Abstract 14180: Acute and Chronic Experimental Animal Results of the New Self-Expandable Acurate TATM Valve for Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) as a minimally invasive technique is currently expanding rapidly worldwide, however all currently available prostheses share some fundamental design limitations. We investigated the feasibility, safety and hemodynamic performance during follow-up of the innovative transapical Acurate TATMself-expandable device, which has the unique advantage of offering anatomically correct self-alignment within the aortic root. Methods: Transapical aortic valve implantation was performed in six acute swine procedures (57-71 kg body weight) using the Acurate TATM valve prosthesis (Symetis, Ecublens, Switzerland), and in six sheeps (36-52 kg body weight), with follow-up times of 7, 14, 21, 28, 60 and 90 days. Valve implantation was performed under simultaneous transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and angiographic guidance, without the need for rapid pacing. A partial sternotomy approach was used to access the left ventricular apex. Results: All valve implantation...