Association Between Changes in Aortic Valve Area and Pulmonary Congestion After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Association Between Changes in Aortic Valve Area and Pulmonary Congestion in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

This prospective, single-center observational study aims to evaluate the relationship between changes in aortic valve hemodynamics and pulmonary congestion in patients undergoing elective transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Pulmonary congestion will be assessed non-invasively using lung ultrasound, with particular emphasis on B-lines, at predefined time points before and after TAVI. Changes in aortic valve area and other echocardiographic parameters will be evaluated in relation to changes in lung ultrasound findings. The primary objective is to determine the association between improvement in aortic valve area following TAVI and changes in pulmonary congestion.

Patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis scheduled for elective transfemoral TAVI will be prospectively enrolled in this single-center observational cohort study. A total of 52 patients are planned to be included.

Pulmonary congestion will be assessed using standardized lung ultrasound examinations performed at predefined time points during the peri-procedural period. Lung ultrasound assessment will primarily quantify B-lines and will also document relevant findings such as pleural effusion and consolidation. Assessments will be performed before TAVI and repeated after the procedure to characterize temporal changes in pulmonary congestion.

Aortic valve hemodynamics, including aortic valve area, will be assessed by transthoracic echocardiography. The principal analysis will evaluate the relationship between the change in aortic valve area after TAVI and the corresponding change in lung ultrasound findings. In particular, the association between the change in aortic valve area and the change in lung ultrasound findings at 24 hours will be evaluated.

By integrating echocardiographic assessment of valve hemodynamics with serial lung ultrasound, the study aims to characterize the relationship between hemodynamic improvement following TAVI and early changes in pulmonary congestion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥18 years
• Diagnosis of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis
• Scheduled for elective transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
• Availability of preprocedural transthoracic echocardiography
• Feasibility of lung ultrasound examination
• Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Active pneumonia
• Interstitial lung disease or pulmonary fibrosis
• Massive pleural effusion
• Acute decompensated heart failure
• Severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Conditions precluding adequate thoracic ultrasound examination
• Severe mitral stenosis
• Clinically significant severe mitral regurgitation
• Development of a major complication during the procedure