Long‐Term Outcomes After Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Guide for the Hepatologist

Hepatologists often determine whether transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is preferred for patients with cirrhosis and severe aortic stenosis (AS). The goal of this cohort study was to compare outcomes following TAVR and SAVR in patients with cirrhosis to inform the preferred intervention. Prospectively collected data on 105 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and AS who underwent TAVR (n = 55) or SAVR (n = 50) between 2008 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Two control groups were included: 2,680 patients without cirrhosis undergoing TAVR and SAVR and 17 patients with cirrhosis who received medical therapy alone. Among 105 patients with cirrhosis, the median Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score was 3.8% (1.5, 6.9,) and the median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 11.6 (9.4, 14.0). The TAVR group had similar in-hospital (1.8% versus 2.0%) and 30-day mortality (3.6% versus 4.2%) as the SAVR group. During the median follow-up of 3.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0-6.9) years, there were 63 (60%) deaths. MELD score (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.05-1.21; P = 0.002 ) was an independent predictor of long-term survival. In the subgroup of patients with MELD score /=12, survival after TAVR, SAVR, and medical therapy was similar (1.3 versus 2.1 versus 1.6 years, respectively; P = 0.53). Conclusion: In select patients with cirrhosis, both TAVR and SAVR have acceptable and comparable short-term outcomes. MELD score, but not STS score, independently predicts long-term survival after TAVR and SAVR. For patients with MELD score /=12.