.

Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Rabin Medical Center