Aortic Valve Stenosis and/or Insufficiency

Rationale: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the standard of care for aortic stenosis across all surgical risk categories, including low-risk, younger patients (≥70 years). As many of these patients are expected to outlive their prosthetic valves, the durability of the valve becomes an increasingly critical factor. Hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT), a finding on post-TAVI computed tomography (CT), occurs in approximately 20% of patients and is associated with bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. Balloon-expandable valves seem more susceptible to HALT with an occurrence rate of 21%, compared to 16% for self-expanding valves. A recent study identified underexpansion of the transcatheter heart valve prosthesis as a key predictor of HALT at 30 days, which in turn was associated with a sixfold increase in cardiovascular mortality and a threefold increase in all-cause mortality at 1 year. Moreover, data suggest that, in the absence of post-dilatation, more than 95% of balloon-expandable valve implants exhibit some degree of underexpansion. In contrast, routine post-dilatation enhances valve expansion and hemodynamic performance without significantly increasing adverse events. The double-TAP technique-re-inflation of the TAVI delivery balloon after initial valve deployment-achieves a 9-10% increase in valve frame expansion, potentially reducing HALT risk and improving long-term outcomes. Objective: To determine whether routine double-TAP post-dilatation after balloon-expandable TAVI is safe and can reduce the incidence of HALT. Study design: Investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial with 1:1 allocation to routine post-dilatation using double-TAP versus no post-dilatation immediately after balloon expandable valve deployment. Study population: 422 Patients undergoing balloon-expandable TAVI for native aortic valve stenosis Investigational intervention: TAVI with a balloon-expandable valve followed by double-TAP post-dilatation. Study design: Investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial with 1:1 allocation to routine post-dilatation using double-TAP versus no post-dilatation immediately after balloon expandable valve deployment. Study population: 422 Patients undergoing balloon-expandable TAVI for native aortic valve stenosis Investigational intervention: TAVI with a balloon-expandable valve followed by double-TAP post-dilatation.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and performance of the EMBLOK EPS during TAVR by randomized comparison with TAVR without embolic protection (unprotected TAVR). The targeted study population consists of patients meeting FDA-approved indications for TAVR with commercially available transcatheter heart valve systems. This prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial will enroll up to a total of 560 subjects undergoing TAVR at up to 40 investigational sites in the United States. All subjects will undergo clinical follow-up (including detailed neurological assessments) in-hospital and at 30 days, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) follow-up at 24 to 36 hours post-procedure.