Vascular access site complications after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a comparison of open and percutaneous puncture approaches

Background: In transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI), which approach has lower vascular access site complications between the open puncture (OP) and percutaneous puncture (PP) approaches is still controversial. Moreover, few studies have analyzed risk factors for vascular access site complications in TF-TAVI. This study aimed to compare vascular access site complications between the OP and PP approaches in patients undergoing TF-TAVI and access risk factors for vascular access site complications. Methods: Three hundred fifty-one patients who underwent TF-TAVI via the PP (n=251) and OP (n=100) were retrospectively examined. Results: Incidence of vascular access site complications was 7.0% in the OP group and 8.4% in the PP group (P=0.828). Two deaths from vascular access site complications occurred in the PP group. After performing inverse probability weighting (IPW), regression analysis showed that PP was associated with a significantly higher odds of vascular access site complications [odds ratio =2.033; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.397–2.958; P<0.01]. Common femoral artery (CFA) depth (hazard ratio =1.04; 95% CI: 1.000–1.070; P=0.045) and sheath/CFA diameter ratio (hazard ratio =971; 95% CI: 22.6–41,700; P<0.001) were independent complication risk factors. In patients with CFA depth ≥35 mm, the incidence of vascular access site complications was higher with PP than OP. Sheath/CFA diameter ratio ≥0.9 was associated with increased risk of vascular injury with both approaches. Conclusions: The incidence of vascular access site complications in patients undergoing TF-TAVI was significantly lower with OP than PP after IPW. OP may be preferable when CFA depth is ≥35 mm. When the sheath/CFA diameter ratio is ≥0.9, approaches other than the TF approach should be considered.