Microembolic Signals and Serum Markers of Neuronal Damage During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) using femoral access is an option for definitive treatment of aortic stenosis when open-heart surgery is considered inappropriate. By avoiding the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on cerebral hemodynamics and microembolic load, TAVI is assumed to be beneficial regarding risk for neurological complications. We anticipated that the extensive endovascular retrograde manipulation in ascending aorta and aortic root would generate a detectable cerebral microembolic load, and thus an increase in serological markers of neuronal injury postoperatively. Our hypothesis is that there is a positive correlation between the total amount of cerebral microembolic events during the TAVI procedure and the Area under curve (AUC24hrs) for the release pattern of two markers of neuronal injury. We also wish to describe the extent and distribution of microembolisms during the TAVI procedure using Transcranial Doppler (TCD).