Simultaneous versus staged approach in transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe stenosis and endovascular aortic repair for thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objectives: Thoracic/abdominal aortic aneurysms(T/AAAs) and aortic stenosis(AS) may be concomitant diseases requiring both transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI) and endovascular aneurysm repair(T/EVAR) in high risk patients for surgical approaches, but temporal management is not clearly defined, yet. Aim of the study was to analyze outcomes of simultaneous vs staged TAVI and T/EVAR. Methods: Retrospective observational multicentre study on patients requiring TAVI and T/EVAR from 2016 to 2022. Patients were divided into 2 groups: "Simultaneous group" if T/EVAR+TAVI were performed in the same procedure and "Staged group" if T/EVAR and TAVI were performed in two steps, but within 3 months. Primary outcomes were: technical success, 30-day mortality/major adverse events and follow-up survival. Secondary outcomes were procedural metrics and length of stay (LOS). Results: Forty-four cases were collected; 8(18%) had TEVAR and 36(82%) EVAR, respectively. Upon temporal determination 25(57%) and 19(43%) were clustered in simultaneous and staged groups, respectively. In staged group, median time between procedures was 72(interquartile-range-IQR : 57-87) days. Preoperative and intraoperative figures were similar. There was no difference in 30-day mortality(Simultanoeus : 0/25 vs Staged : 1/19; p = 0.43). Pulmonary events(Simultaneous : 0/25 vs Staged : 5/19; p = 0.01) and need of postoperative cardiac pacemaker(Simultaneous : 2/25 vs Staged : 7/19; p = 0.02) were more frequent in Staged patients. The overall LOS was lower in Simultaneous group[Simultaneous : 7(IQR : 6-8) vs Staged : 19(IQR : 15-23)days; p = 0.001]. The median follow-up was 25(IQR : 8-42) months and estimated 3-year survival was 73% with no difference between groups(Simultanoeus : 82% vs Staged : 74%; p = 0.90). Conclusions: Both simultaneous or staged T/EVAR and TAVI procedures are effective with satisfactory outcomes. Despite the small numbers, simultaneous repair seems to reduce length-of-stay and pulmonary complications, maintaining similar follow-up survival.