This study evaluates whether a preoperative assessment of myocardial contractile reserve by tissue Doppler Imaging and myocardial fibrosis by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can enhance the patient selection and risk stratification to transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

In this prospective observation study we will investigate whether a preoperative test of myocardial contractile reserve can predict adverse outcome after TAVI. We intend to examine preoperative myocardial contractile reserve by use a low dose dobutamine test and relate this to pre-existing myocardial focal and diffuse myocardial fibrosis detected by new cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods and new echocardiographic methods. These measures will be primarily related to long term (12 months) mortality.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients declined surgical aortic valve replacement and scheduled for transfemoral aortic valve implantation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Aortic valve endocarditis
• aortic annulus >31mm
• preoperative pacemaker
• severe aortic insufficiency (>grad 3)
• rapid atrial fibrillation
• unprotected left main coronary stenosis not suitable for percutaneous intervention.
• unstable angina
• life expectancy less than 12 months
• mental disorder including dementia and condition which interferes with protocol compliance.
• renal failure (glomerular filtration rate < 45 ml/min/m2), only have T1 mapping by CMRI.
• Patients with metal not suitable for MRI.

Patients scheduled for transfemoral aortic valve implantation at Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet