Variation of computed tomographic angiography-based fractional flow reserve after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Abstract

We sought to identify the impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on changes of fractional flow reserve computed tomography (FFR_CT) values and the associated clinical impact. A retrospective analysis was done with CT obtained pre-TAVI, prior to hospital discharge and at 1-year follow-up, which provided imaging sources for the calculation of FFR_CT values based on an online platform. A total of 190 patients were enrolled. Patients with pre-procedural FFR_CT value > 0.80 (i.e., negative) and ≤ 0.80 (i.e., positive) demonstrated a significantly opposite change in the value after TAVI (0.8798 vs. 0.8718, p < 0.001 and 0.7634 vs. 0.8222, p < 0.001, respectively). The history of coronary artery disease (CAD) was identified as an independent predictor for FFR_CT changing from negative to positive after TAVI (odds ratio [OR] 2.927, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.130-7.587, p = 0.027), with lesions more severely stenosed (OR 1.039, 95% CI 1.003-1.076, p = 0.034) and in left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (OR 3.939, 95% CI 1.060-14.637, p = 0.041) being prone to change. TAVI directly brings improvement in FFR_CT values in patients with compromised coronary flow. Patients with a history of CAD, especially with lesions more severely stenosed and in LAD, were under risk of FFR_CT changing from negative to positive after TAVI. •The effect of TAVI on coronary hemodynamics might be influenced by different ischemic severity and coronary territories reflected by FFR_CT values. •As different FFR_CT variations did not impact outcomes of TAVI patients, AS, but not coronary issues, may be the primary problem to affect, which needs further validation.