Conduction Disturbances

The high incidence and variety of conduction disturbances post-TAVR represents a major challenge in the periprocedural management of TAVR recipients. Despite the growing body of knowledge on this topic, the large variability in the management of these complications has translated into a high degree of uncertainty regarding the most appropriate treatment of a large proportion of such patients. The implementation of a pre-specified treatment strategy translating into a more uniform practice regarding the management of conduction disturbances post-TAVR applied to a large cohort of patients would permit to identify the benefits and drawbacks of each specific aspect of the treatment algorithm proposal. This may also help to improve both the management and clinical outcomes of the complex group of patients with conduction disturbances associated with TAVR. In the end, the final objective of a pre-specified strategy for managing conduction disturbances post-TAVR should be to obtain a low rate of PPM without increasing the risk of sudden death or life threatening arrhythmic events following hospital discharge, and all this while avoiding an excessive prolongation of the hospitalization period following the TAVR procedure.

The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence and predictors of high degree or complete atrioventricular block (AVB) (paroxysmal or persistent) in patients with new-onset persistent left bundle branch block (NOP-LBBB) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and to evaluate the usefulness of the Reveal LINQ® insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, USA) for the detection of significant arrhythmias in patients with NOP-LBBB following TAVI.

The management of patients with conduction disturbances (CDs) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is unclear, especially in those with de novo electrocardiographic CDs (ECG-CDs) such as left bundle branch block. In this study, the investigators will evaluate the incidence of retrogradation of infra-Hisian CDs in patients with de novo ECG-CDs and positive electrophysiological study (EPS) 3-7 days following TAVI. In addition, the investigators will evaluate the need for cardiac pacing and the incidence of clinical events in patients with negative EPS performed 3-7 days following TAVI. In this multicenter, longitudinal, prospective study, patients with clinical indication of EP study due to new-onset ECG-CDs after TAVI will be included. A permanent pacemaker will be implanted in patients with positive EPS and a second EPS will be performed in 30-45 days. Additionally, these patients will undergo 4-week continuous monitoring using the ePatch (Philips) long-term Holter recorder, to identify episodes of paroxysmal complete atrioventricular block. Patients with negative EP study will undergo clinical follow-up and continuous monitoring for 4 weeks.