Percutaneous Aortic Valve Implantation: Initial Experience in Spain

Patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis have a very poor prognosis on medical treatment. In those with contraindications to surgery, percutaneous valve replacement has been proposed as an alternative. We report on physicians' initial experience in Spain with percutaneous aortic valve replacement. We analyzed in hospital and short-to-medium-term findings in four patients who underwent percutaneous implantation of a Cribier-Edwards prosthetic aortic valve. In all four cases, the Cribier-Edwards prosthetic valves were successfully implanted via the femoral artery. The procedures were guided by angiography and transesophageal echocardiography. Patients were discharged 3 to 5 days after the procedure and were still in a satisfactory clinical condition 3 months later. In summary, early experience in Spain with the percutaneous implantation of Cribier-Edwards prosthetic aortic valves indicates that it is a suitable alternative for patients for whom replacement surgery is contraindicated or would place them at a high risk.